15-inch MacBook Pro reviewed: turns Mac newbie into switcher

Here it is, the first complete review of Apple's new 15-inch MacBook Pro. You know, Santa Rosa platform, LED backlighting, and new nVidia 8600M GT graphics. Right, that one, launched just a few days ago. The kids at Notebook Review took the unit 'round the block with an emphasis on reviewing it for "people considering the MacBook Pro as an alternative option to a Windows based laptop." In fact, it's the reviewer's first Mac review. So how did it go? Well, to start with, the "screen is without a doubt the best I've ever seen on a laptop, and better than a lot of desktop monitors I use," says the reviewer. The MBP also came away with "impressive scores" whether running OS X or 32-bit Vista via Boot Camp. The new nVidia GPU smoked the old ATI X1600-based MBP by a factor of three in 3DMark06 tests -- well above the 57% increase claimed by Apple. Unfortunately, the review did not go head-to-head with same-spec'd Santa Rosa models from say IBM or Dell to see how Apple's tweaks to the gear compare. The case remained "mostly cool" throughout use although it did pickup a "good bit of warmth" while benchmarking. Still it was not enough to remove the MBP from the reviewer's lap with average temps for the CPU cores kicking right around 49-degrees centigrade. During normal usage at 50% brightness (which is not very bright as we've seen), the battery eeked-out about 4-hours which dropped to 3-hours after dialing up the brightness to 100%. The only real nit is the weight, which at 5.4-pounds (2.45-kgs) is becoming rather pathetic by modern standards yet remains the smallest offering in Apple's pro laptop lineup. Still, the reviewer now considers himself "one happy switcher" and that's about as good of a rating as you can get.

[Joe Smith @ Jun 7th 2007 7:21AM]

What are you talking about, "5.4 pounds is pathetic for a laptop today"??? This is the lightest 15.4" laptop out there!!!

[panik @ Jun 7th 2007 7:23AM]

i.clones need more power to blog, this is good :)
i like the photo of the little grubby hobbit, it really sells the product hehe

[len @ Jun 7th 2007 7:48AM]

"screen is without a doubt the best I've ever seen on a laptop, and better than a lot of desktop monitors I use"

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

"Vertical angles are better than I expected as well"

Ah, the beauty of low expectations. 15 degrees off vertical, and text is unreadable. This is on a matte finish, the glare finish may have different results.

"I should say this is not only my first laptop review"

We can tell.

I would like to know if the new LCD backlight stops the light bleeding in from the edges.

He also says it is quiet... yeah, while the fan is not on. Mine is louder than my desktop machine when I crank up WoW or Starcraft.

Don't listen to this guy. "Switching" is the biggest mistake you'll ever make. Even the user interface is not better, merely different, and considerably more frustrating.

[Jamie F @ Jun 7th 2007 9:26AM]

Better if you understand that this is a first-timer's experience with the MacBook Pro, it clearly sais so. Your rude objective oppinions, are not validated at all. Care to write your own review?

[Krzysztof @ Jun 7th 2007 9:37AM]

You rebuttal is based entirely from the previous generation MBP. Judging by the way you did your rebuttal, I'd be hard pressed to believe that you even own a Mac. I am certain that you don't own the new MBP so how can you refute anything in that review? You'd be better served posting your opinions and reviews on the "commodor 64" blog. Just because you are a mac hater doesn't mean his review is incorrect.

[John Papola @ Jun 7th 2007 8:06AM]

Meanwhile... can anyone point me to a link on Dell.com where you can actually buy a santa-rosa laptop that's comparable to the Mac Pro? Their site remains angeringly impenetrable if you actually know what you want to buy.

[Zadillo @ Jun 7th 2007 8:10AM]

John, Dell's updates haven't been released yet, but see the article Engadget posted about the Inspiron updates and a new line called Vostro (err, something like that). It sounds like the new Inspirons will be very comparable (I think someone even said the Inspiron 1520 would have an 8600M GT, which would be pretty nice, since Dell usually hasn't put such a nice GPU in the 15" Inspirons).

