This past week, we received the new MacBook Pro at our test labs (Thanks, Aditya). Yes, we’re aware how early we got our hands on it, but that’s how things work here in India. In fact, Apple’s new releases have been reaching the shores far more early compared to the previous years. I’ve had the pleasure of using the unit to my heart’s content and besides a few cons, the new design is one of the best things Apple has produced in its entire history.
Since it has been quite a while now that the new products have been available for sale in the international markets, a wide array of blogs have already written in-depth reviews of the MacBook Pro. Our unboxing and product pictures are available in the gallery here. We urge you to take a look at the gallery, as we have some really awesome shots waiting for you.
The Packaging:
During the October 14th Notebook event, Apple not only headlined the Unibody enclosure for the notebooks, but also gave special limelight to its products going green. While making the products lead-free, Apple has been working extensively on reducing the packaging size of the products, which was evident in the video released showcasing the manufacturing process.
The MacBook Pro’s packaging is quite a lot different than its previous iterations. Apple’s notebooks now come in white colored boxes, unlike the black ones for the previous generation. Apple has reduced the hight of the boxes by putting the accessories below the Macbook Pro, though it makes the box a wee bit thicker.
The Design:
The new MacBook Pros are slick. And they’re beautiful. Think of them as the MacBook Air model, only thicker. Apple’s design engineers seem to have put in countless hours of work together before these machines were born. Every change on the new MacBook Pro has been well-thought out. Let’s take a look at the few important ones:
1. No latch:
Unlike the MacBooks and the MacBook Air which make use of a magnetic latch system, the aluminum MacBook Pros had a physical latch system for keeping the lid closed. Not any more.
2. All ports on the left, DVD drive on the right:
How many times has it happened to you that you’ve to look on both sides on the notebook to find a certain port? All the ports on the MacBook Pro have now been moved to the left and the DVD drive is the only slot on the right of the MacBook Pro.
3. DisplayPort and FireWire 800:
Apple’s new range of notebooks now ship with a DisplayPort instead of the mini-DVI or micro-DVI standards. Also, FireWire 400 has been left out, leaving only the FireWire 800 on the MacBook Pro.
4. Battery Indicator on the left:
This change may either be a positive change or a negative change, depending on your usage tactics. While Apple has certainly made it easier to access the indicator by moving it to the side, it is no longer attached to the battery itself. This is a heavy annoyance to power users to carry multiple batteries with them on the move, as there is no way to check the battery power unless it is connected to the MacBook Pro.
5. Easy access to HDD and Battery:
The new design of the MacBook Pro makes it extremely easy to access and replace the HDD or battery. A bay cover at the back of the notebook, which pops out easily by lifting a small lever exposes the HDD and battery. While the battery can be simply lifted by a tag, the HDD is firmly secured using a single screw.
6. Trackpad:
It’s revolutionary, to say the least. The MacBook Pro’s trackpad is now made of glass and the engineers have, with some exceptional skill and a little magic, got the friction on it just right. Your fingers just glide on the new trackpad. The whole trackpad is now a complete button and you can even set the ‘right-click’ to the bottom left or right of the trackpad. With respect to size, the new trackpad is slightly bigger than its previous generation.
However, there have beens reports of the trackpad going rogue and refusing to register some clicks sometimes. Apple has already acknowledged this issue and has announced that a fix is coming soon.
7. Keyboard like the MacBook Air:
The new range of Apple notebooks now feature a keyboard design just like the MacBook Air. The keys are individually placed and are black in color. Personally, typing on this keyboard was far better than the keyboard on my MacBook Pro, even though I’ve become used to the gray keys over the last few months. The keys are soft and much more responsive than the older keyboards.
8. Unibody Enclosure:
The USP of the notebook range, the unibody enclosure is phenomenal. Not only does it make the MacBook Pro feel lighter, but also adds that sturdiness to it. The absence of the plastic border along the edges is a great plus point of the new design. The holes for the in-built speakers are different than the older ones and the on/off button has been moved to the top.
Overall, the new design of Apple’s notebook range is a remarkable improvement in their design process. Pictures don’t do justice to these new products and a visit to the nearest Apple retailer is definitely a must.
Graphics:
Fortunately, we received the second model of MacBook Pro range with the 2.53Ghz processor and 4GB of RAM, with the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT GPUs onboard. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to perform any game testing on the unit. thought there was a noticeable difference when using apps such as iMovie, FCP and playing HD video.
Glossy Screen:
The Glossy screen gets a special mention. Apple’s new range of MacBooks and MacBook Pros, along with the Cinema Displays 24” LED Display now ships with a Glossy display only. However, these are not the glossy displays that were available as an option with the earlier generations. These notebooks and display now come with a glozzy glass bezel over the screen that spreads from left to right, completely covering the screen.
Arguably, the screen has been the most talked about change in the new line of notebooks after the October 14th event. While a majority of the new customers claim that the screen’s gloss is not unbearable, a large number of Pro users are complaining that the glossy displays are just what they don’t want. (Take a look at our survey on the reactions to the glossy displays)
What do we think?
If you’re a casual user who uses the Mac for daily activities such as browsing, email, casual gaming, IM and similar activities, it won’t take you long to adapt to the new screen. In fact, the only problem you’ll face with the new screens is if you have a direct light source behind you. If you have a smart workspace with indirect lighting, the screen produces outstanding results. However, if you’re a Pro user and often use apps such as Aperture/Lightroom for your professional work, you’d better stay away from these. Quite frankly, the screen is almost a dark mirror (Actual shot off the MacBook Pro screen).
We really hope Apple announces matte options soon, or they’re going to have a lot of unhappy customers to deal with.
Verdict:
Unlike Microsoft, Apple is known to implement new ideas and take bold decisions with their products, without the fear of worrying about the customers. In fact, Apple wants the customers to adapt to the emerging technologies and leave the old ones behind. With the unibody enclosure, DisplayPort, fantastic Multitouch trackpad, glossy screen and the in-built GPUs, the company has taken a giant leap ahead of its competitors. And these new features give you enough reason to go ahead buy these products.
Notes:
- The unit was sent to us by Apple (India) for review.
- Even though the above review is for the MacBook Pro, the new MacBooks are very close in design and structure to the MacBook Pros and hence, most of the points mentioned in the review and also applicable to the MacBooks.
- The reviewer is a owner of the previous generation MacBook Pro and is killing himself for offering to review the new one. - Ed
