MacBook: Another Reason Why I HATE Apple.
Written: Nov 26 '06
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Pros: good machine design
Cons: closes programs and shuts down unexpectedly, electric shocks, unreliable
The Bottom Line: Run away. Run far, far away.
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| Candice923's Full Review: Apple MacBook 13.3 in. (MA254LL/A) Mac Notebook |
I hate Macs. I really, really do. Now, before you go judging this review before you even read it, please know that I didn't go into owning this computer, the Apple MacBook Mac Notebook, with a bad attitude. Granted, I would have MUCH preferred to use PC, but I didn't have much of a choice. As a matter of fact, I didn't have any choice at all.
As many of you already know, I run Teen Trend Magazine. I am the Editor-in-Chief. Quite frankly, I do ALL of the editorial stuff: assignments, editing, layout, etc. My partner in crime, Mechelle, handles all of the advertising stuff. We put it both together every other month, and come up with a magazine.
But, why a Mac? There is a common misconception that a Mac can do anything a PC can do, and vice versa. Unfortunately, that isn't true. ESPECIALLY when it comes to design programs. Quark, which is the program that many magazines (including Teen Trend Magazine), functions best on a Mac. I've tried it both on a Mac and on a PC-- Working with the program on a Mac is much easier and more efficient. That is, when the Mac actually works.
You see, when you are using your MacBook, the computer just randomly shuts down. The battery can be fully charged, but the computer quits. You lose all of your work if you haven't saved. It is awful. I spoke with tech support at Mac about this, and they just didn't have any answers. There is even a section in troubleshooting about what to do if your Mac randomly shuts down. If this is such a problem, someone should fix it, not troubleshoot it.
And it's not just the computer that shuts down. Programs randomly quit, too, causing the user to lose all of their work if they haven't saved it yet. For example, I have a brand new Quark 7.0 program that I use on a daily basis with the MacBook. I cannot begin to tell you how many times the program has just quit without any warning. The same goes for PhotoShop, Word and even Safari. Again, Mac tech support has no answers.
I also found that Safari, the web browser that comes with the MacBook doesn't support many email programs. For example, my work email account uses Network Solutions. All I have to do to check my email is log into the website. With my MacBook, I can check the email, but I cannot respond. It is very frustrating.
The design of the Apple MacBook is sleek and attractive. You can purchase it in black or white. (I opted for white.) It is very thin-- just about an inch wide. That's regardless of the screen size you have, too, which is a nice feature. It fits just about anywhere, and it is very light. This makes the MacBook very easy to travel with.
The Apple MacBook cost a whopping $1410, including tax and shipping. That is double the amount than some Dell laptops sell for. It's a ridiculously exorbitant price for an unstable computer. And we just got the base model with a 13" screen. If you want a larger screen or any other bells and whistles, be prepared to pay quite a bit.
What really blows my mind is the Apple Tech Support-- or lack there of. If you don't purchase the warrantee (which comes in 1-year and 3-year increments), you can only use tech support free for 90 days. We purchased the Apple MacBook in August of 2006 off of Apple.com, and didn't receive it until mid-September. In theory, we should have had tech support until mid-December. But, no. The tech support starts from your day of purchase, not your day of receipt. So, when I called in early November, they refused me service unless I paid for it. When I told them that I was electrocuted (with second-degree burns up my arm, by the way), they transferred me to a lovely woman who spent about three hours on the phone with me, then told me that she couldn't help and I needed to take it into the Apple Store at the Smithaven Mall. I was not a happy camper.
Even the people at the Apple Store couldn't fix the computer. Fortunately, they were able to rescue my important files for the magazine to be released ontime. Plus, all of the people that work there were very knowledgeable and able to help me right away. If you have a problem with your Apple computer, just bring it into an Apple Store near you and forego telephone support. It's very inconvenient, but worth it.
The negatives far outweigh the positives when it comes to the MacBook. There are way too many problems for me to recommend this computer to anyone that is just in the market for new computer. If you need just a regular laptop, I would skip the MacBook altogether. Get yourself a nice Compaq or even a Dell. If you see a Mac, just keep on walking.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 1410
Operating System: Macintosh
Screen Size: 13 inches
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW
Hard Drive (GB): 31-40
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Epinions.com ID:
Candice923
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Location: Brookhaven, NY
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