MacBook and MacBook Pro Disassembly and Photos

[Flyermac]

The screen seems bigger than on other notebooks

I may be wrong, but the Macbook's 13.3" screen seems to be bigger than the 13.3" screens from other manufacturers. If I am not wrong, Apple produces more honest screens than other cheaper manufacturers. I don't refer to Dell or HP, but Chinese, Taiwanese brands though.

 

[dwardin9]

Couldnt resist...dam you Macrumors. Too much hype

I had to get one. Been reading the forums for years but pulled the trigger and joined the Mac community. Love my pc's but the New Macbook is bloody amazing. Yay me

 

[kabunaru]

I had to get one. Been reading the forums for years but pulled the trigger and joined the Mac community. Love my pc's but the New Macbook is bloody amazing. Yay me

Congratulations.

 

[jmsait19]

I disgree. The shiny metal keys has always rendered the backlighting useless. I mean, I am hardly ever in a dark environment where the light from the LCD doesn't reflect off the silver keys with the same luminosity as the backlight.

I've considered the backlighting useless for years.

I paid extra for the original PB with backlit keys. And they were worthless. They are worthless on my MBP. But on a computer with Black Keys, it becomes a necessity... Based on my experience. I'm excited about the backlighting actually being useful for once.

 

[McBeats]

macbook > macbook pro, price wise

kthxbai

 

[ageha]

I may be wrong, but the Macbook's 13.3" screen seems to be bigger than the 13.3" screens from other manufacturers. If I am not wrong, Apple produces more honest screens than other cheaper manufacturers. I don't refer to Dell or HP, but Chinese, Taiwanese brands though.

Apple doesn't produce screens! They buy whatever they can get. Almost all screens are made in Taiwan anyway... lol

 

[digitalbiker]

No, I wasn't talking about streaming, either. I waas talking about capture of recorded video. And the hardware encoder doesn't speed up editing or the editing software. It speeds up encoding and decoding of h264 and nothing else. Which is great if you're encoding to h264. That's a nice feature. But it does nothing else. The graphics card could produce a performance bump in FCE, but I'll never know because there's no Firewire to get the video into the computer! You need to do some research if you want to talk about the ins and outs of video.

And the only way to transfer video from a HDD or DVD camcorder is through proprietary software. You can't do it through FCE. But who's going to dumpt their $4000 prosumer camcorder for junky hdd or Dvd camcorder just so that they can use the MackBook. I will be forced to move to PC laptops to accomplish what I need to do.

Wow! You sure twist everything around. I was never talking about pro video and I was never talking about $4000 HD DV cameras.

In fact, I was responding to a post about not being able to use a HD or SD video camera without FW and no matter how you spin it, that just isn't true.

In fact, I originally posted a link to a new Sony HD DV that output USB 2.0 only. So yes you can get video in. You just have to have a USB 2.0 camcorder. By the way they are not all cr&*(p as you put it. The low end video of today is much better than the pro video of 5 years ago.

You also can use FCE, and iMovie HD to edit video from a consumer camcorder, no problem.

Last, I was just quoting Apple's own add. They claim that the new 9400M in the MB speeds up Aperture, FCE, and Logic over 2X the previous graphics card. I also expect that number to increase once Snow Leopard is released and the OS can off load some tasks to the GPU. And since when isn't encoding and decoding video important. You need to get the video and audio out in different formats sometime after the video is edited.

Trust me, I understand what you are saying about pro level FW being necessary. I agree with you. But in your rage to bad mouth me you hadn't read the post that I was replying to. Besides if you want to edit pro level video from a $4000 HD DV camera why are you editing on a MB? Why not a MBP?

 

[olternaut]

NO VIDEO ADAPTER?

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

I don't get it. Please explain to the mac noob (and notebook noob) the significance of this supposed outrage.

 

[Eidorian]

I don't get it. Please explain to the mac noob (and notebook noob) the significance of this supposed outrage.

