Apple updates white MacBook with faster processor and memory

[AppleInsider]

Apple alongside its 2009 Back-to-School promotion on Wednesday also updated its entry-level white MacBook with a faster Intel processor, memory architecture and more hard disk space.

The update was announced quietly on the company's online store.

For the same $999 Apple charged for the previous iteration of the white polycarbonate model, users get a 2.13GHz processor (up from 2.0GHz), a 160GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (up from 120GB), and 2GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM (up from 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM).

The update is the second this year to the Cupertino-based company's entry-level notebook offering, the first of which arrived on January 21st when model was updated with NVIDIA's 9400M graphics architecture.

That update also saw the notebook gain the same 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 1,066MHz front-side bus employed by the mid-range aluminum unibody MacBook, as well as a doubling of its memory to 2GB.

The new white MacBook is eligible for Apple's just-announced Back-to-School promo, which offers a $229 online rebate good for a free 8GB iPod touch to qualifying education individuals who purchase a qualifying Mac and the iPod on the same receipt before September 8th.

As can be seen in the photos below, the new MacBook is already shipping to retailers across the globe:

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[Lorre]

I guess this means Alu MacBook updates as soon as next week...

Nice upgrade though, if I had to buy a laptop NOW, it would be this one. But my early 2008 2.4GHz white one will have to last until laptops get OLED screens

[MacTripper]

The case on the white MacBooks crack and chip.

A piece near the corner just fell off (no it wasn't dropped) on a brand new machine too.

My girlfriend isn't too pleased, being it's her first Mac.

She doesn't like the glossy screen either. (yes I mentioned a anti-glare film, she says it shouldn't be needed on a $1000 machine and why was the matte screens removed?)

I googled for macbooks crack chip and found it's a widespread problem, but it doesn't seem to be anymore widespread than any other normal defects found with products. But now I'm always on the defensive with her because of this and the glossy screen, having to teach her OS X and all on top of that.

I'm trying to convince her to take it back to Apple before too much time has passed, but she's stuck depending upon it and can't take the time to travel 300 miles back to the Apple Store.

Yes I said it could be shipped and all...

She's stuck on the Stockholm Syndrome effect. This is a sad trend for Apple products.

My advice, buy the metal case Macbooks. Better the matte screen models unless you like looking at yourself.


I have a 5* *(typo: should be 2 ) year old MacBook Pro 15" with back lit matte screen, upgraded Hitachi hard drive to 7,200 RPM, 4 GB of RAM. I'm very pleased with this Apple product and it's been a excellent running machine, especially for a laptop.

[aldonius]

as long as those alu MB's have firewire... all will be well
the rumored ones for next week, that is

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by MacTripper

The case on the white MacBooks crack and chip.

A piece near the corner just fell off (no it wasn't dropped) on a brand new machine too.

My girlfriend isn't too pleased, being it's her first Mac.

She doesn't like the glossy screen either. (yes I mentioned a anti-glare film, she says it shouldn't be needed on a $1000 machine and why was the matte screens removed?)

I googled for macbooks crack chip and found it's a widespread problem.

Now I'm trying to convince her to take it back to Apple before too much time has passed, but she's stuck depending upon it and can't take the time to travel 300 miles back to the Apple Store.

Yes I said it could be shipped and all...

She's stuck on the Stockholm Syndrome effect. This is a sad trend for Apple products.

My advice, buy the metal case Macbooks. Better the matte screen models unless you like looking at yourself.

The only matte is the 17 incher, so be prepared to shell out $ome dollar$.
You're a masochist if your gonna keep and get burned with a cracked case rather than returning it. Whining will not get you a new one.
Personally I'd rather have a scratched white MacBook than a scratched metal one. The scrathes look really fugly on the metal wheras you barely notice them on the white plastic.. Check them out at any Best Buy.
Also plastic is dent free whereas the metal ones get many dents. Again check them out at a Best Buy near you.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by aldonius

as long as those alu MB's have firewire... all will be well
the rumored ones for next week, that is

Well it will be great if that rumor is true. What is the probabilty of Apple actually admitting a misatake?