[I have a new Mac Book @ Jun 7th 2007 4:34PM]

Drevil - Ive had a dell for the past 4 years of high school that the school gives the students upon entering high school. Every student/teacher/admin gets one of these laptops and uses them everday as part of there eduacation. We also have a help desk that never stops getting laptops in that are never working. I dont know how a dell could last as long as you said it would unless it never moves or anything. So tell me how because i would like to know. this is the reason why i purchased an apple because there were so many problems with hardware and software.

[John Papola @ Jun 7th 2007 6:22PM]

It's great to see Apple shipping updates at the same time as everyone and with awesome graphics cards. Now if only the Mac Pro could get some of that 8800 video love.

[Ricardo Chavarria @ Jun 7th 2007 8:41AM]

"The difference will be that the Dells will be $1500 cheaper and will last for 3 years longer."

Right...as they ALWAYS DO...

I worked for Dell man, and I can tell you, NOTHING they have lasts even half of a Mac's lifetime. As of price? Just ask my boss, I've beaten him 3 times in Dell vs Apple price wars (supported by online quotes)!

[Saul Goode @ Jun 7th 2007 10:26AM]

Yeah, I have a dell laptop at home - had to replace the battery, dvd drive, & motherboard all in the first year! It is a brick too (inspiron 1100) feels cheaply made when you open it - it is the last Dell my family will ever buy.
I also have an 8 year old Mac, still chugging along with no problems what so ever. With the exception of security updates, it hasn't been restarted in several months.
The Dell can't go a full day without some sort of issue.
Anyone who thinks Dell has quality over Apple, is just someone looking for anything negative to say about a product & company they know nothing about.

[Matthew T. Huang @ Jun 7th 2007 9:04AM]

Did you guys get the glossy screen or the anti-glare screen?I'm looking into the macbook pro, i think thats the hardest choice, being able to see in sun or a real nice screen

[djhindsight @ Jun 7th 2007 6:04PM]

I would go with glossy. I used to be a hater till I bought one, no I would never go back. Much better contrast, the glare issue isn't one when you're not sitting in a store.

[noob @ Jun 7th 2007 9:08AM]

screw the glossy screen. My mbp has the matte screen and its way better.

as for dells lasting longer...sure they last longer as long as you have the 4 year accidental protection plan and like to have on site service people at your house every month.

as for switching being a huge mistake...well its not to say that th MBP is the perfect notebook, its not. But for office use and everyday use its fine. For gaming and super cpu intensive applications, well, I don't think there is enough cooling and the fans are super annoying.

if you are buying an apple anyways value should be the last thing on your mind. its obviously just for its dead sexy looks and reasonable specs.

[Ben H @ Jun 7th 2007 9:19AM]

So I take it this switcher did no homework at all when deciding on a laptop. I'm sure he just read engadget or some other fanboy website that forgot to mention that problem with the vertical lines popping up on these laptop monitors. But who cares! At least you can tell people you spent more than them on a laptop!

[Jsterlin @ Jun 7th 2007 2:02PM]

The vertical lines were a problem on one version of the Powerbook G4 not the MacBookPro. I've had both a Powerbook G4 and I currently own a 15" MBP and I rarely even hear or notice my fan running on the MBP.

[pito189 @ Jun 7th 2007 9:28AM]

From what I understand the vertical lines are in the older Powerbooks not in the MBP's. I am a student in Graphic Design, and in a class of 20 there are 17 MBP, 2 MB, and 1 PC. I have never seen the vertical line problem on any of the screens and I help everybody with their problems. The only serious Hardware related problem is one girl had an expanded battery and Apple took care of that post haste.

[Jamar @ Jun 7th 2007 9:36AM]

Why does everyone hate on the MacBook Pro? I had an old Powerbook with a broken screen, but I don't flame Apple everywhere... oh wait- it was my fault.

The greatest irony- my Powerbook survived falling off a table 3 feet off the floor with only dents, but a bit of weight (10lb max) from the top and the screen cracks just like that.

On the other hand, my Panasonic Let's Note T5 withstands up to 200lb pressure from the top, but broke when I accidentally dropped it 2ft. I have not a clue why the Let's Note laptops are called Toughbooks outside Japan- they're more fragile than Apple computers.

