Is the unibody macbook one of apple's best notebooks ever?

[I'm a Mac]

I wanted to get a secondary computer for mostly travel and vacation purposes, and toyed with the idea of a macbook air but then I realized that although it's a great product, it was too expensive and a little impractical for my needs, especially if I'm not carrying it around every day.

Then I thought about getting a Macbook Pro for travel- I figured the screen would be great for movies- but then I thought about it and for travel purposes it would be overkill and a lot to schlep around. Then when I saw the new unibody macbook- the build quality really amazed me. Is it me or is this thing really amazing?

Even though it might be less bang for my buck, because it better suited my purposes, I went with the 2.4 macbook over the last-gen MBP for less money? Am I an idiot? Or does anyone else think this thing is as amazing as I do? Every time I look at it I'm amazed by the quality. Does anyone else think this thing is as amazing as I do (I'm equally as amazed by the new MBP, it's just that this is a consumer model, which makes it more surprising.)

Also, does anyone think that the form factor of the macbook beats out the mbp?

[Chandler Adaway]

For purposes at a consumer level, I would have to agree.
I'm still waiting for mine to come in the mail (it's been stuck in SACRAMENTO since Saturday and it's making me angry :mad:)

Congrats on your purchase. :D

[Tinknock71]

Yes she is very sexy! Oh you mean the Macbook! yes they did a great Job on the build, quality, finish. I love the look of it nice and thin. I think they will upgrade the MBP to look like the rest of them. The wife said the other day I wish you spent as much time with me as you do your Macbook! I told her at least it turns on and off when I want it to!!!

[Vulcan]

I personally feel the 12" PowerBook was, but meh.

[Chandler Adaway]

I think the 12" powerbook was such a technologically advanced machine for it's time that everyone who got to experience it's release are still in love with it till this day.

Not saying it's not sexy of course. ;)

[superwoman]

I thought the Titanium Powerbook was a thing of unsurpassed beauty.

[Tinknock71]

I think the 12" powerbook was such a technologically advanced machine for it's time that everyone who got to experience it's release are still in love with it till this day.

Not saying it's not sexy of course. ;)

Yes I have to agree with you on that one! I sold my 12 Powerbook to get the new one, some days I wish I still had it, it was the perfect size for the lap.

[I'm a Mac]

I don't remember the powerbook 12" that well, and unfortunately I never got to experience it. (I was an iMac guy) But I did always have admiration for aluminum powerbooks, they were light years ahead in design and power of everything else on the market, if they were a little more reasonably priced they would've been a lot more succesful. And now I can see why the 12" powerbook was so unique- all that power in such a portable body

but now the unibody almost takes away from that design- they did they unthinkable- they beat out the design of the old macbook pro/powerbook

also, was there a big difference between the alumbook and tibook?

[Solemony]

Yes it is...It's so awesome!

[Primejimbo]

I'm very happy with my Macbook, I was going to get a pro, but it was a waste of money for me and it was overkill, so I got the Macbook and I couldn't be happier.

[philosopherdog]

The unibody is my 1st Mac. It's quite an unbelievable machine. I was buzzing for a week after I got mine. From what I've read it's probably the 1st Mac notebook that really runs cool. I think when you combine the innovative build and build quality, with the cool temperature this thing runs at you really can't beat this machine. Battery life is unbelievable. I get at least 6 hours with wifi off, sometimes more. It's so thin and light I just carry it everywhere with me. The screen is unbelievable too. I wrote today is a sunny library on it and it was incredible. What I love about Apple is how build on the success of previous incarnations. And then to top it all off you've got OS X. Incredible value. The 12 inch silver Macbook was the first Mac that really caught my eye, but the unibody Macbook was the first one that made me run out and buy one.

[MacJenn]

12 inch PowerBook by far. The newbies will of course say the unibody but that is all they know.

[fifthroot]

I think it is one of Apple's best notebooks. Certainly there have been greater, but as far as great notebooks I think the MacBook is a winner. I am absolutely amazed at how much this thing can do, without paying a premium price. From a design standpoint, it has the sexiness factor without compromising utility. Very nice notebook.

