Returned MacBookPro

After using it for a while I returned it for the following reasons.

1) first off the screen was a lil blurry (fonts and such), and the backlight would cause certain areas of the screen to stand out. It was painfully noticeable when I started using it paired up to my Dell 2405 LCD. I calibrated it using 3 different programs and still had the problem. I did notice that the laptops at the store had better screens / good ones.

2) The screen would dim and brighten alot while on battery mode. As if the light that the light sensor was measuring was changing...it wasn't...it was probably faulty as it did it ofen enough. I thought it was my left hand but noticed it happened even when I was careful to have my hands as close to the center as possible.

2) I was annoyed that to get OSX to respond the way I would like it to (mouse feel for example, finder replacement, etc) I ended up having to download a lot of shareware software. Things that the OS already allows for but that apple just didn't have a graphical interface (control panel) to adjust settings. So to get my laptop to run they way I would want it involves spending more money or having to code/script/learn a workaround which sometimes I don't have time for. Not to mention I have to buy boot camp at a minimum. Also for my needs Leopard is a useless upgrade. Apple remote desktop ? Why should you have to pay for that? it's unix...there might be a unix way to doing it on Apple but didn't try it out.

3) I had tons of problems with my wireless card in OSX and the apple store gave me the impression the "geniuses" could fix it. If anything using some internal apple fix...shady. If I can't update a wireless card by myself and need Apple to do it for me..no good.

4) ok So i bought the laptop to run Windows and Linux primarily right? In windows gaming FPS was high and the picture quality was outstanding, way better than my work ati firegl 5200. However while gaming I would often get hiccups as things started to speed up (frame rate wise). I tested this with stock nvidia drivers from boot camp and custom ones, same prob. Since I want to use windows and linux I would rather have a laptop I can easily partition, install a boot loader and have all the various partitions I want (swap, etc) which is not possible with boot camp.

5) Bottom line. I am looking for a GDDR3 laptop that can run windows and linux, not burn a hole in my pocket, 15.4" and classy looking. For the price and for what I wanted out of the MBP it was not a good fit. I wish this laptop was available as a PC, I would buy it in a heart beat! Keyboard was great and really liked the build.

I am considering buying the HP 8510W since it has the graphics card I want and I like my work nw8440 alot. To bad the sony FZ only has an 8400gt card in it.

Just my 2Cents. Also historically new/free software is always avail for windows then linux. I use a lot of different programs...maybe if I just watched DVDs and photoshop the apple would be fine..then again what cheap pc can't do that.

 

Well, sorry to hear about your case, polarlinks, but personally I felt you shouldn't have gone the Mac route anyways if you planned to run Windows full time. You should've realized that you would have to "compromise" a bit to run Windows on a Mac. Boot Camp is darn good, but its not perfect.

Once again though, sorry to hear about it and sounds like the Mac wasn't for you. The HPs are really solid, nice notebooks.

 

I belive 4 and 5 are not valid. people dont buy mac to run windows games.
I if you wanted a cheap laptop with good config you should have definetly gone with HP. Really Nice Lappy's Though

 

sorry to hear about that polarlinks... especially since prior to buying my notebook ... we had a couple of discussions .... anyways.. i guess point of fact is that getting a macbook pro pretty much means that the bulk of stuff u want to do ... u should be able to do frm os x and not frm windows via bootcamp ...

8510w sure looks like quite a well spec'd HP laptop ... personally ... i'm a great fan of HP ... hope u find the 8510w worthwhile ..... spend a li'll bit more time figuring out different manufacturers... in terms of value for money as far as looks as well as performance is considered... in windows laptops... hp comes tops ...

anyways.. best of luck with ur laptop purchase polarlinks ....

 

Reasons 4 and 5 are the main things that Sam and many others on this forum try to educate Windows (excuse the expression,) fanboys that just want the Mac for the hardware that the Mac is truly a Mac and if you have no intention on using OS X you are better off with a physical Windows PC.

Now I don't mean to be harsh but I don't understand why you felt the need to post that you returned your MBP and wrote several long paragraphs as to why because it's really not helping anyone. Good luck with fulfilling your needs.

