Editorial Product Review:Item Description:Apple MacBook Pro - For the demanding computer user, the Apple MacBook Pro has a professional level of power and features. At it's heart is an Intel Core Duo processor. A processor with 2 separate cores. In English, that means it's like having 2 processors in one. The MacBook also features a large 15.4' widescreen display. Expanding your screen real estate to where you can easily have 2 programs open at the same time, side-by-side. You also get a 4x SuperDrive that lets you record audio, video, and data to CD & DVD media. A built-in iSight camera is a great addition to the MacBook Pro, allowing you to capture video for e-mail, or have a video conference from wherever there's an Internet connection available. I've just highlighted a fraction of the MacBook Pro's capabilities. Check out what else Apple has provided in this advanced mobile computer... Slot-Loading 4x SuperDrive Write Speeds - up to 4x DVD-R, 4x DVD+R, 4x DVD-RW, 4x DVD+RW, 24x CD-R & 10x CD-RW Read Speeds - up to 8x DVD-ROM & 24x CD-ROM ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 128MB of GDDR3 SDRAM and dual-link DVI Built-in iSight Camera 15.4 Widescreen Display 1440x900 Native Resolution Ports - 10/100/1000 Ethernet, 1 FireWire 400, 2 USB 2.0, ExpressCard/34 slot, Combined Optical Digital Audio Input/Audio Line Input, Combined Optical Digital Audio Output/Headphone Out Built-in Stereo Speakers Built-in 54Mbps AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (802.11g) Support Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) Module Illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor Unit Footprint - 14.1 x 9.6 Unit Thickness - 1 Unit Weight - 5.6 lbs.
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Buyer Reviews
Average Buyer Rating:
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Best notebook computer; in a class by itself
I am 40, and have used more than a dozen luggable Windows computers, laptops, and notebooks in my career from several manufacturers: (Toshiba, Dell, Gateway, IBM...). Some were good, some not, but they should all be categorized as Mazdas, Hyundai, Fords and Chevys. Not a bad car for a few years, but nothing to get excited about..
This Macbook Pro is a Ferrari. I never thought I'd own a Ferrari of anything in my life. My first reaction was, "I don't think I deserve a machine this nice". It is a luxury sports car, compared to all the others. The screen resolution, the touch of the metal, lighted keyboard, the easy to use software suites, all a 50 on a scale of 1 to 10. I only owned one Mac portable previously, the ibook, and it seems cheap and plastic-ey compared to this fine, thin, aluminum wonder.
I read the reviews online, and was concerned about the heat and noise complaints. I'm sure those earlier units had problems, but they seem to have the issues licked with my machine. WOW!!!! This is an amazing computer, and stands in a class by itself.
Customer Rating: -
Great Machine But Beware...
I bought this new and have had a tough time with it largely in part because I uploaded a back up software called "Bounceback Express" for my portable external storage hard drive. It is software that comes with most external hard drives made bu SEAGATE and SMARTDISK. DO NOT put this software into your mac it is like a virus and can scramble the keyboard and slow down the machine immensely.
I sent my MacBook Pro back to apple twice and they gutted, but could not figure out the problem until recently. Great customer service through Apple and it is in no way their fault.
Also, it is very important you make sure you get the new battery after the 2006 Sony recall. The warranty is great though for a year so they will replace it free if it is faulty.
I would definately get the memory upgrade. All in all I would buy it again and I am happy to be done with that evil Bounceback express software.
Customer Rating: -
Hot Machine
As the proverbial "little old lady" I have used Macs for 20 years and have found that with them I don't have to be a computer whiz to get things to work. The MacBook Pro is even more intuitive than other Macs I have owned or used, and I have found that I can navigate quickly and easily without having to consult manuals and wade thorugh confusing techanical stuff. The keyboard is easy to use, the large screen is a pleasure, and the light weight is manageable. It wasn't as fast as I had expected, and what I was told was that this is because it only comes with enough memory (512 MG) to make it functional, so if one wants to run large programs or get faster results, one needs to have more memory. More memory costs from $70 to over $200, so you probably want to consider this before buying.
The most significant problem I've had with it is that it is HOT to touch. I sent it to be repaired but was told that the heat was within normal limits; by this they must mean that it isn't hot enough to melt the circuitry or actually cause burns, but after an hour or so of use it is darned uncomfortable to touch. I'm hoping to find some kind of insulator to rest the palms of my hands on. Most of the time this computer is wonderfully silent but late in the day when it gets really hot a fan comes on and then, to me at least, it seems noisy. As a final complaint, I had a problem with the complimentary 90 day customer service because the date that Apple marks as beginning the 90 days is not the date you buy it from Amazon but THE DATE THAT AMAZON BUYS IT. It took almost a month of phone calls, mail and faxing to get the date changed to the date I actually purchased it, which left only about a month of actual customer service. I suggest that if you get one you notify Apple immedately of the date of your purchase. Except for the heat problem and the need for more memory, I have found the MacBook Pro to be a transparent work tool and I'm happy with it.
Post script, five months after purchase:
With an added one meg of memory and some fixes for the heat problem, I am now very happy with my mac. After some research, I learned that many of today's smaller, faster computers run hot. I (and many others) think it is a design flaw, but apparrently it is not unusual or necessarily an indication that there is something worng with the computer. I did learn that there are some fixes for the heat as far as human comfort is concerned. These included a free download of a smc fan control that starts the fan at lower temperatures you set (the fan doesn't seem to be noisey until the computer gets really hot) I also tried an x-pad (xpad4laptop.com) and it did drop the temperature without external fans (another optional fix). What I found worked best to reduce the heat was an air-desk (airdesks.com). I am now quite happy with what I have. We are fortunate to live in an age and a country where our problems are not about how to get enough to eat but how to lower the temperature on our magic electronics.
Customer Rating: -
I LOVE my new MacBook Pro.
This is the best computer I have ever owned. And I've had lots of them over the last 20 years.