[nate @ Jun 7th 2007 1:52PM]

Simply commenting on your response- I have an imported W5. I have had 3 "Toughbook moments" in which my W5 fell or got banged around beyond "normal use". I'm surprised to hear yours "broke" after falling 2 feet; what happened and define broke, if you wouldn't mind.

How was Panasonic's response to your repair request?
Thanks,

[Jamar @ Jun 8th 2007 8:04AM]

I accidentally dropped it onto the floor when I was getting it out of my bag. The screen cracked. It's being repaired in Japan now, but I've been told that I have to pay.

[Drevil @ Jun 7th 2007 9:38AM]

You're so wrong. The Dell laptop will be $3000 cheaper, last for 9 years and will never, ever have to be serviced. Dell's stuff is so reliable they actually just closed their customer support line because they never get any phone calls or have to repair anything, unlike Apple, whose computers each have to go in for service 17 times a year, on average.

[Rich Gordon-Williams @ Jun 7th 2007 9:54AM]

Whats everyone's deal with switching. I had a Mac Performa in the early nineties and swore never to go back to a mac. I have a wide variety of different advents, dells, HPs, a sony, a toshiba and finally a home build in the mean time all obviously running different incarnations of windows. I switched two years ago for work to my dislike and since then have bought my own macbook and have never looked back, I have bootcamp on my Macbook so any windwos app that I can't run on os x is sorted there. However after installing bootcamp I found myself asking why have I done this? Switching was easy. The only trouble I have had is being infruiated with windows when I go to my parents to sort it out! Also apple's support has been mighty helpful any times I've needed it. I'm no apple fanboy, I think that there are flaws, and I'm still happy to use a windows PC but people should really give macs a go for more than just a shop demo. People use them for 5 minutes and hate them becuase there set out different to windows. What do people expect, its a different operating system!

[MIchael Spindler @ Jun 7th 2007 10:39AM]

comparing an Apple from the early to mid nineties to now are two different animals!

Think of Apple from 1998 on as a different company all together!

[obiwan @ Jun 7th 2007 5:29PM]

6400 love, baby! Mine, from 1996 is still in action! On the Internets, even! HD and RAM upgrades, no L2 cache, no processor upgrade!

Yes, I love Macs, and my eMachines with XP will last forever. Because I never turn it on!

[tim. @ Jun 7th 2007 10:19AM]

wow, the internets have given rise to a new Beavis and Butthead, and thy name Mac-basher. "huhuhuhuh, APPLE SUX!!1!1One. omg pwned!!"

.. while i can totally understand LIKING a company, and being genuinely interested in their new products and offerings... this notion of taking time out of one's day to seek out pro-Apple articles, solely for the purpose of BASHING them? seriously, what the hell? srsly, even.

if you don't like Macs, STFU and move along. there are *hundreds* of other things going on in the tech world, which means you can happily avoid doing your job ALL DAY without needing to come to Apple news and TROLL it.

do you M$ fanboys reaaaaaally think that your way of seeing/doing things is the only correct *possible* way? that the world would be better off if everyone bought Dells? ... and, moreover, do you think you're going to convince anyone else of that by making mean-spirited comments anywhere that has the *audacity* to post Apple news? i mean, wow. i think that says a lot about the type of people you are.

[Dale @ Jun 7th 2007 10:24AM]

Switching isn't that difficult.

After being a Windows user since 3.0, I made the switch to OS X two years ago and haven't looked back. I did a *lot* of research beforehand, making sure there was decent software and hardware available for the common tasks I use a computer for, and there are some great resources for learning keyboard shortcuts, system maintenance and so forth.

Software is moot now as you can dual boot, choosing the best OS for the task at hand - I fully anticipate keeping a partition free on my pending MBP for playing games on Windows.

I've used hardware by a number of the manufacturers - HP, Dell, Gateway, Apple, Compaq (pre-HP), Tulip, Toshiba; and the Apple build quality is second to none. I found my old Gateway machine to be far better built and far more resilient than the two Dells I owned, but their case design is fugly... and they've gone downhill a lot.

