Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop Review

Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop

Buy Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop Now

The new MacBook Pro sets all-new benchmarks for Mac notebooks. This 13-inch MacBook Pro features an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and next-generation NVIDIA graphics that bring high performance to everything from 3D games to photos and videos. And the built-in battery lasts up to 10 hours.

The 13-inch unibody MacBook Pro

As with previous models, the new MacBook Pro features a precision unibody enclosure crafted from a single block of aluminum, creating a thin and light mobile computing workhorse (less than 1 inch thin and just 4.5 pounds) that's also highly durable. And it includes a 13.3-inch, LED-backlit glass display as well as a glass trackpad that doesn't include a button (for larger tracking area) that features Apple's Multi-Touch technology.
This version of the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro (model MC374LL/A) features a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 250 GB hard drive, and 4 GB of installed RAM. Other features include integrated Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth connectivity, an SD card slot, and two USB 2.0 ports (see full specifications below). It also comes with the Mac OS X Snow Leopard operating system as well as the iLife software suite, which includes the latest versions of iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand.

Key Features

The backlit keyboard--great for typing in low-light settings

Intel Core 2 Duo Processing

Combining fast processing speeds with power-saving features, the Intel Core 2 Duo processor provides greater multitasking performance by combining two independent processor cores while also reducing power requirements and saving on battery life. This Intel Core 2 Duo processor has a 2.4 GHz processor speed, speedy 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

High Performance Graphics

Powered by the NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics card, the Mac mini allows you to view flawless video in full screen HD and play the latest games with fast frame rate. It's a great match to editing video masterpieces with iMovie and managing your photos in iPhoto, and it comes with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM that's shared with main memory.

Buttonless Multi-Touch Trackpad

With no button on the glass trackpad, there's more room to track and click--left, right, center, and everywhere in between. Without a separate button, the trackpad gives your hands plenty of room to move on the large, silky glass surface. It also incorporates Multi-Touch gestures--including swipe, pinch, rotate, and four-finger swipe. And it also now supports inertial scrolling, an intuitive way to scroll through large photo libraries, lengthy documents and long web sites.

Key Specifications

• 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with edge-to-edge, uninterrupted glass (1280 x 800-pixel resolution).
• 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo dual-core processor with 3 MB shared L2 cache for excellent multitasking
• NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory.
• 250 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
• 4 GB installed RAM (1066 MHz DDR3; supports up to 8 GB)
• 8x slot-loading SuperDrive with double-layer DVD support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
  
  
  

  The left (above) and right (below) sides of the MacBook Pro .

  
  
• Built-in iSight camera for video chatting
• Wi-Fi wireless networking (based on 802.11n specification; 802.11a/b/g compatible)
• Gigabit Ethernet wired networking (10/100/1000)
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) for connecting with peripherals such as keyboards, mice and cell phones
• Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port
• SD card slot
• Mini DisplayPort video output with optional adapters for DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI, and HDMI output
• Multi-Touch trackpad for precise cursor control with support for inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
• Full-size backlit keyboard
• Stereo speakers with subwoofers
• Dimensions: 12.78 x 8.94 x 0.95 inches (WxDxH)
• Weight: 4.5 pounds
• Up to 10 hours of battery life
• Meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements

What's in the Box

MacBook Pro, display cleaning cloth, 60W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, power cord, software DVDs, printed and electronic documentation

Limited Warranty And Service

The MacBook Pro comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a 1-year limited warranty, which can be extended to 3 years with the AppleCare Protection Plan.

Installed software

Mac OS X Snow Leopard is an even more powerful and refined version of the world's most advanced operating system. In ways big and small, it gets faster, more reliable, and easier to use. New core technologies unleash the power of today's advanced hardware technology and prepare Mac OS X for future innovation.

• Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard (includes iTunes, Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools, and more)

iLife helps you do more with photos, movies, and music than you ever thought possible. In iPhoto, you can browse, edit, and share your photos in stunning new full-screen views. Create epic Hollywood-style movie trailers from your home video in iMovie. And GarageBand gives you everything you need to make a great-sounding song--including tools for keeping your song in perfect rhythm and guitar and piano lessons.

