Comments on: What readers hate about the new MacBooks

Highlights from CNET user opinions on Apple's new MacBooks.

[austinlwong]

i really wished they kept the dvd drive front loading. a lot of times i have stuff to the side of my laptop and the front loading feature makes it more convenient

[EyeWierd]

I dislike the glossy screens because the only way to repel it is to simply turn the brightness of the screen to maximum, and that makes the electricity bill soar sometimes.

[husslord]

Needs fire wire still, but I do like the new body! Plastic sorta sucks, but still better than most other laptops! Also the screen looks like it will crack easier than on the previous books, its scary how fragile it looks!

[LATechEnthusiast]

So yes, this product isn't perfect...but I strongly believe technical perfection is next to impossible. Measured next to every other laptop in the marketplace at its price range, the MacBook and MacBook Pro are as close to "perfect" as a laptop can get.

[imac04]

I think apple need to add somethings to make people happier with the computers.
For example apple needs add blu ray option into there machines to allow people to burn more data.
I still dont know why apple does not include slots for memory card for camera etc. They need to add them other companies do. Taking away firewire is dum firewire faster and apple everted it .
Apple needs to cut down there prices to make it easier for people to buy them.
There also needs to have more usb ports for apple computers 3 is not enough.
I like apple but somethings I am not happy with.

[wyojeep]

Mac is supposed to be "down home" iLife users; familes with video cameras. Well, I'm a Dad with a video camera and was getting ready to upgrade my white Macbook for a new Macbook. Its a good thing I checked the port selections NO FIREWIRE. Thats real smart Apple, real smart. Guess I'm going refurbished 15 inch pro.

[webterractive]

No Firewire, what a joke people are just whinners.... geez. One thing I would like to see is the option of having a matte or glossy display. I didn't like my glossy Inspiron so I went to a matte iMac.

[whidbeyben]

I, like many other professional users who want a compact form factor but with full capabilities as still stuck with our aging 12" Powerbook G4's. I'm actually on my second one. Small doesn't have to mean limited. Look at the Toshiba R500 for an example of what a 12" MacBook Pro could and should. SuperDrive, 200GB HD or 160GB SSD, 12" transreflective screen that can really be used outdoors, and full pots including FW400/800, 3-USB2, PC34 and DVI. Apple would be smart to put a swivel screen on this like the HP 12" notepad and kill two birds with one stone. Apple's leadership in multitouch would make this a killer device for vertical application (sales, virtual textbooks, medical and insurance apps etc) that can easily be designed to avoid routine text input, but where occassional typing is inevitable.

If Apple can produce a microniche product like the MBA, surely there is a much larger market for a 12" professional convertible. By properly leveraging multitouch, Apple could and should own these highly profitable vertical markets.

[whidbeyben]

I'm disappointed to see a notable lack of security features in these new Apple notebooks. If Apple wants to make serious inroads into corporate and medical markets, they need to incorporate biometric (fingerprint) sensors as well as the basics like the Kensington slot. This can and has been done in both the Toshiba R500 and HP 2710, and both for under $2500. I'd like to make a hackintosh out of one of these compact notebooks.

[mickey12pack]

I mean come on apple. first they put firewire on everything and make a fuss over how it's better than usb. Then they replace vga/svideo with that stupid dvi connector. Then they say f-u firewire people and put an even weirder video connector on this one. Did I mention changing the processor twice in 10 years. I suspect when 10.6 comes out it won't work on any apple laptop but this aluminum one.

I just used my new MBP in my semi-sunny living room this AM. The morning light was beautiful outside...but really caused havoc on my viewing pleasure. Certainly more glare than my previous generation MBP which had the matte finish. Also, that new trackpad has a mind of its own. You gotta be really careful with that thing. That's my biggest gripe.