MacBook Pro Review
For the first time in Apple’s history, the recent incarnation of consumer and professional laptops are starting to show signs of being part of the same family. While the MacBook has seen arguably the most impressive bump in terms of comparison to its original feature set, MacBook Pros have also received great treatment.
This brief review will give an overview of the new features and our experience. Future posts will delve into certain changes in more depth. We have previously posted unboxing photos of the new laptop for your enjoyment.
Exterior & Build
The first MacBook Pro I purchased started to vibrate suspiciously when turned on — to the point where it was audibly annoying. I returned it to the Apple store and was given an immediate replacement. That said, I’m certain that Apple’s claim of a revolutionary manufacturing process is not just hype. To quote Harry McCracken:
I hate car metaphors in computer reviews, but I can’t help myself: The old MacBook Pro was a solidly-built Toyota, and the new one is a Lexus.
While the MacBook Air clearly benefitted from the new process, it still feels slightly ‘delicate’ due to it’s very nature of being so thin. Imagine the robustness and curves of the Air built around the already sturdy MacBook Pro, and you’ll be somewhere close to the mark.
The keyboard takes very similar cues from the keyboard featured on the previous generation of MacBooks. It is a significant step forward from the previous generation of MacBook Pro, and a step that was undoubtedly needed. It’s also great to see that, despite the generously increased trackpad size, the keyboard hasn’t suffered in terms of space.
The final points to make are that the sleep/standby light is far more subtle than on previous versions (no longer lighting up a darkened room), and the positioning of the battery indicator on the side re-enforces the fact that it should have been placed there all along. It is now usable, rather than being a feature many people probably never even notice.
LED Screen
One of the major talking points surrounding the new screen is that the matte option is no longer available — you can choose gloss or nothing! Personally, I haven’t found this to be a problem due to the sheer brightness of the new LED display. It even leaves my Cinema Display feeling decidedly lackluster. The only noticeable sources of reflection are lights, windows (in a dark room) and the sun.
It’s very easy for critics to complain about the gloss screen when they haven’t tried it on a day to day basis — spend some time using it and you do realize that it poses very little inconvenience.
My personal preference goes against the black screen surround — I love the simplicity of aluminum on the Cinema Display for instance — but it seems to be the design direction Apple is taking and it’s difficult to argue with Jonathan Ive’s thinking based on past successes. I’m confident that I’ll grow to like it more with time, as it does certainly helps to remove distractions from your peripheral vision.
Ports
There are two notable changes in the available ports on the new notebook. Firstly is the switch from a DVI display connection to Display Port. This is a far smaller connector, now standard across Apple’s notebook line. It is capable of powering anything from a small VGA display to a 30″ LCD using any of the various adaptors available. It’s a shame that Apple didn’t bundle a DVI adaptor by default, but understandable. I was concerned that the size of the Display Port adaptor would lead to it feeling flimsy, but the fit is very snug and the connector isn’t easily pulled out.
The second change to note is that of removing Firewire 400, leaving only a Firewire 800 port. Personally, I don’t find this to be too much of a problem due to converters being readily available. The problem is greater for users who use both a FW800 and FW400 device, as they are now required to buy a considerably more expensive hub.
Graphics
With the new notebooks, Apple have pulled out all the stops in terms of graphical performance. They include both an integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M along with a discrete NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT. Swapping between the two involves altering a preference in the ‘Energy Saver’ panel and logging out/in. It would have been ideal if this switch-over could be done on-the-fly (when moving between battery and main power for instance), though it is a small price to pay for the huge benefit of two graphics chips.
Game performance is as you would expect — nothing short of exceptional. The popular games I tested were able to run with settings at their most detailed, at full resolution, with no noticeable problems. I expect that it will make a solid hardware platform for several generations of games to come.
Battery & Performance
Apple quotes the battery life for non-intensive tasks as 5 hours. From limited testing, this appears to be a fairly accurate figure — with brightness turned down and wireless on I was able to coax just over 4 1/2 hours. This could easily increase after a few charge cycles as is often the case.
Conclusion
With the latest MacBook Pro, Apple has created something which looks and feels ‘right’. All the new additions come together to create a system which is sturdy, powerful and innovative. That said, in blurring the lines between consumer and professional notebooks lines to such a degree, they have made choosing a MacBook Pro a more difficult choice.
Pros:
- Stunning and robust build quality
- Gorgeous LED Display
- Very simple to swap the battery, hard drive and RAM
- Two ‘cutting edge’ graphics chips
- Trackpad allows for some very useful new gestures
Cons:
- Initial unit was faulty (likely an exception to the norm)
- Lack of a Firewire 400 port
- Display available in gloss only
- Large price margin between MacBook and MacBook Pro for few additional features
Any Questions?
