Apple MacBook aluminum and glass super-shiny hands-on

We just got our grubby, oily hands all over this pristine, all glass and aluminum MacBook. We sullied it on your behalf, but our initial impressions mostly positive: it's small, incredibly, ridiculously solid feeling, and we actually don't hate the all-clicking trackpad much at all. (If your thumb muscle memory makes you click at the bottom where the button used to be, it works and feels pretty much the same.) Of course, the glare of the glass screen is a MAJOR issue for us, and will be pretty much forever. There's just no way we'll be able to love it, so our eyes will be peeled for after-market add-ons to cut that down a bit. But in terms of the rest, it's pretty clear this is the best MacBook -- and best mainstream consumer laptop -- Apple's made to date.

Gallery: Apple MacBook aluminum and glass super-shiny hands-on

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[vdogg89 @ Oct 14th 2008 2:18PM]

the new trackpad seems like it would work better

[nerdtalker @ Oct 14th 2008 2:23PM]

Is it easy to inadvertently click when simply using the trackpad? The thing I worry about is that I'm relatively heavy with pressure on the touchpads, it would be extremely frustrating to make lots of accidental clicks.

[JJV @ Oct 14th 2008 2:38PM]

I can't wait to have one of these in my hands!!

[Zunavio @ Oct 14th 2008 2:41PM]

how do i do right click now? double fingers tap?

anyway it does look insanely biggg.

[Routb3d @ Oct 14th 2008 2:42PM]

When it comes to all of the multitouch tech that Apple bought from fingerworks, Here goes the next drop of a drip feeding to the public.. I wonder how many generations of laptops until they do away with the keyboard and provide 1 large surface for both hands for type and gesture.. Ill be on board to buy that..

[Tom @ Oct 14th 2008 2:47PM]

Yes, it is pretty sweet, but not enough of to make me want to upgrade my current Macbook and Macbook pro. I like that Apple has dropped the price on (and will continue to produce) the white Macbook to $999. At this price, I might finally be able to convince my friends to switch over the next time they need to buy a laptop.

I'll also be watching http://www.techdealdigger.com/hot-deals/apple-sale/59 to see what happens tomorrow when the Apple resellers start discounting the old models (and the new models). My guess is you'll be able to get a white Macbook for under $900 and one of the new-gen models for about $100-150 less than MSRP. Also, the resellers usually throw in Parallels for free which is nice for those of us who can't totally cut the Windows OS cord.

[nanobis @ Oct 14th 2008 2:53PM]

if there going to use a glass track pad, does that mean that the you could crack it?? and the same on the display, what if you accidentally drop it. That would be a bit of a pain to have a smashed screne and track pad.

[bobartig @ Oct 14th 2008 3:47PM]

@nanobis: My guess is that the trackpad is small enough that it will be very hard to break from a drop impact. Also, since it has an clicking mechanism built into it, that will act as a natural shock absorber, since the pad is cushioned on top of some sort of tension/spring mechanism.

The glassy display however? You're probably fucked on that one. The "Unibody" display lids are AMAZINGLY rigid, but if you have shock translating through that body and the screen, I can imagine screens a breaking. I hope they can prove me wrong.

[JohnTitor @ Oct 14th 2008 4:36PM]

can RIM sue for the click-pad?

[Curtis @ Oct 14th 2008 5:52PM]

I don't think it actually clicks or moves physically. They said that the entire touch pad acts like a button, not that it is one. I'm guessing it's pretty much the same functionality as the iPhone.

[JohnTitor @ Oct 14th 2008 7:15PM]

or any other trackpad on windows?
the glass on top is probably just to give the iphone feel

[matt @ Oct 14th 2008 7:19PM]

nanobis@

Since LCD displays already have glass in them I don't see how having an overlay will make the screen easier to break. What I do see, or don't see is just how the bezel is removed. Perhaps there are clips around the edge ala iPod, I hope. I'd prefer that Apple stay _away_ from the design they used with the Titanium G4 Powerbooks. They were glued together which meant that replacing the display was, how do you say it, difficult? To be fair however, breaking a display isn't that common. It's just for the few of those out there that do eventually break one, if it's glued it's gonna get pricy to fixed.

[CB17 @ Oct 14th 2008 9:03PM]

@JohnTitor
No but Apple can sue RIM
http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/

[Iaquinta @ Oct 14th 2008 9:19PM]

Now only if it had a "backspace" button :). Seriously, whatta horrible report by engadget. Pretty sure they didn't even purchase one to report on, and whatever they said about new macbook is based on its appearance as opposed to performance. I wish they did some in-depth software check before they gave their verdict.

[John @ Oct 14th 2008 9:55PM]

Clicking and selecting groups should be interesting.. I'm assuming you'd click, hold it down, then select. We'll see.

[JohnTitor @ Oct 14th 2008 11:39PM]

wtf CB17, a mightymouse? do you even know what I'm talking about?

[CB17 @ Oct 14th 2008 11:46PM]

@JohnTitor
Why don't you read about how the Mighty Mouse works and then try talking to me.

[Swingman @ Oct 15th 2008 5:12PM]

Last year was a better year for apple. Good upgrades but I never consider form factor a leap in technology.

cut cost down like they did in macbooks.i just hate how they make irrelevant updates that makes the price higher.

[smak @ Oct 15th 2008 6:32PM]

Nobody seems to be addressing the fact that more pressure is going to be required when clicking and dragging...

