Engadget review of late 2009 macbook: FAIL

[clyde2801]

This definitely seems to be the most realistic path forward considering the integrated graphics issue and the iMac release.

Could anyone then see Apple slipping a feature or two back into the macbook (like firewire) when the upgrade to the mbp line comes? I'm thinking their removal is due to apple wanting to differentiate their product lines.

Also, I'm thinking that when the quads come out, Apple will first put them in the 17" mbps, and eventually putting them in the 15" and then the 13" models. Like it or not, they're evil geniuses at upselling.

 

[jb1280]

Could anyone then see Apple slipping a feature or two back into the macbook (like firewire) when the upgrade to the mbp line comes? I'm thinking their removal is due to apple wanting to differentiate their product lines.

Also, I'm thinking that when the quads come out, Apple will first put them in the 17" mbps, and eventually putting them in the 15" and then the 13" models. Like it or not, they're evil geniuses at upselling.

I don't see anyway Firewire comes back to the Macbook. $999-$1199 is much more reasonable than the situation that the late 2008 unibody macbooks were in concerning Firewire.

I can see quad core in top two skus of the 15" and 17" only. Dual Core and integrated graphics in 13" and low-end 15".

 

[clyde2801]

I don't see anyway Firewire comes back to the Macbook. $999-$1199 is much more reasonable than the situation that the late 2008 unibody macbooks were in concerning Firewire.

I can see quad core in top two skus of the 15" and 17" only. Dual Core and integrated graphics in 13" and low-end 15".

It kind of depends how on many speeds the quads will come in, doesn't it? Right now, core 2 duo's range in speed from 2 to 3.06 ghz. If the quads have the same variance, I could see them doing the same ranges in the macbook pro line. They'd almost have to in order to stay competitive with wintel machines. ("$1200 for a core 2 duo laptop in 2010? Eff that, I'm getting a HP with a core quad for under a thousand!")

If THAT turns out to be the case, I could see them keeping the macbooks at high end core 2 duo chips to differentiate them from the pros, and silently adding firewire back into the mix.

 

[mosx]

Well thats lovely and all, but I can't even count how many people I know ditching their Dells for Macs.

And I can't even count how many people are ditching their Macs for PCs. Snow Leopard's instability has been the final push for many people, after realizing how little hardware they got for such a high price. It's amazing what you can get in a $1,000 PC these days. If you go up to around $1,200 you get Core i7, GeForce GTS 230, blu-ray, 7200RPM HDDs standard, HDMI, 16x9 screens, etc.

I use Windows 7 x64 (even though Apple tried to lock me out of it!) on my original unibody MacBook. I'm seriously tempted to just wipe OS X off of it completely and give the entire drive to Windows.

 

[clyde2801]

And I can't even count how many people are ditching their Macs for PCs. Snow Leopard's instability has been the final push for many people, after realizing how little hardware they got for such a high price. It's amazing what you can get in a $1,000 PC these days. If you go up to around $1,200 you get Core i7, GeForce GTS 230, blu-ray, 7200RPM HDDs standard, HDMI, 16x9 screens, etc.

I use Windows 7 x64 (even though Apple tried to lock me out of it!) on my original unibody MacBook. I'm seriously tempted to just wipe OS X off of it completely and give the entire drive to Windows.

Of what instability do you speak? Is it the log in as guest and lose your info bug?

BTW, I've also got windows 7 RC on a sun virtual box VM, and it's not a bad little OS.

 

[cfitz7111]

I have had no problems with SL, maybe I am just not taxing it enough.

Plus everything is fine and dandy with Win 7 now, but it has not been out in the wild for very long. Lets face it MS has not had the best track record with XP and Vista. Because it owns 90% of the market, it is only a matter of time before someone breaks Win 7.

I think personally Win 7 is better, but life is too short to be my own IT person. It will be interesting to see if businesses moves to Win 7.

 

[clyde2801]

I have had no problems with SL, maybe I am just not taxing it enough.

Plus everything is fine and dandy with Win 7 now, but it has not been out in the wild for very long. Lets face it MS has not had the best track record with XP and Vista. Because it owns 90% of the market, it is only a matter of time before someone breaks Win 7.

I think personally Win 7 is better, but life is too short to be my own IT person. It will be interesting to see if businesses moves to Win 7.

I can't explain why windows doesn't move to a unix distro and implement prior programs in a virtual environment.

 

[sexyfred1990]

Blah blah blah. Too much speculation & analysis. What happens will happen - wait & see.