The MacBook Pro had a full sized dual link DVI port. You need a US $29 adapter to get DVI now and a US$99 one to get dual link DVI again.

Not to mention they did ship with a DVI to VGA adapter in box.

Apple really wants to nickel and dime us to get the thinness. It's rather annoying to be forced to pay for features that were standard.

 

[digitalbiker]

The MacBook Pro had a full sized dual link DVI port. You need a US $29 adapter to get DVI now and a US$99 one to get dual link DVI again.

Not to mention they did ship with a DVI to VGA adapter in box.

Apple really wants to nickel and dime us to get the thinness. It's rather annoying to be forced to pay for features that were standard.

While I think it is ridiculous that Apple doesn't include cables with the purchase to be honest display port is the future.

More and more new monitors will be using display port and then an adapter will not be necessary.

The real problem is that video standards seem to change every other year. composite,VGA, DVI, component, Dual-link DVI, HDMI, HDCP, display port. When will video ever really reach agreement on a standard that lasts 5 - 10 years.

 

[Eidorian]

While I think it is ridiculous that Apple doesn't include cables with the purchase to be honest display port is the future.

More and more new monitors will be using display port and then an adapter will not be necessary.

The real problem is that video standards seem to change every other year. composite,VGA, DVI, component, Dual-link DVI, HDMI, HDCP, display port. When will video ever really reach agreement on a standard that lasts 5 - 10 years.

I have no problems with DisplayPort. It's just Apple's policy on adding more and more cables that we need to buy. You didn't need to on previous Mac "Pro" laptops.

You're still going to need a Mini-DisplayPort to DisplayPort adapter. The full sized DisplayPort connector isn't that big to begin with!

 

[editguy]

Wow! You sure twist everything around. I was never talking about pro video and I was never talking about $4000 HD DV cameras.

In fact, I was responding to a post about not being able to use a HD or SD video camera without FW and no matter how you spin it, that just isn't true.

In fact, I originally posted a link to a new Sony HD DV that output USB 2.0 only. So yes you can get video in. You just have to have a USB 2.0 camcorder. By the way they are not all cr&*(p as you put it. The low end video of today is much better than the pro video of 5 years ago.

You also can use FCE, and iMovie HD to edit video from a consumer camcorder, no problem.

Last, I was just quoting Apple's own add. They claim that the new 9400M in the MB speeds up Aperture, FCE, and Logic over 2X the previous graphics card. I also expect that number to increase once Snow Leopard is released and the OS can off load some tasks to the GPU. And since when isn't encoding and decoding video important. You need to get the video and audio out in different formats sometime after the video is edited.

Trust me, I understand what you are saying about pro level FW being necessary. I agree with you. But in your rage to bad mouth me you hadn't read the post that I was replying to. Besides if you want to edit pro level video from a $4000 HD DV camera why are you editing on a MB? Why not a MBP?

Sorry, I was rude. I was in a bad mood. I teach video production and we use upper level consumer DV cameras ($600-$1000) that use firewire. Thousands of other high schools around the country are in the same boat. Most of us can only upgrade cameras after they're broken, and that doesn' happen as often as you might think. Schools do upgrade computers much more frequently. Also, many of my students parents have purchased them MB's so they can work on video at home, at school during study halls, at lunch, on trips, etc. Buying a MB was enough of a stretch for them. They'll never buy MBP's. Apple is abandoning the education market with this move.

You can't use FCP to capture video from USB or DVD cameras. It captures from firewire. These cameras use proprietary software from the manufacturer, then the video has to go through a conversion process before it can be used in Final Cut.

The encoder is a good thing, but it only does the h264 codec. It's a popular one and will be a boost for many people, if for nothing else, internet video playback. But there are many codecs and for me that 's not a factor. But I'm for adding anything that helps a segment of the market and against anything that takes away functionality.