• iLife (includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, and iDVD)

AppleCare Protection Plan

Because Apple makes the hardware, the operating system, and many applications, the Mac is a truly integrated system. And only the AppleCare Protection Plan gives you one-stop service and support from Apple experts, so most issues can be resolved in a single call. Extend the complimentary service and support on your Mac to 3 years from the original Mac purchase date with the AppleCare Protection Plan. You get direct telephone access to Apple experts for technical questions, and you get global repair coverage--including both parts and labor--for your Mac and select Apple peripherals.

Optional Accessories and Related Products

	Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter The Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter lets you connect an advanced digital monitor, such as the Apple Cinema Display, to your MacBook Air.
	Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter Use the Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter to connect your MacBook Air to a 30-inch display that includes a DVI connector, such as the 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.
	Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter The Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter lets you connect a standard analog monitor, projector, or LCD that uses a VGA connector or cable to your MacBook Air.
	60W MagSafe Power Adapter Need an extra adapter for home or work? The MagSafe Power Adapter is held in place magnetically, so if someone trips over it, the cord disconnects harmlessly while your MacBook Pro stays put on your desk.
	MagSafe Airline Adapter With the MagSafe Airline Adapter, your MacBook Pro can go the distance no matter how long your flight. Just plug it into your airline seat power port to watch movies and stay productive from takeoff to landing.
	Apple World Travel Adapter Kit Essential for any traveler, this World Travel Adapter Kit includes the Apple USB Power Adapter, USB Cable, and six interchangeable AC adapter plugs that let you plug your Apple MagSafe Power Adapter, Portable Power Adapters, and AirPort Express into most electrical outlets around the world.
	Time Capsule Back up a lifetime's worth of memories with Time Capsule, a wireless hard drive that works seamlessly with Time Machine in Mac OS X. It's also a full-featured 802.11n Wi-Fi base station with simultaneous dual-band support. Choose from 1 TB and 2 TB models.
	AirPort Extreme Base Station Speed, range, and easy setup make AirPort Extreme the perfect wireless solution for home, school, and small business. It offers simultaneous dual-band support and lets up to 50 people share Internet access, a wireless network, a hard drive, and a printer.
	27-inch Apple LED Cinema Display The stunning 2560-by-1440 resolution, built-in camera and speakers, and easy connectivity of the 27-inch Apple LED Cinema Display add up to a viewing experience unlike any other.
	Apple Magic Mouse Magic Mouse is unlike any other mouse you've ever used. The Multi-Touch surface lets you use gestures to swipe through photos and scroll down web pages. And the entire mouse is the button, so you can click anywhere.
	Apple Magic Trackpad Magic Trackpad is the first Multi-Touch trackpad designed to work with your Mac desktop computer, and it supports a full set of gestures. Click, scroll, swipe, and rotate to control what's onscreen. Use it along with your mouse or as an alternative to one.
	MobileMe MobileMe is the service from Apple that keeps your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and PC in perfect sync--no docking required. MobileMe stores your mail, contacts, and calendar information in the cloud and uses push technology to keep everything in sync across all your devices (annual subscription fee and Internet access required).

Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop

Carved from a single block of aluminum, the MacBook Pro is a true engineering achievement. Its patented unibody enclosure is the product of precise machining. The new energy-efficient architecture in the MacBook Pro, gives you dramatically longer battery life. On a single charge, the battery in the new 13-inch MacBook Pro lasts up to 10 hours, and you’ll get up to 1000 full charge and discharge cycles — that’s nearly three times the lifespan of typical notebook batteries. MacBook Pro gives you more options for high-performance graphics, starting with the new NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics processor in the 13-inch model. It’s up to 80 percent faster than the previous generation and is even more energy-efficient for everyday tasks like writing email and surfing the web. Every MacBook Pro has a pristine LED-backlit display with wide-angle viewing and a color gamut usually seen only on a desktop display. So whether you’re watching a movie or making one, you’ve got the perfect canvas. The ultrathin, seamless glass enclosure makes the display strong and durable. And because it’s power efficient and free of mercury and arsenic, this display is greener than ever. The 13-Inch MacBook Pro has advanced Intel Core 2 Duo processors. It also comes standard with a large hard drive offering up to 250 or 320GB of storage capacity, so there’s plenty of room for your photo libraries, video projects, and files. And of course all MacBook Pros come standard with Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard Operating System and iLife.
Buy Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop Now

Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop Reviews :

Review 1 :

i just picked one of these up and I love it. I have read reviews complaining that Apple did not try to cram an i5 or larger CPU into this 13 inch machine. True, the chose to use the Core 2 Duo but that's not all bad. This is a stable, cool running, capable processor. The machine now includes 4 G of ram and a much improved video card from the previous version. I use this mostly for work where stability, battery life, portability, and longevity are the most important things to me. I rarely play games. I wouldn't use a portable for video work when I have a desktop available. I run office applications, safari, email, ever note, and skype. It all works great. The machine feels substantial in my hands. Pick it up and try to twist it. It is perfectly rigid. My Toshiba feels like the battery would fall out if I twisted a bit more. This one feels well built. I especially like the backlit keyboard.


Review 2 :

This is my umpteenth Mac and as usual, it's a very satisfying purchase. Although the styling of this laptop, with the dark hinge and keyboard isn't quite my cup of tea (and is a matter of taste), this machine is far and away the most solidly built. It feels like it would stop a bullet, and it probably could. It's reassuring rigidity gives it a feeling of quality and sturdiness second to none. For someone who man handles his laptop all day every day, this is very important.

To be seen over the next months and years is if the reliability of the machine is as good as its build quality.

One final, off-topic note on delivery: Amazon service has been excellent. Yes, their systems are not perfect, but their customer service has made up for it. I originally got an inexplicable delivery date, but a call fixed that.

Review 3 :


I never write reviews. NEVER. But this is something that just has to be reviewed because everyone should have one of these. It's a little long but I feel that this has to be said. If I can't convince you, go to the store and mess around with one if you'd like. Better yet, read all the reviews. They all can't be wrong.

I've been a windows user for all my life. The experience has been great all the way through XP. With all the negativity surrounding Vista, I decided not to persue it. I've had relatively little problems with windows honestly except dealing with all the problems I deal with on a daily basis (Help Desk Tech). If there's anything that I feel like touching least when I come home, it was my XP machine.

Why did I go Mac? I've seen the hundreds of things that can go wrong with Windows. I've heard all the complaints about Vista. Haven't played much with 7 but just messing around with it @ Best Buy I thought, "Yea maybe it's better than Vista but it's pretty much the SAME OLD WINDOWS when it comes down to it." I'm deploying soon and I had a 17" Dell Inspirion 1705 Windows XP machine (See how long that is? I am happy to say that when someone asks me what I'm rollin with, I reply, "13-inch MacBook Pro" A lot shorter but that's besides the point). Anyways, the screen is HUGE and there was no way I'm taking that tank with me over there. WAY to heavy and WAY to bulky! So I was in the market for a Laptop that was at most 14". When it comes to electronics, I research a ton.

What was the first thing I typed up when I was looking for a new PC?

"What is the best brand of laptops (Windows)?"

Yea that didn't help any. I got "HP is the best!" Then I got "HP is the worse!" So it was a lot of mixed reviews for mostly all of them. So I thought that I'd venture into Mac since I've never owned one. Went to the site and it gave me 2 options: Macbook and Macbook Pro. I opted for the Macbook Pro because 1) I wanted 4GB of RAM (I read it just works better all around) and 2) I wanted an SD slot. There are other reasons why Macbook Pro is nicer but I'll get into that later.

