The MacBook Pro is a joy to use. At 1440 by 900 pixels, the screen is sharp and bright. It comes with a built-in Webcam, Front Row media-playing software, and an infrared remote control. The unit handles basic productivity tasks with aplomb, and Apple applications run very fast.
That said, our $2499 shipping unit lacks standard PC notebook options such as an S-Video port, a modem, and a PC Card slot (its ExpressCard slot isn't PC Card-compatible). Its DVD write speed is only 4X, and it can't yet burn double-layer media. The laptop also lacks a FireWire 800 port.
In benchmark tests conducted by our sibling publication Macworld, the MacBook Pro underperformed the 2-GHz iMac Core Duo in some tests and outperformed the G4-based 15-inch PowerBook in most tests; notable exceptions were tests of Microsoft Word and Adobe Photoshop. The next versions of these apps will be Intel-optimized, but for now they run through the Rosetta translation software. Macworld found that a single battery charge lasted for more than 3.5 hours with normal use. See additional details on Macworld's tests.
This laptop runs very well, but it lacks a few features and will benefit as more software is optimized for Intel.
Apple's stylish laptop is fast enough for most uses but performs best with Apple's own Intel-optimized software.
Price when reviewed: $2499
Current prices (if available)
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