Criteria
Comments
Rating
- Speed and features No comments
- Design and form factor No comments
- Battery life No comments
- Display No comments
- Durability No comments
- Expandability No comments
- Noise No comments
- Portability (size / weight) No comments
Detailed review
After many, many years of being stuck in the Windows world, I was finally able to get a MacBook Pro and enter the world of OS X. As early as I can remember, I've watched Apple's streaming conferences (this harkens back to the my sheltered days of dial-up). Finally getting a Mac and hearing the now familiar sound as it booted up is one of my fondest memories with gadgets.
The MacBook Pro is very solidly built. It just looks like a professional machine. This laptop is also very durable. I have accidentally dropped it several times and there seems to be little damage. Everything still works as if I recently took it out of the box. After using others' newer MacBook Pro keyboards, I still prefer the feel and movement of this aluminum keyboard. It has just the right amount of give and click; I've now used it to type hundreds of pages of papers.
The built-in webcam and microphone are not exceptional, but they get the job done (basic use with Skype). The built-in speakers are also not good, but I am usually hooked into a pair of studio monitors. The express card slot, now removed from the MacBook Pro line has been infinitely useful to me. I've used it for eSATA, mobile data, and memory card readers. I hope that Apple will come to their senses and reintroduce the slot in future laptops (hopefully by the time I have to upgrade).
Originally a Tiger machine, I'm running Leopard and look forward to upgrading to Snow Leopard this fall. This was one of the first intel mac laptops, so I'm glad that it can still work with Apple's latest machines.
My only gripes with this MacBook Pro is that the battery life is horrendous when using WiFi and other wireless. At least it's user changeable. My other gripe is with the difficulty of changing the hard drive; this Apple fixed in future models, but I have to open the case and it's million screws to get to it. Hopefully I can find time soon.
Overall, this machine has performed admirably in the years that I've owned it. I fully expect it to last until Apple releases 10.7 or even 10.8 (if the hardware requirements don't outpace this machine).
The MacBook Pro is very solidly built. It just looks like a professional machine. This laptop is also very durable. I have accidentally dropped it several times and there seems to be little damage. Everything still works as if I recently took it out of the box. After using others' newer MacBook Pro keyboards, I still prefer the feel and movement of this aluminum keyboard. It has just the right amount of give and click; I've now used it to type hundreds of pages of papers.
The built-in webcam and microphone are not exceptional, but they get the job done (basic use with Skype). The built-in speakers are also not good, but I am usually hooked into a pair of studio monitors. The express card slot, now removed from the MacBook Pro line has been infinitely useful to me. I've used it for eSATA, mobile data, and memory card readers. I hope that Apple will come to their senses and reintroduce the slot in future laptops (hopefully by the time I have to upgrade).
Originally a Tiger machine, I'm running Leopard and look forward to upgrading to Snow Leopard this fall. This was one of the first intel mac laptops, so I'm glad that it can still work with Apple's latest machines.
My only gripes with this MacBook Pro is that the battery life is horrendous when using WiFi and other wireless. At least it's user changeable. My other gripe is with the difficulty of changing the hard drive; this Apple fixed in future models, but I have to open the case and it's million screws to get to it. Hopefully I can find time soon.
Overall, this machine has performed admirably in the years that I've owned it. I fully expect it to last until Apple releases 10.7 or even 10.8 (if the hardware requirements don't outpace this machine).
good review!
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