 

I think that Mac fanboys are trying to put their noses into windows fanboys *****
MBP is just a PC and get over it - nothing special. With OSX you just do not get any software that would put MBP to the limits, so no wonder that on Windows we start seing all hardware problems and lack of good developers on Apple side
If you are suggesting that Windows guys should use other hardware - it is just because you know that apple hardware su(ks a bit. MBP looks cool - good specs - but it is built for the looks (in the photo and on the paper). When it comes to doing a job - it just overheats, starts caughing and farting like an old tart.
I would return my MBP too - just waiting until something brakes and then...

 

The MBP has features windows doesn't work with. The hardware runs hot because it's the thinest note book you'll find with mostly passive cooling. Please don't troll

 

???

Y'know alenas, you seem to really dislike Apple stuff yet you got yourself a MBP...

And yes, I am suggesting you use a PC if you plan to run Windows all day. Macs are not perfect and I can assure you PCs aren't perfect either (remember, I'm calling "PC" in the sense that its a Windows computer ). We got Macs for the hardware and of course, OS X. If you don't plan to use OS X then the Mac's not worth it.

 

The reason for my post was just to give another perspective on the MBP. Nothing sinister. That's why alot of people come to these forums IMO, to get a really detailed perspective on laptops that they can't obtain from a brochure or website. Some people may find this post helpful, others not, that's up to however wanders here. Of all the 8600GT GDDR3 laptops out there (and not alot unfortunately) the MBP is the nicest, best feeling, good looking laptop.

My reason for buying it was because now that it's intel hardware I wanted to see if I could run linux and windows on it with no hiccups. In other words I wanted the laptop for the hardware and build. I did also want the option to use OSX to test a cross platform app, or build for osx. In the future if I ever have to I can just get something cheap to do that.

Apple even advertises you can run windows on it. So it's quite normal I would expect it that with intel hardware and Apple saying this, that it should run well. Also I wasn't impressed with OSX or the fact that going the apple way was getting very expensive.

If you are going to primarily use OSX, no prob. However I like to test things out and see how it handles my requirements. This was my first time having OSX around and didn't like it.

I agree with Sam, if you aren't going to use OSX don't buy this laptop. Hopefully cross platform support will get better (low lvl, bios) or someone will steal the MBP design and manufacturer them as a PC.

 

Thats what you think. I really did buy my MBP because I like the way it looked and it runs Windows great. Besides when running on battery I have no problems with gaming on it - in addition to that it does everything else great.

Also, I have had it on for about 2 weeks and it has yet to overheat.

 

Keep on repeating your mantra, kid

 

panasonic Y7 is actually thinner and lighter..... though lacks dedicated video but boosts a 7h battery life

 

Don't compare apples to oranges. Yes the Y7 is lighter, but it also has a much less powerful CPU, GPU, chipset, smaller display, and contrary to what you say it is much thicker. 7 hours my ass... lets see it hit seven hours with Vista.

http://www.dynamism.com/y7/specs.shtml

 

I think it possible to pull 7 hours on the Y7, but not on a 40W battery. Perhaps an upgrade to a 9 Cell battery can do it. I had an HP DV6500T with 8400M GS and it got 5-6 hours on a 9 Cell.

 

If apple didn't want people to load up windows and play games in it then WHY it put a DX10 Gaming card in it, they are obviously considering the gamers' market. So stop with the excuse that MBP isn't for gaming. If they are really PRO about it, They should be like Lenovos' and put in quadro cards, those cards are for true graphic designers.

 

Check out the HP 8510p too. It's pretty much just like the "w" version, but with the consumer/gaming version of the graphics card instead of the CAD version -- and it's a whole lot cheaper. Unfortunately, there seem to be a few delays on it at the moment though. Lenovo Thinkpad T61p is worth checking out too.

 

the P model comes with an ATI card which I don't want. Just ordered an 8510W =) from newegg, pretty good deal and they ship fast to me. I had a TERRIBLE experience with Lenovo when I ordered their ati t61p. It was DOA, and Lenovo twitled their thumbs and had me speak to about 7 people...still no help, weeks went by. I had to pull the big guns to get them to do anything. Long story short I went for the nw8440 instead and it is WAY better than the Lenovo. I don't like Lenovo or what they are doing to the thinkpad laptops, not to mention they won't be able to use the name much longer.

I will post my findings once I have a chance to play with it. I use an NW8440 so we will see how it compares to it's 1 gen older model. I read the review here on nbr and was dissapointed the keyboard isn't as good, and the screen is the same, however I use an external KB most of the time. The author said it was still better than most .. we'll see what turns up. The touchpad is top notch, hopefully it's the same one.

btw when my nw8440 is docked at work, if you pound on my table you get the touchpad buttons to click and mess you up. Be nice if they didn't touch the screen.

