Uff!!! This reminds me of my 1st apple notebook the "PowerBook" 2003 which unfortunately I dropped so I inherit my father's iBook G4 which I still have but cant find the power cord but I think the battery is dead anyways. The only reason I upgraded from the iBook to the MacBook is because I was in college and needed a computer where I was able to run C++ so I got the MacBook (2006) which is currently my main personal computer since. I just got my wife a new MacBook Pro 2011 and mine runs as smooth as hers. the secret is that every end of semester i erased everything (including the OS) and reset it as new (config) then installed the latest OS available and voila new computer every 6 month. Is not until Aug 2012 that my DVD drive died but be sure that I will get a new one online and replace it so this MacBook will be with me until it blows out or I die!!!
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Still using your MacBook as your primary laptop? Are you content with your MacBook?
- Thread starter east85
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I think its funny to see MacBook 5,1 and 6,1 being discussed as if theyre old machines.
Currently using a MacBook 1,1 just now while my main system is getting repaired. (USB3 ports on the motherboard died)
Its got a 1.83GHz CoreDuo processor, and has been upgraded to 2GB RAM (max) and an Intel SSD. (which maxes out the SATA1 ports)
Ive been surprised at how usable it still is today.
Browsing the web is fine, though scrolling image-heavy sites can be a little slow.
Flash video over 480p runs terribly, but using ClickToPlugin in Safari lets me play 720p perfectly, and 1080p is fine as long as its fullscreen. (lags when embedded in a page)
It struggles with more complex 1080p videos though. I tried streaming video off my iPad via AirPlay (ripped a few of my Blu-ray discs) and Reflection, which worked (the video just opens in QuickTime as if it were streaming off the internet) but at times the video would stutter badly.
Its definitely showing its age though. The machine has had two batteriesone was replaced by Apple when it started swelling, the other was bought last year and is still going strong. Getting 34 hours out of it still.
Had Apple replace the MagSafe power adapter once when the cable frayed, and just had to buy another when that died for no apparent reason. (no physical damage, just doesnt work) Bought one of the new adapters with the aluminium L-type connector, as Ive yet to have a problem with them, but the T-type (even the revised ones) have always been unreliable.
It runs hot, but always has really. I think Im probably going to open it up, clean it out and put some new thermal paste on it again to see if that helps though.
The case looks pretty bad, its all scuffed up now, though I was able to mostly restore its bright white appearance with a bit of elbow grease. It hasnt cracked, though another MacBook here has (I assume its a 2,1 based on its age) and Apple refused to replace itfirst time was because they werent yet acknowledging the problem, and when I had a chance to bring it up again, they said it had been too long and they were no longer replacing them.
The screen has dimmed and yellowed considerably over time due to the CCFL backlight, but that was easily fixed because I have access to pro-grade display calibration hardware. The MacBook 2,1s display can only be used at certain angles, it cuts out at others. Ghosting and viewing angles are laughably bad on either now, and I was never impressed with the displays to begin with.
The optical drive has died, so I simply pulled the drive out of the MacBook 2,1 as it was never used, though that one seems to be failing now as well. Its rejecting most discs you put in it now.
I was surprised to find that while the onboard graphics suck, it can still drive a 1080p display reasonably well via a Mini DVI to HDMI adapter, though theres no audio of course.
The trackpad is not very nice to use. The plastic has worn shiny in the middle, so its more grippy there than at the edges, and your finger often sticks when using it. Definitely miss the multitouch glass trackpad of newer Macs.
I thought it was interesting going back and using a 2010 MacBook Pro after having this machine for a few days though. That machine should be better in every regardmore RAM, much faster CPU & GPU, better display, but it felt slow because theres no SSD in it.
I wasnt sure that putting an SSD inside the MacBook 1,1 was worthwhileeven after I had done itbecause a lot of tasks are more CPU-bound than IO bound on it, and it only has SATA1, but its definitely still a lot faster than any hard drive-based Mac when doing anything that needs disk access. (launching apps etc.)
The biggest problems Ive run into recently when using it is that its slow for photo editingyou dont want to be working with RAW files from recent cameras on this thing, and that its limited to running 10.6.8
Not having access to Lion means no iCloud syncing, which I miss a lot (and would be able to use if I installed Windows via BootCamp) but the bigger issue has been the Mac App Store.
