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Apple MacBook Pro 2009 (2.66GHz, 17-inch)

Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MB604LL/A

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$2,599.95 - $2,799.00 at 7 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
4.0 stars Excellent
Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 29 reviews

Feb 2009

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Accessories; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: A little late to the party, Apple's redesigned 17-inch MacBook Pro joins the 15-inch model with a redesigned aluminum body, new trackpad with expanded functionality, and a dual-graphics setup for either longer battery life or better performance.
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*Total price for the Apple MacBook Pro 2009 (2.66GHz, 17-inch) are estimated and may vary slightly based on exact tax, shipping, manufacturer rebate or any sale/promotion on the merchant site.

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CNET editors' review

Apple MacBook Pro 2009 (2.66GHz, 17-inch)

price range: $2,599.95 - $2,799.00

Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
Reviewed on: 02/27/2009
Released on: 02/15/2009

The good: New aluminum unibody construction comes to the 17-inch model; useful multitouch trackpad gestures; attractive edge-to-edge glass on display; dual graphics provide more power or more battery life.

The bad: All-clicking trackpad is a bit awkward; matte screen option costs extra; switching GPUs is not as seamless as it should be.

The bottom line: A little late to the party, Apple's redesigned 17-inch MacBook Pro joins the 15-inch model with a redesigned aluminum body, new trackpad with expanded functionality, and a dual-graphics setup for either longer battery life or better performance.

Read full review

When the latest 13- and 15-inch MacBooks were announced in October 2008, a similar revamp of the larger 17-inch version of the MacBook Pro was conspicuously missing from the lineup. In January of 2009, Apple announced the 17-inch model would be getting the same "unibody" aluminum chassis, buttonless (or more accurately, all-button) trackpad, and edge-to-edge glass on the LED backlit display. It's actually taken until late February for the systems to start shipping, but finally big-screen fans can get all the latest and greatest Apple improvements in a desktop replacement design, starting at $2,799.

Internally, Apple has moved to a Nvidia chipset with improved integrated graphics, which is then paired with a dedicated Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics card that can be turned off and on as needed to improve battery life or boost performance.

The MacBook Pro, while expensive, remains a go-to for media professionals, and the new 17-inch version will be an especially welcome addition for photo and video types who have wanted the latest graphics, chassis, and trackpad upgrades in an HD-friendly 1,920x1,200 package.

Price as reviewed	$2,799
Processor	2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory	4GB, 1066MHz DDR3
Hard drive	320GB 5,400rpm
Chipset	Nvidia MCP79
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce 9400M (integrated) and 512MB Nvidia 9600M GT (dedicated)
Operating System	Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Dimensions (width x depth)	15.5 inches wide by 10.5 inches deep
Thickness	0.98 inch
Screen size (diagonal)	17 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	6.5/7.2 pounds
Category	Desktop Replacement

At a little bit less than 1-inch thick, this 17-inch desktop replacement is actually thinner than some of the chunkier 10-inch Netbooks, such as the Asus Eee PC 1000HE. Like the current 13- and 15-inch MacBooks, the 17-inch Pro is constructed starting with a solid block of aluminum, which is carved down, rather than a thin outer shell that has had support struts added to it. The result is a lighter and thinner, yet stronger, chassis that feels very solid and substantial.

The glass trackpad is the same as found on the smaller MacBooks, and offers a much larger surface area than before, thanks to the elimination of a separate mouse button. In fact, the entire trackpad depresses like a button, although simple tapping, as on a PC laptop, will also work once you turn that option on in the settings menu. While it seemed massive on the 13-inch MacBook, we could actually stand to have an even bigger version on this model.

With its multitouch gestures, you can hide all your apps by sweeping four fingers up on the pad, and you can also designate one corner of the trackpad as a "right-click" zone. Very useful, as well, is sweeping four fingers left or right, which brings up the application switcher. Once you get used to that, going back to a regular trackpad would be difficult.

The wide-spaced, flat-key keyboard is an Apple standard, and we're always a fan of backlit keys, which are standard on the Pro and also available on the higher-end 13-inch MacBook.

The 17-inch wide-screen LED display offers a 1,920x1,200 native resolution, which is particularly useful for working on 1080p HD video content or editing large photos--two tasks MacBooks are associated with.