[teckstud]

I almost bought the white one 3 weeks ago- so glad I didn't. This is now way more powerful than the MBA. Great deal. A price drop would be cool too but this is great.

[ivan.rnn01]

Where's the line "Designed By Apple in California"??

[rtdunham]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

...For the same $999 Apple charged for the previous iteration of the white polycarbonate model...The new white MacBook is eligible for Apple's just-announced Back-to-School promo, which offers a $229 online rebate good for a free 8GB iPod touch to qualifying education individuals who purchase a qualifying Mac and the iPod on the same receipt before September 8th. ...

So do students get the rebate AND a reduced price? what's the education price for the $999 MB?

[Hattig]

Originally Posted by MacTripper

I have a 5 year old MacBook Pro 15" with back lit matte screen, upgraded Hitachi hard drive to 7,200 RPM, 4 GB of RAM. I'm very pleased with this Apple product and it's been a excellent running machine, especially for a laptop.

Oh, is it 2011 already?

[Londor]

Originally Posted by Hattig

Oh, is it 2011 already?

He's come back from the future just to post in this thread.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by rtdunham

So do students get the rebate AND a reduced price? what's the education price for the $999 MB?

$949 + free shipping + iPod Touch.

or depending on your point of view...

[Quadra 610]

Nice to see this thing still kickin around.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

$949 + free shipping + iPod Touch.

or depending on your point of view...

Do teachers get a discount - do they get a free iPod as well?
Not that I am one, mind you.

Update- I just read the prior thread and see that they do. Hmmm - who do I know?

[PG4G]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

(up from $120GB)

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

Hmm... do gigabytes have a dollar sign these days?

[Jingo]

I still treasure my 2.4GHz MacBook purchased well over a year ago now. Irrespective of the upgraded graphics and bus speed, Apple really are short-changing us on processor speed. The lowest speed now available should be something in the order of 2.6GHz, IMHO.

[Flounder]

Originally Posted by MacTripper

I have a 5 year old MacBook Pro 15" with back lit matte screen, upgraded Hitachi hard drive to 7,200 RPM, 4 GB of RAM. I'm very pleased with this Apple product and it's been a excellent running machine, especially for a laptop.

That is quite impossible as there was no such thing as a MacBook Pro five years ago. MBPs started shipping a little over three years ago.

This was the professional laptop available from apple five years ago.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by PG4G

Hmm... do gigabytes have a dollar sign these days?

Always- when they come installed in Apple products.

[wobegon]

While it's a nice deal, I'm guessing this is the last update to the white plastic MacBook. They might very well retire them right after their Back to School promotions, especially if they end up offering subsidized MacBooks/Pros with built-in 3G WWAN antennas and sold with a 2 year contract. I've been seeing a lot of Verizon's ads for their netbooks, which are priced at $199. With a contract, we could see MacBooks in the $500-$600 range. They'd still allow you to buy a standard MacBook unsubsidized sans mobile internet service/contract like they sell the iPod touch as basically an iPhone sans phone/service.

[Hrvat0022]

If she doesn't like the glossy because of fear of glare, my personal experience is this. When I was getting ready to purchase my MBP last year, I was torn as to matte vs glossy because of glare. I friend who had a glossy told me it was rarely if ever an issue for them so I went with the glossy. I'm so glad I did, in my opinion it looks so much nicer, and I glare is almost never an issue.

Having said that, if she wants antiglare, you can purchase an antiglare film. It's made by the same company that makes them for iPhone and iPod Touch. You can order directly from Apple here: http://store.apple.com/us/product/TR410LL/A

Good luck!

Originally Posted by MacTripper

The case on the white MacBooks crack and chip.

A piece near the corner just fell off (no it wasn't dropped) on a brand new machine too.

My girlfriend isn't too pleased, being it's her first Mac.

She doesn't like the glossy screen either. (yes I mentioned a anti-glare film, she says it shouldn't be needed on a $1000 machine and why was the matte screens removed?)