The App Store is there, so I have access to it, but so far the only apps Ive actually been able to purchase and run have been iA Writer, Reeder, and Cinch. Everything else seems to require 10.7 and a 64-bit processor noweven apps like 1Password 3, which I am running on this machine. (non-MAS version)
I wish the App Store had the option to either hide apps which wont run on this machineits not like they even let me purchase them on my account to use on another Macor at least grey them out.
Why should simple apps like Favs, or Day One require a 64-bit processor? Its absurd.
I can buy complex games like Doom 3 which have no chance in hell of running on this machine, but SpellTower? Way too demanding for this Mac!
That said, the Mac App Store has been disappointing. Last year I switched from a MacBook Pro to an iPad & PC combination, having two specialised bits of hardware (mobility & power) rather than one machine that does both tasks, but neither particularly well.
The demanding apps that I need like Photoshop, Lightroom etc. are all cross-platform, but I had been seeing an increasing number of apps I used on the iPad get Mac releases with iCloud syncing, and have been tempted to switch back over if they ever decide to update the Mac Pros. Now that Ive had a good look at the stores offerings, its actually a fairly poor selection, and of the apps that have moved over from the iPad to the Mac, very few actually work well on the desktop without a touchscreen, to my surprise.
And from spending a bit more time using later versions of OS X these last few weeks (not on the 1,1 but I have access to a lot of Macs) the experience feels like its one step forwards, two steps back every upgrade. Each year or two, theyre making great additions to the OS, and good upgrades to the stock apps, but at the same time, they are also dumbing down the OS in ways that make it more of a chore to use, and forcing you to seek out workarounds for things that used to be built-in functionality. OS X used to be about getting out of your way and letting you get work done, now I find that Im actually spending as much time trying to set things up for an efficient workflow as I am actually getting work done. I think Im actually preferring Windows 7 now, for all its flaws, rather than Lion/Mountain Lion. (and even Snow Leopard has some annoyances)
Now if I had to pick between Windows 8 and Mountain Lion, OS X would likely win. But unlike Macs, you can easily downgrade OS on a PC for years after the release of a new one, whereas you cant downgrade OS X below what your machine shipped with, without a lot of unsupported hacks.
Currently using a MacBook 1,1 just now while my main system is getting repaired. (USB3 ports on the motherboard died)
Its got a 1.83GHz CoreDuo processor, and has been upgraded to 2GB RAM (max) and an Intel SSD. (which maxes out the SATA1 ports)
Ive been surprised at how usable it still is today.
Browsing the web is fine, though scrolling image-heavy sites can be a little slow.
Flash video over 480p runs terribly, but using ClickToPlugin in Safari lets me play 720p perfectly, and 1080p is fine as long as its fullscreen. (lags when embedded in a page)
It struggles with more complex 1080p videos though. I tried streaming video off my iPad via AirPlay (ripped a few of my Blu-ray discs) and Reflection, which worked (the video just opens in QuickTime as if it were streaming off the internet) but at times the video would stutter badly.
Its definitely showing its age though. The machine has had two batteriesone was replaced by Apple when it started swelling, the other was bought last year and is still going strong. Getting 34 hours out of it still.
Had Apple replace the MagSafe power adapter once when the cable frayed, and just had to buy another when that died for no apparent reason. (no physical damage, just doesnt work) Bought one of the new adapters with the aluminium L-type connector, as Ive yet to have a problem with them, but the T-type (even the revised ones) have always been unreliable.
It runs hot, but always has really. I think Im probably going to open it up, clean it out and put some new thermal paste on it again to see if that helps though.
The case looks pretty bad, its all scuffed up now, though I was able to mostly restore its bright white appearance with a bit of elbow grease. It hasnt cracked, though another MacBook here has (I assume its a 2,1 based on its age) and Apple refused to replace itfirst time was because they werent yet acknowledging the problem, and when I had a chance to bring it up again, they said it had been too long and they were no longer replacing them.