[cogsinister]

12 inch PowerBook by far. The newbies will of course say the unibody but that is all they know.

I had a 12 inch PowerBook, but i prefer my Unibody.......its better made, and faster.....

[I'm a Mac]

I think it is one of Apple's best notebooks. Certainly there have been greater, but as far as great notebooks I think the MacBook is a winner. I am absolutely amazed at how much this thing can do, without paying a premium price. From a design standpoint, it has the sexiness factor without compromising utility. Very nice notebook.

What, in your opinion, was the greatest then?

[mcdj]

I had a 12 inch PowerBook, but i prefer my Unibody.......its better made, and faster.....

+1

Had a 12" for close to 3 years. Loved it. Got the unibody 2.4. Sold the 12". Was sad to see it go; for about a day. Haven't looked back. Even my GF, comparing the two said the 12" was starting to look dated. It sure ran like it was becoming dated, if for no other reason than the unibody's 802.11n vs. the 12"g.

And I gave my GF a MB Air for xmas. She too had the 12" for 2+ years. She loved that computer, but once she tasted the Air, it was no comparison.

12 inch PowerBook by far. The newbies will of course say the unibody but that is all they know.

Ugh. Speak for yourself Miss 100 Posts. Don't give the rest of us a bad name with pedantic blanket statements.

[hogfaninga]

+1

Had a 12" for close to 3 years. Loved it. Got the unibody 2.4. Sold the 12". Was sad to see it go; for about a day. Haven't looked back. Even my GF, comparing the two said the 12" was starting to look dated. It sure ran like it was becoming dated, if for no other reason than the unibody's 802.11n vs. the 12"g.

And I gave my GF a MB Air for xmas. She too had the 12" for 2+ years. She loved that computer, but once she tasted the Air, it was no comparison.


It isn't fair to compare the speeds of the 2. One is much older. That wasn't the question anyways.

[tubbymac]

Is it me or is this thing really amazing?

Also, does anyone think that the form factor of the macbook beats out the mbp?

Not just you, yes and yes.

But best ever? That requires comparing the notebooks based on historical context. Comparing the powerbook to the unibody today isn't really fair as technology has moved on.

For it's time? I think the powerbook was better for it's time period even though the unibody is definitely amazing for it's time too.

[Maven1975]

The 12" PB was a slick machine. However, if Apple released something similar (12" Pro with 9400/9600), with what OSX can do today (Bootcamp included) It would be killer!

[mkaake]

The 12 was nice, but it always ran hot (at least the one I used...) - and despite it's slim dimensions, it always seemed like it weighed more than it should.

Great machine, looked great, but it's not quite the be-all end-all of mac laptops.

My nomination? Pismo.

[msjones]

I have just bought the last gen macbook black. It was a toss up between this machine and the new alu MB. It took me ages to decide (well 45 minutes).

I couldnt be happier with my purchase. I am out and about alot and I dont even notice im carrying it in my bag, the screen is great for DVDS, battery brilliant.

For some reason the only thing I found appealing about the new MB was the glass screen, nothing else really did it for me :)

[SuperSnake2012]

I recently replaced my Rev A whitebook with a 2.4 alumbook... best thing I've ever done in my life. :D:cool:

[sushi]

The 12" PB was a slick machine. However, if Apple released something similar (12" Pro with 9400/9600), with what OSX can do today (Bootcamp included) It would be killer!
Agree. Even if it was in the MB13 format.

Who knows, maybe Apple would introduce a MBP13 one day. Not holding my breath but would love to see it.

[tubbymac]

The 12 was nice, but it always ran hot (at least the one I used...)

But that's what gave the powerbook character. It doubled as a stove...

http://www.hackszine.com/blog/archive/fried%20powerbook.jpg

[n8236]

I agree with another poster than it really depends. Every notebook that arrives has its own bells and whistles. And for their time, it's always the hawtness until the new arrives. So the OP's question is really relative.

But just to entertain the thought, I think iMacs of 1998 were the *****z! (Though it was a desktop)
http://lowendmac.com/musings/08mm/imac-g3-legacy.html

[Mackan]

The new MacBook is very solid and quiet. Excellent battery life. LED screen. So far it's a great notebook, and I expect to keep it for many years.

