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Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch)

Apple MacBook Pro

review

If your precious PowerBook G4 means the world to you, then brace yourself: This fabulous design just got repackaged with some Intel firepower. The MacBook Pro (15-inch) is the new standard for Mobile Mac users. Gone are the slow IBM PowerPC processors, and in come the Intel Core Duo processors, raising the Mac performance bar like never before. For consumers, this is a huge deal. But graphics and media professionals should wait until their essential software apps are updated to universal binary (to be optimized for Intel-based systems).

red arrow Read the Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch) full review

Company

Apple Computer Inc.

http://www.apple.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $3,099.00 Direct
  • Type: Media, Business
  • Operating System: Mac OS X
  • Processor Name: Intel Core Duo T2600
  • Processor Speed: 2.16 GHz
  • RAM: 2 GB
  • Weight: 5.5 lb
  • Screen Size: 15.4 inches
  • Screen Size Type: widescreen
  • Graphics Card: ATI Radeon x1600
  • Storage Capacity: 100 GB
  • Networking Options: 802.11a/g
  • Primary Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW (Plus Minus)

Bottom Line

For typical users running the iLife suite, iTunes, and even non-universal-binary applications—such as Microsoft Office and Adobe products—the MacBook Pro is a solid notebook. It's a sweet upgrade from the PowerBook G4, and new users will like it just the same. But for sophisticated media enthusiasts or professionals, we suggest you wait a couple of months, or at least until the software can catch up with the Intel components, before diving in.

Pros

Intel components improve speed. Added FrontRow multimedia interface and remote. Integrated iSight Webcam. Excellent software bundle in the iLife '06 suite.

Cons

No improvement in battery life. Some multimedia applications that aren't universal binary will run more slowly on Intel-based Macs. System runs hot. One-button mouse. Only two USB ports. Dual-layer DVD support is gone.


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