Apple MacBook Pro user reviews (Core 2 Duo 2.53GHz, Nvidia GeForce 9400M w/ 512MB)

Pros well designed, works great in leopard. powerful, the addition of the graphics card makes a great difference for games, no compromises laptop

Cons trackpad unusable in Vista/XP, because of erratic scrolling, erractic right click and pointer jumps around the screen. There is an open forum here that apple is not addressing: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8535600#8535600

Summary Still the best no compromises laptop you can buy, that actually feels like a laptop, not like you're lugging around a desktop replacement. If the glossy screen bothers you, get the older matte refurbished, you can get a signficant discount on this >$500 and it's basically the same machine. I finally have the best of both worlds. Use vista 50% and leopard 50%...vista for games and office. leopard for pure enjoyment.

Please check out the trackpad issue before you buy this laptop,and sign up and urge apple to fix.

Pros Too many to list

Cons No option to exclude NVidia chip when ordering

Summary I have used computers and laptops for the past 15 years and I compelled to write that the unibody Macbook Pro is a big leap forward in computing. First of all the entire feel of a laptop, starting from aluminum unibody, keyboard, screen, and trackpad is simply outstanding. I especially like the trackpad that makes use of a mouse almost obsolete. Leopard OS takes a few days to get used to but it definitely is way ahead of both Linux and Windows for variety of usage scenarios.

The only downside is inability to exclude NVidia chip when ordering your Macbook Pro. I primarily use my laptop for software development and I do not do any intensive graphical processing requiring such a heavyweight GPU as NVidia chip included in Macbook Pro. Dowgrading to Macbook is an option but most notably you get a smaller screen and lower resolution.

Pros Great speed, solid chassis, graphics are terrific, fastest MAcBook ever. Even the fastest WINDOWS machine EVER.

Cons No Firewire 400 (adapter cable needed). Comes in glossy only

Summary Terrific speed due not only to new processor and bus but graphics as well makes this a winner. Both OS X and Windows fly on this machine. Love the new access to the hard disk for relatively painless upgrading. Can't wait for the 24" Cinema Display. Worth every penny.

Pros Construction, screen, track pad, lighted keyboard, speakers, easy user interface, easily accessible hard drive.

Cons No significant ones .

Summary Bottom-line is that this is a great laptop. This was the first mac I purchased after trying 3 Lenovos and 1 Toshiba. Much quicker and easier to use than all three. Took some time to get used to the trackpad but once you get the hang out it you love it. It also took some time to get used to the mac in general after using a PC all my life. The battery life is really pretty swell. The battery life may only say 1 hour left but it actually is more like 2. It go up and down and changes every second. Have had some internet issues but mainly because our router stinks (time for a new one now ;)). I LOVE the lighted keyboard. especially when your in the dark (obviously). My old Lenovo had some light way up by where the camera is here on the mac it it wasn't nearly as nice. I love the screen. I was worried about the glossiness and people saying it grabbed light rays and all that. But I haven't had one problem with it. I can have it on the lowest screen light setting facing a light and its not grabbing any light rays. So that I don't get. But, the speakers are nice. They put out great sound for built in speakers. Still have my external big speakers though. Cant beat the sound they put out. I know I will love having the built in iSight camera and video. As I am going to college next year it will be nice to talk to my mom on Skype. iChat is a nice asset to have as well. I bought the 2.4 GHz with 2 GB RAM and the 250 GB harddive. Eventually I plan to add the extra 2 GB of RAM but for now this is working just fine. The guys at the apple store were very helpful in making sure I knew that the MBP is an advanced laptop already, so that I didn't need to go all out on GB or GHz. And they were right I think, as of right now, this will be sufficient for now. Overall this is a great laptop. I hope my review will help you decide whether or not to buy this product.