This is a great MAC, but beware the colored lines!

So now I have your attention! I said I loved my new white MAC BOOK, but what is this about colored lines? Here's the story, and all you MAC BOOK people should be aware of this, because as they used to say in the old TV show "Racket Squad", "it can happen to you"!

So I unwrapped and started to use my new MAC BOOK, no problems, until...yup one day about a week later I got vertical colored lines down the face of the screen. I tried turning off the unit, rebooting, no luck! So I ANGRILY called Apple tech support, as I had the extended service contract for three years anyway. I was told, remove the battery, and reset the PRAM after the battery is reinserted. That meant holding down the set of four keys to reset the PRAM in the machine! Well after awkwardly almost breaking my fingers to hold the right buttons down, I zapped the PRAM and all of a sudden, the lines disappeared and the Apple logo appeared. I was thrilled. My problem was gone! After all, the MAC BOOK was only three weeks old!

Later that night.....yes you are right! Booted up the MAC BOOK once again and guess what, colored vertical lines on the screen. I was fit to be tied! I called Apple immediately, and they arranged for my machine to be repaired. I must admit that after sending me a box and sending it to California from New Jersey, I had the repaired unit back in four days! Okay, so I though it was a fluke, and now they replaced the motherboard and everything will be fine. Next day, oh do I have to say it? Colored vertical lines down the screen AGAIN! Right after this unit was returned from repair too! Now I was REALLY ANGRY! I called Apple and said I wanted a NEW MAC BOOK! Their policy was not to replace the units but to evaluate them as they came in! I agreed, and was told they would send me a new return label to send back my cursed machine!

That night the phone rang and it was a service engineer from Cupertino, CA, Apple's headquarters. HE saw my case on the computer and said my machine did NOT have to be sent back. The Apple engineers discovered a SOFTWARE BUG causing the vertical colored lines. As it turns out, my motherboard did NOT have to be replaced after all. The software bug was tied in with the SCREEN RESOLUTION choices. He instructed me to change screen resolution in the System Preferences, and then change it back again. After that he told me to change it once more, and to change it back to the normal setting once again. By doing that, the "bug" would be fixed that causes the vertical colored lines! Well I tried it, and BINGO, it worked!!! No more vertical line problem!

So what this long winded conversation boils down to is this; if you have that vertical colored line problem, you know how to now fix it without sending the MAC BOOK in for repair. I hope this saves some of you the terrible aggravation I went through!

Now that my tirade is out of the way, I must say that I like the MAC BOOK. The keyboard and its feel does take a little getting used to, but nothing unusual. I won't go into boring details about the processor, because you have read that in all the other reviews, Suffice it to say the machine with the Intel chip is F A S T! I invested $17 and purchased a plastic insert that goes over the LCD screen to protect not only the screen itself but any scratches from the keyboard, but that is very unlikely since the keyboard is recessed!

I have not noticed any sharp edges as was mentioned in other reviews so I can not comment on that. As far as heat, I did download the new battery "fix" from Apple and that did allow the battery to run a little cooler, and I hardly ever hear the internal fan running! The battery does get warm, but I can't say it ever really gets hot enough not to sit on your lap!

What I don't like is the battery life. I find I get about three hours between charges, and I don't play DVD's or anything that loads down the battery! I would have liked the four hours Apple reports that you get on a charge.

The outside case scratches a little easier than I would like too, but I suppose if that really bothered me, i would have purchased the one in the metal case!

I like all the ports as I find them quite sufficient. I still can't get used to the scroll pad as I find it somewhat awkward, so I hooked up a wireless mouse to the USB port and it works great!

So there you have it. Some advice on how to avoid a headache like I had and my opinions on the MAC BOOK. It is a great unit, and I don't think you can go wrong purchasing it, until the next generation comes in that is!