Apple MacBook Pro MC026LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop

117 Responses to “Apple MacBook Pro MC026LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop”

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1. 117
   William Says:
   February 8th, 2012 at 1:33 pm

   MacBook Pro puts desktop-class graphics in a portable package. That makes it the ultimate mobile solution for gamers, video editors, photographers, and design professionals. Machined from a single piece of aluminum, the new 15.4-inch MacBook Pro is thinner, more powerful, and years ahead of its time. Inside the new MacBook Pro is the powerful Intel Core 2 Duo processor running at 2.66GHz with an increased 1066MHz frontside bus, next-generation 1066MHz DDR3 RAM memory and a stunning, ultrathin LED-backlit display that gives you instant full screen brightness. The new MacBook Pro combines the efficiency of an integrated graphics processor with the desktop-class performance of a discrete graphics processor. That’s because it has both. Out of the box, it runs the integrated NVDIA GeForce 9400M processor, which provides plenty of performance for everyday tasks while you get an extra boost with the GeForce 9600 GT for 3D games and graphics-intensive applications like Aperture and Motion. And the all-new Multi-Touch trackpad has no separate button. The entire smooth glass surface is the button, so it’s clickable everywhere. At less than an inch thin and 5.5 pounds, it isn’t just the next-generation MacBook Pro, it’s the next generation of notebooks. 15.4 Glossy (1440 x 900) LED Backlit Widescreen Display Built-in iSight Camera and internal omnidirectional microphone NVIDIA (integrated) GeForce 9400M and (discrete) 9600 GT with 512MB Dedicated Video Memory 8X Slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD+-R DL/DVD+-RW/CD-RW) AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi Wireless (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet ExpressCard 34 Slot Ports – 2 x USB 2.0, FireWire 800, Digital/Analog Line In; Digital/Analog Line Out, Mini DisplayPort, RJ-45, MagSafe Power Port Unit Dimensions – 14.35 (W) x 0.95 (H) x 9.82 (D) Unit Weight – 5.5 Pounds

2. 116
   Helen Says:
   February 8th, 2012 at 1:33 pm

   By Helen

   

   2008-10-19
    
   Apple’s site and other reviews provide the essential information on what was upgraded in this new MacBook Pro (two graphics systems; machined from solid aluminum; new industry-standard DisplayPort video out; new trackpad; other minor changes/upgrades).

   But why get this computer rather than the much less expensive MacBook that appears almost identical?

   1. The MacBook LCD display is poor. It is not just a smaller version of the MacBook Pro LCD display. It has washed-out blacks, poor contrast, limited viewing angles, and less vibrant colors. This is a huge difference. I confirmed this with a side by side comparison in the Apple Store (and the store staff member agreed), and you can find further discussion at gizmodo dot com (gizmodo.com/5063492/macbook-and-macbook-pro-dual-review).

   2. The MacBook Pro’s excellent new graphics chip (NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT) can be used to speed up all operations (not just graphics) when the new Apple operating system (Snow Leopard) is released in January. This is not confirmed, but there is substantial discussion online suggesting this is the case. The 9600M is essentially a 32 processor computer (running at 120 gigaflops). So, a MacBook Pro will actually gain in speed over time. The MacBook does not have a separate graphics card that can work this way.

   3. MacBook Pro graphics are twice as fast as MacBook graphics, so if you do anything visual with your computer (digital photography, video, games, etc.) then everything will run much more quickly and smoothly. Some games that are just barely playable on the MacBook become fun and seemless on the MacBook Pro.

   4. The MacBook Pro has a firewire port (omitted from the new MacBook).

   5. The MacBook Pro has an expansion card slot (really handy for adding a memory card reader or 3G roaming internet).

   So, for the extra $400 (MacBook 2.4 GHz vs. MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz) you get a lot of extras that you will notice and use. And you will avoid the poor LCD on the MacBook. You are still stuck with the highly-reflective glass screen (if my eyeglasses can get anti-reflective coating, then why not this computer screen?), however, so it’s only four stars until they solve that problem.

3. 115
   Helen Says:
   February 8th, 2012 at 1:33 pm

   By Helen

   

   2008-12-10
    
   I’m not a gamer so this review may not be helpful to those who want a computer to play games.