What was my only doubt before buying Mac? What if I need Office? Well there's bootcamp. I'll tell you what, so far I've had no use for Windows yet (waiting to see how Office for Mac 2011 is before I decide). So I did it and let me tell you, I've never had more fun messing with a computer than I've had with my Mac. Ok enough ranting, what do I like? What don't I like?

Pros:
+Great design- A reason to get Macbook Pro over Macbook: the construction. All PCs=Plastic

+OS is so easy- Navigating through my files couldn't be easier. No more "Well that file is in c:\windows\localprofile\temp\settings\...ETC" It's all simple to find (It also helps using Spotlight)

+Dashboard and Expose- Widgets + Easy way to find what you have open = FUN

+iLife- Bottom like, iPhoto and iMovie BLOW AWAY windows standard photoviewer and windows movie maker (garbage, cheap)

+ The touchpad- It's more than just being big, it's amazing. The gestures make the experience so much easier and fun. Want to scroll down? Place to fingers on the pad and swipe down. There are others but hard to explain ;)

+ It's just flat out fun to use- Windows just started getting dull for me. Mac is fresh and exciting. When you buy a car do you want to get a transportation (PC) or do you want to get something that you enjoy driving (MAC)? I enjoy driving Mac everyday.

Cons:
- Adjusting: It's difficult adjusting using windows all my life. But apple has set up many videos online to help you along. Thanks!

- The little things I was used to: again goes back to adjusting to a new OS. Alt+F4 is now Command+W. Gotta get used to it. No biggie.

Honestly, maybe I'm being biased (sue me) but I can't find a lot of cons yet as I'm still very new to this.

Bottom Line: You want a mac. Start a new adventure in your life. It's not too late. Mac will make your life easier in ways you couldn't imagine.

And hey, you might just have a little fun while you're at it

Review 4 :

I am extremely satisfied with my new MacBook - glad I waited for the 2010 model. For those concerned about processor speed, the Core 2 Duo processor works very well - no need for the i5/i7. Battery life is great and the bottom of the computer stays cool to the touch - much cooler than my old HP laptop. Display looks great as well. The touchpad works very well - very similar to the iPhone touchscreen. Wish I would not have waited so long to switch to a Mac.

Edit: Just thought I'd share that full startup, not just wake from sleep, takes less than fifteen seconds and full shutdown takes less than five - much faster than any Windows PC I've had.

On the subject of shipping, I originally placed my order on Tuesday (4/13/2010) and received an email on 4/16 with a projected delivery date of 4/20. Being curious, I decided to check the delivery date for a new order placed on 4/16. The projected delivery date for an order placed on 4/16 was 4/17, so I canceled my original order and placed a new one at about 3:30 pm. UPS delivered the computer at 9 this morning - great turnaround time. Overall, I am very pleased with my MacBook and with Amazon.

Review 5 :

This is my fourth Mac and they keep getting better.I had some reservations about the glossy screen and even though it does reflect it works and works very well.I loved the matte screen but this has taken little time to accept and get used to.

Now,the track pad and this is impressive in that it is not a gimmick and eliminates so much clicking and dragging and fishing around for back buttons and the like.And all done with subtle gestures on the good sized trackpad.Be sure to activate the tap to click function so you can use this subtle method to click or secondary click or drag with one finger.No need to go up for a back button to go back page-just swipe three fingers.Desktop and expose can be activated by vertical swipes,etc.It even has a lighted keyboard for a poor typer like myself.

The case is of course milled from a solid piece of aluminum and along with the Mac OS this is a thing of beauty.Apple is to computers what Leica is to cameras so even though I never got that Leica I do have this Macbook Pro in my hand right now.Treat yourself if you can.

Review 6 :

This is my first mac notebook. I bought a mac mini last year and just love it. I ended up hooking it to the television as a home theater PC and found myself in need of a computer at times when the mac mini was acting as TV. I was upgrading from a 2004 dell laptop to this and I'm just noticing some things that I'd like to point out if you have never had a mac laptop.
Built in webcam that acts as an ambient light sensor when it gets brighter/darker in the room.
Backlit keys.
Touchpad/trackpad gestures that can be real time savers compared to a full keyboard (& i am a keyboard fanatic)
I have not messed with it yet, but I think you can talk to a macbook too and it will launch applications or do things (my friends do that)
The magsafe power adapter is like a magnet connection so if you kick the cord you won't break anything, it will just pop out.

