first impression
Previous MacBook Pros were really very good. They consistently delivered professional quality and great features. Reviewing the next generation MacBook Pro is therefore something of a treat.
An initial look at the latest models shows nothing new. This isn’t disappointing: tough cases and smart design are exactly what you want from a superior laptop. The keyboard looks tidier, as a result of some minor changes, but other than that everything looks as impressive as ever.
This could suggest that any internal changes are also minor. not so When you power up the MacBook Pros and begin testing each model, you soon realize you’re working with machines that exceed expectations.
Technology
For starters, the processors are 45-nanometer Intel Penryns. These are noticeably faster than the 65-nanometer Meroms installed in older MacBook Pros and easily beat the Meroms in all benchmark tests.
The standard processors for the two 15-inch MacBook Pros are 2.4GHz and 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duos. The 17-inch is 2.5GHz. Alongside these are upgraded hard drives of 200 GB for the 15-inch 2.4 GHz and 250 GB for the 15-inch and 17-inch 2.5 GHz.
Of particular interest to the multimedia user is the doubling of video memory on all three MacBook Pros. The 15-inch 2.4GHz has an NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB, and the 15-inch 2.5GHz and the 17 to 2.5 GHz have the same graphics processor but with 512 MB.
2 GB of RAM supports the previous technology throughout the range. The overall results are portable ones that are easily adapted to advanced audio and graphics applications.
HardwareEach of the three MacBook Pros comes with standard hardware, such as:
- Slot-loading 8x dual-layer SuperDrive
- iSight camera
- AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth® wireless connections
- stereo speakers
- FireWire 400 and 800 ports
- USB 2.0 ports (two on 15-inch models; three on 17-inch models)
- DVI-port
- audio ports
- Gigabit Ethernet port
- ExpressCard/34 slot
There are also hardware “extras” that help the MacBook Pro stand out from the crowd. These include a powerful lithium polymer battery; an ambient light sensor that illuminates the keyboard in dark conditions; and a low consumption backlit LED display.
These displays are mercury-free and anti-glare, and have resolutions of 1,440 x 900 pixels for the 15-inch models and 1,680 x 1,050 pixels for the 17-inch. With both you have bright, natural and sharp images.
Perhaps the best extra hardware of all, though, is the MacBook Pro’s new trackpad. It now has the multi-touch capabilities that have proven so popular on the iPhone. By pinching, sliding, and rotating your fingers on the trackpad, you have remarkably quick and positive control over the functions of MacBook Pro’s creative software.
Multi-touch does give rise to a bit of a problem: the size of the trackpad might seem a bit small to someone learning the proper gestures. That said, once you’re familiar with multi-touch, it won’t be difficult to work within the confines of the trackpad.
Software
As with all new Macs, MacBook Pro comes with the best operating system out there, Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard. If you’ve never used Leopard before, your competition will delight you. If you’re already a Mac user, you still have something to look forward to because the new MacBook Pros speed up Leopard and the apps that run on it.
Among these apps is Apple’s latest version of the world’s fastest browser, Safari. This comes with the usual batch of updated Apple software including Boot Camp, Mail, iChat, iTunes, DVD Player, iPhoto, and iLife ’08.
Performance
Experienced MacBook Pro users can load their favorite apps on these latest models and immediately notice speed improvements. For example, you can set up Photoshop CS3 in about eight seconds on the 2.5GHz 15-inch display. You’ll then find that Photoshop runs 20-25% faster than a 2007 2.6GHz MacBook Pro .
Compared to a MacBook Pro from 2006, the differences are even greater. In general, you can experience speed increases of around 50% in a variety of applications. This is good news for all those who want maximum performance from a laptop.
Options
With any laptop designed for professional use, it’s always worth looking at the manufacturer’s options because some people will need a middle ground of extra speed and power for specific applications.
It’s unlikely that the MacBook Pro’s configuration options will let you down. For extra power, you can upgrade to the 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor for the 15-inch or 17-inch models at 2.5 GHz. For RAM, you can upgrade any of the three MacBook Pros to 4GB.
On the 17-inch MacBook Pro, you may want to increase the hard drive to 300GB to provide additional space for space-robbing graphics applications. In the same way, you can ensure the perfect sharpness of your images by requesting a 1,920 x 1,200 pixel screen for the same model.
Finally, if you prefer a glossy screen instead of a matte anti-glare one, you can request one when you place your order.
Worth
With all of these upgrades packed into the same cases as previous MacBook Pro models, you might be anticipating a spike in prices. If you do, you’d be wrong. The new MacBook Pros are undoubtedly better machines, but prices across the range haven’t changed. The old MacBook Pros were good value for money, but the latest incarnations are just great for the price.
conclusion
Do you want the best laptops from a great manufacturer? Look no further.
advantages
- Faster than the previous generation of MacBook Pro
- Double the video memory
- Smooth and multi-touch functions on the trackpad
- Improved battery life
- Excellent configuration options
- More bang for your buck: No price increase over previous MacBook Pro equivalents
Cons
- Trackpad can be a bit small for novice users