Scared of buying a new Macbook - help!

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Level 1

83 points

Scared of buying a new Macbook - help!

Scared of buying a new Macbook!

I really need to buy a laptop due to a book I'm about to start writing, but after reading all the negative things on here about the new Macbook and Macbook Pro with overheating and this funny heat gel that Apple are dunking on the intel chips to try and stop them from overheating, I'm a little worried about spending my money on a new one and am more inclined to buy an older used iBook; perhaps a 6 month old one.

Okay, questions to put my mind at rest. I would rather have a more future-proof intel laptop, and I do like the widescreen resolution of the new Macbook as I can play back native 720x1280 progressive HD footage.

So, this dollop of heat gel, is it on the Macbook chip from the factory from new, or do Apple engineers just dollop this stuff on there when they get a overheating one returned to try and rectify the problem. If the latter is the case, surely this will only work until the gel dries up and stops having any cooling effect?

Will future Macbooks be sorted, if so, should I wait 3 months and by a revised rev-B type Macbook.

I've also read that the fans can rev loud.

I'm only asking as I bought one of the first iMac G5's and it was an overheating over revving disaster; so much so that I had to sell it on eBay after just 3 months as I could not stand it. I bought another one a year later that is fine; after Apple sorted the design problems out. I don't want to make the same mistake again.

Advice please.

Oh, I love Macs, I have 3 in the house, iMac G5, intel Mac Mini and Dual 2 gig G5 tower. So I don't need convincing. I have been using Macs long enough to know that Apple tend to have teething problems with new gear, but when they sort it, it is simply the best.

Thanks.

Mac mini & Dual 2GB G5 tower, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on May 24, 2006 4:10 PM

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Answer 1

May 24, 2006 4:17 PM in response to Nigel-66

I agree that this Mac Book have a lot of issue, and with a lot of complain from us it will make a better one or atleast it will comes with patch to fix it.

but since you have 3 Macs already maybe you can hold on to that decision to buy until it all resolve or ....
just bought it and hope apple will provide the firmware updater (which I believe they will) like they give the updater on iMac early 2006 and early Mac Mini

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Answer 2

letsgo

Level 1

0 points

May 24, 2006 4:35 PM in response to Nigel-66

Hello, I can't answer all your questions, but just so you understand,ALL cpu chips (even the previous apple g4's and g5's), some video chips, etc. use the silicon grease as a way to carry the heat away from the chips to the metal heat sinks. Every computer ever made (well maybe not the original tube ones 🙂 have this type of heat transfer technology in place so the chips don't melt down.

The comments about heat grease are mostly about how much was applied (with the belief that too much grease may not transfer the heat effectively), not whether or not it is needed. Recent articles on other web sites indicate that in some tests where the factory heat grease is cleaned and removed, then replaced with what some consider to be top notch grease, has only reduced the temperature of the case by 2 degrees. To be clear, this was for the macbook pros, where there seems to be even more concern by some about temperature.

By the way, this heat grease is designed to last longer than the computer it is running in. It does not typically dry out during the lifetime of the computer.

Should you buy the Macbook? Only you can decide if this makes sense. But there are a lot of other people on other forums (popular mac magazines, and rumor sites) who are quite pleased with the machine so far.

Personally, I would not buy a previous generation at this point.

Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Powermac Dual G5 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

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Answer 3

londonbg

Level 1

0 points

May 24, 2006 4:37 PM in response to Nigel-66

had mine for 2 days now and have been hammering it solidly

no problems with noise

runs warm on the lap (but not as warm as my powerbook 17 inch g4)

very impressed with it so far

very quick

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Answer 4

May 24, 2006 4:37 PM in response to Nigel-66

So, do you want to use the laptop for "writing" or watching movies?? For simple tasks like writing, email, etc, why not just buy a used Pismo, an iBook, or a G4 PB? I personally would NEVER buy first-generation apple hardware. There are already plenty of "beta-testers" out there to help apple figure out the kinks. 😉

J.

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Answer 5

May 24, 2006 4:43 PM in response to Nigel-66

My Macbook (1gb ram, 80gb harddrive, white 2.0ghz) just arrived today and I've been playing with it for most of the day. I haven't had any problems at all. I was scared, like you, of getting a lemon but have had no issues.

Here are my impressions:

- The new style keyboard is very comfortable and I can type at about 90wpm on it with no issues at all.

- I can't hear a single sound from the laptop. It's very quiet. I did hear the fan kick in earlier in the day when I was watching a dvd.

- the display is great. all the comments about it are non-issue as far as I'm concerned.

- it's fast enough, however I haven't found it a speed demon. But for what I'm using it for, it's great.

Good luck. I wouldn't worry about the complaints on the forums. Generally people who have no issues won't go to a support forum.

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Answer 6

May 24, 2006 4:44 PM in response to formerTux

Oh, I forgot to mention about the heat.

I've used many many laptops but no Apple laptops before. I have no issues with the heat at all. It's fine on my lap, it's warm to touch after hours of use, but not hot.