The colors are rich and deep, but the glass also grabs stray light rays with ease, making the glossy screen seem that much glossier. Adding a matte-screen coating is now an option, but one that costs an extra $50. On a system costing almost $3,000, Apple should really not pass that particular expense on to consumers.

	Apple MacBook Pro 2009 (2.66GHz, 17-inch)	Average for category [desktop replacement]
Video	Mini DisplayPort	VGA-out, HDMI
Audio	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks	Stereo speakers with subwoofer, headphone/microphone jacks.
Data	3 USB 2.0, FireWire	4 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, SD card reader
Expansion	ExpressCard/34	ExpressCard/54
Networking	Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth	Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Optical drive	DVD burner	DVD burner or Blu-ray

While the MacBook Pro line offers one of the last vestiges of the once-great FireWire port, we still think many users would love to have an SD or CF card slot and the option of a high-end Blu-ray drive, especially with such an eye-catching big-screen display.

Apple is making a firm move to the DisplayPort camp by including a mini DisplayPort connection instead of mini-DVI or VGA, but a variety of external dongles (sold separately) will give you any video output you need. The company also offers up to a 256GB solid-state hard-drive option, although that will set you back $750. Bumping the standard 320GB drive from 5,400rpm to 7,200rpm is much more reasonable, only costing an extra $50.

With a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, the MacBook Pro performed excellently on our standard benchmark tests, but only marginally faster than the 2.6GHz 15-inch version (a 2.93GHz chip is available for an additional $300). While Windows-based laptops with similar CPUs are also fast, efficient machines, Apple has an advantage in our benchmark tests because many of the apps we test with, such as QuickTme, iTunes, and Photoshop, run more quickly on Mac OS X.

Besides the dedicated GeForce 9600M, the Pro also includes the same integrated GeForce 9400 GPU found in the smaller MacBooks. The settings menu has two power options: high performance or longer battery life. Choosing high performance turns the 9600 chip on, while choosing longer battery life turns it off, leaving you with just the integrated 9400 chip. Apple still isn't making gaming machines, but with the integrated graphics we got 56.4 frames per second in Quake IV at a resolution of 1,024x768, and 86.2 frames per second with the dedicated graphics.

Note that switching between GPUs doesn't require a reboot, but you do have to log out and log back into your user account, closing apps in the process.

With the GeForce 9600M GPU turned on, we got 4 hours and 14 minutes on our video playback battery drain test, which is very impressive for a desktop replacement. Switching the 9600M off added about 30 minutes.

One concern we've heard voiced is about the sealed battery compartment, which means you can neither replace a worn-out battery nor bring a backup extra battery on long trip. A 4-hour-plus performance from a 17-inch laptop should help assuage the extra battery concerns, since that's more than double what most desktop replacements get. The lack of a user-replaceable battery is a more serious issue. Apple claims the battery in the 17-inch MacBook Pro is good for 1,000 recharge cycles, which, if true, means the battery should outlive the useful life of the laptop. Apple's retail stores will also open the chassis and replace the battery for a fee.

Not to sound like a broken record, but Apple continues to both frustrate and impress with its service and support. MacBooks include a one-year, parts-and-labor warranty, but only 90 days of toll-free telephone support. This, along with the proprietary nature of Apple's products, makes purchasing an extended Apple Care warranty almost a necessity, but a necessity that will cost $349 for three total years of coverage.

Multimedia Multitasking test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 17 inch - 2.66GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT)

386

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 15.4 inch - 2.53GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT)

402

Dell Studio XPS 16

750

Sony Vaio AW170Y/Q

761

Gateway P-7801u

826

Adobe Photoshop CS3 image-processing test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Sony Vaio AW170Y/Q

126

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 15.4 inch - 2.53GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT)

130

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 17 inch - 2.66GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT)

134

Dell Studio XPS 16

134

Gateway P-7801u

145

Apple iTunes encoding test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 15.4 inch - 2.53GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT)

142

Sony Vaio AW170Y/Q

144

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 17 inch - 2.66GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT)

149

Dell Studio XPS 16

162

Gateway P-7801u

163

Video playback battery drain test (in minutes)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 17 inch - 2.66GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT)

254

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 15.4 inch - 2.53GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT)

196

Gateway P-7801u

189

Sony Vaio AW170Y/Q

117

Dell Studio XPS 16

103

Find out more about how we test laptops.

