As laptop go, Apple MacBook Pro is unrivaled. The latest rendition to storm out of Cupertino sports an LED-backlit display that delivers stunning images and power savings at the same time. It also features Intel’s Santa Rosa platform and the panache that has become Apple’s hallmark.
Despite its 15.4-inch wide-screen display, the aluminum-clad notebook weighs a scant 5.4 pounds and maintains a svelte 1-inch profile. (A 17-inch model is also available.) The centerpiece of the system is the cutting-edge LED-backlit screen, which employs white LEDs instead of fluorescent tubes. The result is a brighter, more saturated image, and it uses less power, to boot. The 1,440×900 resolution delivers crisp text and sharp images. You also get a built-in camera, called the iSight.
(Click on the Apple Macbook Pro to view details)
The MacBook Pro ships with Apple’s Front Row multimedia software, which organizes your music, photos, and videos, letting you access all of your media via the bundled remote control. The new iLife ‘08 entertainment suite comes bundled, as well.
The MacBook Pro was fully equipped with dual USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400/800, and an ExpressCard slot, as well as built-in Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11n Wi-Fi radios. The MacBook Pro delivered an excellent score of 667 on the Cinebench 9.5 test and a competitive showing of 5 minutes and 21 seconds on iTunes-encoding test. The machine delivered 3 hours and 45 minutes of runtime on the DVD battery rundown test, which is respectable for such a powerful machine. One drawback is that, though: The notebook heats up quickly, so you wouldn’t want to keep it on your lap for too long.