Would you like a return of the Black Macbook?

[AltecX]

For myself it was the 1st Mac I ever owned so I have some Nostalgia for it.

I envision it as a MacBook Air, but with most the ports from the 14in Pro, perhaps a slightly higher clocked M1, and replacing the 13in Pro. Which is kind of what the 2000's MacBook was. Very capable but with a lower quality screen, and chip inside. Making a plastic polycarbonate be version would be very cool too, selling it in black and white.

I'd definitely get one. I often don't need the power of the Pro but I do often wish I had some extra ports on my Air. I feel it would/could be a great device.

 

[spiderman0616]

Weird that this thread pops up today--over the weekend I was looking into the original polycarbonate MacBook, its history, its popularity, etc. I couldn't even find an Apple keynote on YouTube for this device. The only experience I had with it myself was when my wife had one from work years ago as well as someone I knew who owned the black model. I was looking it up because the new MBP's, especially the 14" model, keep reminding me of that specific model.

This seems like it was a low-key but well loved model. I always liked the form factor, but hated how dirty the white models eventually got.

PS: Forgot to answer the original question: Yes, I would buy the black model as long as it was matte.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Depends how the black colour is engineered. I remember the black plastic MacBook and the paint would chip off that.

 

[AltecX]

Depends how the black colour is engineered. I remember the black plastic MacBook and the paint would chip off that.

My paint never chipped off, I dont even remember it being an issue.

 

[LuisN]

My paint never chipped off, I dont even remember it being an issue.

AFAIK they were not painted. Maybe someone painted a white model?

 

[rm5]

I never owned a black MacBook, so I can't say unfortunately. I personally like the space gray MacBooks.

I'm also so young that I barely remember when the Black MacBooks were around...

 

[SirKeldon]

I'd love it, and if not black, a much more darker tone of the space gray on the anodized aluminum would be so cool IMHO

edit: I was close to re-anodize an older Powermac G5 case I own in black but never went for it, though that, some friends of mine did and the result was astonishing good, so a similar product but coming from Apple would be "fan-tas-tic" as L. Miani would say

 

[StudioMacs]

Depends how the black colour is engineered. I remember the black plastic MacBook and the paint would chip off that.

There was an issue with chipping on the edges of the titanium Ti Book, but not with the plastic MacBook.

 

[DHagan4755]

My instant reaction is yes! They "double anodize" the keyboard well on the new 14" & 16" MBPs. So why not double anodize the whole thing? Maybe an entirely double anodized black MacBook looks too nondescript, too stealth, which is why Apple hasn't done it yet?

 

[spiderman0616]

My instant reaction is yes! They "double anodize" the keyboard well on the new 14" & 16" MBPs. So why not double anodize the whole thing? Maybe an entirely double anodized black MacBook looks too nondescript, too stealth, which is why Apple hasn't done it yet?

If the entire MacBook looked like that keyboard inlay, that would look so nice. I think Apple has really stepped up their game over the years with the durability of their antenna band finishes on iPhone and I have no reason to believe they couldn't figure out a nice durable finish like that for the MacBook lineup as well. Would be pretty cool looking!

 

[Richu]

Felt very plasticy. Also don’t know about the material strength and heat properties. The aluminum enclosure also functions as a giant heat sink.

 

[DJLC]

It'd be pretty neat, yeah.

But all that said, my 14" MBP is giving me major pre-unibody polycarbonate MacBook vibes with the shape. Love it. So much. Might not be the same color or material, but I see the family resemblance.

 

[hg.wells]

I loved the look of them, but they were a magnet for fingerprints!

 

[mansplains]

Not only would I like this, I think a Product Red mac would be great as well.

 

[pianostar9]

Not only would I like this, I think a Product Red mac would be great as well.

Apple sold one for a million dollars before:

(#27) Apple Inc.

www.sothebys.com

 

[jezbd1997]

Absolutely, I wouldn't mind an option for a plastic MacBook again!!
My dad still has one of the old black ones for his collection. It's one of my favourites. That gen was the first type of MacBook I ever owned.
And as others have said, my new 14" reminds me of that form factor

 

[Danfango]

Please not a plastic one again. I had a white core 2 duo back in the day. It was brown by the time I had been using it for a couple of years full time. And yes I did clean it regularly.

 

[TechRunner]

I have a friend who had one, and he wore it out. He was so pleased to own a "non-standard Mac" as he called it.

 

[pianostar9]

Surprised we went this long without mentioning the iPhone 5C

 

[Jeven Stobs]

For myself it was the 1st Mac I ever owned so I have some Nostalgia for it.

I envision it as a MacBook Air, but with most the ports from the 14in Pro, perhaps a slightly higher clocked M1, and replacing the 13in Pro. Which is kind of what the 2000's MacBook was. Very capable but with a lower quality screen, and chip inside. Making a plastic polycarbonate be version would be very cool too, selling it in black and white.

I'd definitely get one. I often don't need the power of the Pro but I do often wish I had some extra ports on my Air. I feel it would/could be a great device.

A plastic shell with Apples current design language would break the instant you look at it. Too fragile, not gonna happen.

 

[Arctic Moose]

My instant reaction is yes! They "double anodize" the keyboard well on the new 14" & 16" MBPs. So why not double anodize the whole thing?

Exactly, I love the keyboard color on my 14", but do not care much for the rest of it. It would look amazing if the darker anodization spread to cover all of it.

 

[DJLC]

Please not a plastic one again. I had a white core 2 duo back in the day. It was brown by the time I had been using it for a couple of years full time. And yes I did clean it regularly.

Man, and that cracking on the edge of the palm rest from the screen closing?! Eek. I swear I think I got a new palm rest for my white 2006 C2D via AppleCare 4 or 5 times before it expired. ?

 

[AppleTO]

I would, if it was aluminum. It’s hard to imagine Apple ever creating a plastic laptop again.

 

[Danfango]

Man, and that cracking on the edge of the palm rest from the screen closing?! Eek. I swear I think I got a new palm rest for my white 2006 C2D via AppleCare 4 or 5 times before it expired. ?

I’d completely forgotten about that.

Then again my alien grade sweat dissolves aluminium MacBooks. Can’t win.

 

[Fishrrman]

Space grey is "as dark as I want it to be"...