MacBook and MacBook Pro Disassembly and Photos

[Raptura]

I got some hands on experience with the new MacBooks today at my local Apple Store and I am not impressed. The glare was awful, if you stand over the laptop the screen turns white because of the viewing angle and the glare makes it even worse. I don't like the keyboard and even though Apple said they created the perfect trackpad, it felt like I had to drag my finger because of the friction. The trackpad as a giant button works really great though because the bottom is mainly where it sinks in the most, so it's like the button never left.

It's big update for the MacBook and it's much better than what it was, but not for the MacBook Pro. The new MacBook Pro doesn't feel 'Pro' anymore because it's identical to the MacBook. If the new MacBook Pro had the same keyboard as the last Pro, an antiglare screen and the non-glass trackpad, I would say it was a good update, but as it is now I don't like it.

 

[Ping Guo]

Any one seen any benchmarks yet?

These are from PC Magazine. The plastic Macbook with Intel X3100 actually scores higher in some of the Sysmark 2007 tests according to them!

 

[rlmccormick]

There is no denying the new build quality is outstanding, but the black keyboard is still fugly. I wish they kept the matching keyboard that has been with us since the G4 PB. But really, other than they keyboard, this thing is killer.

Glossy sucks too.

Now that the bezel is black the keys do match the case. I admit to being biased, I'm enjoying the chiclet keys on my new MBP. They feel much nicer than the ones on my older MB.

 

[number9]

Take it back to the store! Don't mess with it.... don't try and fix it yourself..... don't even look at it too hard! This is your girl-friend's system, therefore there is a different "rules of physics" at work here.
1) A "little" tug will be amplified 15 fold
2) Static will jump gaps of up to a meter (or yard - depending on your location)
3) Liquids will spill sideways
4) Screws, despite you not even having a screwdriver in the room, will unseat themselves and lodge themselves in awkward places
5) Marginal quality chips will choose this moment to fail
6) Pixels will have their life-energy sucked out of them

In other words, all attempts to be helpful and "fix" your girl-friend's system will end up badly.

Take it to the store, get them to fix it, replace it, or whatever ...

Buy an adapter as a present for inconveniencing your girl-friend. Trust me on this one.

Good luck.

haha points well taken. I already began to find out parts of this when I was setting it up for her last night, mainly in her reactions to how gentle I was with it (apparently my hand can scratch aluminum) and then also the wireless set up resulting in no internet through out the house. I do understand her paranoia though, it is her first Mac purchase, so its her new baby. I've trained her well

 

[Makindosh]

No idea...

First post!

Take that puppy apart! Better you than me! You wont catch me taking my new machine apart.

Edit: Dang, you beat me to it!

Have no idea why some people are so obsessed with "first posts..." Youtube is full of these "first post" obsessed immature people, or teens.

I decided to wait until January and then I am gonna buy one with Snow Leopard and I am buying it to play games. I am not designer, or photographer or video editor. Happy to see Apple is considering gaming on their notebooks. Last year I was gonna buy alienware but I am not into windows os. I love mac os x and I love the mac machines. Price is not problem.

 

[California]

Those logic boards are getting tiny.

Yeah. Tiny enough for a Mac Mini redesign...

Aluminum Mac Mini? Please Apple.

 

[California]

There is no denying the new build quality is outstanding, but the black keyboard is still fugly. I wish they kept the matching keyboard that has been with us since the G4 PB. But really, other than they keyboard, this thing is killer.

Glossy sucks too.

I think you have to remember Ives' 1960's obsession with German Eames Era products like Braun.

The original Titanium Powerbook, with black keys, was an ode to Braun industrial design as was the iPod and the aluminum casing on the Powermac G5/Mac Pro. The white iBook/MacBook also an ode to 70's Kartell pop plastic designs.

Ives is a genius who knows the history of industrial design. Someone really needs to do a design show around him.

 

[cult hero]

Yeah. Tiny enough for a Mac Mini redesign...

Aluminum Mac Mini? Please Apple.

Man, I hadn't thought about that. That'd be a neat looking little machine.

 

[Kwill]

Wow! "There are 56 screws on the keyboard, plus two on the power button."

 

[editguy]

Editguy. Have you filed yet???

To file a complaint about the exclusion of FIREWIRE in Macbooks you can simply click here... very simple.
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbook.html

Or call 1-800-MYAPPLE and ask for the Conumser Relations Division...

For MACBOOK PRO click here...
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html

Yes I have! And thank you for making us aware!