   I have worked as a professional software developer/architect for 17 years. I started with MSDOS 2.0 and have ridden the Microsoft wave all the way through Vista 64 and I had a few years with UNIX. I have personally owned or worked with computers from Dell, HP, Compaq, IBM. I have heard of Apple products but for the most part dismissed them as more toy than tool. (I was not alone in this perspective.) I like Microsoft but after working with it for the better part of 20 year I decided to look at something different.

   I never thought I would purchase an Apple yet here it is. I am impressed to say the least and I see Apple as a serious tool that also makes a cool toy.

   Pros:
   
   Lightweight – Probably the lightest laptop I’ve ever worked with or owned

   Solid – Normally when you get laptops at 15.4 or larger, chassis flex becomes evident as you can see them bend and they creak. Yet because of its single piece construction and light weight aluminum the MacBook feels good when you need to move it. I doesn’t creak and there is no noticeable bend when lifted.

   Battery Life – It just keeps going, and going, and going… Actually I am seeing up to 4 hours life on the fully charged battery. My previous computer never surpassed 1.75 hours.

   Size – It is very thin and carrying it around is very comfortable. I had a 17″ and while I like the large display its uncomfortable to carry like a book.

   Magnetic Clasp – When closing the lid the owner is rewarded with a very solid thump instead of a “creak” “clack” that you hear from so many other laptops that use a plastic display and mechanical clasp. Opening the monitor is equally a pleasing. You place you thumb under the lip and lift. The laptop may slide a little on smooth surfaces but the lid comes up smooth and controlled.

   Keyboard – This is a great piece of work. Does it have “Home”, “Page Up”, “Page Down”, the legendary “Any” key? No. Doesn’t need it. A little research and practice and you will find that these “missing” keys are functions of the keyboard and I don’t miss them at all. Secondly the keyboard “key-float” (that rattle you hear when you lightly stroke your finger back and forth over a laptop keyboard) is almost completely non-existent. So when you’re typing it doesn’t sound like your wadding up crinkly plastic and you don’t annoy your neighbors. The key throw is short but very pleasant. Another thing I like about the keyboard is that you don’t feel like you will break the keyboard if your touch is a little heavy.

   Display – The display is a work of art. No only does it look good, but flex has been reduced to almost nothing. It feels very solid and you don’t feel you need to worry about tilting the screen from the corner. The glass cover over the LED lit LCD display is awesome. You can actually clean the screen without LCD screen colors distorting. Not to mention that is automatically dims in low light and the key board lights up in the same low light conditions. that’s a nice touch. The display brightness is every bit as bright as my desktop LCD display in strong light.

   Touch Pad – Any who has tried to use the touch pads on other computers (I hate them generally) will love this touch pad. It works like the iPhone (except scrolling is reversed for obvious reasons – you’re not actually touching the screen). The touch is light and very smooth. Making the entire touch pad the button is brilliant, it took me almost no time to get use to it and now I nearly push a hole through the Dell touch pad before I realize I have to click the buttons. I have no trouble with inadvertent touch that moves my cursor away from where I’m typing.

   Quiet – I have yet to hear the fans. It makes me wonder if they ever work.

   DVD Superdrive – Finally! No cup holder comes sliding out of the side of my laptop. Just simply slide the disc in and your done. It operates like the CD player in a car. It is easy to eject from the screen or a key on the keyboard.

   Fit and Finish – The best I’ve ever seen. The only thing I’ve seen is a very slight misalignment of the Express Card/34 slot door. But you really have to look close to see it.

   Operating System – WOW. Fast, no anti-virus, stable: it just works. I won’t get too much into the OS but I will say that once I understood how Apple likes things done OS X is very appealing. Not to mention that it sleeps and wakes up faster than anything I have ever worked with. Open the monitor and it’s sitting there saying “come on, I’m tired of waiting for you”.

   Built-in Accelerometers – Not sure what they’re good for, but they’re cool. Like the iPhone the MacBook Pro has three accelerometers. There is an Stanford Laptop Orchestra uses MacBook Pros to make music using these accelerometers.

