Cons: Runs warm. No SD reader. Learning curve for Windows users.
The Bottom Line: Great machine. Don't be afraid to lose Windoze. Excellent heft, size. Intelligent software, firmware. Perfect for geeks (virtualization, cross-browser testing for web development) and non-geeks (extreme ease of use).
albopf's Full Review: Apple MacBook Pro 15.4 in. (MB133LL/A) Notebook
I did plenty of research ahead of time. Apple and IBM are the top two rated for hardware durability. I also waited, ultimately, for about the time the MBP was "upgraded" (early in 2008). Go online often. Two good sources to watch are, http://www.appleinsider.com and http://www.arstechnica.com
For awhile, I hovered on the fence: Macbook or Macbook Pro? The 13" black-body Macbook is a powerful little cuss, at a considerable savings. But I develop websites, so I sort of suspected I might want the extra screen "real estate".
Being a "peeg" I almost bought into a fully "souped up" Mac, with 4G memory and the high-speed drive. Glad I didn't. This is plenty. Sleek. Fast.
I ALMOST even bought a 17" MBP...but I went to the Apple store, and looked. The screen, to me, was overwhelming.
I advise anyone who considers this or ANY computer to go see it in person, before deciding. That's part of what sold me on this particular MBP: you MUST grope this keyboard! It's as comfortable as an IBM/Lenovo, and believe me, that's high praise!
I've finally cut the cord from Microsoft. MacOSX was about a 2-week learning curve. This machinery has a lot of smarts built-in. I love the way the light-sensor works, detecting just when one needs a little keyboard backlighting.
I tend to trip over the AC adapter cord. The "mag-safe" adapter cord just falls right out, unlike most PC cords that bury in, and threaten damage: a great help for klutzes.
The camera's neat. A Windows fanboy like me found the "eject" concept a little awkward at first, but I'm okay with it, now. (You can't just pull your thumb drive out: you have to tell the system you're about to do it, first.)
I plug in our camera's SD card via a little USB adapter. We got it for $30 at Office Depot. One places the SD card into it, then slides it into the USB.
CDs: one just pops one slowly into the slot, then the MBP sucks it in. When you're through, either click the Eject button on the upper right of the keyboard, or select "Eject" (same symbol) in Finder (the MacOSX equivalent of "My Computer").
The trackpad takes a bit of self training, but once I got used to it, now I'm no longer using a mouse. If you're a mouse junkie, a mouse works pretty much as it does on Windoze. If you're a Windoze trackpad user, then be prepared for a little training. Also, MacOSX has gobs of keyboard shortcuts and quick access to a help file for them.
A few software notes:
In spite of "urban myth," one CAN find software that'll perform ALL the functions to replace Windoze software! So don't worry about that. Google stuff is a little slow to catch up, is all. (I'm a Google software junkie.)
The consistent interface imposed upon all software (system and application) seems a little strange and perhaps even drab at first, but actually becomes somewhat of a time-saver.
You could, if you wanted, even run a copy of Windoze (or Linux) in a (heh, heh) window while MacOSX is running. This sort of virtualization isn't possible yet, on a Windoze machine. (I decided I need not do so.)
We're keeping a couple Windoze machines around. With this Mac, one can share files, wirelessly. I copy files to and from the Windoze laptop often. They also share a printer.
Windoze is a system to MAINTAIN. Linux is a system to DIDDLE. MacOS is a system to USE!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 2499 Operating System: Macintosh Processor: Intel Pentium II Processor speed: over 1000 Screen Size: 15 inches RAM: More than 256 Internal Storage: SuperDisk Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3 MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed, Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard 2 GB RAM (two SO-DIMM) 6...More at Amazon Marketplace
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