Since the Intel transition, I have been able to regularly spec up Macs for the same price or less than several major competitors. The prices of these new MacBook Pros are indiscernable from equally specified systems from other manufacturers, hardly the $1,500 some idiot suggested on this page.

Compare for example the UK price of the entry-level MBP (http://www.apple.com/ukstore) and this ASUS system:

http://www.asuslaptop.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=Asus_Laptop_G1S-AK005C

So price isn't an issue, hardware and software aren't an issue, using Windows isn't an issue, and the build quality is beyond compare. That's a pretty compelling argument to make the switch.

No one is forcing a gun to anyone's head, though.

[SteveA @ Jun 7th 2007 10:52AM]

Dale, You're absolutely right about the price similarities between the Asus G1s and the base macbook pro. They're nealy identical machines! That is unless you overlook the MBP has half the video card (128meg vs. 256meg), less screen resolution (1440 x 900 vs. 1680 x 1050), smaller hard drive (120 vs. 160) and lacks HDMI and E-SATA, they're absolutely identical machines at the same price.

Compare a nearly identical top end MBP and the Asus G2S and that's were you find a strange $700us price difference. Toss in 4 gigs of ram and it's very close to a $1200 difference in price.

[purezerg @ Jun 7th 2007 10:30AM]

one of the biggest reasons why i stayed away from back was because they dont have docking and external bateries option.
my HP 8440 las approx 12hrs on batteries MAX.
if the hp 8440 is on full screen brightness, it las about 8hrs.

[whathefah? @ Jun 7th 2007 2:46PM]

Does this amnesty on past sins extend to any other company, or is that intended to be just for Jobs?

[Gil Amelio @ Jun 7th 2007 4:05PM]

Well, there is no question that Jobs saved Apple. Anyone who was paying attention to the computer industry over 10 years ago can say that & not be labeled as a 'fanboy'
it is just a fact. He ushered in the iMac, the switch from non proprietary hardware (PCI, USB, IEEE1394) OSX, and brought it with style - in an industry where it was almost non existent.
So, if you can find another company where one of the founders of it returns 12 or so years later, and turns it around to the point where it is an industry darling after it was on a perpetual media 'death watch' then yes, that amnesty extend to them as well.
Because Apple certainly is a different company now. I just wish I had bought stocks in it back then when they were down to about $11 a share.

[Seamus D Dog @ Jun 7th 2007 12:15PM]

Hey SteveA,
You're right, except you forgot a few key differences: one runs Windows, the other runs OS X, Windows, and whatever other OS, even in virtualization. Oh, and yeah, don't forget about the LED screen. Oh, one more thing; one is sleek and 1.4 pounds lighter than the other. But yes, the MBP does not have glowing green lights on the side that make it an "awesome" gaming machine . . . So definately, the Asses wins.

[rip @ Jun 7th 2007 12:49PM]

The Asus is also heavier and bigger. A LOT heavier and bigger.

So yeah, with the Asus your getting more for your money. More weight. More plastic.

[Doug Arcidino @ Jun 7th 2007 11:02AM]

Actually I switched with little issue. I support 200 users on a all PC network for a living. I used Linux based laptops since 99, One windows machine for gaming. What I wanted was a laptop that did normal stuff with few issues but had a real CLI so I could do the dirty geek stuff. My core2duo MBP is awesome.

[Troy @ Jun 7th 2007 11:06AM]

Gotta love apple's spin on speed. True, this machine may be more than 57% than the Core Duo, but it's harldy that much faster than the Core 2 Duo. Especially since Apple's own site had touted that the Core 2 Duo MBP was "over 50% faster" than the Core Duo version. Now they're saying the Santa Rosa MBP is "over 57% faster" than the original Core Duo. Hmm, that only looks like a 7% increase over the previous generation to me.

This machine is definitely an improvement, and a great all around unit, but not nearly the speed increase they want it to be perceived as. I think Apple is by far the best technology marketer out there, especially for those who don't read carefully.

[jo @ Jun 7th 2007 11:08AM]

congratulations with this nice machine, I am jealous...

