capsule review

15-inch MacBook Pro/2.4GHz

Macworld |

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At a Glance

  • Generic Company Place Holder Apple MacBook Pro Notebook

Current MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo owners will want to skip this upgrade, but owners of the original MacBook Pro and PowerBook will see a dramatic performance boost. Of the two 15-inch models, the $1,999 configuration is a better bargain than this $2,499 counterpart, which offers 40GB more storage capacity, more graphics memory, and a modest processor bump for $500 more.

At a Glance

  • The MacBook Pro gets a new chipset, which means processor bumps, a faster frontside bus, and more RAM capacity. However, the more significant refinements in this update are improvements to the display -- this 15-inch model's LCD is backlit by light-emitting diodes for improved battery life and less environmental impact -- and a new graphics system powered by the Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT.

    Pros

    • Classic design
    • Bright and environmentally friendly screen
    • Much improved graphics performance
    • 2GB of RAM, which is expandable to 4GB
    • Excellent overall performance

    Cons

    • Some software needs tuning for new graphics chip
    • No PCMCIA slot or eSATA port
    • A little pricey compared with $1,999 model
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