OMG I wish there was an Apple Store in this city! You are so lucky!

I think the new MacBook is nice and cute, but I don't like the black one, it doesn't look 'Apple'...

Thank you, but have you got any more photos? Real life photos are the best way to get a feel for a new product, besides actually seeing one in person. Maybe you could upload them to Flickr?

hmm... lucky you. I ran over to the local Apple Store on my lunch break, in hopes of getting my hands on one of the MacBooks, or at very least, demoing it.

There were none to be seen, and no one in the store had any ideas as to when any were going to be delivered.

Any thoughts on the glossy screen? I just placed my order nonetheless, so I hope I like it!

Thanks for your observations! I was excited when the MacBook was released as my mother has been waiting to replace her aging 12" PowerBook 867 MHz.

My only concern is the intergrated VRAM. :-\

I like how ultra-white they are compared to teh "white" but really mostly grey iBook. Magnetic latch = sweet, smaller bezel. I wouldn't get a glossy screen. They annoy me.

Where are the speakers?

AppleInsider has really nice real-world photos of the black MacBook. You can see the new keyboard very up close, as well as the ports. Initially, I thought black was ugly, but these pictures make it look great! Here is the link: http://appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1748

They're in the hinge area, pointing away from the user.

I guess you people have all been sucked in by Stevies reality distortion field... Oooh shiny Apple things!

To me the Macbook does seem a little lacklustre - but I guess that is just in line with all the rest of the new intel macs...

I am pretty sure that I am not that unusual an Apple laptop user so here are my eight points for Apple to note:

1
I am much more impressed by the compact dimensions of an ibook over being able to watch widescreen dvds on a macbook (BTW that narrow screen will be hell for print designers!)

2
I have a webcam and I really never use it. I do not know anyone amongst my many Mac using friends who actually uses iChat, so for me (and most others?) the inbuilt camera seems a totally extravagant concept?

3
I have been using Apple laptops for over 10 years and never had a problem with the power lead connection (so who exactly is magsafe supposed to benefit?).

4
The Macbook is 20 per cent slimmer (so is that 6mm?) I would actually prefer a bit more thought going into the ease of internal expansion rather than cramming things into these machines - have you ever tried to change the hard drive in a 12" powerbook, I have and in all honesty it was scary!

5
There is a reason the ibook keyboard is grey not white - dirt - just wait and see!

6
Glossy screen - hmm no thanks!

7
Shared VRAM a la Mac Mini - Oh Dear!

8
I really dont want to be able to run Windows it's cr*p OS X is the most powerful and easiest to use OS in the World!

I suppose my real point is that Apple are not only trying to sell us features that we dont need. In reality they are selling us features that I certainly dont want and I am sure the majority of us will probably never use or really benefit from. Its a classic marketing ploy - "Make them think they can't live their lives without it!"

I suppose I was actually dreading that Apple might produce something really spectacular with the macbook, something innovative featuring flash memory instead of a hard drive or a design that would really make me rue my recent purchase of a bargain refurbished iBook from the Apple store. The Macbook certainly hasn't done any of that - Phew!

Just my ten pence worth ;)

Well, mister "I use Macs but feel the need to list 8 negative points and prologue my comments with Steve's RDF".... my replies:

#1 - Most target audiences for "print designers" would prefer a larger MacBook anyways.

#2 - Again sir, this product is targeted to CONSUMERS... meaning those that actually DO use things like a webcam and chat software. (I don't suppose you also call the _real_ Mac users elitists, do you?)

#3 - So you have used Macs for 10 years? Your tone doesn't sound like it. Okay, back on topic... I guess just because you see no need to a magnetic power connector means you have to add this to what is NOTHING but a nagative comment.

#4 - No, I have not tried to change a harddrive in my 12" PB. But before deciding to flame Apple on their, uh, 13" MacBook, you might want to actually fact check. You see, I've already found our that it IS much easier! (This was the point where I decided your over-the-top critical points... hidden in that disguise of a "10 year Mac user" mask.... needed some proper perspective.)

