Matt’s Desk: Editor’s Blog

I upgrade laptops every 18 months or so; I do this for two reasons: (1) so I can get the most money for my old laptop since it’s not too behind the times, and (2) so I always have a laptop that’s zippy and up-to-date. 

This year I chose the MacBook 13.3″ 2.4GHz Unibody. 

This isn’t my first Mac; I’ve had a 12″ PowerBook, one of the first Intel MacBooks and an iMac or two over the years.  But I chose the MacBook over the Dell XPS Studio 13 this year for several reasons.

PRICE.  I was able to snag the 2.4GHz version of the MacBook new-in-box on eBay for $1350; that’s $249 less than the MSRP. See my tip on how eBay can save you hundreds of dollars on a new laptop.

OS OPTIONS.  Apple’s Intel-based systems can boot the Mac OS and Windows XP/Vista/7*.  In my line of work, I need at least one Mac OS machine lying around to test different products with a Mac.  With Boot Camp (dual booting) or Parallels (virtualization) you can easily use both the Mac OS and Windows on a MacBook.

SOLID CONSTRUCTION.  Slap aluminum on anything, and I’m generally a fan.  Aluminum is tough, light-weight, scratch resistant and quite easy on the eyes.  Since the bulk of the MacBook is cut from a single piece of aluminum (that’s where the Unibody part comes in), the laptop has a very solid feel.  Even the screen is surprisingly bend resistant.

I upgraded the MacBook as soon as it was out of the box, doubling both the hard drive storage and RAM.  For those who are curious about the upgrade process, I’ll post details in a day or two.

While I don’t think the MacBook is the right choice for ever user, I think it’s a perfect fit for many others.  Of course the retail price of $1599 can be off-putting, particularly since you can get a comparable Windows system for hundreds less – but if you want a MacBook, check eBay and be patient.  I waited 13 days until I found the right price. 

If you need OS versatility and/or a well-constructed notebook that isn’t made of flimsy plastic, the MacBook Unibody is an excellent choice.

*Windows 7 is not officially supported (yet) in Boot Camp, but I was able to install and use it with Vista drivers.  This is not recommended for most users.