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo - 2.66GHz / 17-inch
OS X 10.5.6 Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66GHz; 4096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 9400M / 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT; 320GB Fujitsu 5,400rpm

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo - 2.53GHz / 15.4
OS X 10.5.5 Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53GHz; 4096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 9400M / 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT; 320GB Hitachi 5,400rpm

Dell Studio XPS 16
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600; 4,096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 512MB ATI Radeon HD3670; 320GB Seagate 7,200rpm

Gateway P-7801u
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400; 4096MB DDR3 SDRAM 667MHz; 1GB Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS; 320GB Hitachi 7,200rpm

Sony Vaio AW170Y/Q
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9400; 4,096MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz;

See pricing

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User reviews

Write Review

Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 29 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

Showing opinion 1 to 10 out of 29

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10 stars

REVIEW FROM A LONG TIME PC USER! READ IF YOU'RE UNUSURE

by tintuk on March 3, 2009

Pros: Lightweight, Fast, Visually appealing, Illuminated keyboard, magnetic power input, led screen, isight camera, apple bundled software, battery life, 64-bit, ABILITY TO EASILY RUN OTHER OPERATING SYSTEMS WITHIN APPLE 0S= I.E., WINDOWS, LINUX, ETC.

Cons: they didn't convince me to buy an apple earlier in life. :)

Summary: I been 'anti-apple' since I was a child. It all started with Commodore PET computers and pretty much grew from there. I have owned very many computers, both desktops and ...

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Summary: I been 'anti-apple' since I was a child. It all started with Commodore PET computers and pretty much grew from there. I have owned very many computers, both desktops and notebooks. Over the past few years, I have all but done away with desktop's and rely now solely on notebooks. By the way, I use computers to their fullest. From sound editing, music editing,photo editing, movie editing to business applications- database building, spreadsheets, etc. I am one of those computer addicts that has to find out what every obscure feature on the operating system does and how to make it work. I am also an avid gamer.

I have had ever operating system Microsoft has ever offered. Windows for workgroups, 95, 98, 98SE, XP, Vista and most recently Windows 7 ultimate beta.

Over the years I have read review after review of Apple computers and their OS. All the reviews I had read about Apple were always so 'perfect' people acting like if they had the ability to actually marry their mac's, they would. But, I just figured it was 'fan boy' talk. People just rooting for the underdog. So, I had no desire to even give Apple a second look.

I always liked Windows. Possibly because that is all I was ever familiar with. I didn't experience all of the driver conflicts and software conflicts with Vista that I read about others having. At the same time, I have experienced countless crashes, the B.S.O.D., the slowdowns and all the other 'inconveniences' Window's O.S.'s came with.

A few months ago when I accepted that I probably wouldn't buy another desktop again, I decided to find a notebook 'powerhouse'. After reading many reviews and checking the specs out thoroughly, I went with a new Toshiba Qosimo 64-bit Vista notebook. It is definitely a speed demon. Has one of the best g.p.u.'s available for a notebook, great processing speed, etc. Although, it also feels like you are carrying around an ACTUAL desktop computer with you when you are on the move. The thing is probably the heaviest notebook I have ever owned.

So, what brings me to this point? Why am I writing a review on an Apple Macbook Pro 17"?

Frustration.

After about two months owning the Toshiba Qosimo, the honeymoon between it and myself had ended.

I started experiencing the same kind of crashes, B.S.O.D's, slowdowns, unexpected restarts, overheating problems, etc. that I had experienced with lower end Windows machines. I was very upset that even in a higher end notebook, one chock full of the best hardware you could get, I was experiencing the same problems as I had with lower end machines.

So, then, I found myself in an Apple Store. It was very awkward. Here I was at the retail store for a product that I had denounced over the years,. I should probably add that in December of 2008, I bit the bullet and purchased a 3g iphone, doing away with my blackberry. The 3g iphone is the best phone I have ever owned. With that being said, I was still 'anti-apple' when it came to their computers.