If you have any burning questions about the new MacBook Pro, please let me know in the comments — I’ll be happy to do my best to answer! I’ll be following up with a few more in-depth posts surrounding the trackpad and hardware modifications in the near future.
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Panny on October 17th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I often wondered if this time around they’d stop distinguishing between the non Pro and the Pro version. I’m sure some pro’s would like a smaller 13″ and some ‘non pro’s’ would like larger screens! I’m guessing its only a matter of time that they drop the distinction which is a good thing, making the product line more stream line.
They can always include ‘pro’ options when configuring the computers.
mike on October 17th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I am kind of bummed about the new Macbook Pro update. Yes it has a more powerfull graphic card, and a bigger screen, and a firewire plug….but this is where it stops. Recent benchmarks between the Macbook and Macbook Pro shows a minimal performance gap of the Pro. Can Apple really justify the Macbook Pro pricetag vs. the Macbook?. It is great that the Macbook got such a huge upgrade, but the Pro is a letdown for me.
Panny on October 17th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Its funny how people are disappointed that they made the MacBook so good – if its so good, just choose it and save yourself money!
I believe in real life the performance will be much better when they include the graphics difference. The ‘complete package’ I’m sure will perform much better. Its hard to continue to make huge performance leaps unless intel are releasing chips that are much faster.
Hobbes Doo on October 17th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Excellent review. Looking forward to the next ones.
Panny is bang on. The differences between Pro and non-Pro are getting smaller with these new revisions.
The MacBook Pro has features that the MacBook does not: Express Card, FireWire, 2 graphic chips, larger LED display. These alone would justify the difference in price, so I don’t think Apple is too far off.
I’m anxiously waiting to receive my MacBook Pro and hopeful that I don’t find the glossy display a problem. According to many reviews I read (including this one) I believe it will be okay. Not that I have any other choice since I want an Apple laptop with the graphics power the Pro offers.
Josso on October 18th, 2008 at 2:38 am
How are your specs?
Did you choose the 2.4GHZ, 2.53GHz or the big with 2.8GHz??
How many GB RAM?
Was the HDD with 7200 or 5000…
:)
Tijs Teulings on October 18th, 2008 at 4:30 am
The two graphics chips hardly seem like a feature to me. You may switch between the two in the first few weeks but after a while you’ll just stick with the one setting. I love the fact that i don’t have to reboot my mac for months on end and this would sort of ruin it.
Hopefully a 2nd revision Macbook Pro will lose one of the chips (why not just cycle down in power save mode) or make the switch between the two happen behind the scenes when you pull the plug like the article suggests.
Staff Comment David Appleyard, TheAppleBlog on October 18th, 2008 at 4:38 am
I’m using the 2.4ghz, 2gb RAM and 5000 Hard Drive – the basic spec. Anything higher than that would obviously yield even better results!
shaktimage on October 18th, 2008 at 4:50 am
I do event photography, 500 raw files per day, sick of window, going to mac,i was waiting for the new MBP to see if it is any faster for photo processing (no 3d gaming) than the “old” MBP that is now cheaper? And what about the USB ports? can we now plug 2 demanding devices in high speed usb2? thanks
Josso on October 18th, 2008 at 5:38 am
@David:
Great!
That’s the one I’m (pretty sure) are going to buy. :)
This would be my very first Mac. :D
And after a ½ year, I’m upgrading it to 4GB RAM. :)
- Johan
Thomas on October 18th, 2008 at 6:54 am
My main concern: how hot does it run?
I am using a first generation Macbook Pro (1.83 GHz, Core Duo) and that machine gets really hot, even on not-so-demanding applications. I always put something between it and my lap to protect me.
Thinking about upgrading to the new MBP, but would of course like to know its temperature :)
Chris Herborth on October 18th, 2008 at 7:07 am
I really wish there was a 1680×1050 option on the new 15″ Pros. I really hope Snow Leopard lets you use the second GPU for something (PhysX? Folding@Home?), and lets you switch on the fly.
I’m not sure what to do… the MacBook doesn’t quite fit my needs (screen isn’t big enough, GPU isn’t fast enough to completely replace my XP gaming machine), but I’m not blown away by the new Pros.
Jess on October 19th, 2008 at 12:00 am
My question is, can you really get true colors on this screen? As an art student, I hear all the time that matte is the way to go if you want true colors in your work. I was a bit flabbergasted during the unveiling of the machines simply because, as a company that so many photographers, artist, designers and such rely on, why would they choose gloss only?
Staff Comment David Appleyard, TheAppleBlog on October 19th, 2008 at 1:51 am
Thomas: So far, it seems to stay cool very well when performing straight forward tasks. Gaming or video intensive operations lead to it warming up, but not to the same degree as the original MacBook.
