I’ve had my Apple MacBook for about a month and a half now, so I thought I should go ahead and compile a brief review for those of you who are planning to purchase a new laptop. This was indeed for my first major Apple purchase (aside from iPods); however, since I have a strong background with Linux, it took very little time to familiarize myself with the Mac OS X Leopard interface. Nevertheless, I recommend wary purchasers visit an Apple Store to actually “test drive” the computers before making your decision.

My specs:

• Intel “Penryn” 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo
• 4 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
• InvisibleShield protection
• Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.5
• 250 GB hard drive
• 8x SuperDrive
• Intel GMA X3100 graphics chipset

The following ranks have been assigned based on my own experiences with my MacBook. Please take that into consideration.

Cost: 4/5

• For the most part, Apple products tend to be more expensive then their comparable alternatives.
• You may be paying for the brand name, but the unity between hardware and software is well worth the additional expense.
• Students receive a $100 discount by showing their ID.
• Apple also tends to have additional promotions. For example, when I purchased my MacBook, I paid $100 extra for a photo quality printer, but was given a $100 rebate six weeks later.

Design: 4/5

• I suppose this is the defining trait of an Apple product. People are always drawn towards the simplicity and “cool” designs our friends in Cupertino put out. The MacBook doesn’t disappoint in this regard. The black, matte finish is elegant. The trayless SuperDrive is sleek. The camera is seemless. Everything just seems to be in the right place.
• My only grievance is the keyboard. I wish it was backlit (like the MacBook Pro) and was not so susceptible to grease marks. Even if your hands are perfectly clean, the keys (especially space bar) begin to look greasy within a week.
  • Fortunately, after searching several other forums/blogs, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser seems to do the trick. I can personally verify that claim. Fortunately, the product is inexpensive and can be reused many times over.
• In terms of overheating, my MacBook’s fans kicked into overdrive only in the obvious circumstance - overworking the notebook. I would have a YouTube video running, a movie playing on VLC, iChat going, checking my e-mail, editing an HTML document on DreamWeaver, etc. etc… and *then* hear the fans kick in. There are utilities (”Fan Control”) to help regulate the notebook’s temperature.

Hardware: 4/5

• Whether it’s the gigabit ethernet, wireless “N” network, 8x SuperDrive, or even the processor, Apple doesn’t cut corners in providing a high-end product.
• The only drawback is in the graphics category. Because of the integrated chipset and shared graphics memory, the performance is lacking compared to what one would expect. If you truly intend on using your MacBook for gaming, perhaps it would be worth your money to purchase a MacBook Pro.

Software: 5/5

• Mac OS X Leopard already comes bundled with an excellent set of software and utilities.
• I’ve attached a list of the software I most frequently use at the bottom of this review.
• Installing new programs in OS X is a breeze compared to Windows or Linux. Simply “drag and drop.” Programs like AppZapper make the UN-installation process just as easy.
• OS X Leopard has a significantly lower incidence of viruses and system crashes courtesy of the rock-solid FreeBSD foundation.

Usability: 5/5

• As long as you don’t purchase a regular MacBook (such as this one) with the intention of gaming, your experience should be beyond satisfactory. Go for the MacBook Pro (which has a dedicated nVidia graphics card) for gaming.
• Though I cannot call myself technologically illiterate, I can imagine skeptical computer users appreciating their Macs. Apple does a fantastic job providing documentation and user manuals for beginners attempting to perform more advanced tasks; however, the majority of “traditional” computer work (word processing, e-mail, etc.) is self-explanatory.
• Whether you’re setting up a home network, connecting to your e-mail server, or browsing the Internet… with Mac… it-just-works.

Overall: 4.5/5

One of the things I enjoy most about the Mac is that I don’t have to use different platforms for different tasks. Before, I used to use Windows for school work and Linux for web development and server-related operations. Now, everything is nicely wrapped for me in a compact, five pound laptop. For the first time, I find myself using *everything* a computer has to offer in terms of hardware and software. The iSight camera is great for video chats or Photo Booth fun. The built in programs help me manage my schedule and keep me connected. Apple is known for the harmony between its hardware and software (as it designs both, for the most part). I can personally vouch for this statement. So if you’re considering a new laptop, I strongly recommend the Apple MacBook for its stable operating system, useful array of programs, powerful components (except graphics), and all-round “coolness” factor.

Programs I commonly use on my Macbook:

• Safari 4 Developer Preview (Internet browser)
• Mail (RSS feed reader and e-mail client)
• iChat (Instant messaging platform)
• iTunes (Music player)
• VLC (Media player)
• Dreamweaver (Web design)
• Transmission (Torrent client)
• Transmit (FTP client)
• Microsoft Office 2008 (Office suite)
• Quicksilver (Program launcher)
• …a whole lot more.