The screen has dimmed and yellowed considerably over time due to the CCFL backlight, but that was easily fixed because I have access to pro-grade display calibration hardware. The MacBook 2,1s display can only be used at certain angles, it cuts out at others. Ghosting and viewing angles are laughably bad on either now, and I was never impressed with the displays to begin with.
The optical drive has died, so I simply pulled the drive out of the MacBook 2,1 as it was never used, though that one seems to be failing now as well. Its rejecting most discs you put in it now.
I was surprised to find that while the onboard graphics suck, it can still drive a 1080p display reasonably well via a Mini DVI to HDMI adapter, though theres no audio of course.
The trackpad is not very nice to use. The plastic has worn shiny in the middle, so its more grippy there than at the edges, and your finger often sticks when using it. Definitely miss the multitouch glass trackpad of newer Macs.
I thought it was interesting going back and using a 2010 MacBook Pro after having this machine for a few days though. That machine should be better in every regardmore RAM, much faster CPU & GPU, better display, but it felt slow because theres no SSD in it.
I wasnt sure that putting an SSD inside the MacBook 1,1 was worthwhileeven after I had done itbecause a lot of tasks are more CPU-bound than IO bound on it, and it only has SATA1, but its definitely still a lot faster than any hard drive-based Mac when doing anything that needs disk access. (launching apps etc.)
The biggest problems Ive run into recently when using it is that its slow for photo editingyou dont want to be working with RAW files from recent cameras on this thing, and that its limited to running 10.6.8
Not having access to Lion means no iCloud syncing, which I miss a lot (and would be able to use if I installed Windows via BootCamp) but the bigger issue has been the Mac App Store.
The App Store is there, so I have access to it, but so far the only apps Ive actually been able to purchase and run have been iA Writer, Reeder, and Cinch. Everything else seems to require 10.7 and a 64-bit processor noweven apps like 1Password 3, which I am running on this machine. (non-MAS version)
I wish the App Store had the option to either hide apps which wont run on this machineits not like they even let me purchase them on my account to use on another Macor at least grey them out.
Why should simple apps like Favs, or Day One require a 64-bit processor? Its absurd.
I can buy complex games like Doom 3 which have no chance in hell of running on this machine, but SpellTower? Way too demanding for this Mac!
That said, the Mac App Store has been disappointing. Last year I switched from a MacBook Pro to an iPad & PC combination, having two specialised bits of hardware (mobility & power) rather than one machine that does both tasks, but neither particularly well.
The demanding apps that I need like Photoshop, Lightroom etc. are all cross-platform, but I had been seeing an increasing number of apps I used on the iPad get Mac releases with iCloud syncing, and have been tempted to switch back over if they ever decide to update the Mac Pros. Now that Ive had a good look at the stores offerings, its actually a fairly poor selection, and of the apps that have moved over from the iPad to the Mac, very few actually work well on the desktop without a touchscreen, to my surprise.
And from spending a bit more time using later versions of OS X these last few weeks (not on the 1,1 but I have access to a lot of Macs) the experience feels like its one step forwards, two steps back every upgrade. Each year or two, theyre making great additions to the OS, and good upgrades to the stock apps, but at the same time, they are also dumbing down the OS in ways that make it more of a chore to use, and forcing you to seek out workarounds for things that used to be built-in functionality. OS X used to be about getting out of your way and letting you get work done, now I find that Im actually spending as much time trying to set things up for an efficient workflow as I am actually getting work done. I think Im actually preferring Windows 7 now, for all its flaws, rather than Lion/Mountain Lion. (and even Snow Leopard has some annoyances)
Now if I had to pick between Windows 8 and Mountain Lion, OS X would likely win. But unlike Macs, you can easily downgrade OS on a PC for years after the release of a new one, whereas you cant downgrade OS X below what your machine shipped with, without a lot of unsupported hacks.
Yup, my late 2006 blackbook is still my one and only laptop. I'd love to buy a new MBP or MBA but I just can't justify it. I use it mainly for typical stuff (web, itunes, word/excel/etc) and programming. It works just fine for that. It's my main work computer. I mean, it's hard for me to justify spending $1,000 -$2,000 when I spend 90% of the time on it in Terminal, logged into other servers where I do my work and you certainly don't need a fast computer to do that.