I googled for macbooks crack chip and found it's a widespread problem, but it doesn't seem to be anymore widespread than any other normal defects found with products. But now I'm always on the defensive with her because of this and the glossy screen, having to teach her OS X and all on top of that.

I'm trying to convince her to take it back to Apple before too much time has passed, but she's stuck depending upon it and can't take the time to travel 300 miles back to the Apple Store.

Yes I said it could be shipped and all...

She's stuck on the Stockholm Syndrome effect. This is a sad trend for Apple products.

My advice, buy the metal case Macbooks. Better the matte screen models unless you like looking at yourself.


I have a 5 year old MacBook Pro 15" with back lit matte screen, upgraded Hitachi hard drive to 7,200 RPM, 4 GB of RAM. I'm very pleased with this Apple product and it's been a excellent running machine, especially for a laptop.

[Daniel B]

Originally Posted by MacTripper

The case on the white MacBooks crack and chip.

A piece near the corner just fell off (no it wasn't dropped) on a brand new machine too.

My girlfriend isn't too pleased, being it's her first Mac.

She doesn't like the glossy screen either. (yes I mentioned a anti-glare film, she says it shouldn't be needed on a $1000 machine and why was the matte screens removed?)

I googled for macbooks crack chip and found it's a widespread problem, but it doesn't seem to be anymore widespread than any other normal defects found with products. But now I'm always on the defensive with her because of this and the glossy screen, having to teach her OS X and all on top of that.

I'm trying to convince her to take it back to Apple before too much time has passed, but she's stuck depending upon it and can't take the time to travel 300 miles back to the Apple Store.

Yes I said it could be shipped and all...

She's stuck on the Stockholm Syndrome effect. This is a sad trend for Apple products.

Sounds more like the Whining Girlfriend Syndrome.

Fortunately, it's easy to fix: put her over you knee and spank.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Hrvat0022

If she doesn't like the glossy because of fear of glare....

Just pray it's not fear of reflection like that twilight zone episode.

[macFanDave]

And it still has the FireWire port! Yay!

I hope a previous poster who said the Al MacBooks will be getting their mojo (aka FireWire ports) back is right.

My daughter is looking to get her very own MacBook soon, and I really think the aluminum ones are better except for that Achilles heel of the absent FW port.

In any case, if Snow Leopard is going to be released this calendar year, I'm going to make her wait to make her Mac purchase.

[jeffharris]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Well it will be great if that rumor is true. What is the probabilty of Apple actually admitting a misatake?

Apple omitted FireWire 800 from the first MacBook Pro. They put it into the Rev.B MBP!
Let's hope this is the case with the unibody MacBook.

I hope they make the MATTE screen option available for ALL their laptops!

[jeffharris]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Do teachers get a discount - do they get a free iPod as well?
Not that I am one, mind you.

Update- I just read the prior thread and see that they do. Hmmm - who do I know?

When I go into an Apple Store, I show my faculty ID and get a 10% discount on EVERYTHING. The first time it happened I was stunned. AppleCare and an Airport Extreme were more than 10% off.

[MacTel]

A very modest upgrade, but a welcome one.

I would believe that Apple loses more money support-wise on the white Macbooks than the aluminum ones. I've had almost every piece of my Macbook replaced excluding the screen and optical drive. Some of the was due to cracks in the plastic. The system board and hard drive are hard to say if they were affected by the frame of the Macbook and would have benefited from the aluminum enclosure.

The nicest thing about the aluminum body is that it won't crack or get dingy like the white Macbook. Anyone have any similar complaints about the aluminum Macbook?

[macFanDave]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Well it will be great if that rumor is true. What is the probabilty of Apple actually admitting a misatake?

That concept of how Apple is going to sell its last FireWire-free MacBooks reminds me of that famous John Kerry quote from 1971, "How do you ask a customer to be the las customer to die (i. e., live a FireWire-deprived existence == death) for a mistake?"

It's amazing how he foresaw the greatest data-transfer protocol EVAR about 25 years early.

[al_bundy]

Originally Posted by ivan.rnn01

Where's the line "Designed By Apple in California"??

people still design laptops? i thought the 3-5 Chinese companies that make them just tell you what you're going to get and stamp a brand name on them?

even with an obsolete ipod it's still the same hardware as a $399 special from one of the brand x makers.