[danger_powers33 @ Jun 7th 2007 11:16AM]

Its kind of sad how a laptop review can spark a critique of an entire lifestyle. I'll admit I'm a windows user but I'm happy using friends macs. theres no reason why it has to be a zero sum equation macs and PCs can happily coexist and I think its cool to see more software that integrates data on macs and PCs. so heres to a happy coexistence

[cydeweyz @ Jun 7th 2007 11:19AM]

Does using a Macbook constitute "Switching" anymore? I plan on getting a Macbook Pro, but only because I'll be able to "switch" between OSX, XP, Vista and Ubuntu at will. If Dell or HP could do that, then I would only be in business with Apple for an iPod, Apple TV maybe and of course an iPhone. I just hope next week brings a Coherence type app built-in, without using Parallels. Coherence is the sh!t

[Magallanes @ Jun 7th 2007 11:24AM]

A bit expensive but truly a powerful machine.

BUUUUT everyone must known that Apple products (always) came with "nice" surprises, may be a cheap battery, cheap components, hot, noise,a hell unstable, sh·ty support...

[Pete @ Jun 7th 2007 11:28AM]

to those who think the mbp is heavy, hit the weight room

[StupidIsAs... @ Jun 7th 2007 11:59AM]

Well, if you are a mental-cripple I guess it is hard to switch. Yup, much better off to just keep funneling you money toward MS instead, we all know they need it.
Switching isn't for everyone. So if the most simple tasks confuse & frustrate you, like they do Frank here - better stick to what you know. Or not use computers at all!
Never change anything for that matter, why stress your poor, poor over stimulated cranium.

[Lee @ Jun 7th 2007 12:37PM]

i own a 7 year old powerbook pismo 400 MHZ and a powermac g4 400 MHZ that i still for everyday tasks. i have alot of windows using friends and they dont have a windows laptop or a desktop that's over 4 years old and they usually have to upgrade in few years.

I think it's time for me to upgrade to this knew macbook pro though. it's perfect!

[Sean @ Jun 7th 2007 12:40PM]

Ahhhh, more Mac lovers! Granted, the G1 is incredibly tacky, but that still doesn't change the fact Asus has better QC that Apple could dream of. Aside from obvious performance gains from a direct to Taiwan manufacturer:
Upgradeability
(yes, macs can be upgraded-but not nearly as easily)
Higher Quality
(It's true mac fans- And asus builds some of your precious lappys)
Durability
(my z63 has been dropped from insane heights-woring on it right now)
Barebone
(build your own with an Asus whitebox)
Does not require user to be a pushy pretentious arse.
(sorry mac fan- you are the jehovah's witnesses of computer users)

Check out one of the W2 series if the G1 is too gauche for you(it is).

Now go back to your temple and watch more Jobs Pr0n...

[Rusty Trombone @ Jun 7th 2007 4:11PM]

All that quality, yet you have to run Windows.

Like a Bentley with Suzuki motor, or a hot chick with a penis (oops, scratch that one, you're probably into that)

[MrSteve007 @ Jun 7th 2007 2:25PM]

Damn, I keep forgetting the ASUS's lightscribe drive & the handy second OLED screen. Plus you go with the 17inch G2S they also have a TV tuner built in. You know, for less money. Does th MBP have a tuner or second OLED screen? Maybe that has to do with the extra weight. The 17inch MBP doesn't even have the LED screen, and it costs several hundred more. I think mac fans should also factor in the added weight issues Asus owners have. Not only do they have that huge, mega, ultra extra pound on the laptops, but factor in the weight of the extra money they have to carry around from saving on their purchase! Damn, that is probably another pound or two.

[Maztec @ Jun 7th 2007 3:37PM]

Am I a Mac Fanboy? Judge me for yourself.

I have been using computers since 1983. I am easily beat in that respect by many, but I am opinionated on what does and does not work for me. Whether what does and does not work for me does or does not work for you really does or does not bother me. (er.. does not bother me).

Current Laptop: MacBook Pro 15" matte upgraded model purchased at the Apple Store on June 5.