   No Fresh Air Openings – I really dislike fresh air ports on the bottom of laptops. They are easily plugged and they suck fuzz and dust into the heat sinks. With my previous computers the fresh air ports were placed underneath the computer right where it sets on your legs. The result was you ran a big risk overheating the computer. The MacBook Pro pulls the cooling air through the keyboard and therefore has a smooth bottom making it far better to place on you lap.

   CONS:
   
   Chassis – While it is a brilliant piece of engineering there are a couple very minor issues.

   One: Always pick the computer up with both hands. While this is true of all laptops you want to last, it’s a little more important with this one. The metal around the ethernet port has been machined very thin which was necessary to fit the large jack in the rather narrow side of the laptop. So if you have the monitor open and grab the laptop with you left hand and your thumb over that jack you could dent the metal around it. It doesn’t warp or twist the whole chassis, it’s too strong but you could see a small indention in a otherwise straight piece of metal.

   Two: The metal in the Battery/Hard Drive Cover is very thin and sometime appears to hang below lip of the chassis. You really have to look to see it and it isn’t all the time. I don’t think is is warped or bent, but just the natural flexibility of aluminum.

   Touch Pad Click – While I absolutely love the touch pad (in fact I only use a mouse anymore when I am programming on it because of the nature of the software). If you try to click at the top of the pad (nearest the screen) the force required to click goes up quite a bit.

   Price? – Not really a Con. Some have complained about the price. Three and half years ago I paid $5700 for a Dell 9100 laptop (All the bells and whistles, Window XP Pro, Office Pro, the works). It has been a great computer that has been put to pasture and my family uses it. I’ve only had two problems with it. The dreaded mexican jumping keys (a key flies off the keyboard after you press it down while typing; AKA broken key) Dell replaced the keyboard without any trouble and the hard drive crashed and needed to be replaced. The Dell computer when new cost more than twice the MacBook Pro does today and the only thing it has over the Mac (old age and technology not withstanding) is it’s 1920 x 1200 pixel display compared to the Mac’s 1440 x 900 display. If I were to order the most power 15.4 laptop Apple sells today, I would still pay half the price of the Dell and the Apple does much more and has better quality overall.

   To summarize this is an accomplishment that the engineers, designers, and developers should feel proud. There is some room for improvement but these improvements are at a level that other laptops have to improve a great deal just to achieve Apple’s shortcomings.

   I could go on further but I think this is enough. Apple has truly developed a great product in both hardware and software and I recommend it highly.

4. 114
   Betty Says:
   February 8th, 2012 at 1:33 pm

   By Betty

   

   2008-10-28
    
   The new MacBook Pro has some significant advantages over the old one. The new case design is attractive and solid. The keyboard is crisp and responsive. The hard drive is as easy to access as on every other notebook on the market (as opposed to requiring complete disassembly of the machine with the old model). The new NVIDIA 9600 graphics adds a lot of 3D horsepower.

   There are some significant drawbacks as well. The video output for connecting an external monitor is only compatible with one monitor at the moment. Connecting to the kinds of monitor that people actually own will require the purchase (and carrying) of an additional $30 adapter. Or two, if you need to connect to both VGA and DVI monitors.

   The new MacBook Pro actually has two video adapters; the NVIDIA 9400 and 9600. The system uses the 9400 by default, which is less powerful than the 9600 but uses less power. The 9400 is an integrated adapter without its own memory; it uses 256MB of the system RAM. The problem is that it uses that 256MB RAM even when the system is using the 9600 adapter. In other words, these laptops effectively have 256MB less RAM than the previous generation.

   The new display is very clear and sharp, at least as good as the previous generation’s screen. It is also covered with a pane of glass and is very, very shiny; much shinier and more reflective even than the previous generation’s ‘glossy’ screen. If the lighting conditions in your work environment are exactly right, the screen looks wonderful. If there is any light behind or above you, the screen acts as a mirror and the glare and reflections can be very annoying.

   The new MacBook Pro is a wonderful computer, but it is not a clear upgrade from the previous version and the mirror finish of the new screen means that no one should buy this computer without actually trying it first.
   

5. 113
   Mark Says:
   February 8th, 2012 at 1:33 pm

   By Mark

   

   2008-10-18
    
   Apple is notorious for constantly updating their products, more or less to keep up the status quo on their products. The new Macbook Pro is no exception. This beautifully constructed laptop is a work of art in many ways in which i will detail.