[chocolaterabbit]

the MB13 is already pretty much the MBP13, what with the new graphics and alum. construction, i can't really think of anything that will make it more MBP like, except may be a better screen. As for the powerbook 12, it was good, but let's face it, with all this new technology clearly the new macbook has taken over, i mean the 12" was 4.5 pounds too, so it's heavier relatively.

[djellison]

without paying a premium price.


I just snorted coffee over my keyboard. You've got to warn someone before making a joke like that.

[MacJenn]

the MB13 is already pretty much the MBP13, what with the new graphics and alum. construction, i can't really think of anything that will make it more MBP like, except may be a better screen. As for the powerbook 12, it was good, but let's face it, with all this new technology clearly the new macbook has taken over, i mean the 12" was 4.5 pounds too, so it's heavier relatively.

If that makes you feel better saying that then ok. LOL :rolleyes:

[svndmvn]

the MB13 is already pretty much the MBP13, what with the new graphics and alum. construction, i can't really think of anything that will make it more MBP like, except may be a better screen. As for the powerbook 12, it was good, but let's face it, with all this new technology clearly the new macbook has taken over, i mean the 12" was 4.5 pounds too, so it's heavier relatively.

I think of it the same way, even though I've never had a powerbook of any dimensions. Of course, people will never be happy, if the screens will be as good as the MBA's someone will cry for better pixel density/resolution, more USB ports, of course Firewire, BLU-ray, express cards, all for the base 999 or something, while it would have to cost as much as a 17"MBP.

[Buskape]

I understand your feeling and im feeling the exact same way!

The new macbook is a top notch laptop, i have never seen a laptop that looks so great and solid!

If it wasn't for the size i would have gone for the Pro model but 15" is too big for me don't have much room left in a plane when using a 15" notebook, and it is a bit too expensive for a laptop, here the MacBook unibody costs 2000$ (2314$ with applecare) which is the price of a MacBook Pro in the united states, the MacBook Pro starts at 2600$ without applecare (+314$ for applecare) which is a bit too much for me to put in a computer.

[neiltc13]

The construction is great. It's amazing just how much they improved this compared to the old ones.

But damn, the computer itself is ugly. There was no reason why Apple needed to give it all that hideous black plastic - the best thing about the old MacBook Pro was that it was all silver, it looked like it was all metal. That was the beauty of it.

Why on earth would you want to put a black rim around the display like that? If it was silver, it would just look like a continuation of the lid which would be much nicer. Same goes for the keyboard, it could easily have been made silver and much more beautiful.

[minijon]

I'm gonna say there's two categories here:

Closed, I think the Unibodies are the best looking Mac Notebooks.
Open, it's a different story. The MBP Classic is great. The Black/Silver... meh. Plus the big wide bezel on the new one's is garish. Especially when they touted the Old-Style Cinema Display matte grey as the least ... distracting... color for a bezel. It's like taking a step backwards. I wish they could have just kept the top case as is on the MBP's - and I wouldnt really mind white chicklet keyboard ie just like the wireless. Aluminum and White!

[sk8mash]

The construction is great. It's amazing just how much they improved this compared to the old ones.

But damn, the computer itself is ugly. There was no reason why Apple needed to give it all that hideous black plastic - the best thing about the old MacBook Pro was that it was all silver, it looked like it was all metal. That was the beauty of it.

Why on earth would you want to put a black rim around the display like that? If it was silver, it would just look like a continuation of the lid which would be much nicer. Same goes for the keyboard, it could easily have been made silver and much more beautiful.

The rim around the screen is not plastic. Apart from that there is the keys. What would you suggest they made them out of?

[Gaelic2]

Yes she is very sexy! Oh you mean the Macbook! yes they did a great Job on the build, quality, finish. I love the look of it nice and thin. I think they will upgrade the MBP to look like the rest of them. The wife said the other day I wish you spent as much time with me as you do your Macbook! I told her at least it turns on and off when I want it to!!!
You said that and you are still among the living??? WOW!:)

[robanga]

It is a great little notebook. I have taken it on two business trips lately and it gets the job done. I run VM Fusion and Windows Vista with a bootcamp partition, Office 2008, do work on the corporate VPN etc. All good.