I left the Apple Store with a new Macbook Pro 17" in hand. Many thoughts were going through my head on the ride home. Had I made a mistake? Would I be able to find ANY programs (or applications as Apple calls them) that I would like? Would the photos, music and movies transfer to my new Apple?

When I got home, the first thing I noticed was that Apple takes time in the packaging of their products. How many times have you opened the box to a new Window's based desktop or notebook and found print materials that looked like the Sunday newspaper ad's?

On powering up the Apple, the first thing I noticed was startup time. Apple's Mac OS X starts up faster than any other system I have ever used. Once the initial first time setup is done, you are greeted with a very clean desktop. No clutter anywhere thanks to Mac OS X's 'dock' at the bottom of the screen which keeps your most used programs readily available.

All of my photos, music, movies and music tranferred with no problems whatsoever. While at the Apple Store, I had purchased a $29.00 connector cord that links your Windows pc to you new Apple. It was seamless.

I have been using this Apple almonst non-stop since purchase. I can honestly tell you that I have not ONCE had any crashes or other mishaps. It is amazing to me how quickly the operating system performs. No overheating, no slowdown, nothing.

One of the coolest features I had found- I bought VMWARE's Fusion. This allows you to run other operating systems within the Apple OS X. While I am typing this review, I have a window that is running LINUX. Linux is a operating system I have always wanted to try but knowing the instability of Windows, I never did, Same can be said for Vista, XP, etc- you can also run those operating systems on your Apple as well.

I could go on and on here. The point I am trying to make is simply, DO IT. It is well worth the money. You will not be let down. It is an amazing step up from Windows.

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24 out of 25 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 stars

Finally made the switch to Mac, and am truly impressed.

by dhwoofter on February 21, 2009

Pros: Battery life, ease of use, and easy learning curve for former PC users. EXTREMELY quiet, and does not get really hot. Even when there is a disc in the drive, it is not loud. I've never used such a quiet, fast and simple computer that kicked butt!

Cons: None to speak of yet. If I find some, I'll edit this review.

Summary: Totally worth the switch. After preliminary exploration of the Final Cut software, I think animating and editing for film on this computer is going to truly be a joy, I ...

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Summary: Totally worth the switch. After preliminary exploration of the Final Cut software, I think animating and editing for film on this computer is going to truly be a joy, I recommend the switch to Mac to anyone who has yet to do so... I've been so disappointed with my Alienware and the new Microsoft operating systems, it was time to make the switch.

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7 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 stars

MacBook Pro 17" tops notebook charts!

by on February 28, 2009

Pros: Gorgeous screen, top-class performance, weight and size just slightly more than my MBP 15" unibody.
Battery life: around 4 hrs@100% charge with highest/worst graphics card settings, WiFi and 1/3 screen brightness, 8 GB Ram & a lot of apps running.

Cons: Price :)
Just a list of wishful thinking:
- May accommodate even bigger hard disk (i.e.: 500 GB)
- No Blue-Ray and No HDMI port for all those HD-addicted

Summary: I've been testing a brand new MBP 17" with 2.93 GHz and 320 GB @ 7200 RPM hard disk.

With 8 GB, I guess it will never swap anymore, ...

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Summary: I've been testing a brand new MBP 17" with 2.93 GHz and 320 GB @ 7200 RPM hard disk.

With 8 GB, I guess it will never swap anymore, even with a horde of apps running at once!

I've been running Keynote, a lot of Safari tabs, BBEdit etc etc (a fully working suite) and then again World of Warcraft full screen with all the highest quality settings.
Advice: just turn shadows off and you'll likely get in the range 80-110 fps!
Awesome!
I've published online the full upgrade process from the Built-to-order 4 GB Ram to the full 8 GB:
http://www.macswitching.com/index.php/2009/02/28/upgrading-to-8-gig-a-macbook-pro-17/

Features & performance are impressive, gorgeous screen, I think I'm going to swap my unibody 15" for the 17".

To me, the MBP 17" is NOT just a desktop replacement: it's a workplace, theme park, file vault and more.