   SCREEN
   
   The MBP has had a beautiful screen for as long as i can remember and this new model is no exception. LED lit means that it is “instant on”. when you open the lid, there is no warm up time like there is with other screens like LCD ect. The colors pop and are extremely vibrant and true. If you have seen an older MBP screen, you’ve seen them both, kind of. The new screen is all glass. The glass extends to the very outer edge of the lid, leaving no empty space. Simply put, you can’t find a better screen, not even on a Sony machine (and i love sony also).

   KEYBOARD
   
   The new MBP has an updated keyboard. The first thing you will notice is that the keys are black as apposed to the old silver. The black adds a nice touch because it accents the silver case. If you ask me, the old MBP had too much silver. EVERYTHING on the machine was silver aluminum. Don’t get me wrong, i loved the old MBP, but this is just one step up. The Keyboard is also backlit so when you are in a darker environment, the keys light up, helping you see anything and everything on the keyboard. The Keyboard is absolutely beautiful on the machine and adds a nice touch overall to the look.

   TRACKPAD
   
   I find it weird that i can put an entire section on a review about a laptops trackpad, but this is undoubtedly necessary. The new trackpad is ALL glass and there is no button—per say. In reality the entire trackpad is the button. They took off the button on the bottom and extended the trackpad down to give you more real estate. Apple spent months designing this trackpad and i have to give them major credit for that. recently me and my friend were looking at laptops at Circuit City, and one thing we did was go through every single laptop and look at it’s trackpad. It is absolutely amazing how much time and effort company’s DON’T put into designing their trackpad, when in my book, it is a HUGE factor. The coefficient of friction on this trackpad is exactly what it needs to be. not too rough, not too smooth, just right. I absolutely love the MBP trackpad and think it is something apple needs to be commended for.

   GRAPHICS
   
   Apple and NVIDIA joined up and came up with a new video card for this MBP. The MBP actually has 2 graphics cards in it. One that is integrated, and one that is dedicated. The integrated graphics is NVIDIA instead of the old intel, so it is immensely better. The dedicated card (which can be easily switched on) is a powerhouse and almost puts a MBP in line with other gaming machines, almost. Needless to say, this notebook will do just about whatever you want it to do graphics wise, gaming, video editing, photo editing, you name it, it will do it pretty easily. no worries here.

   OVERALL
   
   overall this laptop is at the top of it’s class and you might be wondering why i gave it 4 stars and not 5…..first and foremost, money. I have to say that this is still overpriced. You are paying for a collection of things like the operating system, graphics card, high end components and things like that, but come on apple, 2000 dollars is a lot to drop on any laptop, no matter what it is. Is it worth it? without a doubt yes, and that is why apple can jack up their prices, but at the same time, it seems like they are kind of taking advantage of us, especially in the economic slum we’re in right now. Maybe i am just cheap (which i don’t think most people would classify me as that) but that seems a little high to me. And another thing. what is up with the new display port? i have a 46 inch samsung tv and i will be hooking it up to my MBP but the cable is 100 dollars!!!! and that is just to dual link dvi—-i still have to buy a dual link dvi to HDMI adapter after that. Ugh. apple (along with other company’s…cough cough monster cables) is completely ripping us off on their cables and that makes a difference in my outlook on the big picture.

   CONCLUSION
   
   The new MBP is absolutely stunning in every aspect of its design. Apple continues to wow us, and they will also continue to prosper and grow. I will be enjoying my new Macbook pro and i hope this review helped you in any questions you might have had. It is an investment that will live for a long time and will be greatly enjoyed every day. good job apple.

6. 112
   Charles Says:
   February 8th, 2012 at 1:33 pm

   By Charles

   

   2008-11-20
    
   Good computer, but a major disappointment as it is downgraded in MANY ways from the previous model. No longer useful for Art, Photography, Video professionals. I have owned every upgrade to the Powerbook/Macbook Pro line for 9 years. EVERY single one! This is the first I had to return

   First the good
   
   -Very solid chassis, even more so than before.
   
   -some of the benefits the previous generation had
   
   -easier access to the hard drive for upgrade
   
   -Improved Vid card
   
   -Laptop that runs OSX, still the best operating system in use today!