[neiltc13]

The rim around the screen is not plastic. Apart from that there is the keys. What would you suggest they made them out of?

Plastic. Just like the old MacBook Pro keys - silver plastic.

[friekunater]

I am simply blown away by the new unibody MacBooks. before they came along, I wasn't really interested in laptops at all. but, I saw one in real life and I just thought, "Wow! That looks so cool!" the first thing that really caught my eye was the keyboard -- it's hard to really grasp how good-looking it is online (since there are no Apple stores nearby) and you don't know how cool it looks until you actually see it for yourself. it looks so nice with the black border around the screen which, along with the chrome bezel, makes the screen look like it is much brighter and has a much higher contrast. I think that, along with how thin it is and just how damn sexy it is makes it an amazing machine.

since I saw one for the first time 3 weeks ago, I have saved up over $300 and I'm planning I buy a 2.4GhZ model as soon as I possibly can

:)

[MattyK]

I am simply blown away by the new unibody MacBooks. before they came along, I wasn't really interested in laptops at all. but, I saw one in real life and I just thought, "Wow! That looks so cool!" the first thing that really caught my eye was the keyboard -- it's hard to really grasp how good-looking it is online (since there are no Apple stores nearby) and you don't know how cool it looks until you actually see it for yourself. it looks so nice with the black border around the screen which, along with the chrome bezel, makes the screen look like it is much brighter and has a much higher contrast. I think that, along with how thin it is and just how damn sexy it is makes it an amazing machine.

since I saw one for the first time 3 weeks ago, I have saved up over $300 and I'm planning I buy a 2.4GhZ model as soon as I possibly can

:)

*whip noises*

[darngooddesign]

12 inch PowerBook by far. The newbies will of course say the unibody but that is all they know.

The newbies say 12" Powerbook, those in the know say Powerbook 2400c. :D

[Eric S.]

Lack of Firewire automatically disqualifies it for consideration as "best ever."

[friekunater]

Lack of Firewire automatically disqualifies it for consideration as "best ever."

why do people always complain about lack of FireWire? I had never even heard of FireWire until people started complaining about it! our 4-5 year old Dell desktop doesn't have it, and I don't have any FireWire cords or anything that connects to FireWire ports.

when did FireWire come around anyway?

doesn't seem like a big deal to me

[Eric S.]

why do people always complain about lack of FireWire?

Well you can read all of the arguments in this very long thread, and see that for many people it is a big deal:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=583377

But arguments pro and con on Firewire aside, on the new Macbook Apple removed a technology that had been included on every Mac laptop since Pismo in 2000, with no adequate replacement (a technology, moreover, that Apple invented). Obviously that rules out any consideration of this laptop as Apple's "best ever."

[11800506]

Obviously that rules out any consideration of this laptop as Apple's "best ever."

To some that might rule out any consideration of the Macbook as best ever, but to make such a blanket statement is unfair as people have very different needs. For a large amount of people, Firewire is unnecessary and the Macbook is the best. I certainly do love my Macbook Pro and can see how people would love the Macbook so much.

[Eric S.]

To some that might rule out any consideration of the Macbook as best ever, but to make such a blanket statement is unfair as people have very different needs.

It is clearly not the "best ever" if it lacks even the capabilities of the previous model, regardless of people's needs.

[GimmeSlack12]

I think the 12" powerbook was such a technologically advanced machine for it's time that everyone who got to experience it's release are still in love with it till this day.

I gotta agree with you. I bought 12" iBook (what I'm typing on now) instead of getting the 12" PB. I just wish I could have afforded the PB, I was 24 and about to head to grad school. Oh well :(

[cheba63]

It is clearly not the "best ever" if it lacks even the capabilities of the previous model, regardless of people's needs.

Considering the capabilities of the newer model are superior to the previous model in almost all areas, I'd hardly call the previous model better, which it would have to be to say that the new model is clearly not the best ever.

