How would you change Apple's unibody MacBook?

Quietly unveiled alongside the 27-inch iMac and the Magic Mouse was this: Apple's attempt to force the unibody construction that we've already seen used on its MacBook Pro into the lowly MacBook line. This 13-incher didn't revolutionize Apple's low-end laptop line, but it did add a pinch of style and an integrated "7-hour" battery while keeping the price tag steady at $999. We certainly had our fair share of gripes when testing this scuff-magnet out, but now that you've had nearly two months to toy around with your own, we're anxious to hear what you'd do different next time. Is the build quality up to your standards? Are you still weeping uncontrollably as you search in vain for a FireWire 400 port? Is the 9400M GPU potent enough for you? Did this honestly deserve to be priced at a few hundies less? Feel free to unleash hot fury in comments below -- maybe ole Steve will feel the heat.

[Dava Posted Dec 14th 2009 1:05AM]

@SasoriSoren

I suppose you're right. It's just hard for me to imagine those that spend so much for a computer and then not take care of it. But like you said, we are a minority. I didn't even consider EXE based files but I understand what you are saying.

[maythetechbewithyou Posted Dec 14th 2009 1:05AM]

@SasoriSoren Haha forgot my secondary account

[Dava Posted Dec 14th 2009 1:09AM]

@maythetechbewithyou

You mean your alias! Not a secret anymore!!!

[maythetechbewithyou Posted Dec 14th 2009 1:15AM]

@Dava The Sasori is my personal and this one is associated with my website, which sucks...

[LloydChiro Posted Dec 12th 2009 7:16PM]

What do you guys use firewire for? I've got a Thinkpad here with a firewire port, and I've never used it. Tape-based camcorder? Hey, it's a new decade! Camcorders use flash memory now.

[Jordan Posted Dec 12th 2009 11:49PM]

@LloydChiro: If you know anything about video, tape based blows flash and hard drive cameras away any day. Hard drive cameras usually create moi files that hardly anything knows how to use, that leaves a conversion process. AVCHD? c'mon....

HDV all the way, all the way.

[LloydChiro Posted Dec 13th 2009 12:44AM]

@Jordan
LOL. Okay grandpa!
Just kidding. Thanks for your reply.
But, you know tapes days are numbered. I wouldn't touch it if I were setting up a new workflow for video. Also, my software (Sony Vegas and Windows Movie Maker(!)) knows how to use AVCHD...

[maythetechbewithyou Posted Dec 13th 2009 11:57PM]

@LloydChiro Also, faster transmission from external hard drives, USB is damned slow.

[LloydChiro Posted Dec 14th 2009 12:23AM]

@maythetechbewithyou
USB 2.0 and firewire 400 have similar speeds. There's no real advantage with firewire 400 over USB 2.0. I once had a firewire external hard drive, and it was a PITA trying to fit that wire in the connector. I rarely see any firewire-only external drives, and I ordered one only by mistake. I was like, "WTF?!" when I received it.

[brockorr Posted Dec 12th 2009 10:46PM]

Magnesium Alloy

[mcgrathc15 Posted Dec 12th 2009 10:48PM]

they should make it less of a dirt magnet and less gloss cuz that brings out the scratches

[microshaftsux Posted Dec 12th 2009 11:51PM]

First of all, an affordable low end version. Probably with a dual core Celeron SU2300 so the price can be like CAD$999.99. This would make sense with a MacBook Air but I'm not focusing on that. I would make it 0.9 inches thin so it would fit better in a suitcase and you can avoid the weight limitations at the airport. I know, we have the MacBook Air BUT... what about a DVD slot loader and the fantastic MacBook features. And add the trackpad found on the MacBook Pro.

The second last thing to blend... an instant on feature using iPhone OS. I've heard of Dell's Latitude ON instant on Linux OS. Apple should follow too. Solder in a NVIDIA Tegra APX 2600 and 256MB of DDR RAM using an 8GB NAND flash storage. That would be bliss, because you have a MacBook (can do all sorts of stuff except App Store) and an iPod touch (can also do all sorts of things except the demanding apps on Mac OS X).

Then add an 11.6" LED screen that would further shove down the price by CAD$100 and weight by half a pound.

Battery life: Intel Celeron SU2300 + 11.6" screen + 2GB RAM + 160 GB HDD = 8 hrs. approximate - 160 GB HDD + 64GB/128GB SSD = 10 hrs. approximate. Fine how about instant on? NVIDIA Tegra APX 2600 + 11.6" screen + 8GB flash + 256MB RAM = 18 hrs approximate.