Jess: I’m not really the best person to ask regarding color as I don’t have a great deal of experience with it. If you know of any test I could do, I’d be happy to oblige and let you know what I find?
Tijs Teulings on October 19th, 2008 at 4:18 am
@Jess glossy screens give more ‘vibrant’ colors which a photographer wouldn’t want as he or she needs to judge whether the colors are correct and adjust when necessary. Perhaps they figured photographers would use external calibrated screens anyway. Could be that the new screen tech alleviates this problem somehow…
Gio on October 19th, 2008 at 8:13 am
I would like Apple to stop distinguishing between Pro and non-Pro as well. I have always considered 13.3″ to be the best compromise between size/weight/portability and screen size/usability, but the fact that the Macbook doesn’t have a firewire port and the expresscard slot really disappoints me… Another thing: is the keyboard of the new macbooks made of plastic? I assume so, although it might be anodised black aluminum…
SuperMatt on October 19th, 2008 at 8:35 am
You said that the games you tested ran at the highest detail levels with full resolution. I was wondering which games you tested.
PT on October 19th, 2008 at 9:31 am
David–would be great if you or someone could sort out the question of multiple monitor support. I’ve searched but not found anything. Thanks.
Staff Comment David Appleyard, TheAppleBlog on October 19th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Gio: The keyboard is the same plastic as that of previous generation MacBooks
SuperMatt: I had a play with xPlane, a few new racing games and Call of Duty 4
PT: I’m not sure about multiple monitors. The only two options I could foresee are through Display Link technology, or the dual DVI adaptor. Is that what you’re getting at?
Quagmire on October 19th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Nice that the Macbook got a boost. I was ready to buy a Macbook Pro two weeks ago and then these ones came out. Now I’m not sure what to do. The price difference was always making me wobble between MB & MBP. I want to use the laptop for mainly music applications (Logic et al). I like the bigger screen on the MBP but wonder if its really necessary to spend the extra dough on two inches of screen. I can understand if someone was doing video editing to gofor the MBP. Any advice or thoughts from folks using Macs for music out there?
Sam on October 20th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Quagmire: I’ve done some music editing in Garageband and Logic, and the MacBook Pro does have an advantage because even if the processor is the same speed, the discrete graphics give it a speed boost. Also, in Snow Leopard, the music processing will be shuttled off to the graphics processor, rather than being processed on the main chip, producing much faster results due to the graphics card having a huge speed boost compared to the integrated graphics.
The Logout and Login isn’t that much of a pain, the pain is that you have to save/close all windows, but even in the Windows PCs that have this tech, you have to close all windows anyways for the new setting to take effect. I would have preferred a “Switch graphics card” option in the displays menubar.
David: Have you noticed that iPhone headphones work in the new MacBook Pros? The Single (Play/Pause), Double (Next), and Triple (Previous) clicks work, as does the microphone. I’m wondering if anyone knows whether the new headphones with volume adjustments will work on the Pros.
Steve on October 21st, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I was in the Apple store the other day and could barely see the screen on the MBP they had. I wouldn’t buy the MBP for $1000, it is atrociously bad. The reflection from the light through the windows in the store ruined the image. Even the Apple Store worker was ranting about how stupid it was for Apple to go glossy, he was literally on a tear. Honestly, I’m going to keep my MBP that I have until it dies and, if all I can get is glossy, go back to a PC. What a huge, huge disappointment.
Panny on October 21st, 2008 at 6:57 pm
That’s odd… you must have had it with very dark images/desktop. I find the new LED so bright that when the screen has a predominantly light background, its not very reflective.
So using pages, word and most internet browsing its fine. Its only while working with dark images should you find any problem.
Its the best display I’ve ever used on a laptop – LED instant on, so bright with great clarity, contrast and vibrant colors, also great for movies. A huge, huge success!
Emilio Figueroa on October 21st, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Ok so im thinking about upgrading from a gateway to a macbook pro but there is one question that no website has answered WHY IS A MACBOOK BETTER THAN WINDOWS BASED LAPTOPS
Sam on October 21st, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Panny & Steve: The angle at which you must view the displays in an apple store (a lot more than 90 degrees, because of the table height) Combined with the abundance of flourescent lights in the ceiling cause weird reflections. If you look at the display closer to square, the reflections are easily burned through by the LEDs.
Laptor Lover on October 23rd, 2008 at 11:12 am
Let’s face it Emilio….sometimes the strength of an exclusive brand might outweigh less obvious competitive advantages. Apple is Apple, and that is pretty much it.
Gaurabh on October 26th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I was planning to buy a previous version Mac Book Pro & a Cinema Display before the launch of the new MBP & MB. Now since the Mac Book has been upgraded in terms of specs. I am wondering if its more cost effective as well as logical to buy a Mac Book & the 24 inch Cinema Display. I am a designer and although I will use the notebook without the Cinema Display at times.. I think ill mostly use it with it. Therefore this in my opinion solves my problem of the small screen on the Mac Book.