I'll admit though, it was starting to feel very slow lately. I put an SSD in it and that made a huge difference. Still though, I can tell it's an old laptop. I can even tell with simple things, like scrolling down a long web page. It's not smooth like a newer computer. Oh well, it still works though.
I'll admit though, it was starting to feel very slow lately. I put an SSD in it and that made a huge difference. Still though, I can tell it's an old laptop. I can even tell with simple things, like scrolling down a long web page. It's not smooth like a newer computer. Oh well, it still works though.
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Turning off smooth scrolling seemed to help here, but year, you can definitely tell theyre old machineseven browsing the web can show the CPU limitations. (though I found Firefox seems to run better than anything WebKit-based)
I've got the last model of MacBook's that Apple made. No issues with it at all. Although I would like a new MBP. But this MB is working perfectly fine. No issues and very happy with it.
I do light stuff on it - browsing, programming, emails, etc etc.
So, I will keep for for a while yet - I don't know if I will ever sell it.
I do light stuff on it - browsing, programming, emails, etc etc.
So, I will keep for for a while yet - I don't know if I will ever sell it.
I've got a MacBook from late 2006 running Lion. I would like a new one as it gets quite hot when I watch videos and the battery is at 33% health. It has suffered a bit and has had to have a new Hard Drive as the old one failed, new RAM (to support lion) and a new top case.
I'd love it to be a bit thinner also and the disk drive is locked to Singapore so its basically just a CD drive.
All in all, I would love a new one but I just love the Blackness (plus I don't have money...)
I'd love it to be a bit thinner also and the disk drive is locked to Singapore so its basically just a CD drive.
All in all, I would love a new one but I just love the Blackness (plus I don't have money...)
I have the last version of the white macbook, and plan on having it forever, mainly for 2 reasons:
1)I like its design and dislike current macbooks designs
2)Snow Leopard. I love this OS and hate the lack of Exposé/Spaces in the "Lions"
1)I like its design and dislike current macbooks designs
2)Snow Leopard. I love this OS and hate the lack of Exposé/Spaces in the "Lions"
My late 08' Alum Macbook (2.0GHz w/ 4GB Ram and a 500GB 7200 RPM HD) is my primary laptop, and runs ML pretty damn well.
But, its not my primary computer, that distinction goes to a mid-2011 2.5GHz i5 Mac mini with 8GB RAM and the dicrete AMD Radeon 256 MB GPU... which still has Lion because Autodesk doesn't support AutoCAD 2013 on ML!!!!
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Spaces > Mission Control.
Seriously, WTF were they thinking with Mission Control?!?
But, its not my primary computer, that distinction goes to a mid-2011 2.5GHz i5 Mac mini with 8GB RAM and the dicrete AMD Radeon 256 MB GPU... which still has Lion because Autodesk doesn't support AutoCAD 2013 on ML!!!!
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Spaces > Mission Control.
Seriously, WTF were they thinking with Mission Control?!?
Snow Leopard was the beginning of the end anyway when they broke Exposé.
Prior to 10.6, Exposé preserved relative window sizes and positions.
In 10.6, they started aligning all your open windows to a grid, where windows that were smaller and/or squarer actually ended up being larger and/or more prominent than big windows when viewed in Exposé.
And that awful blue glow around windows!
Fullscreen apps and Mission Control are definitely far worse though. Its simpler for people to understand, but makes it really difficult to do any kind of multitasking.
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Do you plan to use it as your main computer until it dies? I know a lot of people have upgraded to the MacBook Pro (cMBP, rMBP) or MacBook Air, but to those still holding out- is it because you're content with your MacBook?
I think I'm very much satisfied with my MacBook and have decided that I really don't desire an upgrade at all. I originally purchased my MacBook 5,1 used due to some level of nostalgia and desire I had to have one a few years back while younger. When I could finally afford a Mac Laptop at full price, I actually skipped over the Air and Pro due to this. I think it's also nice having something unique, as in it's not really all that common any longer. The aluminum MacBooks and BlackBooks have this appeal to me mostly.
I think I'll be content with my MacBook until it dies. I honestly have no desire to upgrade at this point, since I mainly use it for getting college work done and making sales on Amazon, along with typical entertainment stuff. Everything is maxed out and it runs beautifully. It's kind of crazy to think Apple just recently got around to shipping 8GB with their notebooks by default.