I don't have a temperature app installed, so not sure what it's running at but it's fine in on mine.

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Answer 7

May 24, 2006 5:09 PM in response to formerTux

I'm not going to say that my MacBook is perfect, because if I did I know that it would go downhill right after that, but when compared to using some PC laptops, the problems are so minimal. My fiancee's HP laptop, which was more expensive, is so loud we have to turn the television up to drown it out. It also gets so hot that you have to put something in between the notebook and your lap. And it only started with about 1 hour of battery use. And it has gotten several viruses. So ... if we want to use Macs, which it seems we all do, then I think we could all do way worse (plus we don't have many options).

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Answer 8

May 24, 2006 5:22 PM in response to Nigel-66

I got my macbook today and it is working great. No sound, whining or the fan working hard. There is hardly any heating unlike MBP. I feel I made a good choice of buying a MB because of plastic coating there is not that much heat. Aluminum has greater heat conductivity and thus gets heated more. This one is comfortable to be on my lap. I am happy with this choice and loving each moment with it! = )

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Answer 9

Joel C.

Level 6

15,919 points

May 24, 2006 5:33 PM in response to Nigel-66

I had a PowerMac G4 which was really old. I wanted an iMac G5 but I wasn't going to buy it until the second revision. Not because of the trouble of the first ones but because I just wanted the latest greatest. I however hang out here quite a bit and noticed all the trouble of the first generations. Well the second revisions came out and guess what? There was just as many people here complaining.

I ordered. It's been whisper quiet. 0% trouble for over a year. I walked into the Apple Store on Monday about 10:30am and ten minutes latter I walked out with the MacBook. I'm not going to say every Apple product is without trouble. I had a HD replaced in my PowerBook. But coming here (Apple Discussions) is like going to the hospital looking for wellness.

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Answer 10

ItsGavinC

Level 2

185 points

May 24, 2006 6:19 PM in response to Joel C.

To the OP: remember that this is a support forum. You'll find a relatively few number of posts about how great the products are.

I've had my MacBook for 4 days now and LOVE it. No problems, no noises, screen is great, heat isn't a problem, the design is sweet, and it's fast. No complaints whatsoever.

Get one, you won't regret it.

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Answer 11

Nigel-66 Author

Level 1

83 points

May 25, 2006 2:58 AM in response to ItsGavinC

Thanks everyone for feedback. Actually, the one thing that appeals most about Macbook is the all-new keyboard. I can type over 100 wpm and the new keyboard is supposed to feel better than old iBook/Powerbook. Anyone comment on this who has used both?

Thanks again.

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Answer 12

May 25, 2006 4:17 AM in response to Nigel-66

I switched from an iMac G5 to a 17" MBP and from an iBook 12" to a MacBook. I am typing very much. The new keyboard of the MacBook is my favourite amongst the notebook keyboards. You need a bit more pressure than on the iBook or MBP but the response is more precise - that means that never a character is omitted which happens sometimees with my style of typing on the other notebook keyboards.

Heat: the keyboard area of the Macbook is much cooler than that of the 17" MBP, except the outer left keys (CapsLock to F3) when the powercord is connected. On the 17" MBP the central zone of the keyboard is warm, the processor seams to sit beneath this area. I am using an external keyboard at home to circumvent the molestion - the fingertips begin to sweat after a while of typing on those warm keys.

Noise: No sort of annoying noise from the Macbook. On the 17" MBP sometimes comes a faint whine from the Magsafe connector after connecting it. It lasts about one hour and disappears when the battery is loaded again. No such feature an the Macbook.

The only issue that really annoys me is the razor sharp front edge of the MacBook. I am planning to use abrasive paper to get rid of it. The MBPs have an additional bezel surrounding the edge of the aluminium case. - My forearms hurt after half an hour of normal work on the MacBook because I cannot avoid the contact with that edge. Other people may hold their hands in other positions and will never get in contact with it and therefore not complain about that edge.

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Answer 13

May 25, 2006 7:23 PM in response to achterblad

The only issue that really annoys me is the razor
sharp front edge of the MacBook. I am planning to use
abrasive paper to get rid of it. The MBPs have an
additional bezel surrounding the edge of the
aluminium case. - My forearms hurt after half an hour
of normal work on the MacBook because I cannot avoid
the contact with that edge. Other people may hold
their hands in other positions and will never get in
contact with it and therefore not complain about that
edge.

I couldn't agree with you more about the razor-sharp edges. That's the first thing I wrote about on a message board, and no one ever responded so I thought it was just on mine, or that I just had real sensitive forearms. Thanks for recognizing this issue.

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Answer 14

Tarcat

Level 1

0 points

May 25, 2006 8:13 PM in response to Nigel-66

Keep in mind that users without problems are unlikely to frequent these forums. Those with problems are much more likely to post. After reading through this site I was paranoid before buying my last three Macs. I expected all kinds of problems. And I didn't have a single one.

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