#5 - Agreed. In fact, I'll go one further - you CAN improve on a white keyboard by buying the black MB. And pay a $150 US premium to do it. ($200 if you don't care for the extra 20M harddrive - see, I actually do fact checking.)

#6 - I'm ambivalent about glossy screens. Kudos to Apple for OFFERING this now on MacBook Pros at no extra costs. Thumbs down for not offering the matte screen on the MB. Personally? I like the glossy screen. But I most certainly understand those that don't.

#7 - Again, ambivalent. Most people don't purchase a laptop to play games. But some do and wish to plug in a second monitor. But in this point, I'll stick with earlier points sir.... this is not geared towards professionals of any kind. CONSUMERS. And they don't care for a second monitor. Meaning... this point - also - is invalid.

#8 - Don't want Windows? (And I personally don't believe you at this point.... after all, you find nothing - NOTHING - positive to say about this offering... or the MacMini, or expressing why a MB Pro is a different target audience... all the while prefacing things with a slam about Steve's RDF....) Let's just leave this point at this....

IF YOU DON'T WANT WINDOWS, YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE WINDOWS.

By this I just mean that BaseCamp is FREE. You are NOT paying a single penny for it.

Let's see.... you chose to talk the talk of being a decade-long Mac user while stating 8 critical items about this new offering....

1 point was flat out facctually wrong. (#4)

3 points display a complete lack of knowledge between a professional and a consumer. (#1, #2, and #7)

3 points are nothing but purely personal feelings. (#3, #6, and #8.)

Leaves you with ONE point... and on that we agree.

1) Print designers don't use 13" consumer notebooks.

2) When the camera is built-in you use it a lot more. I know a lot of people that use iChat.

3) Obviously other people have had problems with it. No more tripping over it and yaking your computer around. It's more efficient.

4) Apple does build their computers with the ability for anyone other than them to easily fool around with its guts in mind. Nor should they. They'd be thick and ugly.

5) Do you really think dirt is a light shade of grey?

6) I'll agree on that one. Some folks would prefer the vibrant color. I say put teh gloss on the desktops and cinema displays, if any. Portables go outside in the sun... and stuff like that. Oh well.

7) That does blow, but I suppose if you want to use graphics intensive programs, get a Pro notebook.

8) ...then don't run it. The only way you can is if you manually download Boot Camp and install it and Windows.

Why do people think that a flash memory hard drive is actually currently possible? If you're willing to whip out a few extra thousand dollars just for a hard drive... go for it.

Flame away, no wonder Mac Users have such a reputation as zealots. I will take the comment about not sounding like a mac user as a compliment lol

To be honest some of the comments are pretty lame and dont warrant a point by point response.

Perhaps I should explain a little about myself I am a freelance Print designer and I have been using Macs for around 12 years, my first laptop was a second hand duo230 (about 11 years ago) Since that time I have owned 6 desktop machines and 6 laptops including 2 pismos, a tibook, a 12" powerbook (RIP) and most recently a 2005 model ibook.

I would guess my requirements are pretty much standard for a designer working in the print industry. I design on a desktop system and use a laptop when I visit clients - they almost always comment on a how cool and compact the ibook looks! I did not buy a 15" or 17" powerbook for one simple reason they are simply not portable enough! The ibook that I am using is probably better than the 12" powerbook that preceded it, the construction is certainly improved.

If I need extra screenspace I can pretty much guarantee that there is a monitor available wherever I am working, so i simply plug it in (BTW I have hacked the firmware to allow monitor spanning - no big deal)

The point was made that this is a consumer model, does anyone really think this is a realistic claim at its price point? remember the macbook is now competing against pc laptops. Apple does not currently have a consumer customer base my experience was that the ibook was not so much a consumer model as much as a model used by design students, photographers and (at least in my case) print designers.