These changes would be really useful. Maybe a 128GB SSD or 64GB? I'm talking. That would make the MacBook more responsive and better at tasks like that silly Quake game or Adobe Flash CS4 Pro.

Please share your thoughts on this. I would like to hear from you. ;)

[dovlatyanr Posted Dec 13th 2009 12:34AM]

I have always been a PC guy, but I have also always admired apple for their incredible computer design. But I have to say, they screwed up this one. The edges are way too curvy, and the thing looks like a damn bubble. Also, $1000 for those specs? Come on, apple!

[sweeps Posted Dec 13th 2009 1:06AM]

Make it a tablet

[mtnDewFTW Posted Dec 13th 2009 1:53AM]

It's really a minimal laptop, so I can't really find much wrong with it.
And I actually kinda like the fact that it isn't aluminum.
I mean yeah, the MacBook Pro is definitely a beauty like no other, but I like to see some different stuff once in a while.
They can't make EVERYTHING out of aluminum lol.
And again, it's super minimal sorta laptop, so it targets people who aren't nerdy and who use their laptop for stuff like pictures, videos, web, mail and just everything iLife.

But then again, I would add some more HDD space.. that would be nice, and maybe more RAM? I mean 2GB is plenty for everything iLife and beyond that, since it is DDR3.
However, most of the thing that I dislike about it, can actually be changed my the person who buys it, so I really can't be too picky with it.

[mtnDewFTW Posted Dec 13th 2009 1:54AM]

Oh and by the way, we should really have one of these for the iMac.

I think people will have a lot more to say about that, than the new MacBook.

Just saying..

[maythetechbewithyou Posted Dec 14th 2009 1:18AM]

@(Unverified) Definitely, we need this one for the iMac and many other things too...Android, XPS Adamo, iPhone etc.

[yypang120 Posted Dec 13th 2009 3:48AM]

wouldnt it be great if there are different colors of macbook? and maybe 100-200 bucks cheaper....i bet everyone will love it...

[nickbarber48 Posted Dec 13th 2009 6:45AM]

cheaper, less gay

[jasonlenik Posted Dec 13th 2009 10:43AM]

Well...first change da whole ding. U no... the aluminum stuff. and then tune up the performance levels...maybe a intel core i3?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2009 10:43AM]

I bought my girlfriend one for her birthday. It's a fantastic machine. The only thing I would change is the price: knock $200 off to bring it down to $799.

And possibly offer another model without an optical drive.

[Jay Sathe Posted Dec 13th 2009 11:52AM]

THis one does have teh MacBook Pro style trackpad....

[Wally Posted Dec 13th 2009 2:11PM]

Do not own one so don't care.

[Jack Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:33PM]

@Wally

But you care enough to comment.

[mukhi Posted Dec 13th 2009 6:10PM]

i will start buying apple on that day when:
1. all windows software will work in bootcamp.
2. macs will have HDMI port.
3. apple will offer blu-ray drive.
4. price will be reasonable. it doesn't have to be similar to that of crappy hp (i won't mind though this dream coming true), but one should not feel it overpriced like we do now.

other than these, i personally feel no other brands can just match apple's design of MBP. trust me, whenever i go to store, i feel like picking up MBP although i couldn't be successful ever and ended up buying a PC brand every time.

[DigitalSteve Posted Dec 13th 2009 9:43PM]

@mukhi when you buy a mac you pay a little bit more money, but that mac will last 6-8 years in comparison of the PC ( with the exception of custom built) alternative.

[mukhi Posted Dec 13th 2009 10:44PM]

@DigitalSteve
i know somebody may want to differ here in opinion, but to my belief, any laptop becomes outdated anyway after 3-4 yrs so that you feel buying a new one, therefore, paying more to make it last for 6-8 yrs does not make sense to me.

[asfdsad Posted Dec 14th 2009 12:29AM]

@mukhi
1. All Windows software DOES work in Boot Camp. You're just booting into Windows.
2. Done. DP->HDMI is an easy $10 dongle from Monoprice.
3. For? You can put one in yourself (assuming you can find a 9.5mm drive) if you need it for data capacity. You can also add an external one. There's no software player for movies, and really no need for one on such a small screen with such limited sound. BD on PC laptops is not selling well, so why bother with the mandatory encryption and OS-level DRM required?
4. As sales volume shows, it's priced at what the market will bear. Quite successfully.

