Apple MacBook Fall 2009 user reviews (Core 2 Duo 2.26GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Nvidia GeForce 9400M)

Pros This is such a pretty and well executed laptop. Fast Processor, LED Display, Glass Trackpad, Cam & Mic built in, Good Hard Drive and Memory

Cons If you like to follow the herd - its not silver, aluminium colored.
It does not have a back lit keyboard - but hey - do you like black keys ? because backlighting a white keyboard is not much use.

Summary The coolest little 13inch package to keep you connected with full service in terms of capabilities at a price point which is not so much higher than a premium netbook. The glass trackpad and the super bright LED screen are at the cutting edge of laptop technology. The glass trackpad , LED Display and anti slip undercoating make this a superior laptop to buy compared to the entry level Macbook Pro which retails for $ 200 extra. It is flouted only for not have a few things like a Firewire port and and SD card reader. Its really not big deal to plug in an SD card adapter into the USB port just like you would on many other computers. And there no mistaking this litte gem as an Apple computer from any angle. If this is going to be the last of the white bodied Apple PC's then get it before they stop making them ! Just like the 1G and 2G ipods which will become collectors items in years to come, this is probably the last of the white looking Macs for some time.

Pros Slimmer and more sleek looking. Better battery life.

Cons No firewire! Lack of an SD slot isn't a deal breaker, but is a minor annoyance.

Summary A nice upgrade to the line without alienating those who recently purchased the previous models. I'm extremely disappointed in the lack of firewire port as I think it's great for data transfers and such. The "unibody" construction is very nice and easy on the eyes. It should eliminate those annoying cracks from the previous models. I like the new enclosed battery. For those who are bothered by non-replaceable batteries, they are the minority. Most people never change their battery and with the new battery comes a longer warranty on it. I don't think batteries will be excluded from Applecare anymore and it's a stance I hope all computer manufacturers soon take. Something not mentioned in the CNet review was the lack of an IR port for a remote. I'm not sure if this means that the remote uses some other kind of technology or if the Macbook just lacks that capability. Either way, it's only slightly disappointing since I think that most people never use their remotes on their Macbook. The harddrive and ram are easy to replace and even some of the other repairs are easier to get to. While Apple will never advertise this fact, the unibody's are more resistant to liquid spill.

It's nice to see the Macbook line evolve along with the rest of Apple's products and I think this refresh was great with a few minor exceptions.

Pros Scrabble-tile like keys (keyboard), multi-touch trackpad, great 13" portable screen size, great quality webcam

Cons Trackpad needs to be kept clean to remain smooth

Summary I've had this MacBook since December and its the best notebook I've ever had. The keyboard is fantastic to type on, the trackpad has fantastic multi touch features and despite some not appealing to the trackpad's integrated button it is easy to get use to, and feels natural after some time. Despite just a 13" screen it feels like a portable full-sized notebook and the included memory and hard drive are just the right size for my needs.

The only problem I have with this notebook is that the trackpad needs to remain clean to remain smooth when using it. After cleaning the trackpad with a slightly damp cloth and cleaning afterwards the trackpad was nice and smooth again, probably due to grease and smudge that caused it to not be as consistently smooth as before. Apart from that, this notebook is fantastic!

Pros Love the trackpad. I'm not sure I could live without it; I've had the Pro also - now this one is so similar I don't miss my Pro anymore

Cons Can't find one

Summary I reviewed two PC laptops, one netbook and the 15" MacBook Pro before I purchased the new 13" and I think Windows (and 7) differ from a Mac like the difference between a rainy day and a sunny day. Why would you want to pay tons of money for software to have a PC when all you have to add to the MacBook is IWork for less than $100, and only $49 for one user. It takes approximately five minutes to open your Mac and set it up to be your own. A PC takes a number of days to get it all right. Simplicity added to brilliant design and development, I'll be a Mac girl forever.