MacBook Update: A Few Months In

September 22nd, 2006

I’ve had this white MacBook for a few months now, and in case anyone is thinking about getting one, it’s been holding up pretty well. I’ve gotten used to bringing it to work and using it on my train ride home, which helps keep me more or less productive during what used to be down times.

Now that it’s been a few months and I’m feeling more objective (the New Mac Product glow has faded) I have a few gripes. For starters, there is definitely a slight yellow discoloration on the case, just below the keyboard, just as was reported by some early adopters. It basically looks like a slight amount of dirt staining the area where my palms touch the case while typing. There’s also a similarly-colored stain on the track pad button. It’s really only noticeable in direct, bright light, but seems to be getting darker. I’m not ready to get the case changed (which from what I understand, Apple will do for free at an Apple Store), but I’m watching this situation carefully.

Second slight negative, I spilled a small amount of a beverage on the left Shift and fn keys. Since the keyboard is a molded part of the case, it doesn’t seem possible to pop the keys off to clean them. So for several weeks those particular keys would stick until I pressed them about fifty times, rapidly, to loosen them. Pretty annoying. Thankfully, the problem has gradually lessened (I guess as the liquid dries out) and now the keys work as before. With a larger beverage spill, I’m sure it would be goodbye-MacBook.

Anyhow, other than these relatively minor issues (in addition to the sometimes crazy heat) I’m extremely happy with the MacBook.