How would you change Apple's unibody MacBook / MacBook Pro?

Now that you've had well over a month to toy with Apple's latest MacBook and MacBook Pro, we're just dying to know what your impressions are. Has the glass trackpad turned you off (or just turned you off to every other trackpad on the planet)? Is the inability to order the MBP with a matte display still grating your nerves? Are you happy with the performance? Is your "S" key randomly popping off at the most inopportune times? You just spent a load of cash on what essentially amounts to a first-generation product -- you've every right to make your voice heard. Do just that in comments below.

[lowdef @ Nov 21st 2008 7:04PM]

MATTE SCREEN.

[David @ Nov 21st 2008 7:34PM]

Somehow I doubt you own one of these. It really becomes a nonissue.

[SITEiNK @ Nov 21st 2008 7:41PM]

all aluminum color again, drop the black keys, it's starting to look ganky like other laptops.
make the backlit keys blue or some other color than white so you can see the letters against the aluminum color of the (original) keys. This was the reason they changed to the black keys in the first place.
add second (hd) drive option so you can swap out other drives or even create a RAID configuration.
use HDMI rather than miniDisplayPort so we don't have to have a million different adapters and can maximize compatibility between all of our gear.

[Gumbyx84 @ Nov 21st 2008 8:00PM]

I agree with you fully. I do not know why they did away with the matte screen. I also don't get why they mixed black and silver/aluminum. The all silver MBP are breathtaking IMO. Should have left it that way.

[Kamokazi @ Nov 21st 2008 8:02PM]

@David

Somehow I doubt you venture out of your mother's basement where your only light is a 60W bulb. For anyone who works in a brightly lit area or sunlight, glossy screens can be a real hindrance. Apple has yet to invent the magical glossy screen coating that makes glare nonexistant.

Here's another clue...go look at professional LCD monitors used in graphics. Come back when you find one with a glossy screen.

[lowdef @ Nov 21st 2008 8:06PM]

Thank you kindly Kamokazi. My thoughts exactly.

[Chris W @ Nov 21st 2008 8:13PM]

Exactly. If you have to use this in a classroom it becomes a pain. Overhead CFLs are fine for screen glare; but when you start adding mixed daylight with bright overhead CFLs or projectors you start getting glare and screen lighting issues. Also they should include at least a mini Display Port to DVI adapter standard. I can understand not doing that with the consumer MacBook, but not with the pro.

[Magnulus @ Nov 21st 2008 8:14PM]

I would never actually work on my projects on a laptop screen of any kind, no matter how matte it was. If there are still no matte screens for the lappies when I need a new machine, I'll have to use an external screen anyway, so it won't really matter to me. Unless I'm trying to surf the web outside or in some extremely lit room.

Admittedly, I have yet to actually see the new screens in real life, so I don't know how messed up the screen is in a well-lit room.

[Boards of Canada @ Nov 21st 2008 8:17PM]

You dont get the the real colors with glossy screens... its more vivid but if you do print or motion design you have to wath the result on another screen before sending to clients.

Light blue and grey will appear totally white and unsaturated colors will be more saturated. (everything you see so colorful will be a bit fade on the client screen.)

Glossy screens are not for pro. End of story. Of course for casual movie watching and internet... no problem!

[E71 @ Nov 21st 2008 8:22PM]

I'd throw it into an incinerator.

[LondonConsultant @ Nov 21st 2008 8:31PM]

I had a look at the new MacBooks at the Apple Store on Regent Street the day after they were released. For the ones with screens facing the front windows, most of the screen couldn't be seen because of the reflection of the street outside. It was a no-brainer for me to not buy one of those. Hopefully Apple will wake up and release matte versions one day. It seems that their stock price is inversely proportional to the number of glossy screens in their range...

[Bobby @ Nov 21st 2008 8:51PM]

stick iphone somewhere ... wherever ...

[Darren @ Nov 21st 2008 8:53PM]

You're out of your mind. The new MacBook screen is ridiculously good.

[tetsuo @ Nov 21st 2008 11:36PM]

I just got the new MB for my wife. I'm a designer and I am really impressed with the screen. There's a big LCD screens all tend to intensify the colors, putting a sheet of glass over it only seems to make it look better. I really don't know many designers who use the small screen as their primary anyway. I worry about colors, contrast, etc on my 24" external.... not the 15" on my older MBP.

[Valicore @ Nov 21st 2008 9:46PM]

@BoC:

I hadn't realized that (didn't know it actually). I'm glad to see people backing up their demands with rational thoughts.

