when to buy a new Macbook???

[jhfloyd]

so I have been reading this, and other forums quite vigilantly since the new Macbook Aluminum (Glassbook?) was announced, and I am very excited about getting a 2.4, 13" for myself this holiday season! Time to give the 6 year old eMac to the family, so I can keep my computing to myself.

I have especially found interesting the threads regarding some of the problems with the new Macbooks, specifically loose battery doors, slanted function keys, dead pixels, etc.

And now, my question:

How long should I wait before Apple makes these corrections so I don't get a bad one?

thanks.

 

[DeaconGraves]

As always taking the small sample of people who are posting of issues on a forum does not mean that every single MacBook is having these problems. And, of course, you can always return it if you do find these problems.

So if you are set on buying a MacBook, do it now. It's not like Apple is going to make an announcement like "The new Macbook, now with less defects!" It'll be at least 6 months to a year for there to be a spec refresh.

 

[clyde2801]

Or, wait another couple of weeks to see if they've improved the build quality. If people quit posting new complaint threads in a few weeks, that would be a good sign.

 

[darngooddesign]

Or just inspect your MacBook for flaws before you leave the store.

 

[PhilaScott]

Or, wait another couple of weeks to see if they've improved the build quality. If people quit posting new complaint threads in a few weeks, that would be a good sign.

...and that would put you right in time for any Black Friday sales that Apple might decide to have, as they have for the past few years. Given this current economy and the expected decline in holiday sales, I suspect many retailers will be offering special deals to entice money away from consumers.

I don't see any new economic stimulus packages for taxpayers in Congress yet!

 

[DeuxIt]

Buy now, but buy direct from apple online w/extra ram. That way your computer will come straight from factory, ie. freshest meat, right off the assembly line.

 

[silverblack]

To the OP, if you need it now, buy now. If you don't, waiting until they refresh the product line. Examples -

Macbook Air - the 2nd gen fixes all problems with core shut down, slow hard drive.

Plastic Macbook - later version fixed the plastic turning yellow, cracked case.

For the aluminum MB, chances are the next revision will fix the loose battery cover, slanted keys, and perhaps even a 'slightly' better screen (likely won't be as good as the MBA's though).

EDIT - or you can consider buying the remaining stock of last version plastic MBs. There should be very little problems. (Although I would be careful with the refurbished ones, as they can be the problematic returns).

 

[derek1984]

I am in the same boat. I've never owned a Mac before, always Dell. My 2 year old Dell Laptop is dying on me. It has a really bad virus and I am not sure how I got it. I had it "fixed" for $130 and it's still not working right. I'm thinking it's going to die any day and I refuse to spend anymore money to fix it again. I am still caught between the Macbook and the Macbook Pro. I like the 13 inch screen better so that is probably the route I will be going. The only reason why I am holding off is because of the possibility of any updates as well. I understand the screen quality isn't that great in the new Macbooks so that has me holding off hoping within the next few months they will correct that along with fixing any other bugs that have been occuring with the new ones.

 

[jamin100]

I am in the same boat. I've never owned a Mac before, always Dell. My 2 year old Dell Laptop is dying on me. It has a really bad virus and I am not sure how I got it. I had it "fixed" for $130 and it's still not working right. I'm thinking it's going to die any day and I refuse to spend anymore money to fix it again. I am still caught between the Macbook and the Macbook Pro. I like the 13 inch screen better so that is probably the route I will be going. The only reason why I am holding off is because of the possibility of any updates as well. I understand the screen quality isn't that great in the new Macbooks so that has me holding off hoping within the next few months they will correct that along with fixing any other bugs that have been occuring with the new ones.

You paid $130 to get rid of a virus! geeez . . . . It would have taken 45 minutes to re-format the laptop and start afresh!

 

[derek1984]

You paid $130 to get rid of a virus! geeez . . . . It would have taken 45 minutes to re-format the laptop and start afresh!

Yeah, I think I might have got it trying to download a song off Limewire or Zshare. I don't know anything on how to fix a computer with a virus and I never renewed my Norton Anti-Virus. The laptop just stopped working. Now after I get it fixed, this place installs AVG for me and Ad-aware. Well after 3 weeks of getting it fixed, I now get pop ups all over again like I did before and now it's moving slower. AVG is saying I have some kind of trojan virus but it can't be fixed. How are Apple computers about getting viruses? I like to use programs like Limewire but if its going to potentialy crash my new Macbook, I won't even bother to try it.

 

[darngooddesign]

Yeah, I think I might have got it trying to download a song off Limewire or Zshare...

LOL what did we learn from today's lesson?

 

[Coulter]

LOL what did we learn from today's lesson?

That the majority of Windows malware infections are caused by stupid users.

 

[derek1984]

That the majority of Windows malware infections are caused by stupid users.