 

That was 5-6 casual hours though right? and 6 cell is standard too? I'm would bet the MBP could last 5-6 hours with a bigger battery, but Apple just won't do that cause that would "uglify" a beautiful design. Mine has lasted 4+ though under word, excel and filemaker. I think that's perty nice.

That panasonic y7 is kinda cool. But it's clearly in a different league, and even if it were as thin.. it can't compete with the power crammed into a MBP. For light and mobile ( if fun consists of pie charts and mind sweeper ) that thing is the bomb.

 

I do agree that MBP should run windows flawlessly with Bootcamp, that is one of the things they have advertised it as (now use windows on your mac slogan) Plus all the hardare thru and thru is a PC, there is nothing that I can think of that makes it signficantly different than a PC (I dont know for sure on this tho)

I do know for sure tho that you can run OSX on a PC flawlessly with underground patches. So if the PC can get OSX right, Mac should get windows right.

I also have to disagree with anybody saying you shouldnt get the MBP if you want to run mainly windows. I think its a great idea if you dont mind the cost and really like the hardware. For being somebody who has no real experience or preference with Mac's I love the MBP, if it had been cheaper and I had not read so many problems with it I would have gotten one.

 

In my limited reading, OS X is tightly integrated with the hardware, unlike windows; that's what makes OS X a cut above the rest. Also I have read somewhere that OS X does not use the BIOS rather it uses its own way of communicating with the hardware--is this true?

Also I would not compare operating systems (OS X is not designed with Windows users in mind---they do things differently)--so what makes a machine with similar intel hardware different is the OS.

This is just my recent understanding of the issue.

 

Yes, OS X uses EFI, not BIOS.

And ViciousXUSMC, once again, most people forget Boot Camp is still a Beta, lol. Its not a "recommended" download, and by downloading it you're being a beta tester for Apple. Don't expect everything to run smoothly and to be supported in a Beta.

And its the same point that we make when we tell people to get a PC when they want to run Windows full time. Just like you said, if it was cheaper you would've bought it. Same reason why we think if you're not going to be running OS X, get the cheaper computer, the PC. There's some costs factored into a Mac, such as OS X and the bundled software, and if you aren't going to be using it, we don't think you should get it.

 

I agree. Nice lipinskis, but just not for you. Good luck with your future notebook decision.

 

I won't reply to most of the posts in here... I just wanted to talk about #3.
I find that OS X can do pretty much anything you need it to, without doing any shell scripting. Remember, it compares more to other *nix platforms than Windows.
But as far as Apple Remote Desktop, I also fail to understand why there is not an included BASIC version. The one you buy is a commercial level product, which is meant to manage many Apple products, not connect to a single machine. I.E. push out software to all machines in a lab and what not. Unfortunately, they do not provide a free version thats similar to NXMachine or other remote desktop solutions *nix has. But, IMHO, Windows remote desktop is still the best RD solution out there.

 

I had the same problems as the OP with the auto screen dimming - neat idea, but absolutely not working for me. I think the main problem is that the light sensors are on the side of the laptop under the speaker grilles - an area that tends to be covered by my hands a lot.

Luckily there's a (graphical!) setting to turn that off

As for Apple providing a "graphical" way to replace the Finder - you've got to be kidding, right? OK so you don't like OS X for whatever reason, but replacing a basic part of the OS with something else isn't going to be user friendly.

I'd be surprised if the MBP had any real performance problems with games on Windows - first time I hear about that. Others have the same problem? I have yet to find the time to game on my MBP

BTW, each to their own. I have my own laundry list of things I wish Apple would fix / improve in OS X, it's far, very far, from perfect. But considering the alternatives... the one-eyed leads the blind

 

I have to completely disagree with you on your entire post.

Firstly, it's unreasonable to expect bootcamp to run Windows flawlessly as it's still in beta (unless you are talking about when it's released in Leopard).

Secondly, Apple doesn't advertise you to run Windows on the Mac as a main OS, rather they demonstrate that you have the ability to run Windows as an option to bridge the gap between OS X and Windows.