[gan6660]

All macs are great. I love my 20" imac that I got for Christmas.

[Jpoon]

I really think the Power Book Ti was one of the more refined Apple notebooks.

I was much much younger (still very young at 19...), but the design was enthralling.

[animaxcg]

I personally feel the 12" PowerBook was, but meh.
the 12" powerbook was and will always remain the best laptop for its time

in todays market it was more compact than the macbook air (its not as thin) and as powerful as the current macbook pro.

[Mako5]

It is clearly not the "best ever" if it lacks even the capabilities of the previous model, regardless of people's needs.

Being in the technology business, this comment makes me laugh. When making product design decisions, we are constantly faced with the balance of when to sunset technologies vs adopt new ones vs. cost. If we took this approach, we would still have RS-232 ports, ps/2 keyboard ports, VGA ports etc. I for one have no need for firewire, don't miss it and would not want to pay for it. I can do what I need to via USB including edit my HD movies, and back up my HD. Nope don't need it at all.

[Macintosh Sauce]

I recently got the new aluminum MacBook and love using it. Better than the black MacBook IMHO...

[Xapphire13]

It is clearly not the "best ever" if it lacks even the capabilities of the previous model, regardless of people's needs.

I have only used Firewire once in my life and found it pointless, USB can do everything i need it to. IMO, good riddance to it :p! MacBooks look cleaner without it to.

[jb1280]

Aesthetics aside, as it is a matter of personal taste, the new notebooks make a very compelling argument for being one of Apple's best notebook lines.

In recent years, they are some of the most upgradeable machines. Memory appears to be able to go up to 6 or 8 GB down the road, and as long as 2.5" drives and SATA interface are viable, you can breathe new life into the machine with a much larger drive or SSD.

This continual revisionism about the 12" Powerbook is just fascinating. I used to own one. They were great machines. They were, however, just dressed up iBooks in an aluminum enclosure with the a better ability to drive displays.

In the last revisions, the 12" could not drive very large displays like the 15", it lacked a backlit keyboard, lacked Firewire 800 & a card slot, it was still crippled by having one of the dimms soldered to the board, and the graphics split the difference between the iBook and Powerbook.

With the new macbook, you can upgrade the memory and disk drive at the same pace as the macbook pro, you can drive the exact same external displays, you have the possibility to run the same processor and gain a backlit keyboard. You do lose the firewire and some graphics power though.

The form of the 12" Powerbook was great. The function of the new macbook though is something I think trumps the 12"'s form.

[nick9191]

I have only used Firewire once in my life and found it pointless, USB can do everything i need it to. IMO, good riddance to it :p! MacBooks look cleaner without it to.
You'll be pissed off if Apple falls to demand and includes it on the next refresh, making your Macbook worth considerably less when you want to sell it :D

[Xapphire13]

You'll be pissed off if Apple falls to demand and includes it on the next refresh, making your Macbook worth considerably less when you want to sell it :D

Meh, I most likely wont sell it. I just give old comps to friends =].

[djellison]

Also, does anyone think that the form factor of the macbook beats out the mbp?

Well duhhhh - it's smaller, but has the same sized keyboard. If you're looking for compact - of COURSE it's a better form factor! That fact that a £300 netbook can have more USB ports, a card reader, and a non-adaptor-requiring-video-out does suggest that Apple could have done better if they wanted to - but they still run form over function ever so slightly.

[sporadicMotion]

The 12 was nice, but it always ran hot (at least the one I used...) - and despite it's slim dimensions, it always seemed like it weighed more than it should.

Great machine, looked great, but it's not quite the be-all end-all of mac laptops.

My nomination? Pismo.

Oh man, the Pismo was such a good machine... I loved that thing.

It's a hard toss up. Every machine has it's faults and I don't think there is a be all end all... but as far as I'm concerned, the best Apple note books go in this order.