 

[dongmin]

There is no denying the new build quality is outstanding, but the black keyboard is still fugly. I wish they kept the matching keyboard that has been with us since the G4 PB. But really, other than they keyboard, this thing is killer.

Glossy sucks too.

I wonder if there will be some THIRD PARTY solutions to these pet peeves of people. I'm thinking custom-color keys and anti-gloss films.

 

[pismodude2]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_1_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5F138 Safari/525.20)

The horror! Love the mouse button... And the trackpad... Wait a second!

 

[Eidorian]

These are from PC Magazine. The plastic Macbook with Intel X3100 actually scores higher in some of the Sysmark 2007 tests according to them!

I don't know how many times they ran the benchmark but both processors run at 2.4 GHz. The new processors are cooler but you're not going to see much of a difference when it comes to raw CPU power.

Yeah. Tiny enough for a Mac Mini redesign...

Aluminum Mac Mini? Please Apple.

Stop tempting me. 9400M Mac Mini would be on my desk immediately.

 

[jtshaw]

I'm basing this on the other MBP and MB's that I myself have used and with the units my colleagues and associates use. Some of them look pretty bad after a while. And it's just not a matter of hygiene per-se. It's just that those keys begin to look pretty worn-out after a lot of use and I think Apple decided on the black color to maintain a more cleaner look after using it for a couple years. When I look at my friends' older MBP's and see that keyboard all worn out and faded, the black color begins to look much more appealing.

Of course, every person is different and how they keep and maintain their keyboards and the amount it's used makes a huge difference. Notebooks take a beating. One never knows what stuff gets on their fingers. Just look at people at a Starbucks typing-away on their keyboards while wiping their fingers on their pants after munching away on a scone and latte. It racks up after a while!

Just an opinion. Nothing personal.

Ya... my 17" Powerbook (being replaced with a brand new 15" MacBook Pro currently in route from China) did take a beating (odd since I feel I treat my stuff very well). The keyboard still looks good as new. However, the palm rests are scratched on my non-watch side (I do typically take the watch off anyway), the aluminum bezel on the lower side of the screen is noticeably bent (just from all the opening and closing I assume?), the clasping mechanism gave up holding the display down, the mouse button doesn't work so well anymore (kind of sticks), and recently the display died. However, the machine is also 4 years old.

Oh ya, and it has firewire.

 

[editguy]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Apple sells a $999 notebook with FireWire for those who need it. People are not required to buy the more expensive aluminum version.

We're not required to buy anything. But many of us were looking forward to the redesigned aluminum MB's with the improved graphics. But by removing the firewire Apple pulled the rug out from under us.

 

[editguy]

Ya... my 17" Powerbook (being replaced with a brand new 15" MacBook Pro currently in route from China) did take a beating (odd since I feel I treat my stuff very well). The keyboard still looks good as new. However, the palm rests are scratched on my non-watch side (I do typically take the watch off anyway), the aluminum bezel on the lower side of the screen is noticeably bent (just from all the opening and closing I assume?), the clasping mechanism gave up holding the display down, the mouse button doesn't work so well anymore (kind of sticks), and recently the display died. However, the machine is also 4 years old.

Oh ya, and it has firewire.

My G4 Powerbook has silver keys and it's five and a half years old but looks as good as the day I purchased it.

 

[Eric S.]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Apple sells a $999 notebook with FireWire for those who need it. People are not required to buy the more expensive aluminum version.

So if you want Firewire you have a choice between spending a thousand dollars on old technology or an extra seven hundred ($2000 total) for a "pro" model. Not exactly good options for the average buyer.

 

[cult hero]

I gotta say, I feel like I was one of the few who was generally happy about the new machines in just about every way. I differed from others in these areas:

1. I like the ports all on one side and the optical drive on the other. I think it might suck if you're left handed, but I'm not.

2. I hate matte screens. So, no loss here.

3. The new trackpad is brilliant, period.

4. Displayport rocks. I'm so glad that's what they're using. (Although, I wish it wasn't the mini version.)

5. nVidia. Weeeeeee!

6. Unibody rules. Strangely, I was more excited about that than anything else.

7. I like the environmentally friendliness of the new machine.

8. The new cinema display rules. It's almost a docking station. If only I could route ethernet through it!

The only complaint I have about the new design is the lack of firewire 400. The adapter on the Pro is kind of annoying (although it's not bad), however the lack of firewire on the new MacBook is unforgivable. I had planned on getting a Pro whenever the next refresh occurred anyway, so losing firewire won't affect me directly, but it still really, really bugs me. Apple is the company that pushed that and has had it almost universally forever. Now? "Well, you need to be a 'Pro' to use it." Fine, if that's the way you're gonna be, at least offer a 13" Pro book or would being able to put ExpressCards in the 13" book be too much to ask?