Computer Experience:
1) A desktop I constantly added new parts to, replaced cases on, upgraded motherboards, changed out parts, but always had at least one thing the same during each revision from 1992 through today. It still has pieces tied back to older revisions and I still keep on upgrading it. Although the tech changes in the last few years may require I make a complete upgrade and dispose of all old parts in the next year or two. I tend to upgrade at least one part in it every six months. I ran DOS, then Windows 95, then Redhat Linux, then Debian, then Windows 2000, then Gentoo, and now Windows Vista & Gentoo on it throughout its history.

2) I worked as a information technology consultant from 1996 through 2005. I recently quit and cut from the industry nearly completely because I became bored with the work. On the other hand, I still like knowing the news and the toys.

3) During my time as an IT Consultant I regularly built systems, made recommendations for prebuilt systems, repaired broken systems (prebuilt or built by me), and made laptop recommendations. I am going to skip including desktops any further in this comment. I have made recommendations on hundreds if not thousands of laptop purchases, sent many in for repair, dealt with support services from many different companies, bit the bullet and paid for a replacement based on a bad recommendation twice, and have developed an opinion of several of the major laptop manufacturers on the market.

4) I purchased my first laptop, for myself, in 2002 because I needed it for my work. The laptop was a Sony GRX model, fully loaded, and cost $4,600. I ran LFS, then Gentoo & Windows 2000 on it for most of its lifetime. From 2002 to 2005, during the three year warranty that Sony "lost" and I had to argue to receive repairs on the laptop every time, I sent it in for replacement of the motherboard due to melted contact points approximately every 3 to 6 months. I tried running just Windows 2000 on it and just Windows XP, it would still have the same problem but instead of 6 months it was 4 months. Finally in 2005, Sony made a significant repair and I have not sent it back. Despite the fact that the sound has not worked since that repair and it has a wobbly fan. The laptop is now dying, the LCD is hot pink when I open it for the first 5 minutes, the keyboard has no letters on it anymore, I cannot actually use it anywhere except in one spot because I am afraid it will permanently die again, and several of the keys have taken to working sporadically.

There are two things I miss about my Sony laptop. First, the keyboard was nearly full sized - larger than the keyboards on the mac and the touchpad was reasonably sensitive and in a good location (back from the edge, so you could rest hands on laptop). Second, the monitor was 17" with a resolution of 1600x1200 - that is a 4x3 resolution, I really hate the letterbox resolution most systems are going to. Letterbox, in my opinion, is only good for some games and movies. Letterbox is an extremely frustrating waste of screen real estate when handling documents, word processing, and browsing the interwebs (internet, that was a joke, ok?).

5) Disclosure: My wife owns a Mac Laptop. Her family is a bunch of Mac fans. My wife could care less what the OS and software is, as long it does not keep her waiting. My family is a bunch of Windows fans, they hate Linux and all things Mac. Generally they buy Dell computers. Except for the Mac I purchased for my Grandmother so the rest of the family would STOP MESSING WITH THE SETTINGS. Oh, and that has worked wonders!

Finally... I am in the market for a new laptop. For the love of god, under 8 pounds. With a decent battery life. That can run Word and other Windows Applications - because I am going back to school and that is required.

I am a Linux fanboy (well, as much as I get fanboy about anything). A Mac running OSX seemed like a decent compromise for me. I looked at a lot of laptops on the market and coming onto the market between January of this year and July (when I need it for classes). I ended up choosing the new MacBook Pro. My experience with Apple's support services and my personal aesthetics (and maybe a bit of my renegade attitude - the school requires I buy a Dell :\) assisted me in my choices.

Personal Support Service Experiences:
These experiences are garnered over a period of 10 years. I am a curmudgeon of a consumer. When a company makes my life miserable, repeatedly, I refuse to ever go back to them - unless something significantly changes; example: I refuse to buy anything through Amazon.com or any of its affiliates because of four really bad experiences with them, including theft of a credit card at their fault. Therefore, some experiences are probably dated.

