I have had my new Macbook Aluminum for a few days now… time for a review. (Photo Copyright Apple Inc.)
The Apple Experience
Ah yes, The new MacBook Aluminum. Love it or hate it you can not deny the fact that Apple will more than likely sell a metric ton of them. This is likely due to one of the most important parts of the Apple product cycle. You don’t just buy a piece of hardware that you unpack and throw on the desk. Traditional computer manufacturer’s packaging is akin to buying a microwave. Who knows if you are carrying home a blender, a clock radio, or a brand new HP? With Apple however, you buy an experience. The attention to packaging and small details is amazing. It makes you more attached to the product that you bought, it gives you the warm fuzzy, it makes you feel like the manufacturer really cares, and it makes other people on the subway want to give you the finger because you are carrying what is obviously a box containing your shiny new Apple Macbook Aluminum.
This brings me to:
Packaging
The packaging on Apple products is second to none and the new Apple Macbook Aluminum is no exception to this rule. Continuing with their “We are Eco Friendly and Love the Planet” kick the first thing that I noticed was the completely stripped down packaging.
Looking at a new box as compared to a box even last model shows large differences. It is much slimmer and uses about 1/2 less packaging over all. Out is the styrofoam lid which hides the machine from your view when opened and in is a foam pad that is secured to this lid. This nice change lets the machine be displayed in front of you as soon as you open it. There is a little piece of cardboard that is used as a “pull-me” tab to the machine out of the container which also states “Designed by Apple In California”. (As in.. hello.. I am your Macbook.). The software, swag and power cable are stowed below in the second plastic tray, which also serves as a structural component.
Inside you will find the usual suspects:
An Apple MagSafe Power Cable with Extention and Plug Adaptor
Box of software and manuals containing 2 install disks, two manuals, some warranty stuff and the ever popular “I am an Apple Snob neener neener” stickers which I never end up using.
Build
How on earth could you take the most solidly constructed notebook and make it more solid?
Cut it out of a single block of aluminum.
The build quality of the New Macbook Aluminum is second to none. It is by far THE best and most solid construction of ANY notebook I have ever had the pleasure to use. I have owned and used metric tons of laptops in my lifetime. (The first actual “laptop” that I owned was a compaq 286 with a black and white screen… in MASSIVE contrast to that or any of the other 15 something laptops that I am surrounded by.. ) This thing really IS built like a brick. It feels that solid. I have no better way to explain it, their code name does it complete justice. There is no flex in the chassis. When you have your palms on the rests, it is like you are pushing down on a single solid piece of metal. When typing on the new macbook as compared to the old macbook, it feels cheap and that in itself is a feat… they took the best and made it better.. leaps and bounds better.
The previous generation Macbook Pro used a spring loaded system so that when the open button was pressed it would cause the lid to pop open and the previous Macbook used a rubber bumper system on each side of the lid. These gave you a little play so that you would not smack it down too hard, but had the disadvantage of rubbing the keyboard on the screen and transferring finger grease. Apple engineers fixed these problems too. Instead they installed a tiny rubber ring around the outside of the lid that sticks out ever so slightly to raise the screen surface. This continues the complete length of the case which keeps dust and debris out while it is closed. They also recessed the keyboard at level with the palm rests. This keeps the keyboard off the screen. Yay and yay. The bottom of the machine uses the same large rubber feet that the Macbook Air uses. This makes the machine much more stable on a desk, and is a welcome change to anyone who has ever lost one of the tiny little feet on the older models.
As covered extensively by everyone else, the battery and hard drive compartment is much easier to access and no longer requires a coin or screwdriver to open. The case is rounded just as the Macbook Air and the lid and bottom create a nice slope at the edges.
Screen
Glare! Glare! Horrible! Glare!… is what people are screaming. OK.. let me work that myth for a bit.
First off, I am infatuated with the matte screens of Apple laptops. I wish that they were still available. I absolutely LOVE the matte screen.
The new screen however… well actually I guess it is growing on me? It seems as though there is a an anti-glare / anti-scratch coating on the piece of glass that is in front of the actual screen, just like they have for prescription glasses. While there IS a definite difference between the matte and the glass screen… it is fine when the screen is turned on. When the screen is off however.. it is like a fricken mirror.
Would I rather have a matte screen?
I now question it.