[welchb @ Nov 22nd 2008 12:20AM]

I just picked up one this week. This was my biggest concern - I go from my couch to the office to my home office. Sunlight, florescent, and a mix. I've always had matte screens - Including the last MBP. I thought the glossy was going to be ridiculous.

It's actually been a complete non-issue. The glare is very similar to my tv - even if it's "glare-y" at a certain spot, adjusting it left or right or up or down a quarter inch and it's gone. And the screen is so bright, clean, and sharp.. it's a great display.

> Glossy screens are not for pro. End of story.

This is ridiculous. "not for 'pro'"? What does that even mean? I'm a professional and it's great.

The trackpad is.. different. On one hand I love the huge area - lots of room. I also *love* the texture - I liked the old MBP, but this is far far superior. Except. If your finger is moist (say you just set your dietcoke back down) it all of a sudden is sort of terrible. Sort of a weird thing to say, I guess. But I drink all day when I'm working. (heh)

The all-encompassing-button is sort of moot to me - I "tap-to-click" 90% of the time anyway.

[XGM @ Nov 22nd 2008 12:32AM]

Most of what I want has been said, matte screen, HDMI...

I also want the old MBP keyboard style w/ a colored backlight. Also on the MBP why not have a real SLI instead. Last would be a option to swap the DVD for a 2nd and possible 3rd HDD/SSD

[nikster @ Nov 22nd 2008 12:43AM]

To anyone here who complains about the glossy screen yet doesn't own a new MacBook Pro: Your opinions on the topic are redundant. Digital garbage, nothing more.

If you actually own a new MBP, and you hate the glossy, I'd love to hear about it.

Saying that because on the older models, glossy screen MBPs outsold matte by a large margin. Also with most PC notebooks you don't get the option either. Some come in matte, but the VAST majority come with glossy screens. I have a matte MBP, but on my iPhone I am not the least bothered by the glossy screen, it's just fine to use indoors and outdoors. As far as I am concerned, the jury is out on this one.

[lowdef @ Nov 22nd 2008 2:26AM]

I'm typing on one now...would love to have a matte screen back...is that a problem nickster??

[Nick Catalano @ Nov 22nd 2008 4:11AM]

Exactly... A matte screen option and firewire 400/800 on the MB would be key points for me. And the inclusion of a matching 800->400 adapter in the box (or as a very inexpensive add-on on the order page) would be very nice as well.

[Bruno @ Nov 22nd 2008 4:26AM]

I agree with you. I would add a white keyboard with black characters in bold type and a better webcam, as the one I experimented in a Mac Pro was not that crisp.

[Evoss-X @ Nov 22nd 2008 7:54AM]

I will change all mac laptops remove that black and black keys and put white
borders of LCD must be not so wide but narrow thats future not like 80's ! the borders of LCD should be tinner and tinner
definetly change touchpad change proper ports no unnecesarry
1. HDMI
2. 4x USB 3.0
3. eSATA
4. Ex
5. Speaker/Headphone Jack out combined with S/PDIF
6. Card Reader 15 in 1
7. LAN only (no sity modem)
8. Built in Mic
9.Blu-Ray
10.
that new very slim keyboard for desktop is amazing perfect one thing what i like from apple :)

[Dean @ Nov 22nd 2008 2:03PM]

@ Bruno

The Mac Pro has an iSight camera?! Wow! Where is it, I've never noticed it!

Apple is such an innovator! The first to put a webcam on a DESKTOP!

[Brett Halladay @ Nov 22nd 2008 2:14PM]

Definitely love the new MBPs (I own one), and I actually prefer the Glossy screen. I do not find it to be a hinderance at all and I think it makes colors look a little more vivid and brighter. Mini Display Port should have either been replaced or have an alternative installed. Everything else is phenomenal. I made the jump from a PC to this and am loving it. One thing though, what about blu ray support? Would have been nice seeing as it is now the standard and the screen resolution would support it. They probably did it as a ploy to get you to buy and rent HD movies from itunes.

[LT73 @ Nov 22nd 2008 2:16PM]

Agreed.

[Evoss @ Nov 22nd 2008 4:04PM]

stupid voters u dont know what is good and whats running in IT World .!
on apple never will be blu ray or hdmi because it is sony's things thats why !

[Vinyldutch @ Nov 22nd 2008 9:46PM]

The MB needs a Firewire port, without it my €400 sound card becomes useless, ahhh Apple if you invent something stick with it!!

[GiF @ Nov 23rd 2008 4:17PM]

drop the price or at least offer a larger screen option!
You can get 17-inch laptops with Vista for half the price!