HP: Laptops are "meh", support is "meh".
Dell: Laptops, great specs, great features, I have never seen a Dell that did not end up with problems after a year because of hardware issues or because of the software installed. As soon as you go off their "beaten path" things go downhill. Support is ok, local is awesome, but they used to consistently treat all customers like they were 8 years old - unless you got nasty with them.
Sony: Never buying anything from them ever again. I spent too much of my life trying to get support for a laptop that had a serious design flaw. I spent up to 8 hours on hold, repeatedly. Ugh.
Toshiba: Support is slow, but always got the job done. I would still buy Toshiba, but I am not really interested in any of their laptop lines.
IBM/Lenovo: Support has always been decent, quick, and most of the time took care of the problem. The laptops always had good specs and worked well. If I am a fan of any company it is probably IBM/Lenovo, but I am usually not a fan of their product lines. They seem to lag behind - although that is changing.
Gateway: Not as good support as Dell and their computers make me cry.
Apple: Since 2001 - good sense of design. Puts out some nice hardware configurations. I hate the closed hardware design on a desktop, but the build-your-own laptop basically does not exist (ok, it does, it is not light enough or sufficient for me and costs too much for its quality). Laptops are generally all closed hardware, so that issue with Apple is not an issue in laptops for me. Support - the Geeks have always been great to me, once I can get to them... sometimes I think I may have to kill someone to get support. They have always fixed my wifes laptop problems, no questions asked, within 5 days. Never had any other company with that quick of a turnaround for laptop repair - except Dell. Hardware specs usually don't really interest me and I think OSX is just as "ok" as Windows - I do not like either more than the other, except maybe a bit more to OSX because of its BSD relationship (and I like BSD).

So, I purchased the new MacBook Pro. I installed Parallels, I skipped the installation of BootCamp (I will do that later if I decide I need it). Coherence is awesome, Windows Apps run right on the Mac and appear seamless. I have a shared documents folder between the two, things work like a dream. Apple really needs to buy this company and include it with OSX.

Screen brightness: Just fine, it automatically adjusts just to what I need, although I wish it wouldn't adjust quite so often - I will find a way to fix that in a few more days time.

Screen matte v. glossy: I have looked at both in several different situations on all types of laptops. I like the look of the glossy and it is great to be able to see the hot young woman who is sitting behind you. But, direct light behind you, Matte wins every time. Although, with diffused lighting hitting from an angle and you looking from an angle Glossy wins. Viewing angle on both though seems to be the same in the end - it just depends on lighting. The bob and weave of Glossy viewing is probably good for my neck, but it is aggravating. So, I stayed with Matte.

Speed: Plenty fast for what I am using it for. I have played a few games on it now - through Coherence, they work great and quicker/smoother than I have seen them run on other similarly specced windows laptops. However, there are some lag times that annoy me - then again most systems do that.. and I am running Windows Vista in Coherence so that could explain a lot.

Design: Love it, couldn't care less that they haven't upgraded it. However, I hate the trackpad location and that there is no beveling to the front of the laptop where the wrist lands. It makes a sharp edge that seriously hurts and makes using the trackpad a pain for extended use. Then again, have had that problem with most laptops.

Benchmarking: Not going to do it, the numbers really do not mean anything to me, it is the user experience that counts.

OSX: I like it compared to windows, the *nix style term is really nice. I still prefer Gentoo Linux running XFCE over both of them, but I am happy enough.

Recommendation: Gamer? Go get a system geared to gaming and lets be honest, gaming laptops are still not really.. laptops, they are more like gaming bricks.
Student/Office/Non-Gamer: Give a MacBook a try for a few weeks, either set it up yourself or have someone else set it up with Parallels to do everything you want. If you do not like it, take it back, pay the restock fee - or better yet borrow one from a friend.

And this is the end of my much too long post.
Overall MBPro 15" Matte rating: 7.2 out of 10. Yes, I pulled that rating out of my hind quarters.

[bigbear1983 @ Jun 7th 2007 4:19PM]

Apple released new Boorcamp 1.3 today. Now I have all the drivers for Vista.

