Customer Reviews

Apple MacBook MA700LL/A 13.3" Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive) - White

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I originally purchased my MacBook to replace a Fujitsu Windows-based notebook that was no longer working. The strongest aspect of it to me pre-purchase was that I could install and run Windows XP on it, natively, via the included Boot Camp utility. Just looking at the specifications, you would be hard-pressed to find a similarly equipped Windows-based notebook for the price. Most of them will skimp somewhere -- usually the RAM, and often the battery life.

The first thing I would say is that Boot Camp does indeed run Windows XP perfectly. Running Boot Camp couldn't be much easier. When you run the program, it asks you how much of your drive you want to allocate to the Windows operating system. Then you burn a CD with the drivers necessary for Windows to properly recognize all the integrated peripherals of your MacBook, such as the video card, the Bluetooth port, the iSight camera, etc. Install Windows and insert the driver CD and you've got a Windows laptop, just as if you had purchased a Dell or other PC. So, I have to say that it met and perhaps even exceeded my expectations for how smoothly it would handle Windows.

The Core 2 Duo at 2GHz is screaming fast. The included 1GB of RAM is more than enough for both OS X and Windows XP. The hard drive capacity is more than adequate, and easilly upgraded.

The next thing I would say is that this little beauty is utterly making me lose interest in running Windows! It began with upacking it from the case. One of the most elegant and tidy packaging designs I've seen. Then there's the physical feel of it... the perfect chicklet contours when it's closed; the clean lines when it's open; the gorgeous screen. I love the little touches like the magnetic latch which keeps the lid closed and the MagSafe power connector. Would you believe that MagSafe thing already has prevented disaster a couple times? Attention to detail really shows in this product. For example, the teal (not green) colored LEDs to indicate caps lock, num lock, and iSight activity. The way the integrated microphone is sized and spaced to match the iSight indicator light. The elegant slot-loading style of DVD drive. Tucking the speakers into the back and sharing the vents with ventilation. The push-button charge indicator on the battery itself. The classy power indicator on the front. The way the system knows when you've plugged headphones in and maintains a separate volume level for them, so your ears don't get blown out. And many other niceties.

What does this have to do with Windows? Well, no other notebook I know of is built like this... but more importantly, the attention to detail and craftmanship applies to the operating system as well. I had not owned a Mac in over 10 years... and a lot of things have changed for the better. I'm really impressed with how smoothly the OS X operating system works. The iLife and iWork suites of applications really blow me away in terms of their ease of use and the quality of the results. I'm astonished how nicely integrated everything is. Not really used to that on Windows.

I've used Vista for some time now, and believe me there will be pain, time, and money spent for most current Windows users to upgrade. Most anything that is a "utility" will have to be tossed. XP stuff in that category just doesn't work well on Vista if at all. Some major productivity programs don't work on Vista, either. The user interface is different. And so on. The point is... if you're going to change from Windows XP to a new operating system, you should probably give Mac OS X fair consideration. And this notebook is a great, afforable way to do it. If you don't like Mac? Well, you can just give 95% of your disk over to Windows and use it as the world's best Windows laptop. (But you won't!)

Ok, what flaws does this product have? I do have a few nits:

- The angle of the screen is limited to a maximum of about 135 degrees. (I don't have a protractor handy). I'm a tall guy so if it sits in my lap, it can't quite open as wide as I would like it to be.

- The screen has great left-to-ride visibility but not-so-good vertical visibility. The contrast and colors change a lot depending on the angle you're viewing it at. This makes the angle issue above more important.

- The iSight camera is fixed in the lid. I find that at the optimum viewing angle for me, it's pointing at the top of my head, instead of centered on my face. A little adjustment screw or an electronic method of adjusting the angle would have been super.

- The hard disk is so quiet, it's hard to know when it's running, and there is no hard disk activity light. There's no pragmatic issue I can think of for this, I guess I'm just used to an HD activity light. I wish they had made the power light pulse quickly or something.