   The Bad (compared to the previous generation)
   
   -Thinner by a hair, but wider and deeper yet a SMALLER battery? Very poor choice by Apple. End result = worse battery life in a larger laptop with the same size screen. (downgrade)

   -Keyboard, some do like the new keyboard, I do not. It is simply not as good as the one it replaces. (Downgrade)

   -Screen screen screen, the glossy screens are absolute garbage if you want proper color rendition or if you want to use it anywhere that you do not have complete control of where the lights are. Coffee shop? Good luck. Library? I don’t think so! I am a professional photographer and I had to return the new Macbook Pro mainly because the glossy screen (no option for Matte anymore) has horrible color reproduction. (downgrade)

   -New Trackpad. Apple has lost their way with the Macbook Pro. The Pro part used to mean “for professionals” this is definitely not the case anymore. No button on the trackpad “neato” until you try to edit a photo. Try applying a brush while holding the whole trackpad down! Same can be said of many programs. Basically this gimmick has many serious repercussions on real world use. (Downgrade)

   -Removed the Firewire 400 port. Huh? Still WIDELY used by Pro’s. A single Firewire 800 port just won’t cut it. (Downgrade)

   -Very sad to see such a great tool fall into consumer trends. Apple will slowly begin to lose it’s ability to charge a premium for this product. Much of the premium was based on the idea that professionals use it. I genuinely think this will be a thing of the past in a VERY short time if Apple does not do something to fix this product.

   Sorry Apple, but you missed the mark BIG time on this one.

   The previous generation is still available as I write this and at GREAT prices. I would grab the absolute best of that generation, as it may be the last great model.

7. 111
   Betty Says:
   February 8th, 2012 at 1:33 pm

   By Betty

   

   2008-11-12
    
   The new MacBooks were out and boy was I ever excited. I watched Steve Jobs’ performance, saw the machines were really and truly to die for, just like he was saying they were. These were the next best thing since sliced bread. I had to have one and I had to have it now. I went right online to the Apple store and ordered mine right up. Then I did my last backup of my fifteen inch MacBook, a machine I really loved, but I was going to love the new one so much more, so backup complete, I put my baby on eBay and seven days later I packed it up and shipped it out.

   And for a whole two days I was sans MacBook, but then I got the knock. The FedEx guy was at the door with my new MacBook. I was one happy girl. Okay, I was a little disappointed to see I couldn’t hook my new baby up to my twenty-three inch Apple Cinema Display, because Apple changed the connection on the new MacBooks and they didn’t supply an adapter and only one company makes those adapters. Guess who? You guessed it. Apple! Was this a way to sneakily get a little extra money for their new machines? Shame on you Mr. Jobs.

   My neighbors are in Paris for three weeks and I’m watching their daughters while they are away, they’re six and eight and they were as excited as me about my new toy. The really loved the bright screen, the way the colors just pop out at you. And that night we lay in my double bed, me in the middle, a girl on each side, lights out as we watched Monster’s Inc, then Robots. What a beautiful machine for watching movies on in the dark. What a beautiful display, what eye popping color, there is just no better way to cuddle up with a couple children and watch a movie.

   And if I was a guy I could throw away my bathroom mirror and shave with that display. I can’t work with it in any kind of light though, but it’s perfect for checking my makeup. And I don’t really like Leopard all that much. I was running Tiger 10.4.11 and loving it. Fast it was, faster than this, especially with my virtual machines.

   Oh how I wished I had my old baby back. What a stupid display. How come I didn’t think about glossy versus matte. Glossy is fine for movies in the dark, fine for shaving too, I suppose, but not fine for working at twenty-some thousand feet with all those overhead lights on. I suppose I could ask the flight attendant to ask all the other passengers to shut ‘em off. I suppose when I’m working out on the patio I could sort of rotate my machine as the sun rotates in the sky.