Overall, I like it. It's fairly light. I wanted something light with good battery life. I knew I was happy with the graphics card on the mini so I shouldn't be let down here either since this is an improvement on that. I have to question whether I will use the cd drive very much, but I guess it's cool if I need to rip a cd to iTunes. When I had this on today at work next to my dell and external monitor I could only notice how dingy/brown their screens look in comparison. The colors on this screen are really great. The keyboard has a nice tactile feel to it as well, I really never miss a beat with this thing. The firewire connection was useful to transfer my settings from the mac mini as well.

Review 7 :



I use a laptop for email, internet, movies, backing up iPhone and I need MS Office. I was tired of constant updates and the threat of viruses from my PC. I'm glad I went with the Pro version. The metal case feels solid. The backlit keys are handy when watching TV and browsing online. The screen and backlit keys are light sensitive. The screen dims in dark and the keys light up. It taking some getting used to using the HUGE thumb pad.

PROS: I love the long battery life. Close the case and the Mac goes into hibernation mode. I tested it yesterday, it had no negative effect on the battery after a couple hours. that means you can close the lid and walk away. Come back later and open it and touch the pad and you are back up immediately!! Sweet! I'm delightfully surprised how cool this thing stays. My old HP would get HOT and the fan never seemed to cool enough or shut off. This thing never gets hot. Heck it never seems to even warm up. The DVD/CD slot is just that, a slot. No drawer to slide out. Pretty slick. I was pretty nervous the first time I used it. The disc has to be all but 1/2" in for it to grab it. I love the lightness of this thing. Easy to grab and go. I love the brightness of the screen. I went from a 15.4" so I was concerned about this being too small. but it is the perfect size. I'm a happy consumer!! I haven't had a chance to try all the Mac programs. The wife had me print some pictures for her last night. I was really impressed how easy iPhoto was to edit. It really did a nice job with it's "enhance" button that adjust the colors. I am happy to finally have a SD slot. I love the fact that I can send Excel and Word documents to my PC. Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition

CONS: When installing the MS Office the DVD player seemed really loud. When copying CD's this noise didn't happen. CD read rate is slow. When ripping a CD to iTunes the player only got up to 7-8x. I'm not real excited about the power jack. It is held in magnetically. So it easily falls out when the Mac is in my lap. But with the long battery life I realized the I don't need to constantly charge it like the old PC. So kinda a mute point.

Packaging: Amazon has got it figured out. The box was well packaged and arrived in perfect shape. I went to UPS a day early and had them hold it so I could pick it up first thing in the morning instead of waiting impatiently for the truck.

Review 8 :


When you're out shopping for a new computer, one of the most important things you look for is price. As consumers, we always want the best deals possible on every item we spend our hard earned money towards. Apple MacBooks and all Apple computers in general always tend to be priced significantly higher than their Windows counterparts. Some may argue there is just cause, others may argue there is no reason why a similar computer should be priced much higher. The 13.3 MacBook Pro was my first foray in the Mac world. After having it for a few days now, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it's been worth every penny. I've been using PCs for 20 years now, and even have a degree in computer engineering. So it was very hard for me to make the switch, and it does take time. The first thing I will tell every potential buyer is that you have to give it some time to get used to using a Mac. If you buy a Mac and think you will be an expert at it in one day, you will be in for a rude awakening. Obviously, I am still new to this and am learning new things every day about the Mac Operating System.

The biggest reason why I am now telling people to buy a Mac is simply the ease of use. As a society, we always tend to pay more for something that's easier to use or run. With a Mac, that's definitely the case. The second thing that we tend to pay more for is quality and craftsmanship. That's another thing you will find with Apple computers. Obviously with that said, any electronic item can have defects from a factory, that's to be expected, but I'd say that with a Mac, you'll be less likely to have issues out of box.