Hopefully it doesnt make for sore fingers, but I have a feeling it will for people who like to drag files or images around a lot.

[nanobis @ Oct 15th 2008 8:11PM]

@ Everyone

After seeing and using the MB/P today, i must admit the the track pads good and the bottom is more resonsive to clicking then the top,

And glare was a bit of an issue even tho it was inside.

The only real consern i have with the whole new design is were the feck is the fan???????? there are no holes for it at all that are easly spotted. One dood said that it could possibly draw air thourgh the keyboard or usb WTFand that was one of the sales guys.

In fair ness he said "i'd only seen it this morning at 11.30am when he came to work for the 1st time. You know what apple are like when it comes to letting out details prehand, even to mac store workers" but it was 2.30 when i came in the store. i lol'd

[josh @ Oct 14th 2008 2:19PM]

i love the new macbook air

[tijs @ Oct 14th 2008 3:07PM]

"...apple invented FireWire, we put FireWire in every computer we make..."
Steve Jobs@Apple Music Event 2001

Air, and Macbook fails being a mac

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 14th 2008 3:06PM]

Me too!! I wanted it to have 13" inch display and at least 100Gig HD... I love it!!!
Buying now.....

[Baby-G @ Oct 14th 2008 4:54PM]

I like it too, my only problem is the Glossy screen!.....

[Talgat @ Oct 14th 2008 2:19PM]

Both notebooks are already available on Apple Store. That's fast!

[Boards of Canada @ Oct 14th 2008 4:43PM]

Yeah but 1gb ram and integrated cheap graphic, this is a 400$ laptop, not a 999$ one.

at that price, Vostro ftw! just put os86 after...

[naz @ Oct 14th 2008 2:19PM]

the glare is gonna be brutal

[nerdtalker @ Oct 14th 2008 2:24PM]

I like how the glare is already a problem even simply taking pictures of the thing.

I would be so worried about scratches in the black surrounding bezel. Scratches there are going to stick out like the proverbial sore thumb.

[AdamRedwoods @ Oct 14th 2008 2:31PM]

Agreed. The photo tells me Apple didn't put much thought into the glossy screen. Disappointing!

[imacmatt09 @ Oct 14th 2008 2:30PM]

@ nerdtalker

The bezel is glass, it won't get scratched very easily. Just like how the iPhone's screen is hard to scratch. I don't see anyone scratching it unless they are rubbing a diamond on it.

[nerdtalker @ Oct 14th 2008 2:47PM]

Good point, if the glass glossy part is diamond vapor coated (vapor deposition) like the iPhone display, scratches likely won't be a problem. I guess time will tell.

[James @ Oct 14th 2008 3:06PM]

Yeah i wanted a screen not a mirror. Try again apple.

[IndiaTech @ Oct 14th 2008 3:10PM]

I think, 3M or someone soon is going to come up with an Anti Glare Screen protectors.

[Dr Zoidberg @ Oct 14th 2008 4:08PM]

@imacmatt09

you forgot the sharks with friggin' laser beams

NEVER FORGET THE FRIGGIN' SHARKS AND THEIR FRIGGIN' LASER BEAMS!

[wonkydonkydotnet @ Oct 14th 2008 4:38PM]

I can already hear the scrabbling of dirty paws from the troglodytes who work over at 3M.
-13 inch anti-glare polymer diffraction grating???

ONE MIIILION DOLLARS!! -muaha muahaha muuuuuahahahahahahahahah!

[sim-and-sim @ Oct 14th 2008 2:19PM]

Its nice.. but still far to expensive...

[adrian @ Oct 14th 2008 4:15PM]

I agree but the build quality looks top notch.

[master811 @ Oct 18th 2008 11:34AM]

And the price has even gone up in the UK, damn them.

[Jeremy K. @ Oct 14th 2008 2:19PM]

Woah! That is glossy!

[rock99rock @ Oct 14th 2008 2:44PM]

I think I see Ryan's alien head in there? Welcome back ;) gdgt podcast rocks.

[Mark @ Oct 14th 2008 3:41PM]

"The goggles, they do nothing!"

[LOQuent @ Oct 14th 2008 2:20PM]

Is the sound better on it? That's always annoyed me coming from a PowerBook to a MB.

[Luke @ Oct 14th 2008 2:56PM]

Agreed on the sound issue. All Mac laptops seem to have under powered speakers. My old Powerbook was awful. Where are the speakers on this thing?

[kliend @ Oct 14th 2008 3:58PM]

Um, This thing looks mono. Look at the pictures. The worst decision ever!

[Nomi @ Oct 14th 2008 2:20PM]

I wish I was in the market for a laptop... :(

[skippyatuw @ Oct 14th 2008 2:20PM]

AH THE GLARE!!!! So I was fully considering this laptop and was just checking it out at apple.com. i wanted to watch the new video, but couldn't because they only use the quicktime format. I was then reminded why I hate apple products

[Colin Potter @ Oct 14th 2008 2:46PM]

Who doesn't have quicktime?

[toxicpiano @ Oct 14th 2008 3:12PM]

So you were thinking about buying a macbook and hate quicktime? I think you missed something...

[Dan @ Oct 14th 2008 4:25PM]

You weren't actually thinking of buying this any more than an undecided voter from Alabama wants to vote Obama.

[matt @ Oct 14th 2008 7:05PM]

What, are you on dialup and can't download it? Running the stream in VLC seemed to work fine at least for me if you're feeling urpy about downloading QT.