1. MacBook Alu
2. 12" PowerBook
3. Pismo

[chocolaterabbit]

If that makes you feel better saying that then ok. LOL :rolleyes:

doesn't make me feel better or worse either way, they're only computers. but let me put it another way. just because the 80s was the best (assuming you thought the 80s were the best) doesn't mean everyone should bring mullets back :D

[chocolaterabbit]

If that makes you feel better saying that then ok. LOL :rolleyes:

doesn't make me feel better or worse either way, they're only computers. but let me put it another way. just because the 80s was the best (assuming you thought the 80s were the best) doesn't mean everyone should bring mullets back :D

[likemyorbs]

how is this thread still alive? the terrible grammar in the title makes me not even wanna click it to see the thread... is the unibody macbook is one of apples best notebooks ever????? pleeease fix it OP, grammar like that kills me

[ZDDP1273]

This is my first Apple ever, and I'm pretty satisfied with it.

[WinkWink726]

12 inch PowerBook by far. The newbies will of course say the unibody but that is all they know.

I'm in agreement, I've said it a million times and I'll say it again (and I say so in my sig, too!)

My 12" PB G4 was phenomenal!
It was my first Mac and this MacBook is my second.
I'm incredibly happy with both and seeing all of your opinions posted here, only confirms my belief that, though a quasi-noob, I have good taste in 'puters!
(sounds dirty, but you all know what i mean!!!) :eek::p

[I'm a Mac]

how is this thread still alive? the terrible grammar in the title makes me not even wanna click it to see the thread... is the unibody macbook is one of apples best notebooks ever????? pleeease fix it OP, grammar like that kills me

Oops, I'm sorry I didn't even realize that.

And when I say "best ever" I don't mean straight comparing it to other notebooks, I mean relative to what was going on at the time. For example, Even though Leopard has some awesome features; I still really miss Tiger. There was something about it; it's indescribable but others know what I'm talking about- it was just a rock solid OS. And even though these new leopard features are great, Leopard doesn't have that feeling (yet). [And I miss Tiger's spotlight window, too]

And another example of "one of Apple's best ever", I think would be the iMac G4. That was really cool. I still kinda want one, and even though it would get destroyed by my iMac C2E in terms of power, I still envy it in some ways.

[99MustangGTman]

I love my MBA

[I'm a Mac]

I love my MBA
Now do you mean MacBookAluminum (like in your sig) or MacBook air :D? But the MacBook air defintely is another phenomenal product, although it has a somewhat limited function (It makes a great secondary computer for those who use their computers for work/school)

[Whimsy]

12 inch Powerbook G4 was pretty darn amazing. Pretty sure that's my favorite even over the MacBook Air.

[Beric]

The high price of the Glassbook kills all. And even if it were worth the money, firewire is so much faster for a backup drive than USB 2.0, I wouldn't even consider getting one.

[dL.]

Must... stop... reading... this... thread...

You guys are making me wanna trade my Macbook for the aluminum one :p

But I agree, aluminum Macbook FTMFW!

dL

[gibbz]

how is this thread still alive? the terrible grammar in the title makes me not even wanna click it to see the thread... is the unibody macbook is one of apples best notebooks ever????? pleeease fix it OP, grammar like that kills me

Perhaps if you want people to appreciate your grammar critiques, the pot should not be calling the kettle black. I fixed it for you. :)
How is this thread still alive? The terrible grammar in the title makes me not want to click to see the thread. Please fix the title OP because grammar like that kills me.

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/mfl/lowres/mfln130l.jpg

[Koodauw]

Ill agree the 12'' PB was great, I owned two of them. Also thought the Flower iMac was amazing as well. It is a design I really miss.

[marvel2]

I'll agree that the this unibody macbook design is great. However, the screen quality holds it back a little.

The 12" powerbook is still the best design for its time. It's sad I am having to sell mine...

[AZnightrider]

I love my new MB. I have last years model of MB pro And IMHO the unibody is so much better. I still to this day love the look of the "Clamshell" I believe that was a beautiful machine, a little outdated but still beautiful.

[aznguyen316]

Must... stop... reading... this... thread...

You guys are making me wanna trade my Macbook for the aluminum one :p

But I agree, aluminum Macbook FTMFW!

dL

LOL too late, I just sold my macbook black today for what I thought a good price and now in the market for a great priced MB aluminum =) I'm hoping Craigslist does me well.