Would I rather that Apple had let the regular Macbooks have the matte option in the previous generation instead of only glossy?
Yes.
Am I upset that Apple did not ADD the matte option to the Macbook Aluminum?
No.
Am I upset that Apple removed matte completely by placing a piece of glass over the screen?
No.
I can see why they did it.
For one in order to offer a matte screen they would have to offer another model WITHOUT the glass over the screen. The glass however serves purposes and is actually pretty nice when you work with it. I like the way that dust and junk can not build up inside the little lip around the screen. It is a good design change since it makes it easier to clean, the coating on it is nice on the eyes, it protects the screen from scratches and junk and it matches their other products.
Rock on Apple.
Update:
The viewing angle is very VERY good. Compared with any other PC laptop I have come across I have found the viewing angle superb. Although it is only a slight viewing angle improvement over the previous generation, I have actually found the screen easier on the eyes than the previous generation. In example, using the machine with my glasses on is far less straining after long periods.
Keyboard / Trackpad
I must admit, I myself was a skeptic about it. The “no button” thing. I was worried that “tap to click” would be the only way to click and that multi touch would get in the way. I think that the new trackpad is great and the multi touch is really an amazing piece of software. The “no button” trackpad.. hate to tell you but it DOES have a button. The button is the rear of the track pad. Just as the mighty mouse has no buttons the Macbook trackpad has no buttons. They are hidden in the depths. This “removal” (more like hiding..) of the button creates a larger trackpad surface. Plus the anti-button makes a satisfying click so unless you look down.. you will never notice that it left the building like Elvis.
The keyboard is an awesome upgrade. Although the key caps are the same as the “chiclet” keyboard from the Air and the Macbook, the structural components underneath are different. This leaves a very solid feel to the keys that is a welcome upgrade to the older one. They no longer rock back and forth and create a bunch of high pitched clacking noises when pushed down. Instead it is replaced by a smooth quiet clunking sound as you write your blog entry, punch out code, finish your term paper, or bang out that hot blockbuster movie script.
Processor and Memory
While I hear a number of people complaining about the processor not being as fast as in the $999 Macbook, there are a few things that should be looked at. The processor that is in the Macbook White is an T8100 which according to Intel uses more power, has a higher heat output and has a slower front side bus. The Macbook Aluminum on the other hand has a newer P7350 which puts out a lower amount of heat, uses less voltage and has a faster front side bus speed. The new Macbook also has DDR3 memory where as the old model is still using DDR2. These things provide the oomph that delivers more power for package, with lower heat (I have not heard the fan kick up).
Ports and Connectivity
The New Macbook Aluminum contains, in my opinion all the ports and connectivity that you will need for general purpose computing. All the ports have been moved to the left side, and in the order of left to right are; Mag Safe power adaptor plug, Gigabit Ethernet, 2x USB 2.0, Display Port Adaptor, Mic Jack /w Optical, Headphone jack /w Optical (ALSO SUPPORTS APPLE HEADPHONES WITH MIC), Kensington Standard Lock port, Battery Indicator and button. The right side contains a single item, the slot load Super Drive. Rejoice, The Combo Drive has finally been killed off. The front has the hidden sleep light next to the infrared port. Inside you get the new 802.11n standard Airport built in, an iSight cam (which appears to be upgraded since the last model), and a 160 gigabyte and up drive.
I know, I know.. “What about the missing Firewire!?” you are screaming.
Look, getting the firewire in the Macbook was a fluke. The only reason we got it to begin with is that the iPod used it instead of USB, so it was required to sell iPods to people who bought Macbooks.. and vice versa required to sell Macbooks to people who bought iPods. Now that iPods have switched over to USB, and all the new cameras support USB.. there is no need for it. It saves Apple bucks not to have to add two more chips into the unit when only a TINY FRACTION of people who buy the Macbook even utilize it. I knew it was leaving the Macbook line years ago when they pulled the plug on firewire iPods.
Overall
I am very happy with this machine. It is a very good upgrade from the previous generation Macbook. I really think it is worth every penny, and I am very pleased with it. Laptops for me only last a few months to a year and then I tend to update to the newest model. With the last Macbook lasting nearly a year, they are really getting to the point where I am not needing to update as often to have the power to do everything that I would like.. compiling and building applications etc.. even with the few downsides.. no firewire, no express card slot…
This one really is a keeper.
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