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by Lorre

I guess this means Alu MacBook updates as soon as next week...

IF they are, I suspect it will be very minor. and possibly just an announcement that will fall later in the summer with Snow Leopard

Originally Posted by MacTripper

The case on the white MacBooks crack and chip.

I was picking up something at a local store and I actually heard a sales person warning a gentleman against the white macbook because he admitted he's rough on his laptops and the white case gets cracks on the seems and sometimes if something heavy gets put on top when its closed it can damage the display screen (which wouldn't be covered by warranty). I was shocked and impressed that the staff would be that candid.

Originally Posted by rtdunham

So do students get the rebate AND a reduced price? what's the education price for the $999 MB?

Originally Posted by jeffharris

When I go into an Apple Store, I show my faculty ID and get a 10% discount on EVERYTHING.

no you don't. I have 7 educators in my family and there is not a 10% on everything discount. because you don't get anything on non apple items, for example. nothing on even Apple cables and adapters and the computer, ipod etc discounts are not 10%. you get that percent on their consumer software (i think it is higher for the stuff like Final Cut and Logic). but everything else is something else. the white macbook is only $50 off which is only 5%.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by MacTel

The nicest thing about the aluminum body is that it won't crack or get dingy like the white Macbook. Anyone have any similar complaints about the aluminum Macbook?

See for yourself- Go to any Best Buy and look at the dents and noticeable scratches that would barely be visible on white plastics.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by jeffharris

Apple omitted FireWire 800 from the first MacBook Pro. They put it into the Rev.B MBP!
Let's hope this is the case with the unibody MacBook.

I hope they make the MATTE screen option available for ALL their laptops!

Agreed- bring back matte and firewire. NOW!!!!

[MadisonTate]

Originally Posted by MacTel

A very modest upgrade, but a welcome one.

I would believe that Apple loses more money support-wise on the white Macbooks than the aluminum ones. I've had almost every piece of my Macbook replaced excluding the screen and optical drive. Some of the was due to cracks in the plastic. The system board and hard drive are hard to say if they were affected by the frame of the Macbook and would have benefited from the aluminum enclosure.

The nicest thing about the aluminum body is that it won't crack or get dingy like the white Macbook. Anyone have any similar complaints about the aluminum Macbook?

Some people are just rough with their toys. I have a 1 year-old MacBook Pro with glossy screen, heavily used for video editing and software development, taken to lectures weekly as well as back and forth to work. Other than the paint on the display release button, it looks absolutely brand new. I saw someone else's week-old MBP and it looked VERY used.

Ditto with the fact that my black clamshell cell phone looks brand new after almost 6 years of heavy use.

Learn to take care of your stuff instead of whining. And just stop it with the matte vs. glossy argument. For color correction that matters, I use a hood and wear black, which is what I do when I'm using an Eizo too. Maybe you should stop using Lustre at Starbucks with sunlight streaming in behind you.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by MadisonTate

And just stop it with the matte vs. glossy argument. For color correction that matters, I use a hood and wear black, which is what I do when I'm using an Eizo too. Maybe you should stop using Lustre at Starbucks with sunlight streaming in behind you.

Do you view the world with glossy inducing glasses?
Did you grow up reading printed text with a sheet of glass between you and it?

[jeffharris]

Originally Posted by teckstud

See for yourself- Go to any Best Buy and look at the dents and noticeable scratches that would barely be visible on white plastics.

Dents and scratches come from treating your equipment poorly.

I've owned around 8 PowerBooks and MacBook Pros I use a neoprene sleeve AND put them in padded backpacks for every one I've owned and NEVER had scratches or dents on any of them. This includes carrying them everyday either on the subway or biking in New York City traffic! I've carried them on buses, trains, boats and planes from East Coast to the Rockies, Central America, the Caribbean and across Europe.

I've seen people who just toss there Macs into a book bag with NO protection at all. I would assume that these are the people who complain the loudest.