[Joe jackson @ Nov 24th 2008 11:03AM]

R U a baby? Stop complaining about non-issues. Have you ever worked on the new pros? NON-ISSUE. I love how people like to complain about NOTHING.

[Macca @ Nov 29th 2008 1:08AM]

@welchb: Use a stubby holder.

[JJ @ Nov 21st 2008 7:04PM]

remove the HDCP protection.

[Simple @ Nov 21st 2008 7:11PM]

Very simple. Why don't you just boycott buying DRM software until your voice is heard? I mean there is plenty of free video's out there instead of having to pay for it. The benefit of paying is to have one place to find everything and download quick. If they want that business plan to succeed then they have to compromise and get rid of DRM all together.

[Zak @ Nov 21st 2008 7:55PM]

JJ: The cluephone is ringing, and it's for you. The MOVIE STUDIOS are the ones putting HDCP on their movies. If you don't like HDCP, then start a campaign to get the movie studios to remove it. That is all there is to this issue.

[Darren @ Nov 21st 2008 8:57PM]

It's simple. Buy movies from iTunes that don't enforce HCDP; don't buy the iTunes movies that do enforce HDCP.

[Spudster @ Nov 21st 2008 10:13PM]

Actually, I kinda like it there. Figuring out how to hack it gives me something to do. It my way of telling them that no matter how hard they try, they will never succeed keeping us out. I believe breaking something that took so long to develop is one of my greatest joys. It will be a blessed day once we can dual boot an iPhone into either Android or Mobil OSX.

[Richard Lai @ Nov 21st 2008 10:20PM]

So Steve Jobs never stuck to his words regarding his hate for DRM? I used to think he was a bit cool.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/a-letter-from-steve-jobs-on-drm-lets-get-rid-of-it/

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Nov 22nd 2008 1:25AM]

dingdingding.

I don't buy DRM'd content for precisely this reason, but it's still a shit move on Apple's part. Until now they had been pretty reasonable about DRM.

[Zach7 @ Nov 22nd 2008 2:37AM]

unfortunately even if Apple wanted to get rid of all the DRM and HDCP its not possible right now, because of the high demand by all the bigger business for keeping their content safe. Its not really up to Steve Jobs by himself...unfortunately

[sk8rpro @ Nov 22nd 2008 2:13PM]

Simple solution: Requiem 1.8.2 for iTunes 8.0.1

[munchy2000 @ Nov 21st 2008 7:05PM]

A freaking HDMI port!

Hooking up to a TV with 2 cables should not be an option whatsoever.

That and the burning of glossy screens.

[OziD @ Nov 21st 2008 7:38PM]

http://www.teckwave.com/?prodId=354141&twid=0

displayport does audio.

[OziD @ Nov 21st 2008 7:49PM]

i just noticed thats not MINI displayport. regardless, a cable will come along eventually and the displayport standard does include sound.

[John @ Nov 21st 2008 9:36PM]

and TVs don't do displayport.... so it doesn't matter, does it.

[Zach7 @ Nov 22nd 2008 2:41AM]

unfortunately the only way to get to HDMI from Mini display port is through DVI then HDMI which would then lose the sound by way of the DVI adapter, but if they do come out with a straight Mini-display to HDMI it would be possible to do sound in one cable. Correct me if i'm wrong.

[Josh @ Nov 22nd 2008 3:15AM]

It is a big turn off to see display port in place of the traditional DVI - I don't know many monitors that run on display port at the moment (maybe i am just out of touch) but when i need to connect to a projector or another monitor for a presentation i shouldn't have to bring multiple cords - that is just nuts. Sure - it is progressive but what the hell is progressive without technology to back it up? DVI is pretty much standard on everything... HDMI is even getting there (sure it is a premium because of royalties but still - it is a 2000$ laptop) but display port? Give me a freaking break.

Glad i bought myself a macbook pro over the summer - i do like the new case but the rest of it... i don't know.

[Alex @ Nov 22nd 2008 4:04AM]

How about not charing $29.99 for the display adapter !!!

[tiuk @ Nov 22nd 2008 1:52PM]

I really wouldn't mind the lack of DVI or HDMI if adapters for the mini display port weren't so ridiculously expensive.

[cory3218 @ Nov 21st 2008 7:05PM]

ummm, price

[Google @ Nov 21st 2008 7:06PM]

you said what I was going to say, but you weren't witty or sarcastic :(

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 21st 2008 7:18PM]

Yet, you were very much both of those.