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Apple MacBook Pro-Core 2 Duo (Core 2 Duo T9300 processor 2.5GHz, 2GB, 15.4-inch TFT)

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Apple MacBook Pro
 
HP ProBook 5310m Acer Aspire One AOD250 Sony Vaio VPC-X118LG/B (Intel Atom Z550 Processor 2GHz, 2GB RAM) HP Mini by Studio Tord Boontje

List price as of Mar 11, 2008:
S$3889

Product Summary


Excellent

8.2

out of 10

View score

The good: Updated CPUs, improved battery life, adds touchpad gestures from the MacBook Air.

The bad: Small performance premium over the cheaper 13-inch MacBook; only 90 days of toll-free technical support; still no SD card reader.

The bottom line: A solid, if predictable, upgrade to the MacBook Pro line, but noteworthy for stealing the MacBook Air's best feature--expanded gesture controls for the touchpad.

Read full review of the Apple MacBook Pro »

 

Average User Rating

from 4 users


Perfect

9.5

out of 10
 

How would you rate this product?

 
 

CNET Asia Review

By Dan Ackerman, CNET.com

Apple has made its first update to the venerable MacBook line since the introduction of the MacBook Air. Regular 13-inch MacBooks get the usual CPU upgrade, but the MacBook Pro line gets a notable internal overhaul--including new Penryn-class Intel CPUs, new touchpad gestures (lifted from the MacBook Air), and finally a backlit LED option for the 17-inch models, something already standard for 15-inchers.

Editors' note :
This review is based on tests done by our sister site CNET.com. As such, please note that there may be slight differences in the testing procedure and ratings system. For more information on the actual tests conducted on the product, please inquire directly at the site where the article was originally published. References made to some of other products in this review may not be available or applicable in Asia. Please check directly with your local distributor for details.


Design

As we've come to expect, the new configurations hit the same price as the now-discontinued ones. More power for the same money is always welcome, but at S$3,088 (US$2,236.22) (we looked at the higher-end of two 15-inch configurations), we still think the cheaper 13-inch MacBook is a better overall value, outweighed only if you need either the larger screen or Express Card slot, or you can't live without the touchpad gestures.

Physically, the refreshed 15-inch MacBook Pro is identical to its predecessors, still only 24mm thick, but now that we've had time to get used to the thinner, lighter MacBook Air, it feels positively huge in comparison.

By now we're very familiar with the minimalist layout--open the lid and inside you'll find only a power button, a full-size keyboard, stereo speakers, a sizable touchpad with a single mouse button, and a built-in iSight camera. Despite our love for a clean look, we've also become used to having at least a few media control keys--attractive touch-sensitive media controls now regularly pop up on even the cheapest laptops.

Features

Possibly the biggest change is how the revamped trackpad is now works with multitouch gestures, much like the MacBook Air. Originally, you could do things like use two fingers to scroll through documents--now Pro users can use three fingers to go forward and back in Safari's browser history, and use a thumb and forefinger to zoom in and out of documents and photos--much like on the iPhone. We hope Apple will roll this out for the 13-inch MacBooks sooner rather than later.

The move to backlit LED displays happened in the last MacBook Pro revision, at least for the 15-inch models. This time around, the 17-inch models have it, too--but only as a S$160.50 (US$116.23) addon. The 15-inch display is 1,440 x 900, while the 17-inch is either 1,680 x 1,050 (standard) or 1,920 x 1,200 (LED). Apple touts the backlit LED displays as being both energy efficiency and mercury-free.

The MacBook Pro remains the only laptop we can think of with a FireWire 800 jack (along with the more common FireWire 400), useful for digital video fans, but we still think adding a simple SD card slot would be a huge plus for the Pro (and let's get that on the regular 13-inch MacBook, too, while we're at it).

 

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Apple MacBook Pro-Core 2 Duo (Core 2 Duo T9300 processor 2.5GHz, 2GB, 15.4-inch TFT)
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User Reviews

Extraodinary Machine



Rating: 9 out of 10 (Spectacular)
Pros: Everything is great
Cons: I would say no cons excpet for the price (off the budget)
Opinion:
Alright, this is an ultimate machine man. Apple rocks with the design, performance, features and etc. It's something i would want forever hopefully one day i would get it but for now just dream.

 

A Class On It's Own



Rating: 9 out of 10 (Spectacular)
Pros: Everything
Cons: Graphics is decent fast but a disappointment because it had not been updated to the latest Nvdia 9000 series graphics chips
Opinion:
Alright, this one is not for budget concious people out there. I just received my latest 15.4 inch LED back light on custom built 2.6Ghz Intel Penyrn T9500 Macbook Pro. I configured to 4Gb 667Mhz DDR2 RAM and 200Gb 7200RPM harddisk. It's blazing fast. First thing to notice is this Macbook Pro runs warm as compared to the earlier Core Duo version which can fry an egg. Leopard is indeed a beauy plus it's additional functions of Stacks and Time Machine. All programs runs fast and it sync with my iPhone flawlessly. Although MacBook Pro carrys a high price but it's worth it due to its light weight for a 15.4 inch notebook and it's slimness. Runs Windows Vista and XP. Get the Macbook Pro if u think you are a little bit more of a different class that others that use a PC notebook.

 

Just Perfect



Rating: 10 out of 10 (Perfect)
Pros: Speed, Tiny, Power, Lopard, Apple
Cons: None
Opinion:
The best tools I ever hear, touch, see, use and this is my live ;)

 

See all user opinions »

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