Apple 15.4" Macbook Pro Notebook

Multitask and Not Bog Down
The more memory a PC has, the faster your programs run and the more windows you can work in simultaneously. Equipped with memory between 1GB and 3GB, this laptop should be able to handle just about any task you can throw at it without bogging down too much. For instance, if you're a multitasker and you'd like to burn a music CD in one window while watching your favorite DVD movie (for the umpteenth time) in another--while flipping between your inbox and your browser to work on your blog during the movie's boring parts--this laptop can manage it all without a hiccup.
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.
Handle Heavy Loads of Streaming Data With Firewire
Many laptops have one built-in FireWire port, also known as an IEEE 1394 (the name of the official standard) or i.Link (Sony’s name for it) port. This connection comes in handy if you download massive video files. Even though USB ports have caught up to FireWire in speed--attaining 480 megabits per second to the latter's 400 mbps--FireWire is still better at handling heavy loads of streaming data. Unlike USB, FireWire can even quickly transfer data between devices (such as printers and scanners) without a PC. The new FireWire 800 standard, IEEE 1394b, is twice as fast as standard FireWire 400 or 1394a, but it hasn't caught on with mainstream users; it's available mainly as an add-in card for power users.
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: joshyf89
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May 30, 2008 12:00 pm
Duration of ownership:
Strengths: Good spec sheet, pretty thin/portable, nice screen.
Weaknesses: On the expensive side.
Overall Evaluation: I really love this computer. It has a great spec sheet (2 GB RAM, 250 GB HDD, nice graphics card, 6 MB L2 Cache, 2.5 Ghz C2D Processor, etc.) and I think it performs admirably. It has LED backlighting for the screen, and it definitely makes the screen nice and bright. If not for its slightly underpowered speakers and high price, I think it would make the perfect laptop for anyone.
Reviewed by: asiu28
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Apr 12, 2008 12:00 pm
Duration of ownership:
Strengths: Fast processing speed. Good design. Great monitor and easy on the eyes. Good speaker sound.
Weaknesses: A bit too heavy. Bulky AC adaptor.
Overall Evaluation: This is one of the best notebook computer that I have owned. The design of th unit is good. The processing speed is fast and good enough for me as a graphic designer. The monitor is good and easy on the eyes. The only thing I don't like is the bulky AC power adaptor when plug to wall outlets. Overall, I am very happy with the MacBook Pro.