- Only a one-button mouse integrated on the machine. I bought a Mighty Mouse to compensate fo this. There is a way to right-click with the trackpad, but it's a little tricky.

- No way to hibernate in Mac OS X. (However, Windows Hibernates very well.) Sleep mode still consumes some power and I prefer to hibernate.

- You get a "line in" port, not a microphone jack. So, you can't use regular headsets; you'll need to have some kind of amplified signal going in to that connector. But the built-in microphone is very high quality.

That's pretty much it. All these negatives together maybe deduct .4 from the total. But I can't award 4.6 stars, so the MacBook Core 2 Duo gets 5 stars.

Buy this notebook!

I bought it almost two weeks ago to replace my 12-inch Ibook and I was glad that I made a right decision.

There are several significant differences between an Ibook and a Macbook:

1. a Macbook is Intel-Based. When I download 800 pictures into IPhoto, my new laptop complete it in less than 1 and half minutes while Ibook may take 5 minutes! That is a big difference.

2. The screen is glossy and I like it a lot. It looks smooth when I watch a movie.

3. My laptop that uses Parallel Desktop to allow me to use PC is faster than those with PowerPC uses Virtual PC.

4. Superdrive is FAST, too.

5. Battery Life is surprisingly the same as Ibook even if its CPU is upgraded!

On the other hand,

1. 1 GB RAM, in my case, is not enough. Parallel Desktop takes a lot of MB but for those who use basic applicaitons, 1 GB is perfect.

2. Heat is still the issue.

Overall, I was happy to own it and worth $1,300!

I made the switch from Windows to Apple in 2000 and have been glad I did ever since. I upgraded to OS X a year ago and was impressed with it from the start.

This new MacBook is a terrific computer and is impressing me all over again. The software is all very easy to use (especially iTunes and all the iLife apps), the computer itself is very fast, and OS X itself is very well though out and stable. The screen is also very crisp and clear. All MacBooks come with wireless capabilities built in, and the camera is really pretty good and fun to use with iChat.

One thing I recommend is downloading Firefox as your internet browser. I like it better than Apple's Safari and WAAAY better than Internet Explorer. (Firefox is available for Windows, too.) CNET gives Firefox a great review, too.

I LOVE how if you have a hundred windows up and can't see them, just move the pointer to a corner of the screen and they ALL shrink and you can just pick the one you want, and they zoom back to full size with the right one on top! It's also pretty cool that you can now run any media (videos, dvds, music, etc) full screen and it comes with a cool little remote control!

The only thing I could take a point off for is that the new machines will no longer run OS 9 applications like the previous models do. If you've never had the older programs, though, you wouldn't miss anything. Even two of my die-hard "Windows" friends have also either switched to Apple or are considering it. This is definitely a great computer and is worth switching from PC to Mac. If you need help with that, go to Apple's website, click the "OS X" tab at the top, then "Switch" under that tab and it will tell you how to transfer files, etc.

I got the mid-level MacBook with the 2.0 Ghz Core 2 Duo processor (it's very fast!), 1 GB RAM, and 80 GB storage. If you have an ENORMOUSLY huge music collection or do a LOT of video editing or downloading, you might consider getting more storage. For BIG gamers, you might consider a MacBook Pro for the graphics card, but my games (like Age of Empires III) run just fine on my regular MacBook. For my purposes, I could literally not ask for a better computer. Highly recommended!

As a user of Microsoft based PCs for over 15 years (server administration), I was highly skeptical about how much different/better a MAC was as compared to a PC. Boy was I shocked. Boot time on my MacBook is almost none existant. Every component I have connected via USB or Firewire (including a PSP, a Lyra MP3 player, 2 Motorola Cell phones, and a couple of DV camcorders) have been recognized and worked flawlessly without having to install drivers. I was even able to sync the address book on my phone with the MAC Address Book via Bluetooth while using it as a GPRS modem to connect to the Internet via USB (which also charges the phone). When I tried doing this with my previous laptop (Toshiba Tablet PC), it took me the better part of a day to get the drivers to work and even longer to get the PC to recognize the phone as a modem (not to mention to get it to work). The bundled software in Mac OS-X 10.4 is extremely powerful and useful (not LITE versions, which are usually over glorified demos to get you purchase the full version). Whether it is iChat, iMovie, or Garage Band, the software is easy to use and produces results. And the Help sections of everything ACTUALLY HELP.