Does anyone else share this mentality? I'd think there would have to be, considering I've seen users on here who still use models even prior to the MacBook as a preference.
Using Macbook 4,1 and holding out for a 13" rMBP!
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Snow Leopard was amazing. I upgraded to Lion and it killed my Macbook
I have a 2007 MacBook which is our main house computer (my mum won't let people near her Mbp) I'm gonna upgrade the RAM soon so I can pull over 20 fps on minecraft although I'm buying a mini later this year, my sisters and dad will still be relegated to the old workhorse that is out mb
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Tl;dr holy god I've read copies of the bible shorter than that!
although I'm buying a mini later this year, my sisters and dad will still be relegated to the old workhorse that is out mb----------
Tl;dr holy god I've read copies of the bible shorter than that!
Snow Leopard was the beginning of the end anyway when they broke Exposé.
Prior to 10.6, Exposé preserved relative window sizes and positions.
In 10.6, they started aligning all your open windows to a grid, where windows that were smaller and/or squarer actually ended up being larger and/or more prominent than big windows when viewed in Exposé.
And that awful blue glow around windows!
Fullscreen apps and Mission Control are definitely far worse though. Its simpler for people to understand, but makes it really difficult to do any kind of multitasking.
Lol, I have a funny/sad story to tell below, but anyways, Im actually happy with Snow Leopard Exposé. The fact that the windows sizes are disproportinal do not bug me, I believe Apple did this so we can more easielly read/see/identify the small windows, like a small textedit annotation. you kinda can imeaditly recognine brower windows, even when small. The one thing I would like it to have it the app icon beneath it as in Lion. Sometimes when I have both Safari and Firefox on the same webpage, and I Exposé all windows, its impossible to tell wich one is each.
Now the story. Previowslly to Snow Leopard, I owned a Leopard Mac for about 1 year....and I NEVER used Exposé. I did not know of its existence till I was already in Snow Leopard.
I have a white macbook 5,2. It's not that old, but I've treated it like ****. I've had to COMPLETE wipe the hard drive and reinstall OS X with the disc that came with it because I install so much ****. I've never gotten anything new for it. Still factory hardware, but I got Lion. Not sure if I should update to mountain lion or not.
It has 2 Gb of Ram, which isn't enough for me, but I don't have the effort to go and get it or find out how to replace it. My gaming habits have steadily evolved and I consider myself hardcore, and this computer can't supplement my want. With Nvidia GeForce 9400M, I can run a few games on the lowest possible graphics. I want to be able to play Starcraft 2 with Ultra Settings. I dont know what kind of Hard drive I have. All it says is SATA something, and it's 160gb. I don't want to get an ssd for a reason I'll tell in a minute.
This Christmas, I'm getting a high-speced Macbook Pro 15" non-retina display. I wanted the SSD after looking into it, but I feel like I'm going to need a LOT of space for all the games I'll be downloading. I would say 500Gb, would be the bare minimum, because I'm splitting the hard drive in half, boot camp, windows 7. 750gb Seems great to me. Paying $900 for 250gb LESS of space? I just can't see the SSD to make worth of THAT much money. I know it's much faster, but it doesn't make a difference to gameplay, other than maybe loading levels faster. I don't really care how fast my programs opened.
I don't want to upgrade my current 5,2 to SSD, because if I do, I'll probably be disappointing with how much faster the Macbook Pro 15" High speced will be, since it won't have an SSD, so instead, I'll just be peeing my pants at the fact that the computer will feel like lightning speed.
It has 2 Gb of Ram, which isn't enough for me, but I don't have the effort to go and get it or find out how to replace it. My gaming habits have steadily evolved and I consider myself hardcore, and this computer can't supplement my want. With Nvidia GeForce 9400M, I can run a few games on the lowest possible graphics. I want to be able to play Starcraft 2 with Ultra Settings. I dont know what kind of Hard drive I have. All it says is SATA something, and it's 160gb. I don't want to get an ssd for a reason I'll tell in a minute.