I'm sorry, I can't justify paying .99 cents for a song. I'll buy a cd if there are multiple songs I like, but not just for one song. Stupid, I'm not. Cheap, I am.

 

[clyde2801]

LOL what did we learn from today's lesson?

That you should use Macs to steal music?

 

[darngooddesign]

That you should use Macs to steal music?

LOL

 

[marold280]

tbh . macs are amazing. you can download music (illegally) and no one cares!
thats pretty much it !

 

[Coulter]

I'm sorry, I can't justify paying .99 cents for a song. I'll buy a cd if there are multiple songs I like, but not just for one song. Stupid, I'm not. Cheap, I am.

Well you are using p2p file sharing applications without properly updated anti-virus software. Perhaps it doesn't make you stupid but you're not exactly smart because of it.

I'm not trying to cause offense but in this world of identity theft and trojans that send your bank account/credit card information to naughty people it makes sense to be properly protected.

 

[Mitsune]

Or just inspect your MacBook for flaws before you leave the store.

That's exactly what I did before I walked out the store.

Once I got the MB and receipt, I asked one of the Apple guys to see if I can open it up at the store and and check the system out. The guy was pretty cool with it (helping him kill some time before he can clock out and avoid some customers) and even helped me update all the software. In the end, my system was fully updated, clear of dead-pixels, perfect keyboard, and equipped with a pretty good screen.

Other than that, if you want to buy, buy now. But some sources say that Apple might do something for Black Friday. Other than that, you could wait after the Macworld convention (Jan 2009) to see if there has been revisions/updates.

 

[clyde2801]

Or wait until after the holidays, and buy one off a broke college student trying to sell his christmas/kwanzaa/hanukkah present for beer money...

 

[Davidkoh]

Well you are using p2p file sharing applications without properly updated anti-virus software. Perhaps it doesn't make you stupid but you're not exactly smart because of it.

I'm not trying to cause offense but in this world of identity theft and trojans that send your bank account/credit card information to naughty people it makes sense to be properly protected.

You do not need any virus protection unless you are really dumb. Downloading stuff off limewire and such is not the brightest idea. If you are gonna download, atleast use torrents. They're faster, safer and easier to use

By the way, all my PCs been sporting no protection in the last 6 years, just use a good configured router with firewall in it. And common sense, that will be enough.

 

[Coulter]

You do not need any virus protection unless you are really dumb. Downloading stuff off limewire and such is not the brightest idea. If you are gonna download, atleast use torrents. They're faster, safer and easier to use

By the way, all my PCs been sporting no protection in the last 6 years, just use a good configured router with firewall in it. And common sense, that will be enough.

What happens if you browse to a website thats been compromised and hosts malicious javascript? Then installs a banking Trojan that steals credit card numbers, online banking passwords, email addresses etc etc

Exactly, you'll get infected and you'll never even have known it.

Oh yeah and no doubt that Trojan will then download other malware which will turn your PC into a bot and send out 1,000's of spam emails a day and then your ISP will think you're a spammer (which you are) and disconnect you.

 

[Davidkoh]

What happens if you browse to a website thats been compromised and hosts malicious javascript? Then installs a banking Trojan that steals credit card numbers, online banking passwords, email addresses etc etc

Exactly, you'll get infected and you'll never even have known it.

Oh yeah and no doubt that Trojan will then download other malware which will turn your PC into a bot and send out 1,000's of spam emails a day and then your ISP will think you're a spammer (which you are) and disconnect you.

I don't surf the web for porn, so im pretty safe

 

[Coulter]

I don't surf the web for porn, so im pretty safe

Dell's website was hosting malicious javascript a few months ago. Even Google has hosted malicious javascript on its websites.

Hackers always infect websites that people trust.

 

[leman]

How long should I wait before Apple makes these corrections so I don't get a bad one?

I received my Macbook today. The only issue was the slightly loose battery cover, which took me exactly 5 seconds to repair (bend the pin to remove the gap). Ah, maybe my F1 key is a bit slanted, not sure, really. All in all, I am very impressed with the Macbook. The display is much better then the old one (good contrast, nice clear colors), the speakers really good, the design superb, it is thin, light and stylish. And the battery life is really amazing!

So: get you MB now, there is no need to wait. Dead pixels are "normal" with monitors, it depends on your luck. The battery cover is easily repaired yourself and the slanted keys are a overrated issue.

 

[StingerT125]

And now, my question:

How long should I wait before Apple makes these corrections so I don't get a bad one?

I bought mine on the day after they were announced and have none of the problems that have been mentioned in some of the threads here.

Those problems seem to be with individual computers and not the norm so I don't think Apple will be making many corrections to the general spec in the near future.

You just read a lot about them here because this is a place people come to try to resolve any problems they have.