All in all, my first experience with a Mac has been mind-blowing. I can't believe it can do everything my old PC can do (usually faster). My only complaint has been with Bluetooth. It has Bluetooth 2.0 but does not support AVRCP or A2DP so that I can use my stereo bluetooth headphones to listen to iTunes. However, I have been told that when OS-X 10.5 (Leopard) releases later this year, it will support both profiles. Considering everything that this Mac does for me, I know this complaint sounds lame, but I wanted to be honest. When I need to replace another laptop or PC (or buy one for my kids for school), the Mac line of laptops and desktops has just subplanted Microsoft-based PCs on the top (not to mention middle and bottom) of my list.

I really like my new MacBook. It is my first laptop. Also, this is my first Mac in almost eight years (I've been using Windows since 1999), so the OS is pretty much new to me. Therefore, I can't really speak to how this compares to iBooks or other G4/G5 machines.

I looked around at PC laptops and compared specs for a while. I had not seriously considered a Mac because I thought that they were overpriced. However, this version really is priced competitively. Those "bargain" PC laptops don't have near the features, and once you start adding upgrades to match the features in this MacBook, the price escalates quickly. First, the processor in this MacBook is definitely no slouch (and an expensive upgrade for most PC laptops). The built-in camera is very handy, the 1GB of RAM is adequate for most things, and the built-in wireless and bluetooth are very nice for me.

I was leary to go with the glossy screen because I feared the glare. I admit that I bought this before I ever went to see one in a store. However, it really hasn't been a problem for me. Occasionally I'll see some reflection from bright objects, but not often. I will say that the viewing angle on the screen is much more limited than I had expected (hence, the four-star rating). Once I'm situated, it's fine. However, moving up, down, or side to side dramatically reduces the quality of the picture. The optimal viewing angle is not one in which the built-in iSight is pointed directly at me, so when I use iChat with my family (they all have Macs), I have to choose between a slightly washed out image of them or having them see only the top of my head.

I like the design quite a bit. Mine has a small imperfection in the trackpad that causes some irritation as I'm using it. Also, the edges aren't rounded, so if you type with your arms resting against the bottom of the keypad then you'll feel some discomfort. Other than that, it really is nice. The screen is larger than I had expected. The keys are comfortable to type on and have a good tactile response.

You'll almost surely give up some connectivity (i.e. ports) if you choose this over a PC, but I don't regret my decision one bit. Overall, it's a nice machine.

This is an awesome laptop. There are only two things I can add to the rest of the great reviews.
1. The heat is not bad on my lap. Perhaps its because I'm from Phoenix and am used to things being hot :o) Or more likely I got used to my Acer and my Mac is not even close to the heat that the Acer gives off.

2. The sharp edge of the Mac is uncomfortable. Darn near hurts after a few hours. Problem solved :o) Took my husband's dremel tool and sanded the edge down then polished it. Looks as good as new and has a softer edge that doesn't hurt and the profile is unchanged.

Love the Mac so much that I bought one for each of my children for Christmas, and bought a laptop for hubby. He, however is a staunch PC man and could not be swayed from a new Toshiba Tablet. He is stubborn, but there has to still be a market for OTM (other than Mac's).

