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With the announcement of the MacBook this past Tuesday, I figured it was about time that I post my review of my MacBook Pro. Before I get into my review, I'd like to mention how the introduction of the MacBook has effected the MacBook Pro line.
The base MacBook comes with an Intel 1.83Ghz Core Duo processor. When the MacBook Pros first came out last February, the base model also came with the 1.83Ghz Core Duo. Now that the MacBook is out, Apple has updated the base model of the MacBook Pro so that it now comes with a 2.0Ghz Core Duo instead of the 1.83Ghz for the same price. Unfortunately, I bought the 1.83Ghz base model of the MacBook Pro several months ago, so I guess I'm already obsolete (just kidding). Oh well. Such is life.
Now on to my review of the MacBook Pro:
As I mentioned above, I've had my MacBook Pro for several months now. I suppose I could sum up the whole experience by simply proclaiming "I love it", but I'll go ahead and ramble on about it a little bit. I'll start off by talking about the fit and finish. The MacBook Pro, like its Powerbook G4 predecessor, is constructed of aluminum with a silver matte finish. It's simply beautiful. The notebook itself has clean lines and nicely rounded edges. One thing I have always hated about most Windows based notebooks is how boxy and uninspired they looked. It's obvious that as much time and care went into the design of the outside of the MacBook Pro as on the inside.
In addition to having a beautiful fit and finish, the MacBook Pro also has wonderful ergonomics. A perfect example of this is how the optical drive, like all recent Macintosh computers, is slot-loading instead of tray-loading. Loading a CD or a DVD into my MacBook Pro is easy as sliding the disk into the drive slot. If it were a tray-loading drive, I would have to place the disk on a flimsy tray that would jut out of the side or front of the notebook. Another great ergonomic feature is the tactile feel of the keyboard. The keys feel great. They have a solid feel with just the right amount of springy feedback. I also have to praise the MacBook Pro's beautiful display. It's big, bright, has a widescreen aspect ratio, and comes with an anti-glare screen. I personally prefer anti-glare screens to the glossy screens that come with many PC notebooks. I should mention, in case you prefer a glossy screen, that a glossy screen is now an option on the MacBook Pro, and the new MacBooks only come with glossy screens.
A computer isn't very useful without software, and there is no shortage of software for the MacBook Pro. There is plenty of Mac software you can run, new and old. The MacBook Pro is one of the new Intel-based Macs, unlike older Macs, which used to have PowerPC processors inside. Macintosh software, until recently, was built specifically for the PowerPC. The new Intel-based Macs can run software built for the older PowerPC-based Macs thanks to a compatibility layer built directly into the Intel version of OS X (the Macintosh operating system) called Rosetta. With Rosetta you can run all of your existing Mac software, such as Office 2004 for Mac, perfectly on the MacBook Pro with only a small performance hit. Now that Macs are Intel based, you can even run Windows. Thanks to Apple's Boot Camp software, which has been released for all Intel-based Macs, you can dual boot Windows and OS X on the MacBook Pro. This means you can run almost anything from the huge library of Windows software right on your MacBook Pro. I must admit that I haven't tried out Boot Camp yet, but it seems to be getting great reviews. Only on Macs can you run Windows and Mac software. You can't get that on a PC.
If dual booting your MacBook Pro in order to run Windows is not your cup of tea, you can buy virtualization software called Parallels Desktop that allows you to run Windows right inside of OS X, without the need to reboot. Since the MacBook Pro is Intel-based, and since the Parallels software makes use of virtualization technology instead of emulation, Parallels Desktop runs Windows very fast. It isn't good enough for games, but it is perfect for business and office software. I've been using Parallels for about a month now, and I'm lovin' it.
The software bundled with the MacBook Pro makes the MacBook Pro a great bargain. The MacBook Pro comes with Apples fantastic iLife suite, Omni Outliner, Front Row, Photo Booth, and a whole lot more. I'm not sure how I ever lived without iLife back in my old Windows days. Software of this quality would cost hundreds of dollars if you were to buy comparative software for the PC.
There's a whole lot more to the MacBook than what I've covered here, including the built in iSight camera, scrolling trackpad, illuminated keyboard, bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. I'm having a great time with my MacBook Pro. If you're thinking about switching, or if you are in the market for a great quality notebook, I highly recommend the MacBook Pro. If you need something that's a little easier on the pocketbook, have a look at Apple's replacement for the iBook, the MacBook.
Thanks for reading my review of the MacBook Pro. If this article has had any influence on you, leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you.
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