   What to do, what to do? I’ll tell you what I did. I e-mailed the guy who stole my baby from me via that eBay auction and asked him would he like to trade for an almost brand spanking new MacBook that only went on one short flight with me and two little girls to San Francisco and back. He wanted to know what was the catch. I told him I hated the screen. He said he’d call FedEx straightaway. I told him I would too. The machines, the old and the new, probably passed each other somewhere over Kansas or Iowa. Now I’ve got my old baby back, am out a few hundred dollars, but I’m a little wiser now. Matte makes a difference. If you’re going to be looking at a screen all day, glossy is not the way to go. Five stars for the nice design, minus two stars for the screen and minus another star for not putting in that video connector, which I threw in when I traded and got my baby back, and that leaves two stars and I’m being generous.

   I love you Apple, I really do, but you missed the boat with this one.

   Reviewed by Stephanie Sane

8. 110
   Betty Says:
   February 8th, 2012 at 1:33 pm

   By Betty

   

   2008-12-15
    
   This is my very first Macintosh computer. Earlier this year I bought an iPod Touch and I felt and still feel it is the most amazing pocketable gadget around, so since I was in need of a new computer I became highly interested in buying my first Apple computer and I went with the Late ‘08 Macbook Pro.

   After a month of daily usage I think I’ve had enough time to form an unbiased opinion of the computer’s achievements and shortcomings.

   The first thing you’ll notice is that the Macbook Pro’s glass display is understatedly amazing. There is something about the glass enclosure that gives everything a certain purity. All screens have some type of film over them, whether that be gloss, matt, or simply a glass enclosure. Each of these films have a different refractive index of light and thus look different. What that means is that even if a manufacturer uses the same exact screen, the quality of the screen will be affected by what type of film protection they use.

   The Macbook Pro’s screen is super bright if needed, and whites are blinding white while blacks are deep and rich. Colors come off as appearing very rich and watching blu-ray movies is a real treat (yes you read that right, more on that later) The viewing angles are also better than most laptops, but like any TN panel they are limited. Comparing this screen to my 2 year old Toshiba Satellite’s screen shows that the Macbook Pro isn’t as good at dithering colors. If I head over to the Lagom LCD test website, my Toshiba shows all of the steps in contrast for the various colors while the Macbook Pro blends in the last 2-3 squares. For daily average use and movie watching the Macbook Pro is easily king, there’s no competition between the two so I’m not saying the Toshiba is better but it does dither colors better. This may be important to you if you are looking to do important detailed photograph work on the Macbook Pro, but then again I don’t know of any professional who would do important work on any laptop screen.

   After a month I feel pretty comfortable in OS X and I can definitely see why some people love it so much. The way OS X maximizes a screen to optimal width is superior to windows way of needlessly filling the entire screen. It did take a week or so to grow accustomed to this as I constantly wanted to fill the entire screen for no real reason, windows habit. Now I wish windows would maximize windows the way OS X does. I also love the fact that I can visit websites in safari without worrying about getting hit with a virus. In Windows I was constantly worried about visiting unknown sites because I didn’t know if they had malicious code in them. More than once in Windows was I hit with messages from my virus scanner warning me that a website was trying to install malicious software. In Windows you have to “browse defensively” while in OS X you just have to worry about not downloading and installing malicious software. As far as the rest of the OS X GUI experience, I do feel that it is better than Windows but really, I don’t feel there is anything wrong with Windows.

   If you’re an unknowledgeable computer user who constantly has problems because of viruses then I believe you should get a Macintosh because in my experience most computer problems are virus related, something OS X is almost immune too. Personally, I’m a fairly knowledgeable computer user and have never actually had a virus in my computer, the closest is being warned by my virus scanner that a website was trying to install malicious software.

   Going back to hardware the Macbook Pro is an amazing engineering feat but you do pay for it. It is possible to get the same basic internal hardware for hundreds of dollars less. When I say same basic internal hardware I refer to the CPU and GPU which determine the performance, how fast, your computer can run. There are features in the Macbook Pro that you will not find in other notebooks. The magsafe power adapter is a neat feature, I absolute love the trackpad in OS X (hate it in Windows, but more on that later). Engineering the laptop to fit in an enclosure that’s less than an inch thin is unnecessary and so is building it from a single piece of aluminum. No other manufacturer packs so much power in such a small and light frame because of the cost involved. It’s these types of details that drive the price of the Macbook Pro up, but it’s these details that ultimately lead the Macbook Pro to look and feel like a luxury laptop. You can buy a Toyota or you can buy a Lexus for much more. They both accomplish the same tasks but one delivers it in more style and luxury. If you’re looking for the most raw power for your dollar then the Macbook Pro will disappoint but if you’re looking for a laptop that looks and feels luxurious then you are in the right place.