So yes I have been using Macs for a long time and I have seen some great models come and go. I guess my point is that the MacBook really is not such a great advance over the iBook and in some aspects (certainly for my uses it is a step backward)

In the past I have always bought the latest and greatest models from Apple, in fact I think I might have kept the company going single-handed, but you know what - I wasted a lot of money, because like a lot of you I was fooled into thinking I needed Apple products, with the latest bells and whistles that I never really needed or required.

In my opinion (and I am allowed my opinion aren't I?) the macbook was an opportunity to "Think Different" that Apple missed!

"The Macbook is 20 per cent slimmer (so is that 6mm?) I would actually prefer a bit more thought going into the ease of internal expansion rather than cramming things into these machines - have you ever tried to change the hard drive in a 12" powerbook, I have and in all honesty it was scary!"

It has a user-replacable hardrive, see http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1750 for more info. much needed considering apple will steal everything including your kids dinner money to let you upgrade hd/ram on their store

I played with both MacBooks yesterday (the black is worth the extra $150, its THAT nice), and except for the integrated graphics, which I understand, I think they have a real winner. Even with the graphics they will sell tons of them, just not to me.

The only thing I wanted in a small Apple MacBook that isn't on this machine is a good-enough graphics card to play Windows games. I have no other reason to upgrade from my 12" PowerBook, but Boot Camp and a good graphics card (X600 64MB would do, 128MB would be better) would allow me to run moderately high-end Windows games at moderate settings.

Yes, I know, the MacBook Pro does all of that, but the MacBook Pro is a 15", and that is just larger and bulkier than I want to travel with. I love my 12" PowerBook, and would only part with it to add Windows games to what my current machine can already do.

The iSight is a terrific idea, as I use my external iSight all the time when I travel. The user-upgradeable hard drive is a huge improvement, and if the battery life is anywhere near Apple's 6 hour claim, then this will really be the ultimate portable productivity machine. Yes, its better in almost every way (a bit heavy) than my 12" PowerBook, but without adding dedicated graphics and thus Windows gaming, its just not enough better for me to plunk down the Banjamins.

You can't consider price in categorizing it as consumer or not. It is a consumer notebook. If they priced it at $5,000... it still is Apple's consumer notebook. Therefore, when you complain about anything that you can't do print design or whatever with, they will tell you, it's a consumer notebook, get a Pro.

Perhaps they will release a lesser-yet line of laptops. Then we'll call the MacBook a Prosumer notebook.

Does that make sense?

With this new hard drive accesibility, I'm thinking about upgrading to a much larger one. What drive would you guys recommend for the new MacBook? Looking at 100GB 5400+.

Well as 133t as as you are I could care less. True that I would prefer deadicated graphics ram but if I want a gaming machine I'll buy something with a bigger screen and graphics horsepower and I would suspect the same for a creative pro. If it doesn't meet your needs, then don't buy it.

133t? Is that some geek language? The fact that I want to play Windows games when I travel does not mean I should require a 12lb behomth with a 15" screen. I've been playing Mac games on my 12" PowerBooks for three years now, and while they don't run as quickly as on a powerful desktop, they were playable until the most recent crop (Quake 4).

I was hoping for more withe MacBook, like the ability to play Knights of the Old Republic 2, as I played the first one on, you guessed it, my 12" PowerBook. The sequel is Windows only, as are many games I'd like to play.

Wanting games does not mean that I am willing to give up portability. If I was, I'd buy a MacBook Pro and be done with it. I have a 15" PowerBook that would bring in at least half the MBP's price, but for what I use the larger machine for, WORK, I have no need to add gaming. Games are recreation, usually not played at my office or home, and wanted when I am stuck in some lonely hotel room away from my family. Of course, lonely hotel rooms are always on trips, where I carry my laptop around airports and want to use it on airplanes. Large gaming-type laptops just don't travel well, and I'd gladly play Quake 4 at 25 fps on a 5.2 lb machine instead of at 75 fps on a 12 lb one.