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1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
2 stars

Small Business owners read before you buy into the hype

by johncsanders on June 3, 2009

Pros: Great Battery life and the aluminum case construction is very solid

Cons: Single 'click' mouse is a step backwards not forwards
Both Entourage and Mac Mail are not serious business email tools
After 3 and $1,000 of dollars of IT work, the computer picks and choose when it wants to work with our network and network printer.

Summary: All you need to know is summed up in their commercials.
You see the two guys on the screen, one kinda of a overweight dweeb PC guy the other the ...

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Summary: All you need to know is summed up in their commercials.
You see the two guys on the screen, one kinda of a overweight dweeb PC guy the other the way cool Mac guy. Now think about these two characters and your experiences in life and at work. They way cool MAC guy is like the guy in your office who looks cool, talks about how smart he is, has wonderful theories, but when you get down to it he is all talk no performance. He can download and rock out to music, but he couldnt do a spread sheet and email it out under pressure to save his life. The chubby PC guy can though, MAC is right, he is a geek, and he has no frills, but that chubby little fella can get some work done. Same way with the computers, MAC talks big, looks cool, downloads music well, stores a lot of music, but it grossly under performs on the job. Also, when you have a problem, our it isnt working corretly they tell you go to the MAC bar. yeah that is how i want to spend my evenings, wasting time learning how to use a underperforming product instead of being at home, or the gym, or getting anything ese done that would be productive.
Here are just a few of the problems
NOT DESIGNED FOR PRODUCTIVE OFFICE WORK. I have spent my entire working life(15 years) on PC's and decided to switch to a MAC Book Pro after my beloved Think Pad died. After being disappointed with the new Lenova product and hearing nightmares about vista i made the switch. BAD DECISION. After 3 months on this thing i hate. Here is why.
1. Entourage and Mac Mail are not even in the same league as Outlook, if you email constantly, moving emails and attachments around and forwarding and replying, stay with Outlook. I have switched back and forthe between Mac Mail and Entourage trying to find one that is better than the other to no avail.
2. I own a small Building Company, only 5 employees, but we are pretty computer savvy. We all live on our computers and share information through email and our network. The Mac does a terrible integrating with the network, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. The same thing happens with our 2007 Ricoh 2500 printer, with some special $800 chip that is suppose to fix its problems with Macs, it still only works about half the time.
3. The single pad mouse is a step back, we sit around at the office taking turns highlighting items and seeing if we can hit the two finger click just right to make it work. Then everyone laughs, except me, and say they are glad they dont have macs
4. Today when i was replying back to emails, entourage was randomly picking who they went to from my contacts instead of who i was replying to.

This is what i can tell you about Macs, people love them, but when you really look at how they use them you will see it is for browsing, downloading music, and storing photos. Few are serious professionals working in a networked office environment.
Do not buy the hype and all the snobs at the Mac store, the marketing is great, the product stinks.

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10 stars

I own one and it's incredible

by Kennardy on May 1, 2009

Pros: Big bright screen. Big but not huge and heavy.

Cons: I got the matte screen and wish I had gotten the glossy screen like my unibody 13-inch Intel Macbook.

Summary: The best 17-inch computer out there. Coming from an 8.6 lb. Sony Viao, the MacBook Pro is a dream and the OS is second to none.

Summary: The best 17-inch computer out there. Coming from an 8.6 lb. Sony Viao, the MacBook Pro is a dream and the OS is second to none.
10 stars

Expensive, but top of the line always is expensive

by lawsonmusicmedia on April 24, 2009

Pros: Weight, speed, two video cards, long battery life, beautiful screen, thin, fast, elegant, stable, cool temperature, no loud fan noise, supports 8GB of RAM

Cons: Hard to get used to new track pad, not easy to swap drive, etc Apple does not include a free adapter for video, and they don't even throw in a free remote control. For $2799, you think they could include the frickin' remote.

Summary: For audio/video and 3D production work, this is an amazing machine. It was wonderful to travel with due to its weight and battery life on the airplane, its super ...