Pros:
Slick look
Intuitive OS
Simple to use
Awesome features
Nice software package
Just plain cool

Cons:
The edges are a bit on the sharp side, and can leave your wrist sore when typing
Sensitive to scratches and fingerprints
Glare

I got the Macbook about a month ago, was impressed by the glossy look and simple layout.I upgraded the memory myself when it arrived, which costs less than buying it built-in and is still covered by the warranty. The Macbook was blazingly fast and it ate everything I threw at it. Having read that it wasn't the best computer to play graphics-intensive games, I downloaded a Halo demo off apple's site. Not one problem gaming-wise. It did eat up my battery and put the fans to work, but that was expected. Under normal conditions (most itunes work, web-surfing and word-processing) the battery life was healthy and the computer was whisper-quiet. I had also heard that older Macbook models had heat issues, but mine has had none whatsoever.
The OS was simple for me to get the hang of, considering I was a life-long Windows user, and the features come in handy. I use Expose all the time, it eliminated all my window clutter. Dashboard has tons of nice apps you can download (I recommend istat, which is kind of like the Windows Task Manager, letting you know everything from uptime to temps).The bundled software that comes with the Macbook is actually useful, not like the apps that come with PCs, which seem randomly thrown in just for fattening effect.

Now for the problematic stuff. First and foremost, the scratches. I took reasonable care of my Macbook, yet it was scratched within 2 weeks of my getting it. The scratches weren't deep, but they were cosmetically bothersome. If you're planning on buying one, and you care about the glossy finish, you better buy a case for it. Second, the edges of the keyboard are rather sharp, and can irritate your wrists when you're typing. The case solved this problem, but it is worth noting anyways. Also, if you configure the trackpad for tap-clicking, it is a bit sensitive, I have had to put the cursor back in place a couple of times when typing. Finally, glare has been nagging me, I had to lower the screen brightness and tilt it back to make it go away (I still wonder why Apple didn't make Macbooks with a matte screen)
Overall, this were only minor annoyances for me, and were more than compensated by the nice features of the Macbook (and by my sister's green face when she saw it =P).

This is the first mac I've ever used or owned, so if you are looking for a comparison between the macbook and other macs, this review will not help. However, as a person who has used computers for the past 10-15 years, I can say that the macbook is a great buy. The reason is a few-fold.

First, the macbook is well made. For those of you who are concerned (as I was) about the heat issue with the macbook, I can disspell those fears. I've had my macbook on for many hours at a time. In addition, for much of that time, I was using both audio and graphic intensive programs (such as Garageband). My machine did heat up, but it didn't get hotter than any other machine I have used. Before owning the macbook I had a Toshiba satellite which got just as hot after a few hours.

Second, the switch to the mac operating system was fairly easy. After a few days I got used to where things were placed and am now easily able to navigate the machine. The operating system is very intuitive.

Finally, it networks very easily with other macs and pcs. This was a definite plus as I had over 20 gigs worth of music and files I needed to transfer from my pc. It took me less than 5 minutes to link the two computers together to transfer the files (and this was my first time I ever networked two computers together).

For those of you who are unsure whether to buy mac or pc, I would definitely consider buying this. Although there are some annoyances with the mac (and that may just be because I haven't figured out the shortcuts), but the pc has many keyboard shortcuts for editing text that I haven't been able to find with the mac (i.e. ctrl - backspace to delete a word).

Overall, the macbook is a good buy. It has a sleek design, and the glossy widescreen is great for watching movies.

For the most part, the few criticisms that I've read on this forum and others about the MacBook come from deficiencies that have nothing to do with Apple, and everything to do with the people who are buying or the people who are selling.

Simply put, this is most likely the best computer on the market, in terms of what you get for your hard earned cash.

Now to debunk some of the empty criticisms I have heard:

1. "It gets too hot."
- EVERY notebook with a decent processor and as much power as the MacBook is going to get hot. I can tell you that it has been kind of nice to have a warm lap this winter at times. But in all seriousness, the MacBook isn't going to singe the flesh of your thighs, contrary to how some people make it out.

2. "The Apple keyboards don't work."
- Well, if you can't type to begin with, then (again) you'll have an issue with just about any notebook keyboard. In reality, Apple has completely redisigned the MacBook's keyboard - it is the most comfortable keyboard I've used in any PC/Mac, ever (not counting ones I've purchased to supplement the keyboard that is bundled with the computer).

