Can you guys clear up a few things for me?

I was just browsing through the user review section of the Macbook and there were various reviews saying these things.

- The macbook gets very hot
- It is very loud when using one or two programmes
- It is slow when it comes to using programmes
- The battery life isnt actually that great.

Now i am not sure whether to believe because i regularly read the complete opposite in some other reviews...

So what is the deal with the new macbook? What is true here and what is not?

 

None of those are actually very accurate.

The macbook does not get VERY HOT. Like any other computer, if you rip a DVD and have your CPU work 100% for 10-20minutes, the computer will get hot.

Also, when the computer gets hot the fans will kick in, but they're not loud.

The new Macbooks are not slow, and the projected battery is 5 hours. Of course it's not going to be the exact battery life, but 3-4 hours is more realistic.

 

^reviews report 4.75 hours

 

The MacBook does get hot, but its not going to start a fire or melt plastic . Not much hotter than any conventional notebook these days.

It doesn't get loud at all, I would say. More intensive programs will kick in the fans, but they're pretty quiet if you ask me; most of the time I can barely hear my MacBook.

It isn't any slower than any other notebook with the parts the MacBook has, and frankly, I think the MacBook is fast (just a little spoiled with my quad core desktop now).

 

Is it worth going for the 2.4hz over the 2ghz? Is the difference valuable?

 

Personally, I would say no, it doesn't hurt to have the faster processor, but it is $300 more. The 2.4 GHz does have a larger hard drive, but storage is really cheap nowadays anyway, I would recommend an external hard drive with the saved money from not going with the 2.4 GHz. The 2.4 GHz does come with a backlit keyboard though .

 

If you want a back-lit keyboard, more HDD space, and a processor that's only a bit faster, then go for it. I don't think it's worth the extra money, but I'm not complaining because I got mine as a gift for Christmas.

EDIT: Sam beat me by one minute!

 

I'm surprised, i had never contemplated getting the cheaper one... i thought it was a no-brainer to go for the 2.4ghz... Isn't the 2ghz kinda behind what is standard at the moment though?

 

Well the chips in the new MB's have a faster Front Side Bus, which makes up for the lacking number. You get better performance from a 2GHz chip with a higher FSB than a 2.5GHz processor with a lower FBS and a lower cache.

 

Tough decision..........how happy are you with yours then?

 

A little OT,but your pictures are really uber-cool!

 

I would go with the 2.0 GHz and use the extra $300 on other things, kachopra!

Thanks, Xirurg!

 

But its likely in the future i may want that extra speed, memory whatever? I don't know, i feel like i'd rather spend the extra and have something that doesn't outdate too fast... i'm torn.

 

Well, memory and hard drive you can update yourself, the processor will be the one you have to choose upfront and won't be able to change. It is true that the 2.4 GHz MacBook will run faster, but not by a ton, and in reality, its best not to purchase at all yet and wait for Nehalem (Core i7), which will be a nice processor upgrade. So yes, the 2.4 GHz is faster and will be faster later on, but as Apple is indicating with Snow Leopard, it plans to streamline applications anyway, so I don't think having a 2.0 GHz will really lead you to have really slow applications three years from now!

 

'its best not to purchase at all yet and wait for Nehalem (Core i7), which will be a nice processor upgrade.

Can you explain this, that's gone right over my head haha...when is this happening? are you saying i shouldn't buy now?

 

Well, Nehalem is the next big processor update from Intel, and all indications show it will offer very good improvements to all tasks. I'm nto sure what's the release date anymore, but its sometime 2009 . Doing a proper Google search will yield more results. But in short, if its not essential, I would wait for Nehalem!

 

Though, seeing as the new macbook line only came in October, wouldn't it be a while till the next lot arrive?

 

True to an extent, releasing right now would be a bit off, but the next release could be March and it wouldn't be uncharacteristic of Apple. Again, I don't remember the Nehalem release date, but it should be around then!

 

What was the gap between october 08 release and the one before for Apple?

 

Here's the date and specs from the previous release of the Macbook.

 

March would be a pretty good shout then, hmm.