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Summary: For audio/video and 3D production work, this is an amazing machine. It was wonderful to travel with due to its weight and battery life on the airplane, its super fast, has amazing video capability, and the screen is wonderful. For only $200 or so more than the 15" model, it was worth it to jump up to the bigger screen, video card features, etc. This is not a cheap machine, and its not a machine that feels cheap or handled like a cheap machine. When I see other HP and Dell 17" models for $600, its kind of a laugh at the tricks they play with you to get you to accept their chrome-polished-poo like "Blue Ray drives" etc, which they weigh in at 10lbs, use three-year old tech under the hood, and are flimsily put together, not to mention the number of fans you can see them running if you pick one up and look under the computer. That bunch of fans is there for a reason, and believe me, they will be put to use. Running graphic-intensive three-D rendering in real time apps is a snap for this new MacBook Pro, it doesn't get really hot, there are no sound of jets taking off from fans needed to cool it, it works wonderfully. I wish it costs less, but it is what it is, and I tend to get several years of solid work out of one of these things so amortized, its not that bad, which you average out the real life expectancy of one of these. I think this machine will easily be in service for five or more years. What's more, the resale value on a MacBook Pro is extraordinarily higher than any other computer from any other maker in the business. Show me any Dell retaining even 15% of its value two years after its released, and I'll show you Macs from four years ago still fetching 30-40% of their original price. There is a reason for that.

Back to this machine, I've had it two weeks now, and other than getting used to the new track pad, its been a pure joy to work with, travel with, etc. If I were at Apple, I'd be the guy telling them to lower prices across the board a little bit, and not to skimp of things like remotes on the highest-end products. Other than that, its an awesome and expensive machine.

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10 stars

MAC, they just work

by CyberFog on April 19, 2009

Pros: Ease of Use, amazingly fast performance, Viruses...what viruses, these things never crash like my Windows based Machines always did.

Cons: Makes you addicted to Macs, is kinda big to lug around all over the word, but still alot more portable than a comparably configured PC.

Summary: This is the second Mac I have ever used. I'm in Iraq and brought my 15' MacBook Pro with me. A friend just ordered the 17' and I can ...

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Summary: This is the second Mac I have ever used. I'm in Iraq and brought my 15' MacBook Pro with me. A friend just ordered the 17' and I can say that I am definatly getting one when I get back to the states. This Computer is alot faster than my 2007 15' and runs alot cooler. Like some of the other reviewers I have always used PCs and hated Mac's but I ended up getting one a few years ago and can say that I will never go back to a windows comp again. Mac's commercials aren't misleading. "Apple, it just works". I actually bought an Ipod after i got a Mac and then later an Iphone. Mac really puts alot of quality work into their products. My 15' MB Pro was sadly dropped in a parking lot in the states once and wasn't in a case, even though the aluminum casing was badly damaged the thing still worked seamlessly, I couldnt believe it. The MacBook Pros really are bullet-proof. I think that the greatest thing about Macs in general is there is so much hep out there of Mac users willing to help new Mac converts. You can do so much with them and there is always someone willing to help. yes I'll admit that there arent alot of games for MACsbut if you are a hardcore gamer you can always install windows and run it natively on your MAC (I did but I was always alot happier with OSX tiger and now Leopard), it is quite a capable machine. For those who are skeptical I have never had a virus or a crash since I have had a MAC, and I keep learning cool things about it as I use it, additionally I can't believe that apple keeps putting out new Apps in their website that are free and greatly increase my own productivity. Yeah I'll admit that a lot of the things in Ilife (which is free on new MACs) arent really that useful for me personally and I have installed and continually use MS Office (I'm in the Army so I can't get away from Word and Excel). But the MAC stil out-performs any and all PCs I have ever owned by far.

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10 stars

1st Mac and Don't regret paying $3400. anti or glare?

by as2919 on April 3, 2009

Pros: Anti-glare, build quality, screen, performance, slim, and just about everything.

Cons: Not sure if I can expand the webpage layout. Thats it.

Summary: I just bought the 17" Macbook Pro two weeks ago and I am impressed. I have used PC my whole life and I just wanted that new change from the ...