3rd, it is a "Mac" Book Pro, not a Notebook Pro. Apple computers are Macs through and through, if it bothers you to hear that than I am sorry. Many Windows users want the Mac to go away so much that they try and justify Apple's hardware as another common Wintel PC when it's actually not. If that were the case then Apple would have put a standard keyboard and mouse but instead it's a Mac keyboard and mouse and the Firewire is a powered bus that only provides power when Mac OS X is being used. Apple requires that OS X remain on the partition or you cannot get firmware or driver updates to support Windows on the Mac. If it can't run Windows independently it's not just another PC.

Lastly, you can't run OS X on a PC flawlessly. I have seen many tries and not only does it run sluggishly Apple will never provide drivers to run it well so those are just hacks.

 

i have a MBP and i could see someone being able to use it just as a windows notebook. but that does depend on the person.

 

I also don't see why they wouldn't be able to. The only really different part in all the hardware is the EFI bios and all the DRM apple put in to lock the laptop down. I can see why Apple does it, since they sell the complete "package" and that's how they have been able to greatly advance last few years, but I still find it annoying.

MBP has best combination of build/design/features out of T61p, 8510W and MBP, but there are just too many hoops to jump through it seems in running Windows/Linux natively (wouldn't mind using OS X, but that's not main OS for me). Price-wise, well, $2300-$2500 is not too shabby for the top end model, considering pricing of Thinkpads (well, you can't actually buy 15.4" T61P with 570m graphics right now), or HP.

Anyway, waiting till Leopard seems a safe bet just too see what happens with Bootcamp then. I also wish Apple would publish Bootcamp for say Ubuntu, Fedora and SUSE (Solaris x86 is too much to ask for ).

 

You and many others never seem to get it. Don't get annoyed at the Mac users that are recommending you buy a Windows notebook if you plan to run Windows full time. Apple's computers are Macintosh computers and not just by name, but by DNA and they make them to run OS X as the main OS. Windows is installable to bridge gaps. Apple does not make their computers to be Windows machines or "Install your own OS" type computers.
You said it best, Apple locks the machine down, too many hoops to jump, now you understand why, it's a Macintosh.
The same reason goes towards Apple not releasing their proprietary software on Windows, they want you to use OS X, they are not trying to make this a Windows only world as many Windows users prefer that Mac OS X never existed.
You just said that you that you were looking forward to Leopard but to use it for Bootcamp. You're best to buy a physical Windows PC, there are very nice choices out there.

 

OOh ooh, an inflammatory thread that I haven't posted in! Yay...

Apple has a number of policies that are questionable, and the MBP has many issues. However, all of the above were well-documented.

Huh? There are plenty of software for OSX that strain the computer to the limits. Video/audio creation, encoding, games, design programs, etc., can get quite intensive.

It's an intel c2d with a nvidia gpu with some mainstream ram, a seagate hdd...it's the same stuff that's in any PC? It doesn't suck much more or less than what's in other laptops (within reason).

It's too hot to put on my lap, but the temperatures are nowhere near dangerous for the hardware components.

I don't get this - everyone in this forum was told over and over again that "yes, the MBP does in fact get hot, especially on the outside to touch". Everyone was told that Boot Camp beta currently is not the best solution for exclusive use of Windows (and nor does even Apple claim it to be). Yet, you're talking as if you only found this out after you bought your machine and acting all outraged - when neither Apple nor we ever tried to claim that Apple wasn't restrictive and that these problems didn't exist. If you went ahead and made a $3k purchase without doing adequate research (something not even the richest of us would usually do) or doing so in spite of all those well-documented warnings and expected the MBP to miraculously do something that it doesn't, then isn't that your own problem?

It's like ordering an Inspiron right now and then going to rant about the shipping delays you suddenly got - sorry, but if you didn't know about it by now or somehow expected to be the exception for some reason, I don't think you'll get much sympathy.

The MBP does not work well as a Windows-exclusive machine. Whether you attribute this to Apple's deliberate restrictiveness, incompetence, an unfinished beta product, or some other reason is irrelevant. The only fact that matters is that the MBP simply does not work up to 100% effectiveness in Windows at this point in time. That is why it's more efficient for people who intend on using Windows 100% of the time to simply get a PC.

I realize people like the looks and design of the MBP and its hardware specs, but there's not much to say to that except...sorry, but tough? Apple isn't going to change its business model for this refresh at least, and what you see on the market is what you get. There's no such thing as a perfect laptop - you will not be able to find a laptop with Apple's design, Dell's price, Lenovo's build quality, and Clevo's performance all in one on the market today. Sorry, it's not happening.