Any thoughts or suggestions with regard to this?
Vaggelis on October 28th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
my question is, if you can try to play the game Crysis on this mac and tell me how it was? I’m going to buy this MBP next week…What do you does it worth?
JGG on October 30th, 2008 at 7:04 am
So where’s the 17″ MBP?
Kris on November 10th, 2008 at 7:23 am
The one thing I need to know is about the internet. As a student I’ll be online a lot. Now I know the entire thing about Safari and what not, I’m sure it also connects fine by telephone wires, but what about wireless internet?
Anybody have any ideas on this? It’d be greatly appreciated because this laptop sounds an amazing buy.
Tijs Teulings on November 10th, 2008 at 7:37 am
@Kris telephone wite connections are a thing of the past and no longer supported out of the box on most laptops (apple or otherwise). Ethernet connections and wifi (wireless) work perfectly fine out of the box though.
justin on November 11th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Kris: Ive heard there have been some problems with wifi range due to the laptops aluminum casing. but nothing too drastic.. just you have a range of say 15 metres from the hot spot instead of 20.
James on November 11th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Macbook pro and Macbook have too many issues that affect my purchasing decision.
1) No matte finish screen. The glossy screen is way too reflective….very distracting when tried at the store.
2) No firewire on the macbook…WTF??
3) Above all, there wasn’t enough functional upgrades to warrant a new purchase (from my current Powerbook). The only features I found useful were the trackpad gestures to go forward/back on a web page, enlarge/shrink font sizes, etc…. Other than that, the new line of MBP and MB has no real advancement over the older ones.
I’ll look into buying a $500 Lenovo and just keep using my Powerbook.
JGG on November 12th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Personally, I do not understand the concerns about a matte finish screen. There are a number of 3rd party vendors that make matte screen overlays if you really have to have a matte finish.
The problem with the current matte screens are as follows:
Poor color depth and contrast compared to the new MBP screen
Fingerprints and oils are not easily removed and require special cleaning solutions
When Apple releases the next 17″ MBP I will be upgrading from my current 17″ Core 2 Duo for several reasons:
1. 250 GB “USER REPLACEABLE” Hard drive versus my current 150 GB factory replaceable hard drive.
2. 4 GB Ram versus my current 3 GB
3. Much improved performance NVIDIA GPU
4. Faster CPU
In short, if these things are not important to you, or you don’t need them, then don’t upgrade.
mieses on November 14th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
unless you frequently drool and spit on your screen, matte finish is the way to go! apple did this to save money. stop trying to rationalize it.
DCP on December 7th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
For those of us who use FCP, the MBP appears to be the better choice: there’s a big difference between 5400rpm and 7200rpm.
However, I question the ability to properly color correct with a glossy screen. It would appear that you be completely reliant on your scopes, if you’re out in the field without a monitor. Am I correct, David? Also, David, how does it respond to the demands of FCP, DVD Studio Pro, and Live Type?
Kabbu on January 22nd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Toder apple e bomb marbo! Chush!
Rakku on January 22nd, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Amio marbo! Ne abar chush tora!
mj on February 2nd, 2009 at 8:15 pm
recently purchased the new Mac Book Pro- and was completely in love- until I woke up this morning and watched a hairline crack grow across the screen. Much to my dismay, the new unibody LED screen is made of glass. A slight bump or normal wear and tear will cause the screen to break- and this screen is not covered under the Apple Care warranty. Apple Store members insist that the computer was dropped- it was not. Apparently if the screen is slightly out of alignment it may potentially cause extra pressure on the glass. The flexible aluminum surface- plus the brittle glass screen are subject to shattering the glass with apparently little pressure exerted on the computer top. This is a buyer beware. The older Mac Book Pro was much more of a sturdy machine in my open. This new super cool pretty laptop- is now uncovered by Apple and a the cracked glass is obviously a health hazard and a HUGE BUMMER.
todd on February 17th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
i’m considering upgrading to MBP. i use final cut studio and am wondering (as DCP is) how does it go handling the functions / effects /rendering?
Joe Giacomet on February 28th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Mac have lost their way with this new ‘Pro’ laptop. We use macs on photo-shoots and need a lot of firewire power, one port to power the camera and one to power the back-up drive.
Even with the old ones we couldn’t connect the camera if the battery was under 70%. With Apple in their infinite wisdom reducing power to the firewire bus when the battery goes under 70%…. so how will it work now with only one firewire port.
And glossy screens… hardly accurate under calibration. Apple are pissing of the industry with their new laptops and really need to sort it out.
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