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Summary: I just bought the 17" Macbook Pro two weeks ago and I am impressed. I have used PC my whole life and I just wanted that new change from the crap I kept having with PC. I was skeptical paying $3400 for a laptop, but the more I use it, the more I'm happy with it. The #1 debate I had when buying this was choosing glossy screen or anti-glare. It took me 4 visits at the apple store and 2 weeks to decide. The glossy screen does for sure look nice by cosmetics and color depth, but I had to slap myself and think performance wise. For $3000+, It had to be about performance and not just cosmetics, so I paid the $50 and got the anti-glare. I have to say that I am glad that I got the anti-glare. I see so many people talk crap on it and have no idea why. It looks great to me and I'm glad I paid $50 dollars for it. I actually feel like its an upgrade and not a rip off. Before purchasing, I couldn't figure out why they charged $50 not to put on a glass cover which is more material. If you have doubts about it, I say go anti-glare. I find it worth it and better.

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2 stars

dont buy... they are having flickering screen problems

by catunderstar on April 1, 2009

Pros: if the screen didnt flicker..everything

Cons: many problems with the screen flickering. mac forums will fill you in on this problem, that hasnt been resolved yet.

Summary: apple hasn't done anything to fix this yet. beware.

Summary: apple hasn't done anything to fix this yet. beware.
10 stars

Work SMARTER (Mac)... not HARDER (PC)!

by bwellman24 on March 31, 2009

Pros: Flawless large Multi-Touch trackpad (no mouse needed!), 4 finger gestures for Expose & task switcher, BRILLIANT 1920x1200 Hi-Res Display, Lightning fast 2.66 GHz processor standard, thin, light, Leopard OS X, Revolutionary battery life... EVERYTHING!

Cons: (struggling to name them...) Hmmm... No available 500 GB, 7200 RPM HD upgrade, have to log out (although it only takes 1 min.) to switch graphics chips, MobileMe syncing still buggy, sealed battery... that's really about it!?!

Summary: I have always been naturally, technology savvy although I'm no programmer or code-cracker. I've used Gateways, Dells, HP's as well as many a brand in the office ...

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Summary: I have always been naturally, technology savvy although I'm no programmer or code-cracker. I've used Gateways, Dells, HP's as well as many a brand in the office space. I am proficient in and usually actively use/run CS4, Photoshop, Aperture 2, Excel, Word, Pages, Numbers, iLife apps... I upload (rip... errr... encode) DVD's to store in iTunes using HandBrake and I also do the torrent file thing with Transmission, etc. I bought a 120 GB white 13" MacBook a year ago and have been chasing the dream ever since... AND THIS MBP IS IT! I went from the 120 GB HD, 2 GB RAM white 13" MB to the 250 GB HD, 4 GB RAM black 13" MB to a New 320 GB (7200 RPM), 4 GB RAM aluminum 13" MB... THEN I finally traded in AGAIN for the New 320 GB (7200 RPM), 4 GB RAM aluminum 15" MB Pro... which brings me to my FINAL DESTINATION (...for a long time I have a feeling)... I've reached my Zenith! ;)

I just can't believe I've owned ALL THREE of the new Unibody MacBooks?! WOW, that just dawned on me... Anyways...

This thing is AMAZING and blows any PC that I've ever used WAAAAY away (old or current, desktop or laptop!) After a bunch of eBaying, I'm finally using the brand new 17" (glossy display) aluminum Apple MacBook Pro with the 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, the 320 GB, 5400 RPM HD with 4 GB of RAM although I have ordered and will be installing the new 500 GB Seagate 7200.4 HD (largest, fastest MBP HD available). I am in absolute heaven using this thing and don't have any problems with it AT ALL. If you would've told me (even a year ago) that someday there would be a laptop with a 17" high-def 1920x1200 LCD screen, a 320 GB HD, 4 GB RAM, that would have a battery that could last 7-8 hours on a full charge for up to 1000 charges and it would be the greenest, most energy efficient laptop available... AND... it could run 10 large programs fast and flawlessly and you could switch between them (in an amazingly neat fashion) instantly by a multi-touch, no button trackpad... I would've thought you were smokin' somethin'! But it is here and untill it dies, ill guarantee my $3,000 will be less than what an average PC user will spend to even stay in the vicinity of the non-obsolete!

It is simply THE BEST LAPTOP available and I sincerely suggest PC user's get out now, while you still have time! I know you're scared and you don't want to re-train yourself ALL over again... and I understand... but it is WELL worth it!