I agreed with you that the graphics card would give a boost to some functions in Final Cut (but it's rarely as much as manufacturers suggest). That is one of the reasons I wanted the new MB. That, and the 13 " screen form factor is ideal for my side video business doing on location projects. And I do use 3 $4000 dollar cams for my business because that is the quality camera that is necessary for professional video production. And, if the MB had firewire, you don't need a MBP for professional video production (Non Linear Editing anyway, which is what I mostly use laptops for) and it's bigger than I want for lugging around for location work. That's just what Apple wants to force us to use. In it's new incarnation the MB would have been ideal. But now I'll be forced to go PC. I'll wait for a while, though, to see if they do anything to correct this blunder. But I can only hold out for so long.
Again, sorry for the attitude, but I've been in video production for a long time and I've read too many posts the past couple of days and many are really uninformed about the subject of video production.

 

[digitalbiker]

I have no problems with DisplayPort. It's just Apple's policy on adding more and more cables that we need to buy. You didn't need to on previous Mac "Pro" laptops.

You're still going to need a Mini-DisplayPort to DisplayPort adapter. The full sized DisplayPort connector isn't that big to begin with!

I agree

Apple can be a real pain as far as compatibility out of the box. Lately it seems like you need to buy more and more accessories to complete the package. Apple should include nicely packed bundles of accessory cables, remotes, and batteries with each laptop purchase, considering the larger margins that Apple gets on it's hardware.

Here's hoping that 3rd parties provide cheaper cable alternatives.

By the way has anyone tried using the old Apple DVI to VGA connector in conjunction with the new mini display port to DVI connector. If that works at least it will save $30.00.

 

[hadleydb]

No disassemble no disassemble Macbook is alive!

Had to do the quote from Short Circuit....

 

[ChemiosMurphy]

Sorry, I was rude. I was in a bad mood. I teach video prodcution and we use uper level consumer DV cameras ($600-$1000) that use firewire. Thousands of other high schools around the country are in the same boat. Most of us can only upgrade cameras after they're broken, and that doesn' happen as often as you might think. Schools do upgrade computers much more frequently. Also, many of my students parents have purchased them MB's so they can work on video at home, at school during study halls, at lunch, on trips, etc. Buying a MB was enough of a stretch for them. They'll never buy MBP's. Apple is abandoning the education market with this move.

You can't use FCP to capture video from USB or DVD cameras. It captures from firewire. These cameras use proprietary software from the manufacturer, then the video has to go through a conversion process before it can be used in Final Cut.

The encoder is a good thing, but it only does the h264 codec. It's apopular one and will be a boost for many people, if for nothing else, internet video palyback. But there are many codecs and for me that 's not a factor. But I'm for adding anything that helps a segment of the market and against anything that takes away functionality.
I agreed with you that the graphics card would give a boost to some functions in Final Cut (but it's rarely as much as manufacturers suggest). That is one of the reasons I wanted the new MB. That, and the 13 " screen form factor is ideal for my side video business doing on location projects. And I do use $4000 dollar cams for my business because that is the quality camera that is necessary for professional video production. And, if the MB had firewire, you don't need a MBP for professional video production (Non Linear Editing) and it's bigger than I want for lugging around for location work. That's just what Apple wants to force you to use. In it's new incarnation the MB would ahve been ideal. But now I'll be forced to go PC. I'll wait for a while, though, to see if they do anything to correct this blunder. But I can only hold out for so long.
Again, sorry, but I've been in video production for a long time and I've read too many posts the past couple of days and many are really uninformed about the subject of video production.

You can't use FCP to capture video from USB or DVD cameras. The man is right.

I work in a TV studio/production house in Philadelphia and we will NOT be buying any of the new notebooks. 1 FW port does not allow for a P2 reader adn FW HD to be hooked up. Not all hardware supports daisy chaining.

Also, USB stuff like AVCHD needs to be transcoded for the apple apps. This usually is more than a 1:1 ratio. So this takes more time usually. And seriously people, do you ever edit off of your boot drive?!