If you take care of your gear, IT WILL LAST.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by jeffharris

Dents and scratches come from treating your equipment poorly.

I've owned around 8 PowerBooks and MacBook Pros I use a neoprene sleeve AND put them in padded backpacks for every one I've owned and NEVER had scratches or dents on any of them. This includes carrying them everyday either on the subway or biking in New York City traffic! I've carried them on buses, trains, boats and planes from East Coast to the Rockies, Central America, the Caribbean and across Europe.

I've seen people who just toss there Macs into a book bag with NO protection at all. I would assume that these are the people who complain the loudest.

If you take care of your gear, IT WILL LAST.

Ok but how does that explain why plastic doesn't dent?

[jeffharris]

Originally Posted by MadisonTate

I use a hood and wear black

Apparently, you're an executioner.
Axe? Needle? Gas? Rope? or Rifle?

[jeffharris]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Ok but how does that explain why plastic doesn't dent?

It doesn't.

[elroth]

Originally Posted by al_bundy

people still design laptops? i thought the 3-5 Chinese companies that make them just tell you what you're going to get and stamp a brand name on them?

even with an obsolete ipod it's still the same hardware as a $399 special from one of the brand x makers.

If you really believe that then I'm surprised you can even feed yourself (maybe you can't).

[hillstones]

Originally Posted by MacTripper

The case on the white MacBooks crack and chip.
A piece near the corner just fell off (no it wasn't dropped) on a brand new machine too.
My girlfriend isn't too pleased, being it's her first Mac.
She doesn't like the glossy screen either. (yes I mentioned a anti-glare film, she says it shouldn't be needed on a $1000 machine and why was the matte screens removed?)
I googled for macbooks crack chip and found it's a widespread problem, but it doesn't seem to be anymore widespread than any other normal defects found with products. But now I'm always on the defensive with her because of this and the glossy screen, having to teach her OS X and all on top of that.
I'm trying to convince her to take it back to Apple before too much time has passed, but she's stuck depending upon it and can't take the time to travel 300 miles back to the Apple Store.
Yes I said it could be shipped and all...
She's stuck on the Stockholm Syndrome effect. This is a sad trend for Apple products.
My advice, buy the metal case Macbooks. Better the matte screen models unless you like looking at yourself.

Tell her not to drop it and it won't break. It is not a widespread problem. I have a three year old white MacBook in mint condition, no scratches, no chips. Stop complaining about glossy screens because almost all PC laptops have glossy screens, and have used them much longer than Apple. 300 miles to an Apple Store? Where does she live? Any authorized Apple Service Center will determine if her damaged MacBook is warranty-related. Since she is reluctant to send it to Apple for service, tells me that she dropped it. Pieces don't just fall off. The complaints that you found, are from people that don't know how to take care of things, and try to blame others for their own stupidity. It is a laptop. You can't throw them around like a book.

[MacTripper]

Typo,

should have been 2 year old MacBook Pro, not 5 year.

my bad, thanks for catching it all.

And yes the piece of the white carbonate just cracked and fell off near the corner of the screen. There is no damage to the corner, like if it was dropped. She is very carefully and uses a carrying case.

I'm going to get her to try TechRestore, which will replace the glossy for matte in a couple of days. But now of course is the cracked piece, they might not want to be held liable for that. I'm assuming switching the screen for a matte will violate her Applecare/warranty.

What a hassle. sh*t. :rollseyes:


By the way Lenovos are matte finish, it's because they took a poll and over 86% of their business customers picked matte finish over glossy.

http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2006/10/8022.ars


The problem of course with Apple is the hardware/OS X tie in. You invest thousands of dollars in professional apps and Apple goes on ahead and limits your hardware choices to glossy only options, then only the most expensive versions!

The 17" MBP matte is a start, but unless all Mac's offer the option of either matte or glossy, it's killing sales. It's also doing damage to people's eyes with eyestrain and muscle fatigue.

Apple should innovate and make all their screens easily changable (in store, pre-purchase) to either matte or glossy. Films totally suck and trap heat and dirt.

Problem solved. The leftovers of either screens could be used for repairs.