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In this laptop review, we take a close look at Apple’s 13” MacBook Pro. Intended as a replacement for the 13-inch MacBook introduced in October 2008, the MacBook Pro 13” distinguishes itself from its predecessor by its Pro designation. This means, this is a higher-end device and not an entry-level laptop as its older sibling.

 

Macintosh computers may not be as popular as PCs but they definitely have a strong presence in the computer market. Macs are known to have very loyal, and sometimes outspoken, fans and followers. Pick any Mac user to talk to and be prepared to hear about the Mac’s ease of use, display clarity, reliability and ergonomic design. However, not a few would admit that they chose a Mac just to stand out in a PC crowd. Macs definitely have at least a few advantages over PCs but all these come with a premium price – another aspect that Macs are notorious for.

 

The MacBook 13” was already selling well when plans were made for the MacBook Pro to enter the market, so the question is – why mess with success? The answer is simple – a lot of buyers loved the 13-inch MacBook but they spewed vile on its shortcomings – namely, the lack of FireWire and the short battery life. The brouhaha over the lack of FireWire is understandable; most Mac users have at least one peripheral dependent on FireWire.

 

And so, the MacBook Pro 13” was born. The Pro designation reflects quite a change – this MacBook now has FireWire, a host of new features and a significant drop in price.

 

There are some things that remained and we are grateful that they did. Chief among these is the unibody aluminium construction which gives the unit rigidity and lends it a stylish and unique design.

 

The new laptop now sports a longer-lasting battery (Apple claims up to 7 hours of operation) and the addition of a SecureDigital (SD) slot. The new LED-backlit screen offers better color reproduction and sharper images.

 

Processing power is also beefed up from 2.13GHz of the previous model to at least 2.26GHz in the new one. The 13-inch MacBook Pro now also comes with an illuminated keyboard – a standard feature among Pro models.

 

On the down side, many users complain about the absence of a discrete graphics processor, relying on its integrated graphics to get the job done. Not that it puts in a poor performance. In our Doom 3 frame-rate test, it shifted almost 40 frames a second at the highest video settings. Even so, with the 13-inch device now part of the Pro range, the extra power offered by discrete graphics would’ve been a boon.

 

SPECS	AVAILABLE OPTIONS (From Apple’s website)
CPU	2.26GHz or 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed
RAM	2GB up to 4 GB
Screen Size	13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
Operating System	OS X Leopard 10.5.7
Battery Life	7 hours (manufacturer’s estimate)
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor

 

Pros
Like all Macs, we like the 13” MacBook Pro’s user-friendly features and ready-to-use charm. The unibody aluminium construction is nice to look at and we agree it gives the laptop rigidity and the ability to withstand everyday abuse. The longer battery life is quite a surprise and we liked the way it is designed – unobtrusive. Processing prowess is fast and programs start and run in a snap.

 

Cons
Like most users, we have a small complaint about the absence of discrete graphics. Price, too, is a hindrance to most buyers.

 

Conclusion
When Apple came out with the 13-inch MacBook last year, many users complained about its inadequacies but they bought the laptop anyway. The 13 incher was just too good that those faults are easily overlooked. But Apple decided to up the ante and heed to these complaints. Voila! The MacBook Pro 13” was born and is set to take on the market today. Make no mistake, this is one great laptop. The price may be steep to some but trust us, you’ll be happy to part with your money for this device. That is, of course, if you’re a Mac lover.

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Tags: Apple, MacBook, Macintosh

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 10:36 pm and is filed under Other, and is tagged with Apple, MacBook, Macintosh. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.