 

[o9ski]

Why all this complaining over lack of firewire on Macbooks?
Keeping with Apple's new "policy" one can always buy
firewire-to-usb adaptor.
Something like this
http://www.usbfirewire.com/Parts/rr-300008044.html

for another $119

 

[Brother Michael]

Ooooohhhh, you cheeky bastard

Hey, I just checked my birth certificate and my parent's marriage license. Turns out, I am NOT a bastard.

From Merriam-Webster Online

Main Entry:
1bas·tard
Pronunciation:
\ˈbas-tərd\
Function:
noun
1: an illegitimate child
2: something that is spurious, irregular, inferior, or of questionable origin
3 a: an offensive or disagreeable person —used as a generalized term of abuse b: man , fellow

So, apparently there are multiple definitions of the word bastard...sorry couldn't resist

Seriously... When the 13" was taken apart, was there ANY indication that Apple was intending to put Firewire on their Macbook?

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

For what it's worth, I filed a complaint with them about the MacBook and FireWire. I still have an older but still usable DV camera that I like.

 

[editguy]

Why all this complaining over lack of firewire on Macbooks?
Keeping with Apple's new "policy" one can always buy
firewire-to-usb adaptor.
Something like this
http://www.usbfirewire.com/Parts/rr-300008044.html

for another $119

Read the specs! It DOES NOT WORK WITH MACS! And, again, it's proprietary and doen't produce video that will work in a professional NLE on the PC.
If it's usable at all (and from reading their product description, I doubt it) it would have to be transcoded. No one doing production at any level is going to waste time like that. Not when there are viable options, and there are. It just means I have to migrate more to the PC.

 

[digitalbiker]

Sorry, I was rude. I was in a bad mood. I teach video production and we use upper level consumer DV cameras ($600-$1000) that use firewire.

No problem we all have those days and I can understand your frustration.

I agree with you that Apple shouldn't have removed FW400 from the MB, hopefully it will return in the next revision.

However this is the best made and best performing MB that Apple has ever made.

Do you have any knowledge on the display port protocol? My understanding is that it supports HDMI input and output. I wonder if it is possible to go HDMI video out and capture via the display port with a special cable.

Edit: Never mind. After further review of the Display Port protocol. The only bidirectional data is for control data and is limited to one data string at 1 mb/s. I guess this means the only way to get around no FW 400 might be FW over ethernet but I am not sure how well this works.

 

[jemafa]

Adapter now included free?

NO VIDEO ADAPTER?

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

When I ordered my MBP on Tuesday night, I did not select to buy a display port to dvi adaptor. But then when I checked my order on Wednesday, there was one added to my order for FREE (MINI DISPLAYPORT TO DVI ADAPTER-INT MB570Z/A $0.00). So, I wonder if Apple is listening and adding them free for people who order the computer online? Personally, I've never connected my old laptop to an external monitor, so a FW 800-400 adapter would be much more appreciated, as I am a video editor and all my decks are FW! But I will either get an adaptor (or buy 800-400 cables) or an ExpressPort (this is more likely, as the ones I've seen also include 2 USB ports in addition to a FW port...I use a lot of USB peripherals as well, some that don't connect well through a hub.)

Of course, the 'free' printer has shipped, then they shipped the adapter, but I am still waiting for the computer itself to ship! I went in to an Apple Store today to play around with one tonight and was impressed. I typically HATE to use a trackpad, always use a wireless mouse, but some of the multitouch features of the trackpad will make the trackpad less cumbersome to use! The 4 finger features are pretty cool. And the entire trackpad being a button was also kinda neat, took a couple minutes to get used to not having to move my fingers to click a button, but it wasn't bad.

And the glossy screen didn't bother me much, if the option was there, I'd order a matte screen, but as I don't use my laptop to edit often, it won't be much of an issue. And if I am reduced to using my laptop in a pinch, a glossy screen is the least of the issues I'd have! (I hate using Avid on a single monitor!)

