Update 3: The one-year report

2008.09

I still have the MacBook.  The inverter problem came back a few months after Computer Depot replaced the motherboard.  I sent it in for repair, but they were unable to see the problem.  (Which is mind boggling to me, because I noticed it again within minutes of getting it back from them.)

Frustrated, the MacBook has been relegated to server duties for the house.  It's a nice server, I'll give it that.

To be honest, I'm not a fan of this machine.  Maybe I was spoiled by the PowerBook, maybe it's because it's a first-gen Apple product, but the MacBook has been buggy for me.  It also is too big for a 13" machine.  It's thinner than the 12" PowerBook, but it's a lot bigger and heavier.  I've played with an Air, I don't like it either.  Again, too big.

We have 13" Toshibas at work that are much nicer for the money.  They're about $700, are a pound lighter and are physically smaller.  Such is life.

Anyway, Linux has finally caught up to Mac in terms of power management.  My main machines now are an HP 2133 Mini-Note and a Panasonic Toughbook Y5.  Both have insert keys.

I hope that Apple comes out with something serious to replace the 12" PowerBook.  I guess the MacBook Air is as good as that gets for the moment.  I also hope they respond to the white-hot netbook market.  I'm sure they're just sitting back and trying to decide when to release the perfect thing.  In the meantime, I've got work to do and have moved on.  I have always considered myself a Linux guy first and a Mac guy second.  I hope they make something compelling soon, because I don't particularly like any of their current laptop offerings.  (Though I'm probably not a market they should be catering to anyway. ;-)