   Now back to software and some of my disappointment with the Macbook Pro and OS X. I’m starting an online masters program this coming Spring and a website called Angel is not supported in Safari which means I’ll have to log in to Windows to use it. They will also be using a few Windows only applications which means more Windows. I will also have to turn in assignments in under Microsoft’s Word and Excel extensions and as I previously only used windows my copy of Microsoft Office is for Windows only so I’ll most likely have to incur another expense and buy this for OS X. I have bought VMWare so I can run Windows within OS X but I am a bit disappointed with its sluggish performance. I also like watching blu-ray movies, this works under boot camp and by hooking up an external blu-ray player, playing video games is also another windows activity. Sure you can play games under OS X but Windows is superior for game availability and performance. One unexpected disappointment is that I feel OS X’s font smoothing is not as good as Windows. Text in Windows looks sharper and is easier on my eyes, I’ve change some settings in OS X’s appearance tab to improve things but I feel text looks better in Windows. Some people tell me they feel text is easier on the eyes in OS X for them so this will be a very personal preference for you.

   So why did I buy a Mac when I needed to do so many windows only activities? One is because I was enamored with the iPod Touch’s abilities and because of the amazing screen on the Macbook Pro. Most importantly, I was hoping to run Windows on the Macbook Pro just like I would on any non-Apple laptop. While you can run Windows under boot-camp it is not an ideal experience. For one the notebook runs very hot under windows. In OS X using the 9400m the notebook barely even gets warm, using the 9600m in OS X the notebook does get warm, but in Windows you can only use the 9600m and the notebook gets not warm, but very hot. You can feel the heat coming off the notebook as you type and it is a little uncomfortable. Metals have a low specific heat capacity (a term for us chemistry nerds) so since almost the entire notebook is made from aluminum you really feel the heat coming off.

   Also, the trackpad in Windows is trash. Often times I have to click 3-4 times for it to register the command, right clicking barely works. Enabling “tap to click” helps the clicking matter a lot but then you get the problem of accidently clicking by accident when you type. The trackpad is a big generous size but that means your palm will rub against it. In OS X the software is smart and knows when your typing so it ignores your palm rubbing against the trackpad and has not been a problem, not even one incident. In Windows I’ll get accidental input several times in just a paragraph. While you type you’ll all of a sudden delete a paragraph or a word somewhere because it accidentally registered a click and a highlight somewhere. Disabling “tap to click” is the only way to remedy this problem and connecting an external mouse is the only way to avoid punching your fist through your screen.

   Another problem is that you can’t completely turn off the backlit keyboard under windows. A third problem is that the wireless card interferes with the sound card. Windows checks for new better wireless connections every 60 seconds and every time windows does this you get a sound crackle through your speakers (external or headphones) and a lag spike (terrible if you’re playing online video games). Install a program called Vista Anti-Lag mostly solves this but not entirely. When I’m watching a movie I simply disable the wireless card to avoid sound crackling.

   All of these issues except the heat issue is a driver problem and something Apple can fix by writing proper software for its hardware in Windows. Apple actively advertises boot camp and the ability to run Windows on their computers so I feel it’s only fair they properly support their hardware under Windows. I follow forums quite a bit and I’m not the only user experiencing some of these problems. Apple so far has said it’s not a big enough issue to bother solving. I wasn’t aware of all of these issues under windows, but had I known of them I might not have ordered the Macbook Pro because as I stated before I simply don’t have the option to not use Windows anymore. Face it, it’s a Windows world we live in.