 

[editguy]

You can't use FCP to capture video from USB or DVD cameras. The man is right.

I work in a TV studio/production house in Philadelphia and we will NOT be buying any of the new notebooks. 1 FW port does not allow for a P2 reader adn FW HD to be hooked up. Not all hardware supports daisy chaining.

Also, USB stuff like AVCHD needs to be transcoded for the apple apps. This usually is more than a 1:1 ratio. So this takes more time usually. And seriously people, do you ever edit off of your boot drive?!

Well, I edited a 30 second video once.
But isn't that the truth! Any manufacturer should be increasing the number of i/o connections and include eSATA and an express card, not take connectors away. I'm afraid they really have reached the point of form over function. I suppose if they sell enough to the 'I've gotta have the latest crowd' and to people who just need a word processor and something to surf the net, they don't really care. It's certainly disappointing.

 

[Adjei]

Aren't you paying a premium for a portable that never leaves the house? Why don't you use an iMac or something else for your home system? (If you want a portable at home, doesn't the MBA work just as well?)

I don't like desktops.

 

[THX1139]

Seriously... When the 13" was taken apart, was there ANY indication that Apple was intending to put Firewire on their Macbook?

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

Sheesh... just buy a MBP and problem solved. The Macbook was never meant for video.

 

[scott523]

Indeed it is the most beautiful disassembled MacBook I've ever seen. Notice there's no "Assembled in China" under the "Designed by Apple in California".. is that for real?

For those hurt by the financial crisis, a coin is no longer required.

Those guys at iFixit have good humor. lol

 

[Butternut]

No Disassemble! Macbook Pro Alive!

I ordered a 2.8, 250 7200rpm, MBP on Tuesday and I can't wait. I am typing this on my old 15" 1Ghz Titanium Powerbook so I have been waiting for a long time to buy a new laptop.

I have always loved the style of this laptop and when Apple switched to all silver I thought they looked a bit boring, but that is only my opinion. When I saw the new laptops the first thing I thought of was my old Tibook.

I am buying this new laptop to replace my PC Tower and get a new Mac machine at the same time. I use my PC (Nvidia 7600GT) for Warcraft, Half Life 2 (which runs pretty well), and as a way to view my website creations on IE (a web nightmare). I will be able to play games in Bootcamp better than my current PC and can use Parallels to view IE 5,6,7,8.

I am going to hook the new laptop up to my 22" LCD and use the machine for web design (will see what site look like in matte and glossy). If I want to move to the couch or sit out on the deck and work I will just unhook and go mobile.

I was currently using a 2.3 dual core Powermac G5 as my main machine but I will now just use it as a media hub (I have 3 Airport extremes hooked up to 3 stereos in the house for music all throughout. I might hook my current PC to my 55" HDTV TV for media crap but I am not sure yet.

I also noticed Apple added a DVI connector for free to my online order. Good thing I have a DVI to VGA for projector use at meetings.

Leaving out the FW400 on the Macbook was a strange move, I need to get a 800/400 adaptor now. As for the Glossy screen, my GF has a MBP Penryn 2.6 Glossy screen and I have had no issues with the screen. It actually works better in the sun than a matte and reflections are not an issue. The funny thing is that people used to use CRTs for years and they were a thick ass glass reflective screen. Oh how people forget so easily. For all those Graphic Designers who have gotten so used to matte LCDs, you will adapt. After all, didn't we all adapt from CRT to LCD? You should never trust a computer screen anyway, that is what test prints are for.

To each their own. We are humans, we find a way to adapt, we always do. After all, if we all had the same opinions the world would be boring. It makes me happy knowing what I love you might dislike and vice versa.

Looking at my 5th grader like punctuation and grammer makes me realize it's time for bed. Here's to hoping my new laptop comes tomorrow