At a Glance
Expert's Rating
Pros
- Classic design
- Runs Universal applications quickly
- Integrated iSight camera
- Bright screen
- Improved wireless range
- Comes with Front Row application and remote
- Innovative MagSafe power connector
Cons
- Optical drive inferior to PowerBook G4
- Non-native apps can run slowly
- Intermittent processor noise on some systems
- No FireWire 800 port
- Screen slightly shorter than PowerBook
Our Verdict
When Apple introduced the MacBook in May, it bumped the processor speeds on its 15-inch MacBook Pro models. This model sees its processor jump to a 2GHz Intel Core Duo chip from 1.83GHz. Other than that change — plus a glossy screen option — it’s the same model we examined in our May 2006 review.
A worthy successor to the PowerBook G4, the MacBook Pro is particularly attractive if most of the applications you use are available in Universal versions, or are relatively low-power programs running in Rosetta. However, if you rely on programs that won’t run in Rosetta or you rely on resource-intensive software, you should delay your purchase until Universal versions of those programs become available.