Mr Trotskii,

I don't understand what your beef with the new MacBook seems to be. You wrote:

"1) ...(BTW that narrow screen will be hell for print designers!)..."

But then in a later response you said: "If I need extra screenspace I can pretty much guarantee that there is a monitor available wherever I am working, so i simply plug it in (BTW I have hacked the firmware to allow monitor spanning - no big deal)
".

Haven't you just contradicted yourself over the screen size?

a. Since you use your iBook jacked into a big-screen monitor means the laptop's screen size - MacBook or iBook - is no big deal.

b. The MacBook will actually allow you to see more of your documents, because it has more horizontal pixels.

c. The MacBook supports extended desktop (without a hack) AND clamshell mode - making it two up from the previous iBook, if you use it with an external monitor.

d. Extended mode means you will also see more pixels on the external monitor. Non-hacked iBooks, on the other hand, are pixel-locked.

I'm a freelance print designer as well, and since 2 years ago my main machine has been a 12-inch Powerbook jacked into a 21" Trinitron display and external hard drive. My Quicksilver G4 plays the role of back-up and file server.

The ONLY advantage this dinky Powerbook of mine has over the new MacBook lies in its graphics processor (dedicated 64MB VRAM). Still, I have done and continue to do a lot of DTP work on my Powermac with its 32MB Radeon 7500 graphics card -- paltry when compared to the integrated Intel chip on the MacBook, however you may want to slice it.

So I fail to see how the new MacBook lets student designers down, as per your comment:

"I guess my point is that the MacBook really is not such a great advance over the iBook and in some aspects (certainly for my uses it is a step backward)..."

I wouldn't hesitate to argue that for graphics designers, on a point-for-point basis, it is so much more than the previous iBooks and 12" Powerbook. (Except of course Adobe has not yet come out with native versions of their suite).

You then wrote: "The point was made that this is a consumer model, does anyone really think this is a realistic claim at its price point?"

Point: if I am able to complete 100-page annual reports on my current Powerbook, I fail to see how the MacBook is supposedly an "inferior" solution for DTP. The new MacBook, in fact, is much more "Pro" compared to the 12" Powerbook I have.

You wrote: "...remember the macbook is now competing against pc laptops."

Yes, and have you specced out a Dell to compete with it? I have. You should try it, too. A comparable Dell ends up 50% more expensive.

This is not a flame, merely a statement of fact.

If you feel you have been mislead by Apple, perhaps a PC laptop and desktop workflow would suit you better. FYI, I also have a Pentium 4-based Dell in the studio which I reserve for interns and freelance designers helping me out on projects, but for some reason they all prefer to work on the 800MHz G4 Power Mac.

Funny, that.

I think they shuold have made the top end MacBook with a seperate graphics card. If it's supposed to relace the powerbook then it should get some graphics. Especially to make up for that $150 blackness price.

"Point: if I am able to complete 100-page annual reports on my current Powerbook,"

Ah yes, another Designer doing the 'impossible' on a 12" PowerBook. It took me a while, but I am finally able to do all my print work without the use of the external monitor. This comes in real handy when working with clients in different cities, in unfamiliar offices. I really like the 12" form factor. I also have a 12" G4 iBook too. Sweet.

I too used a 12" PowerBook for almost everything for the past three years. The 1024X768 resolution on a 12" screen is only limiting if you are accustomed to more. Actually I remember getting real work done on a PowerBook 145B in black and white with 640X400 resolution and never really wishing for more resolution (though I did want color).

I still do a lot on my 12" PowerBook, but I must admit that the screen on my recently purchased 15" PowerBook has spoiled me. Mine is the 2nd to last version with the same resolution as the 13.3" MacBook, a 1.5GHz G4 and a combo drive. The 15" screen at this resolution is a delight, though at this point its still largely a luxury, saving me F9 (expose) presses.