Don't they have a test audience? I have seen NO ONE defend dropping firewire. It seems that they did know and this was an excuse to force people to go Pro. Really, really lousy.

(I would have liked to have seen eSATA and a resolution bump too, but those were just things on the wish list.)

With all that said (and in an attempt to be on topic) this disassembly is just awesome. I used to own a 12" PowerBook and had to replace the antenna wire when I first bought it used (total disassembly) and later had to replace the optical drive. It was a long, painful process both times. As someone who is not afraid to fix his own machine, this new setup is a welcome change.

I can't wait till mine arrives! Ordered it on the 14th!

(As a side note, is there any mini displayport to regular displayport adapter available?)

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

These new laptops are stunning. I do wish the macbook had firewire though, because I know some video cameras can't use anything but firewire. Oh well, maybe I'll get the pro. Either way, I love them both, and when I do buy one in the next couple months, probably for Christmas, I'll be keeping it for a while.

Great job apple, you addressed the build quality, and gave us better computers for the money. I'm stoked.

 

[dba7dba]

hoarding dvi to vga adapter

NO VIDEO ADAPTER?

APPLE are you effing kidding me? It's proprietary, what a freaking nightmare. Buy buy $50 student discount...

I've been hoarding dvi to vga adapter thinking i will use them for macs in the future... doh.

 

[miketcool]

With the number of screws holding in the keyboard and the nature of a solid aluminum block for the casing...

Are we on the verge of a spill proof laptop? A simple rubber gasket and some plugs for ports, and we may have something very very close.

I would love to see this on the 17" along with a matte screen, and a video adapter. If were going Mini DisplayPort, why not include 2 on the monster chassis. Possibly a full keyboard with a number pad?

Impress me in January Apple. We PROs are still holding out for a PRO machine...

 

[kabunaru]

I wonder how the new MacBook compares to the old MacBook Pro and 12" PowerBook G4 (in pictures).

 

[KevanDual2.5]

More bad news...

Lovely things to look at. Probably even better to actually use.

However, i have just perused the Service Manuals for the new notebooks. I am not massively keen on what i see. From my point of view, as a Mac fixing guy, there are a couple of things that displease me.

1. The keyboard is part of the top case. In the same way as the original MacBook.

2. The display is TiBook style.


The keyboard being part of the top case might not sound like much of a problem. The MacBook has been this way since it was introduced. Replacing a top case on an original MacBook is an easy job that is not too expensive. A few screws and the thing lifts off. However, as the new MacBook (and Pro) now have all of the components fixed to the top case, replacing a keyboard that has had your Dom Perignon spilt into it is now a major job. Every single component must be removed to do it. No matter how cheap the top case turns out to be, the labour costs will be high.

The display is one sealed unit. The LCD cannot be removed at all. The Service Manual warns against any attempt at removing the glass. If you crack the glass, or the LCD goes bad, it means you have to buy the whole assembly just like the TiBook. Swapping the assembly appears to be quite easy. Labour won't be the big cost but i bet the display assembly won't come cheap.

AppleCare is essential for these notebooks. I would be looking for some sort of accidental damage insurance as well. Apple have certainly reduced the number of parts, but the price of those parts will be scary!

 

[MrZebra]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Apple sells a $999 notebook with FireWire

And also with faulty desing problems. No thanks.
Oh, and 999$ for dated hardware? Again, no thanks.


Ps. to those who are going to answer that aluminium has its own set of problems, I know about it already, I just want no cracks. And the new manifacturing process seems also very promising regarding these kind of design issues

 

[ccuk]

It's not really proprietary. Displayport and Mini Display port are industry standards, it's just that it's so new so there's very little with these ports on them currently, which means you have to get adapters to connect to exisitng displays.

Having to get other cable adapters does suck, I agree.

------

As for the take apart pictures, I'm a bit surprised at the second cover over the battery. So you have the bottom piece of the case to remove. Then the battery cover. Isn't that just extra weight for no reason? At least 3rd party battery makers will have it easier, since they don't have to recreate the silver bottom on the battery to match the case.

I don't know of any other company publicly announcing the inclusion of this mini display port... at the moment it is indeed proprietary.

I still don't understand why Apple couldn't have used the standard Display Port connector instead of creating this mini version.