Now going back to the main reason why I recommend a MacBook Pro, is again the ease of use. Even though I am new to Macs, it's been a delight to see how easy things are to accomplish. If you want to install in new software, it's as easy as double-clicking an icon, then when the program opens, you drag the new icon to the application folder. Voila, you're done! There are a few pieces of software that take more effort, but in general, most programs I installed, took a matter of seconds. To uninstall a program, you just drag the icon from the application folder to trash. Then you empty the trash, and the program is uninstalled. How easy is that? Thats of course just one example, but again, in the case of a Mac, everything just seems easier to work with than a Windows Machine.

I'll talk again about quality of craftsmanship. When you take the MacBook Pro out of the box, you know immediately just how wonderful the build really is. When you buy a computer in this day and age, you just don't expect it to be so nice out of the box. You of course wish it was nice, but it usually isn't. When you take the MacBook Pro out of the box, you know you're holding something special. The quality of the unibody construction is second to none. I don't think I can find another manufacturer that has notebooks as high quality as Apple does.

Finally, there are still certain other features such as the glass touchpad that I haven't even talked about. It's one of those features that you don't realize you need until you've tried it out. Multitouch hand gestures is truly the wave of the future in touchpads on notebooks. The ability to have two, three, and even four finger gestures is amazing. The ability to scroll up and down a document or website, or the ability to go back and forth between pages, and finally, the ability to display all the programs and documents you have open at once. These are all little touches that Apple has added to their line of notebooks that make the MacBooks truly special and unique.

Review 9 :

Why drop a grand and then some on a 13-inch notebook computer when you can have one for a nickel or less? You get what you pay for. Add in everything you really, really want and you're within a few bucks of the price of this MacBook Pro.

Now consider the not so obvious, like the ability to run Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 at native speed with Boot Camp and your own copy of Windows or as a virtual PC within Mac OS X using free software like Oracle VM VirtualBox or commercial products like Parallels and VMWare. The same machine that lets you and the family surf the web in maximum safety thanks to Mac OS X can be the same one that hooks up to the office over VPN with Windows, and neither interferes with the other.

Gigabytes of commentary have been written about the engineering of this latest edition, particularly using a faster Intel Core 2 Duo chip instead of the new Core i3 or i5, but the performance says it best. At church, I run Microsoft PowerPoint to project hymn lyrics on our twin LCD projectors while using Audacity to record the choir through a USB interface from our Behringer mixer. First-person programs like NoLimits Roller Coaster Simulation run with a smoothness and fluidity that nearly mimics a real-life video shot from the front seat. The Mac build of GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) screams through complex special effects filters like a banshee. Bing Maps powered by Microsoft Silverlight caused the fan on my previous MacBook to whine like an Airbus A340 taxiing. The MacBook Pro handles it without breaking a sweat. Remember, when you watch prime-time TV or go to the movies, you're seeing some special effects created with software running on this very same technology. Now it's yours as well.

The backlit keyboard has a satisfying feel that'll have touch typists up to speed in no time. Apple uses the nearly extinct inlaid injection process to produce the keys. The markings are molded all the way through, not silkscreened or stuck on like decals. They will never, ever rub off. You haven't seen keys made this way since the glory days of IBM and Olivetti typewriters.

Although I still use a Logitech Marble Mouse trackball (now relabeled as the Trackman Marble), the big trackpad is the best I've come across (compared to my company-issued Lenovo T400).

And, of course, there's that aluminum case and Museum of Modern Art-worthy design. It's a touch of style that makes work and play more enjoyable.

Review 10 :


I have owned and used several PCs (both desktop and laptop) over the years. For my personal computers, I always went with Dell. After a horrible customer service experience with them after my last purchase about a year ago (too lengthy to get into here), I vowed I would never buy another Dell again. So, I thought, why not bite the bullet and try a Mac? It was the smartest move I ever made.