 

[clyde2801]

Blah blah blah. Too much speculation & analysis...

Welcome to macrumors, son!

 

[patrixl]

seen some in 2 Apple stores, they weren't scratched, screens were bright as the MBP 13".. Engadget = FAIL?

For my part I prefer the plastic feel of the previous Macbook (which I own), new one feels cheaper somehow, including the palmrest gloss, I'm not sure about it. Looks unfinished.


Patrix.

 

[teerexx52]

My father in law just got it and wow I really like it. It has a good feel and it's a great macbook.

I agree! Nice computer!

 

[SimonMW]

The Engadget review was very fair. People always home in on the negatives. If people had read it properly they would see that they did not say it was a massive fail. They said it was an extremely competent notebook, but that it lacked ports and was pretty boring.

Regarding the scratches and discolouring, it is made of white polycarbonate plastic. This type of surface is always going to be susceptible to scratches and discolouring.

What I don't understand is why they don't just go aluminium unibody across the line. Surely that would help Apples environmental policy too.

It is hard though to see why the MB is still in existence. Aside from the plastic construction the only thing that differentiates this model from the 13" MBP is the lack of firewire, lack of SD slot, and a screen with slightly less colour gamut.

 

[clyde2801]

The Engadget review was very fair. People always home in on the negatives. If people had read it properly they would see that they did not say it was a massive fail. They said it was an extremely competent notebook, but that it lacked ports and was pretty boring.

Regarding the scratches and discolouring, it is made of white polycarbonate plastic. This type of surface is always going to be susceptible to scratches and discolouring.

What I don't understand is why they don't just go aluminium unibody across the line. Surely that would help Apples environmental policy too.

It is hard though to see why the MB is still in existence. Aside from the plastic construction the only thing that differentiates this model from the 13" MBP is the lack of firewire, lack of SD slot, and a screen with slightly less colour gamut.

"If it were up to us, however, we'd stay home on Saturday nights until we'd stashed enough coin for the $1,199 13-inch MacBook Pro -- not only for the added SD card slot and FireWire port, but also for the brighter, better display and aluminum case that doesn't scratch, dent, and discolor at the slightest provocation. There's just no reason to skimp and get the MacBook if you can manage to get the Pro."

 

[grahamnp]

That's interesting. I was just thinking about how the new plastic macbook (heck, even the older one with the 9400m) made the 13" MBP mostly redundant with the biggest differentiator being the styling and prestige.

 

[clyde2801]

That's interesting. I was just thinking about how the new plastic macbook (heck, even the older one with the 9400m) made the 13" MBP mostly redundant with the biggest differentiator being the styling and prestige.

I agree with you to a certain respect...the 2.13 prior gen macbook with the nvidia 9400 is a very capable little machine. (coming from a mac metal 'snob').

What I think is that engadget is mad about is the stripping of features from the mb to artificially differentiate it from the 13" mbp and NOT dropping the price any. If it MSRP'd at even $899 instead of $999, it would be a compelling buy. Apple is an evil genius at the $200-300 upsell game "But for only $200 more, you could also get...". I think people would have been happier if they kept the original design and upgraded the same screen to an led backlight at the same price.

On an unrelated note, I stopped by my local best buy the other day, and they had the new uni mb sitting next to the 13" mbp on display. Surprisingly, I think I liked the mb's display more than the mbp.

 

[teerexx52]

I agree with you to a certain respect...the 2.13 prior gen macbook with the nvidia 9400 is a very capable little machine. (coming from a mac metal 'snob').

What I think is that engadget is mad about is the stripping of features from the mb to artificially differentiate it from the 13" mbp and NOT dropping the price any. If it MSRP'd at even $899 instead of $999, it would be a compelling buy. Apple is an evil genius at the $200-300 upsell game "But for only $200 more, you could also get...". I think people would have been happier if they kept the original design and upgraded the same screen to an led backlight at the same price.

On an unrelated note, I stopped by my local best buy the other day, and they had the new uni mb sitting next to the 13" mbp on display. Surprisingly, I think I liked the mb's display more than the mbp.

I have both a current MacBook Pro 15" and the Unibody MacBook. I agree with what you say about the screen. I find it every bit as good as the current Pro screen I have. Maybe its the luck of the display you get or whatever. I am very pleased with the machine. I wish I could get the back panel off to add my ram. After taking the 8 screws out it seems to be not want to release along the left and right edges. I think it may snap in there but I am not sure and don't want to force it so waiting to hear if anyone on the forums has taken the back panel off.