[michael @ Jun 7th 2007 4:31PM]

I don't want to be a downer here, but I seem to have more problems with macs than anything else. So at least hear me out. I bought a MBP about 1/2 a year ago, and it was working fine. I thought it was a great switch. While I wouldn't say OS X is completely better than Windows, it was at least somewhat nice. So I used it for awhile. Mainly to go on the web and work with some of my media software. Then one day, some programs started crashing really bad. I couldn't fix it on my own, so I called AppleCare. Sent them my laptop, and it came back neat and fixed. So it worked for at least another month. Then the same problem came again. I know that I'm not one of those people that 'mistakenly allow something bad on their computers'. So I called them, and sent it to AppleCare again. It came back unfixed and they said that my coverage didn't work this time, because it had something to do with multiple user failures and errors and whatever. So the best I could do was buy a whole new mac, with a slight discount. I wasn't happy about this. I had to run all over town (barely any techies know macs in my city) until I found someone that actually fixed it. It works perfectly now, but I lost some love with it. Now I only use it for my media programs and a few other OS X only stuff. That's it. I bought a new Sony Vaio SZ and it runs perfectly. I've used Vista on it with no problems and absolutely love it. I like both of them, but after what AppleCare did, it just made me flabbergasted.

So macs are no way more perfect than pc's, but they do a good job at what they do.So please stop hating on mac haters. They have a pretty good reason.

[tim. @ Jun 7th 2007 5:03PM]

but MOST "Mac haters" *don't* have a "pretty good reason." & that's *exactly* the problem. if you actually read the comments above, fully half of them are from people bitching about "higher prices" and "lower quality" as compared to PC laptops (which they already OWN, either by their own admission or by the implication of their comparison); others talk about the "huge problem of switching" to OSX, and how everything they already do "requires" Windows.

these are NOT the arguments of people who have actually PURCHASED Macs and USED them for significant periods of time. they are the arguments of people who, for one reason or another, have a completely biased opinion of Macs without ever having fully experienced them.

it's really unfortunate that you had a problem with your Mac laptop... but, as you stated, quite correctly, a Mac laptop computer is *still* a laptop computer. and laptops can break, or fail, or otherwise have manufacturing defects that make them unreliable. ALL laptops are subject to this (.. & don't tell me Dell is any better, i've owned two of them and have had failures in BOTH).

no one is claiming for a second that a Mac is some magical mystery box that runs on Jesus and rainbows and wonder. most "Mac fanboys" are just people who -- like me -- have gone out on a limb, given Macs a shot, and decided that they genuinely had a better experience with them. and no matter what long-winded arguments you'll see to the contrary---it's that PERSONAL experience that matters, and is also the reason Apple is still in business.

no, Macs are not perfect. by no means. and no one with half a brain has ever tried to say that they are. .... but they're also not worth NEARLY the volume of unkind -- and, in most cases, totally UNFOUNDED -- criticism that they receive constantly on blogs like Engadget.

[cooper8168 @ Jun 7th 2007 7:06PM]

I clicked on the "comments" link for this article just to see how long it took for the trolls to come out and inveigh against this platform and that. Good to see I wasn't let down!

I'm always curious why nobody ever mentions the fact that Consumer Reports consistently ranks Apple's laptops and Customer Support as far and away the best, current ratings included. Before someone comes up with some misguided comment about bias or advertising dollars, know that Consumer Reports buys every product it tests at retail (cars included, which is why you don't super high-end sportscar tests), accepts no commercial advertising, and does not allow reprint of its reviews for commercial gain or advertising. They may not get into the depth that many of us think we need in our tech reviews, but they certainly offer a reliably unbiased look at many of things some of you try to expound so failingly here on a daily basis.

Macs are not perfect, but it is simply not debateable that they are, and have been for many years, the most reliable computers in the world.

[John Doe @ Jun 7th 2007 9:01PM]

"Macs are not perfect, but it is simply not debateable that they are, and have been for many years, the most reliable computers in the world."

It damn well is debatable. When at least 60% of the people I know have had issues with their Mac laptop over the years, be it an iBook with crap logic boards, or Macbook Pros with batteries that expend like a damn balloon, or Macbooks who's paint is rubbing off or AI PowerBooks that rust. The lists go on and on and on. Apple hardware is NOT in any way shape or from the most reliable systems in the world. Hell if they were the most reliable Apple's warranty would be head and shoulders above Dell's. Why not splurge with 12 hour response time for repairs if they are so good. Oh I know. Because they aren't.
And as I've said before this is coming from a Mac user who has been on two MBP's both with multiple defects.