THE GOOD: Good price for the specs, for a Mac; sturdy construction; no graphics compromise. THE BAD: Older battery doesn't last as long as the new Pros; still no SD card slot or ExpressCard; white MacBook design is getting a little old. THE BOTTOM LINE: For $999, it's hard to beat this MacBook's nearly MacBook-Pro-level specs if you're in the market for a budget Apple laptop. (© CNET)
Apple MacBook 13-inch
includes: May 2006
write a review
user reviews (90)
0
0
0
1
3
7
14
35
23
7
worse
better
Criteria
awful
poor
so-so
good
great
Speed and features
73 ratings | 12 comments
0
2
Design and form factor
73 ratings | 10 comments
1
0
Battery life
73 ratings | 15 comments
1
Display
72 ratings | 10 comments
0
12
Durability
73 ratings | 15 comments
Expandability
67 ratings | 10 comments
3
Noise
72 ratings | 13 comments
Portability (size / weight)
72 ratings | 12 comments
0
sort by
Overall a decent notebook for the average user. I bought it as a Un*x workstation which came with a shell-prompt out of the box and had a small form-factor. The rating would have been much higher if the notebook had a better build quality. If I were you, go for a unibody model. After having owned an... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
At home I have the laptop on a cooler stand off to the right of a 22" Dell flat panel. The larger screen is configured to be the main display when it is plugged in. When I need to take the mac with me, I just unplug it and I have an ultra-portable laptop with a full sized keyboard. It really is... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
I have had my 13-inch for just about 2 years now and thought I would share my experiences with it. First the bad: For my use I have found the polycarbonate case to be pretty lackluster. The case has become discolored below the keyboard where I rest my palms while typing. Additionally the case has... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
I had the first white Macbook. At the time it was quite fast CD 2.0Ghz, 1Gig, 120Gig HD, Bluetooth, Superdrive. It came with Panther at the time and run quite well. The construction was solid and the keyboard, although unique at the time, was easy to get used to. I actually think it made me a more... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
The good: Great HW components make it durable and reliable. I had been using it with OSX and GNU/Linux without a problem. You already know the deal about Apple Mac's hardware, really nice features. The bad: Even being a fine black good looking piece it is difficult to keep it clean because even... Read the full review →
2 people find this review helpful
Prior to splurging on this, I had only used Windows in the 10 years I had been regulary using computers, and I will never willingly go back. OS X is the best operating system out there (and yes, I've used Linux OS's) and this machine runs it wonderfully. My only issue has been hard drive... Read the full review →
1 person found this review helpful
I've had my macbook for the past two years, and I still feel as if it's brand new. It has not slowed down at all, and the startup is still extremely fast. I sit at a Dell when I'm on campus, and it takes a good five minutes before I can even start up Firefox or Internet Explorer. On... Read the full review →
1 person found this review helpful
I have had only one problem with this Mac. The mouse button would sometimes get stuck when depressed. This happened when it was under warranty and Apple fixed for me at the Apple Store. Other than this I couldn't say enough about the computer. The main thing is that it is 3 years old and going... Read the full review →
1 person found this review helpful
As my MacBook gets close to 3 years old I continue to be very happy with this laptop. The value of going with the MacBook vs. the Pro at the time was well worth the savings. The only features I really wished I wanted was the back lit keyboard. I debated quite a while on this purchase but it turned... Read the full review →
1 person found this review helpful
This MacBook has been my trustie partner for almost 3 years. Really nice machine but it's asking for retirement. Read the full review →
0 people find this review helpful
The plastic Macbook is without a doubt the most poorly constructed gadget I've purchased. From the choice of materials, to components, and even the body design - I was not impressed. I first purchased the Macbook with excitement that I was getting a shiny new Apple product, but that excitement... Read the full review →
0 people find this review helpful
I loved using this laptop for years. I had the black one. I upgraded the RAM myself in the days when an upgrade from the factory was a couple of hundred dollars. The battery no longer works at all, but a 4 year old kid did jump it on it. I still use it as a music player in my bedroom with the... Read the full review →
0 people find this review helpful
my first mac was a 13" white macbook. i simply love the form factor and the macbook hasnt let me down a single time in the last 2 years. only issues are high cost of upgrades, gets dirty and prone to scratches. missing sd card port and remote.
i suggest you work harder, save money and go for the... Read the full review →
i suggest you work harder, save money and go for the... Read the full review →
0 people find this review helpful
I switched from an aluminum PowerBook, and I hate the plasticy feel of this thing. Read the full review →
0 people find this review helpful