   Another thing I realized after buying a Macbook Pro is that you really are at the mercy of Apple when you join the Macintosh side. With Windows you have a large amount of notebooks to choose from. Don’t like HP’s notebooks? No problem you have at least a dozen manufacturers to choose from. Also, being in a Windows world means it’ll be unlikely to come across software that is Macintosh only without a Windows alternative, not true the other way around. What brought all of this to my mind was when I first saw a Macbook next to a Macbook Pro. The screen on the Macbook is trash. It looks washed out and the colors are anything but vibrant. The Macbook Air on the other hand has a very nice screen, why Apple can’t put that screen in the Macbook baffles me. Comparing the Macbook to windows laptops in a Best Buy stored shows that windows laptops costing half of what a Macbook costs had screens that were vast superior. What this means is that if you are in the Macintosh camp and you want a laptop with a nice screen you only have the choice of the expensive Macbook Pro. On the other hand if you are on a tighter budget the Windows world can offer you a nice screen at a low price. Switching from one operating system to another isn’t easy either when you invest in software.

   On a bit of a side note, the first notebook I received from Amazon came with a faulty superdrive but returning it was easy. I don’t think this is a real big deal because all manufacturers will produce a few notebooks that are faulty, but I thought I should mention it.

   If you don’t need to use Windows often and really want a luxury laptop then I think you’ll really love the Macbook Pro. If you need to use windows often and can deal with a bit of slow performance under a virtualizing software like VMware then you should be happy as well. But if you need to use Windows often and need performance (even low intensity applications like Microsoft Word are a bit sluggish under VMware) then you should think long and hard about buying a Macbook Pro. Don’t expect a windows experience as good as a dedicated windows system.

   Still I gave the Macbook Pro four stars. Overall I do find it to be an amazing experience under OS X but I hope software support increases or at least that Apple gets it’s act together and offers better drivers for windows. I think the day that you no longer need to use Windows to accomplish a task for work or school is the day to mark the history books as the fall of Microsoft.

9. 109
   Linda Says:
   February 8th, 2012 at 1:33 pm

   By Linda

   

   2008-11-10
    
   No doubt there are some great improvements on this model over the previous model. This includes a much better graphics card, a user replaceable hard drive, larger hard drive options, faster processor, and front side bus.

   However, there is one glaringly (literally) huge oversight on the design of this computer–that of the glossy-only option on the display. If you use this machine in front of windows, or near florescent lights, you will be faced with HUGE white bands of glare no matter how you position the machine. For a “pro” computer to not offer a non-glossy display (matte) option is UNACCEPTABLE. This is the kind of feature you would find on a consumer notebook, not a “pro” line.

   Sure, it’s pretty, but at some point basic function must take priority over visual appeal.

   I’ve returned mine and I have ordered the previous generation macbook pro for my upgrade. Hopefully by the time it needs to be replaced Apple has come to their senses and introduces a real “pro” notebook.

10. 108
    Betty Says:
    February 8th, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    By Betty

    

    2008-12-01
     
    I am a long-time IT professional with enough certifications (mostly Microsoft) to make a large can of alphabet soup, and this is my first Mac. I had played with a few of them here and there years ago, and never saw what people liked about them. The closest I ever came was back in the late ’90s when I was tempted to run Windows on a PPC, but just about the time I was going to do that, Microsoft pulled their support for it from Windows, and that ended that.
    
    So, I was anti-Mac for quite a few years. All that has changed. I began to believe in the OS when Apple began to base it on Unix. A solid, time proven technology that I trust. The big thing that changed it all for me is VMWare. For 70 dollars, I have the ability to run Vista Ultimate, XP, and Ubuntu Linux on OSX. My Vista Ultimate is my previous Dell (not a slouchy box, either). It’s a complete clone of my old computer. Windows still shows it being a Dell! Spooky. Windows had it a 3.6 rating, and a retest of the VM on my Mac shows a 3.6 rating. That alone earns 4 of the stars I give this machine.
    
    Now, here’s another reason why I’m so happy. I put Office 2008 on the MBP, and I seldom have any reason to even start the Vista VM anymore. The last two times I did, it was only because I miss the great Vista solitaire game. That earns the fifth star — I’m not “homesick” in the least. I think I’ll be staying right here on planet Mac. As a matter of fact, I got a MacBook for my wife, I liked this MBPro MB471LL/A so much! Bought her the MB403LL/A.
    
    I use it with an external monitor about 90 percent of the time, so the glare of the glossy screen hasn’t been an issue for me. The built in screen is gorgeous, and I’ve not been in a situation where glare became an issue.
    
    This machine is truly desktop horsepower in a gorgeous carved aluminum notebook chassis. I’m a very happy camper.

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