For years I shied away from a Mac because I have so much Windows software that I did not think it would run. I didn't realize until recently that a Mac can run Windows software (more on that later). Overall, the price difference was well worth it, but I guess your purchase ultimately depends on what your computer needs are. Here is a brief synopsis of the pros:

1) Design. It's ultra-portable, very light weight, has a beautiful look and feel, screen and keyboard are amazing. Whenever I have to "transfer" to my work laptop (a PC), I feel like I'm going from a new Mercedes to a 1976 Chevy Nova.

2) Ease of actual use. Let's face it, most of us our computer illiterate. A Mac is very easy to set up, and get running. The software included is called ILife and it allows you the ability to do many of the "basic" things you would want when you buy a computer (e-mail, store and sort photos, run I tunes, surf the web). The learning curve, I think, is very minimal. It's a bit different doing some of the basic things that you're so used to when you've used a PC every day for umpteen years, but you get the hang of it after a while. The Apple web site has tons of very user friendly video tutorials that will guide you through all of the basic functions and programs.

3) Teacher/Student Discount (if you buy from Apple). Although this doesn't apply to everyone, make sure that you inquire about this if it pertains to you. You may not even have to be a teacher, but only work at an educational institution. A lot of companies give discounts to their employees with several retailers as perks, so it's worth doing your homework. Since my wife is a teacher, we received a $100 discount of the retail price of the computer as well as a free printer and a free 8 gb Ipod Touch. (to be technical, they weren't free, but they give you a rebate for the entire price. They even did the paperwork for me in the store before we left)

4) Customer Service. Now, to be honest, I didn't buy the "Apple Care" extended warranty, but I know several people that have, and they swear buy it. Again, when things go wrong with your computer, it's incredibly frustrating to find someone to diagnose and fix it.

5) Boot up and Shut down time. I never realized how much I would enjoy this function. It takes the computer about 30 seconds to power on, and about 10 seconds to shut down. Some PCs that I've owned (after more and more software is installed) take about 15 minutes to completely start up and be ready to go.

6) It will run Windows. There are several ways to do this. You can buy additional software so that you can run Windows and Leopard (the Mac OS) at the same time. Because of the minimal boot up and shut down time, however, I decided it would be no problem to just reboot and use Windows separately when needed. For this, you don't need to purchase additional software to achieve. A Mac comes with a utility called "Boot Camp" that allows you to partition a portion of your hard drive (you pick the size) and it will install Widows and allow you to run all your Windows software on that portion of your hard drive. You will need to buy a retail copy of Windows (that's another $200), but I think it's well worth it. To be honest, setting this up was a bit of a timely pain with a lot of minor issues, but the Apple site, again, has plenty of tutorials and support sites to walk you through the process.

The main reason I decided to go with Windows was that I have a lot of old software (mainly a lot of games) that I wanted to use. I'm also a big user of MS Office. Now, to be fair, Apple sells a version of MS Office that is compatible with Mac, but I've heard too many negative things about it. Through my company, I was able to get a retail version of Office 2010 for free, basically, so I chose to go this route.
This leads me to my minor gripes about the machine:

1) It does not come with a pre installed office program. They sell a piece of software called "IWork" that functions as a basic word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation application. It only costs $40-$50 when you buy it with a new Mac. I decided to buy it, and now I regret it. IWork will do the basic things that MS Office does (and it is supposedly compatible with your MS Office documents) which is probably good for most people. If you use MS Office for anything slightly advanced, such as macros or pivot tables, you can forget it - IWork is worthless at that point.

2) The only other gripe I have is the "trackpad" that is on the machine. This, in many ways is superior to using a mouse, but I still haven't gotten used to it. I miss my old point and click button. Any program where you have to "click and drag" becomes a bit of an adventure.
Kudos to Apple. Give them a try. You'll be pleasantly surprised, and as long as you can afford the extra $, you'll find it's well worth your investment.
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