Apple 15.4" Macbook Pro Notebook

Not Much RAM for Multitasking
The more RAM your laptop has, the faster programs will run and the greater number of windows you can work in at one time. If your needs are simple and you rarely do more than two things at once on your PC, the relatively modest amount of memory that comes installed in inexpensive laptops will be enough. Today the standard amount of RAM shipped in most PCs is 2GB. If you like to multitask--say, you want to launch a search for a file and start backing up data to a disc while you watch a news video--you need more memory.
Suited for Commuting and Other Short Trips
Because of its midsize screen and other middle-of-the-road characteristics, this notebook qualifies as an all-purpose portable. Though it might not have the biggest hard drive or all the latest card slots, its features--and accordingly, its price--are a good fit for most people who need to get work done in mainstream applications. On this laptop, you'll be able to compute comfortably in word processing, spreadsheet, e-mail, and browser applications, and enjoy music or a DVD movie with headphones. This laptop, lighter and easier to carry than a desktop replacement, is also a better choice for commuting and other short trips.
Dedicated Graphics Card Improves Video and Gaming
A laptop equipped with a dedicated graphics card does a better job of playing videos--and video games--than a portable lacking a discrete board does. That's because video cards come with their own memory to make images look good on the screen; you get 128MB of video memory on a lower-cost card, and 256MB, 512MB, or 1GB on better ones. Without a dedicated card, your laptop has to borrow video memory from the main store of memory that the system uses to run other programs. As a result, everything slows down, but 3D games in particular will stutter, look bad, or not run at all. A good-quality graphics card in your laptop ensures that you'll be able to play any type of video, without adversely affecting other programs.
Supports DVD Burning
This laptop is equipped with a DVD burner, a slightly older type of optical drive. If you don't need the ultrahigh recording capacity of a new Blu-ray optical drive, and you don't care about watching high-definition movies on your laptop, a DVD burner should suit you fine. It can read and burn data, music, or video discs up to 8.5GB in capacity. A DVD burner is, of course, backward-compatible with CDs, but it cannot play the newer Blu-ray media because the two types of optical-disc technology use different lasers. In a couple of years, Blu-ray will completely replace the DVD disc format.
Expand Memory and Multimedia Through the ExpressCard Slot
The built-in ExpressCard slot on this laptop lets you easily expand the memory, wireless communications, multimedia, or security of the system. There are two types of ExpressCards: the ExpressCard/34, which measures 34mm by 75mm and is shaped like a stick of chewing gum, and the wider ExpressCard/54, which is 54mm by 75mm. The ExpressCard/54 slot, which accepts either type of card, opens up a wider world of expandability, including SmartCard readers, CompactFlash readers, and 1.8-inch disk drives. Few new laptops come equipped with the old PC Card slot that preceded ExpressCard, but if yours does, you can buy an adapter that lets you use ExpressCards in the PC Card slot.
Connect Peripherals With Bluetooth Technology
This short-range wireless technology is everywhere. Whether you activate it on a laptop by way of an external on/off switch or through software, the small internal Bluetooth card automatically detects other Bluetooth-equipped devices within 30 feet and sends and receives radio signals over an ad-hoc "piconet," or personal wireless network. Bluetooth is an especially convenient way to add external peripherals or partner the laptop with other devices, such as a cell phone, printer, or digital camera. Bluetooth works only over short distances to connect devices around your home or office, sending small chunks of data at a leisurely 1 megabit per second.
Connect to the Net Via Ethernet Port
Even though Wi-Fi is all the rage, an ethernet connection for wired networking is still a nice thing to have. Ethernet jacks allow for instant connections to the Internet, e-mail, and applications over a fast, secure wired network. Ethernet comes in three speeds: the all-but-obsolete traditional ethernet, limited to 10 megabits per second; fast ethernet, which works at up to 100 megabits per second; and gigabit ethernet, which operates at up to a gigabit per second. If your laptop is equipped with the still-common fast ethernet, it won't be able to take full advantage of the performance that a gigabit-ethernet network has to offer. But more and more laptops now come with gigabit ethernet, in which case you're covered for access to the fastest type of wired network.
Mac OS
Although Apple computers account for a small percentage of machines sold every year, the graphical look of the Mac operating system was the inspiration for Windows. Mac aficionados praise its clean design and powerful multimedia tools. However, since the Mac versions of Microsoft programs such as Word and Excel are not as full featured, many users opt to add Windows to their Apple system and flip between the two OSs. The newest Mac OS, Leopard, features a revamped interface highlighted by a row of customizable "stacks" of frequently used files at the bottom of the screen. The new file-preview function, Cover Flow, allows you to flip through a document's pages without opening it. Spotlight lets you search across a network of Macs and PCs, and a smart backup system called Time Machine graphically rolls back changes made to a folder so you can find a lost file.
Be Wary of Battery Life Specs
Take the battery life you see advertised for any laptop with a grain of salt. Why? A few vendors still use unrealistic testing parameters in order to report the longest battery life possible. For example, a "tested" laptop simply might be turned on, with the screen brightness lowered to the darkest level, and allowed to run down without anyone touching it. When the laptop undergoes typical, everyday use--say, with the screen brightness turned up to a readable level and with the user working in several applications or playing a CD or DVD movie--its battery life could be much shorter than a vendor's claims.
User Reviews for Apple 15.4" Macbook Pro Notebook
Reviewed by: kfray
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Dec 29, 2006 1:00 pm
Duration of ownership:
Strengths: fast, user friendly, compact. helpful backlight keyboard and brightness adjustment for screen and keyboard optimum for late night working. keypad so advanced no mouse is necessary.
Weaknesses: None
Overall Evaluation: My first Mac computer and I absolutely love it! Keypad supports click, double click, vertical and horizontal scroll and even right/secondary click features for you Windows converters. The wireless works awesome; I can set up separate locations for my home wireless and my school wireless as I constantly carry it between the two. The built-in iSight was much better than I expected and comes with Photo Booth and it's array of features for snapshots. The programs the came on it with no extra cost were ideal for my projects, as a Photo Editor for my school's newspaper and editor. iPhoto & especially iMovie HD are amazing. Plus, when I added Adobe's Creative Suites 2, I've never seen Photoshop and InDesign load that fast as compared to previous computers. I recommend this computer to anyone willing to cough up the cash for it! I chose the 2GHz over the 2.16GHz because it was over $100 for .16 GHz more, and I had already invested enough in the computer as a part-time worker. I am completely satisfied with my choice!
Reviewed by: ramubay
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Sep 6, 2006 12:00 pm
Duration of ownership:
Strengths: Speed, design
Weaknesses: QC issues, lack of dual layer DVD-RW
Overall Evaluation: This is overall a great laptop that comes up short for just a couple of reasons. The QC issues associated with noise and heat on the first few weeks is unacceptable on a laptop retailing for 2500 USD. Other than that and the lack of a few features like dual layer DVD-RW and a somewhat slow video card, this is a great design with performance to spare.