This Christmas, I'm getting a high-speced Macbook Pro 15" non-retina display. I wanted the SSD after looking into it, but I feel like I'm going to need a LOT of space for all the games I'll be downloading. I would say 500Gb, would be the bare minimum, because I'm splitting the hard drive in half, boot camp, windows 7. 750gb Seems great to me. Paying $900 for 250gb LESS of space? I just can't see the SSD to make worth of THAT much money. I know it's much faster, but it doesn't make a difference to gameplay, other than maybe loading levels faster. I don't really care how fast my programs opened.
I don't want to upgrade my current 5,2 to SSD, because if I do, I'll probably be disappointing with how much faster the Macbook Pro 15" High speced will be, since it won't have an SSD, so instead, I'll just be peeing my pants at the fact that the computer will feel like lightning speed.
I have a 2007 MacBook which is our main house computer (my mum won't let people near her Mbp) I'm gonna upgrade the RAM soon so I can pull over 20 fps on minecraft
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Tl;dr holy god I've read copies of the bible shorter than that!
My thoughts exactly!
Snow Leopard was the beginning of the end anyway when they broke Exposé.
Prior to 10.6, Exposé preserved relative window sizes and positions.
In 10.6, they started aligning all your open windows to a grid, where windows that were smaller and/or squarer actually ended up being larger and/or more prominent than big windows when viewed in Exposé.
And that awful blue glow around windows!
Fullscreen apps and Mission Control are definitely far worse though. Its simpler for people to understand, but makes it really difficult to do any kind of multitasking.
Try Mountain Lion. They fix Expose'
For someone who spends 99% of their time on their computer just using the internet I see no need to get a newer model. Will be using my 07 white unibody Macbook till it dies. And when that day finally comes i'll be looking at Macbook Air's or invest in an iMac since I have an iPad 2 as well.
I don’t really think that lumping it in with Mission Control fixes it, but it’s definitely better than we’ve had for a while.
Running Mountain Lion isn’t an option on this MacBook though, the latest it can run is 10.6, and the other MacBook here can only run 10.7
I do have access to other MacBook Pros running Mountain Lion though, so I have used it.
The Key here is LAPTOP and were in the MB forums.
I'll trust that no one is editing and rendering on a MB of which I have the best and it would be slow and hot...
I also don't believe they are editing RAW's on a 13" TN paneled MB...
Most of us have a desktop to do thing like that stuff when necessary..
but yes it does depend on what you do..
Most professionals doing that sort of thing for work will have desktop machines (most likely PCs due to the age of the Mac Pro hardware) but a significant number of amateurs/hobbyists do indeed render video and edit RAW files on their MacBooks/MacBook Pros.
I'd meet you half way if you had left it a MBP..
If you're going to call MP's old you need to call MB's old being that they're a generation behind the old MP's.
I am an amateur at everything I do but I have 2 desktops.
If your a broke amateur and need a render box a Sandybrige Celeron is about twice as fast and could be built for $200 or so with prudent parts picking and using existing storage..
I'm pretty much sticking with my MacBook as my main computer for now, especially now that it's using Mountain Lion, and that it's the early 2009 MacBook with an NVIDIA Graphics chip instead of the wimpy old Intel GMA. I even upgraded the RAM to 6 GB and the hard drive to 500 GB to help make the most out of it, and I even set up a Boot Camp partition for if I need to use Windows 7 (which may be once or twice a week), and to me Windows 7 operates even better than it would on a Dell or Samsung PC!
And hobbyists like my sister who just received a Canon Rebel as a gift are not going to want to spend a penny on buying a new computerat least not yet. It may be slower, but it works.
She still shoots RAW because she understands the flexibility it gives her when editing, even if she might not understand the technical details of why. (Or that it is more demanding)
Being able to afford an older but still pretty nice camera, doesnt automatically mean youre able to afford a new computer, have any interest in buying one, or looking into calibrated monitors etc.
Still running with my white MB 4,1. Did a swap for a OCZ 128GB SSD in April and have been pretty happy with it. It's getting a tiny bit long in the tooth and I've had the money saved for an iMac for a while but I'm waiting it out.
I'm thrilled with the longevity of this machine (prior was a dell laptop, that got me through three years of undergrad).
I'm thrilled with the longevity of this machine (prior was a dell laptop, that got me through three years of undergrad).