3. "I can't use OSX after using Windows for so long."
- This one baffles me. Let's put it this way - if you can't deal with OSX after Windows, there's something wrong with you. It's not like learning a new language. OSX is wonderfully steamlined. If you'd like to continue to be prodded with dialog boxes and enjoy taking 30 minutes to connect/disconnect your USB printer, just stick with Windows. Or better yet, RUN WINDOWS on the MacBook with Parallels.

4, and most importantly: "The price is all image and nothing behind it."
- This really irks me. I believe that most of the people that say this are just disgruntled PC owners that have never used a MacBook, or are attempting some odd exercise in non-conformity. So we should punish a Mac because it's good looking AND manages to work properly? I don't want to sound elitist, but ask anyone that has used a PC and a Mac, and those that are of sane mind will choose a Mac for 99% of functions. It's just faster, easier, and smoother.

Go ahead, spend the extra dough. You won't regret it one bit, I promise.

Four WONDERFUL Stars!! As a 19 year Mac user who goes all the way back to the Mac-II and even before System 7 OS, this newer model Intel 2 GHz Core 2 Duo processor-based MacBook is light-weight, slick-looking, wonderful portable computing. This "white" model is a quick update by Apple on the old Core Duo MacBook portable computer that was only introduced six months ago.

Besides the Intel Core 2 Duo processor update on this model MacBook, my "Pro" features are:
* a larger hard drive (from 60 to 80GB Serial ATA Drive),
* more RAM (1GB for this model, which I've bumped up to the maximum 2 GB),
* a whopping double-layer SuperDrive DVD burner which can give up to 8GB of DVD+R disc storage capabilities,
* a fantastic bright 13.3 inch glossy screen delivered at 1280x800 pixels,
* a longer-range built-in AirPort Extreme WiFi (be careful if you use WiFi, it will pull in all the neighborhood/office WiFi nets, so if you use AirPort, get set up and password-encrypted quickly before you add your close-hold data to your hard drive),
* a better Bluetooth 2.0+EDR wireless capability for peripherals,
* an "iSight" camera lens integrated into the case above the screen, using the Photo Booth software to instantly begin taking sharp pictures around your keyboard environment,
* analog & optical/digital audio input/outputs,
* a mini-DVI port (requiring low cost adapters sold by Apple) that can display on external monitors,
* the Tiger Operating System is arguably the world's best with ITunes, iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand, and IPhoto, and the Widgets sitting on the translucent DashBoard are amazing,
* the case opening and closing mechanism is the best ever,
* and, the fabulous Mag-Safe power connector that protects against accidental trips on the powercord. It disconnects from the computer under pressure.

"Cons":
* Say goodbye to your MAC Classic software and data, it won't run on ANY Intel-based MAC, you'll have to use a disc work-around to get your data to Intel MACs, but they warned us about this a long time ago,
* no internal dial-up modem, (Apple sells a small-size, low cost USB dial-up modem for your on-the-road, non-WiFi computing),
* the speaker sound is crystal-clear stereo but low power, so you may need external speakers for bigger sound,
* your bigger power- and processor-hungry video games will run at low to mid rates only. But some will run normally: "HALO-Combat Evolved" ran super smooth at the maximum LEGENDARY level using 800x600 screen resolution at 30 fps, actually outloading my 2.1 GHz IMac G5 PowerPC. "Nanosaur 2" ran very well at 16 bit color. 'MacLife' magazine reports Doom 3 at maximum won't run at all. Changing screen resolution to 640x480 at 27 frames for Doom 3 may work,
* A DVD will eat more power, so plan on movie viewing no longer than 3 to 3.5 hours on the battery, otherwise 4 to 5 hours of easy computing may work. Always plan for less time and stay charged. All rather minor complaints about a great little MacBook computer that is really fast and versatile. Highly Recommended.
Happy Computing!! Four MOBILE Stars.