 

[bchreng]

I have both a current MacBook Pro 15" and the Unibody MacBook. I agree with what you say about the screen. I find it every bit as good as the current Pro screen I have. Maybe its the luck of the display you get or whatever. I am very pleased with the machine. I wish I could get the back panel off to add my ram. After taking the 8 screws out it seems to be not want to release along the left and right edges. I think it may snap in there but I am not sure and don't want to force it so waiting to hear if anyone on the forums has taken the back panel off.

Here's a video that might help. They make it look easy, but then again, they made opening a Mac Mini look easy too. =/

Link

 

[teerexx52]

Here's a video that might help. They make it look easy, but then again, they made opening a Mac Mini look easy too. =/

Link

Thanks very much. Yes, they make it look easy but those clips have really got a hold of the panel. Not as easy as it looks. I called the Apple Store and they told me the clips were put there to make it difficult for users to get the back panel off. Now what sense does that make if it is supposed to be user upgradable? WOW!!!

 

[Richard1028]

I called the Apple Store and they told me the clips were put there to make it difficult for users to get the back panel off. Now what sense does that make if it is supposed to be user upgradable? WOW!!!

You talked to an idiot. He would have to extract the back panel the same way as you will... with his hands.

 

[SimonMW]

"If it were up to us, however, we'd stay home on Saturday nights until we'd stashed enough coin for the $1,199 13-inch MacBook Pro -- not only for the added SD card slot and FireWire port, but also for the brighter, better display and aluminum case that doesn't scratch, dent, and discolor at the slightest provocation. There's just no reason to skimp and get the MacBook if you can manage to get the Pro."

Just as I said,m they didn't say it was a fail. They didn't say that it was a bad laptop. They actually said that it was an extremely competent one.

All you have pointed out is that they said that it would be better value to get the model above it. Not that they said it was a bad computer.

 

[bchreng]

You talked to an idiot. He would have to extract the back panel the same way as you will... with his hands.

I haven't tried it yet with mine, but it's probably pretty difficult to remove it with just your hands alone. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple has some sort of special wedge for their techs to use to loosen those clips that hold the back panel on.

 

[clyde2801]

Simon MW: How did they not say it? How about the first line of the review?

"We'll just come out and say it: we're totally underwhelmed by the new plastic MacBook." That kind of sounds fail to me.

Or the part you may be referring to:

"And... that's it. The MacBook is an extremely competent, utterly boring laptop that doesn't have enough ports." Praise, fail, fail.

Now, if I entitled my post: "Engadet calls the 2009 macbook unibody pro a complete and utter flaming pile of fecal matter", I'd retract my title. I think I've got enough to stand on otherwise.

 

[teerexx52]

I haven't tried it yet with mine, but it's probably pretty difficult to remove it with just your hands alone. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple has some sort of special wedge for their techs to use to loosen those clips that hold the back panel on.

I tried several times. You meet a lot of resistance near the pins on the side. The bottom flexes and to be honest I just didn't want to yank on it any more so I left it for now. They offered to do it at the Apple Store. That would be if I paid them for the memory but I already have it from the 2.26 MacBook Pro I returned to I could easily use it if I could get that panel off.

Otherwise it is a sweet computer. I love taking it around with me.

 

[clyde2801]

I tried several times. You meet a lot of resistance near the pins on the side. The bottom flexes and to be honest I just didn't want to yank on it any more so I left it for now. They offered to do it at the Apple Store. That would be if I paid them for the memory but I already have it from the 2.26 MacBook Pro I returned to I could easily use it if I could get that panel off.

Otherwise it is a sweet computer. I love taking it around with me.

So, they've 'discouraged' people from upgrading the ram and hard drive on the new models? Diabolical!

Have you tried taking it to a authorized 3rd party repair shop? I've got a couple in my city, and those guys are great.

Maybe you could start a separate thread asking about taking off the casing. I'm starting to wonder if they're using a special tool, if there's a bit of a trick that requires a bit of knowledge (such as popping off the keyboard of a 12" powerbook) it's a minor design flaw, or if it was consciously designed to be difficult.

The last one sounds kind of nutty, I know. OTOH, it could be argued that Apple and His Steveness have a tendency to be obsessive control freaks. I'm starting to wonder....

 

[iPhone 62S]

I agree with the price thing. Here in the UK the MacBook has gone up £100 since I got mine just over a year ago.