Every Mac person has that friend who’s got the black MacBook. They spent the extra $150 for the black shell, just to be that one different guy carrying the matte black hotness. However, they still get a white power adapter, remote, and all the rest of the accessories. Is it just me, or is this one of those giant ideosyncracies of Apple? How the heck did that make it past His Steveness? Shouldn’t all the accessories for the Black MacBook come in matte black as well?
Wow. Now that's "News".
I own one and thought about it before my purchase. I moved from a 15" Powerbook G4 and couldn't be happier. When thinking about the added price you forgot to mention that there is a 120GB Serial ATA; 5400-rpm hard disk VS the white's 80GB hard disk...there's an added value right there. The extra 40GB of onboard space is great to have at your disposal.
In addition, let's be honest. The black one is a much more professional looking machine compared to the white one. As I attend lots of meetings with clients and a few "high powered" guys I'm proud to break out a machine that doesn't look like a toy.
As for the remote, power supply etc...never thought about it. I think they're just fine.
I was watching "Independence Day" again last night - the movie where Jeff Goldblum has the black PowerBook G3 with the UPSIDE-DOWN APPLE on the lid!
So be thankful you only have white accessories. When using your oh-so-cool black MacBook at Starbucks, no one will see your white accessories.
Okay, so it's only a $50 premium to get the matte black, but it should still bug you that they ship with non-matching acccessories, I think. It could just be me, but I think the lack of a black power is just plain silly.
Maybe it was because of Steve Jobs after all. I wouldn't put it past him to say "No, don't make the power adapter black. It's a portable. If users want a portable, they should use it on battery. Is there anything wussier than a portable chained to a wall outlet? How is making it black going to overcome that? Just ship it."
Come to think of it, the power adapter for my PowerBook is not a matching aluminum color...
My roommate has a black MacBook and I was thinking about it this very issue the other day.
In Apple's latest major design revision (post-technicolor crt iMac), accessories have been consistently white across product lines and between product colors. Additionally this matches the lower-priced product lines, which have at least started out white white (iPod, iBook, iMac)
Desktop Keyboards & MiceAlways white, even when paired with the brushed metal PowerMac/MacPro.
Power Supplies & CablesAlways white, even when paired with brushed metal (minis, powerbooks, powermacs, macbook pros), black (U2 ipod, black ipod), colors (ipod minis, ipod shuffles).
HeadphonesThe most visible. Always white, even when paired with any color iPod.
Apple treats these accessories as consistent visual signals that don't require you to see the product. Apple has effectively branded the color white and especially white electronics cables.
Much like the white ipod headphones signaled an iPod, and not a walkman, was in that pocket, the powercord acts as a point of visual differentiation. You don't have to see the laptop, but if you look at the mess of cords plugged into the wall--the white one jumps out. Same with all the black, grey and slate blue cords snaking across any boardroom table. The white cord jumps out at you. Not only does this contrast create cognitive dissonance ("powercords are supposed to be black, or at least match!") it creates a design element pleasing to the eye when seen plugged into the black MacBook.
If the MacBook had a black powercord, it'd be just another Sony.
I am waiting for the black MacBook with the glowing red logo...
I got my black MacBook as a refurb, cheaper than a white one. Main reason I snagged it was the price and the 120GB drive. Oh, and its C2D therefore (I am led to believe) EM64T.
I just advised a friend on a new Mac purchase and he opted for the Black MacBook. He also got the great leather case that they sell at the Apple Store with the blue suede-like lining. When he opens the case it's the most beautiful sight. He's a bodybuilder and the black really works for him. Is it worth the extra $50? Totally. (Although when he first saw the white in person he briefly had second thoughts.)
I agree that white accessories are actually a good thing rather than a bad thing.
My only gripe is that I think that Apple is charging a bit much at $150 for a 40GB HD upgrade, so while the effective charge for black is $50, I think they're messing with the economics a bit and the true charge for black is probably at least $100. But what is it about Apple that makes us so happy with them anyway? Probably the fact that at the end of the day you have one of the best featured and best looking laptops made and still paid less than you would for an "equivalent" Dell.
One reason I bought a black Core 2 Duo is because I like the way the laptop recedes and the screen pops. The white model reflects light more and is more distracting to me.
i confess i own a blackbook. beautiful as it is, i have wondered what happened? i have even sought out third party accessories and have found ziltch.
Too bad they don't offer more graphics and color options. (Make it at the same price - that would be killer bonus!)
Some of us took matters into our own hands
painted adaptor
It's not $150 for black, once you've upgraded the white Macbook to the same HD, the difference is only $50.
I went with black because my wife and son both have iBooks and having 3 nearly-identical laptops floating around the house was going to be simply to confusing.
One big problem of black MacBook are oily speckles from hands.
That was not a PowerBook G3.
Would have been nice if you had pointed out which PowerBook it was. It was too early to be a G3 (movie was released in 1996) and it was in fact a PowerBook 5300 afaik.
Well, the glowing Apple logo on the black MacBook is white, so the accessories match the logo. The stark contrast actually looks nice. After all, black and white are the colors of a tuxedo (or a penguin, hmm)
None of you have mentioned the biggest problem with the white MBs. The main reason I would get a black one is because I've seen the white ones after months of use. The white MBs have a horrible problem with dirty keyboards (mostly where your hands would rest).
I own a Black Macbook and i could not be any happier. You point out the price difference but not the almost identical specs as a $2000 Macbook Pro. I like the white accessories, its just like the black iPod with white earphones and a white usb cord. it's apple's tradmark black product line. the only thing different is the actual product, not its accessories. It's also easier on apples production lines.
Yeah, I have a black mac book as well. I love the compactness of it. I don't like the oil marks that show though. And what's with this AC power cord. Does it attach to the AC plug?
When buying a car, you also don't mind paying a premium for that color you like. I just don't understand why they don't come in dark blue aluminium, because that's even better than black.
Yeah. What's up with that? Not to mention 40 gigs and a can of spray paint is not worth $200 more!
They sell the black power cords now, last time i saw at the apple store, for a whopping 130 for the black power cord!! haa haa go figure!!
Just bought my brand spanking new black mac book with the upgraded 2gb ram and 160gb hard drive it is absoloutly gorgeous... I could have gone pro but to be honest the black was that nice I had to have one. Little bit gutted about the white plugs ect but still chuffed with my purchase anyway. After Uni I'll obviously be upgrading anyway so no worries just my little play thing for 3 years!