[mukhi Posted Dec 14th 2009 10:26AM]

@asfdsad
the solutions which you came up with was already considered by me, however, they are either not practical or does not happen.
1. no, you are wrong, there are many important software which do not work in bootcamp. google it, you will get it.
2. using an adapter like DP->HDMI is hassle. moreover, it transfers the video only unlike HDMI. you have to use mac's headphone port to transfer audio separately to your TV, etc and that is not convenient either.
3. BD on laptop is an excellent idea for me as i don't have a standalone BD player. i would like to put BD in my laptop and hook-up the laptop via HDMI to my HDTV. done.
4.no, it is not. if you are apple fanboy, yes, mac is decently priced, if you are user/consumer/buyer, it is not.

[Redon Gor Posted Dec 13th 2009 6:20PM]

How would I change it? I would destroy it.

[maythetechbewithyou Posted Dec 14th 2009 1:11AM]

@Redon Gor Because...

[NeatOman Posted Dec 13th 2009 7:25PM]

The sterile look of mac is really starting to get to me... i think... i think... maybe! there ugly!!!!!

But the air still looks nice, at least that one looks like it has curves :)

[willwillywilson Posted Dec 13th 2009 10:44PM]

I'd make it a PC!

[AJ Posted Dec 13th 2009 11:01PM]

An option for a larger (matte) screen. Why should you have to move up to a Pro just to get a larger screen?

Scuff/scratch-free case material. Get rid of the glossy finishes too.

Rounding off the edges near the wrist rest. If you surf a lot and use the track pad, that sharp edge gets to be a real pain.

[maythetechbewithyou Posted Dec 14th 2009 1:09AM]

@AJ Why would the average consumer need a bigger screen?

Also, how are you using your Macbook where that edge hits your hand. I can only think of awkward positioning to cause any contact with the edge... :S

[Dava Posted Dec 14th 2009 1:17AM]

@maythetechbewithyou

Oh my god. I don't know who you are but you are the only person who seems to understand this larger screen issue. Why would the average consumer need a bigger screen? Exactly! They don't. It's a LAPtop not an iMac! If you need anything larger than that and you are just an average consumer then just get a desktop. Laptops are for made some they can conveniently be transported and not feel like your lugging your desktop.

[Dava Posted Dec 14th 2009 1:19AM]

@Dava

That last sentence is suppose to say:

Laptops are made so they can conveniently be transported and not feel like you're lugging your desktop around.

My fingers felt like it should say something else.

[pants Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:48AM]

Focus on durability. Everyone knows it's the lowest-end laptop Apple offers. "Compensate" with ruggedness. Blue collar it up some.

[johnkzin Posted Dec 14th 2009 10:15AM]

I'm a few days late on this ... but ...

1) remove the optical drive
2) make it a 10" screen size
3) make it a tablet instead of a notebook
4) multi-touch screen
5) add a touch-friendly UI to Mac OS X (not iPhone OS X)
6) use a PixelQi hybrid LCD/e-paper display
7) SDHC card slot
8) black
9) at least 3 USB slots
10) keep the apple display port
11) 3d accelerometers
12) GPS
13) optional 3G module, with options for Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile-USA (as well as options for carriers outside the US).

[Grundy Posted Dec 14th 2009 12:51PM]

Improvements would be to
1. Lower the price
2. Make more durable and harder to scuff
3. Sell at max 4Gb of memory rather than 2Gb
4. Switch to black option

[synaesthetic Posted Dec 14th 2009 7:49PM]

Make it $800 and it'd be pretty much perfect.

[anontrol Posted Dec 16th 2009 8:36AM]

Ok, first:

- removable battery

- reasonably accessible memory, hard drive and optical compartments

- ditch the CNC unibody for a nice quality extruded chassis (still execute in aluminum, just just a slightly different format that allows you to lower cost)

- matte or at least non-glossy (or even semi-glossy) LCD

- backlit keyboard across the entire model line

- better quality ports (ports that are going to survive years of use)

- some type of standard secondary monitor connector

- lower the cost (still need to come down $200 to $300)

That's pretty much it.

[Kennardy Posted Dec 30th 2009 2:31PM]

Bring back the black option. I loved the look of the jet black MacBook!