Inexplainable... JUST GET ONE!!!

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Apple
Part number: MB604LL/A
Description: The latest Intel processor, a bigger hard drive, plenty of memory, and even more new features all fit inside just one liberating inch. The MacBook Pro has the performance, power, and connectivity of a desktop computer. Without the desk part.

General
Built-in Devices Stereo speakers, Bluetooth antenna, Wireless LAN antenna
Width 15.5 in
Depth 10.5 in
Height 1 in
Weight 6.6 lbs
Notebook type Mid-size laptops (6-7.5 lbs.)
Screen type Widescreen
Wireless capabilities IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11 n (draft), Bluetooth
Processor
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66 GHz
Multi-Core processor technology Dual-Core
64-bit processor Yes
Data bus speed 1066 MHz
Cache Memory
Type L2 cache
Cache size 6 MB
RAM
Installed Size 4 GB / 8 GB (max)
Technology DDR3 SDRAM - 1066 MHz
Memory specification compliance PC3-8500
RAM form factor SO DIMM 204-pin
RAM configuration features 2 x 2 GB
Environmental Parameters
Environmental & energy standards compliance EPEAT Gold, EPA Energy Star
Min Operating Temperature 50 ?F
Max Operating Temperature 95 ?F
Humidity Range Operating 0 - 90%
Storage Controller
Storage controller type Serial ATA
Storage Controller / Serial ATA Interface Serial ATA-300
Storage
Floppy Drive None
Hard Drive 320 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
Storage Removable None
Hard drive type Portable
Optical Storage
Type DVD?RW (?R DL) - Integrated
CD / DVD read speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
CD / DVD write speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD?R) / 4x (DVD?R DL)
CD / DVD rewrite speed 10x (CD) / 4x (DVD?RW)
Optical Storage (2nd)
2nd optical storage type None
Display
Display Type 17 in TFT active matrix
Max Resolution 1920 x 1200 ( WUXGA )
Widescreen Display Yes
Features Glossy, LED-backlit
Video
Graphics Processor / Vendor NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT / GeForce 9400M
Video Memory GDDR3 SDRAM - 512 MB
Audio
Audio output type Sound card
Audio Input Microphone

Notebook Camera
Camera Type Integrated
Input Device(s)
Input device type Trackpad, Backlit keyboard
Features Multi-touch technology
Telecom
Modem None
Networking
Networking Network adapter
Networking / Wireless LAN Supported Yes
Data link protocol Ethernet, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
Networking standards IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.1, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Slots Total (Free) 1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/34, 2 ( 0 ) x Memory - SO DIMM 204-pin
Interfaces 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45, 1 x IEEE 1394b (FireWire 800) - 9 pin FireWire 800, 3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x Display / video - Apple mini-DisplayPort, 1 x Audio - SPDIF input/line-in - Mini-phone 3.5 mm / TOSLINK, 1 x Audio - SPDIF output/headphones - Mini-phone 3.5 mm / TOSLINK
Miscellaneous
Included Accessories Cleaning cloth
Features Aluminum enclosure, Ambient light sensor, Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately)
Power
Power device form factor External
Voltage Required AC 120/230 V
Battery
Technology Lithium polymer
Installed Qty 1
Battery capacity 95 Wh
Mfr estimated battery life 8 hour(s)
Operating System / Software
OS Provided Apple MacOS X 10.5
Software Front Row, Apple iCal, Apple iChat, Photo Booth, Apple Safari, Apple Spaces, Apple Dashboard, Apple QuickTime, Apple Spotlight, Apple iLife '09, Apple DVD Player, Apple Quick Look, Apple Address Book, Apple Time Machine, Apple Mac OS X Mail, Drivers & Utilities, Apple XCode Developer Tools
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support 1 year warranty
Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year, Technical support - Phone consulting - 90 days
Sustainability
EPA Energy Star Compliant Yes
EPEAT Compliant EPEAT Gold
Greenpeace policy rating Mar 2009 (from 1 - 10, 10 being the best) 4.7

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Apple MacBook Pro 2009 (2.66GHz, 17-inch)

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Specifications

General

Processor

Cache Memory

RAM

Environmental Parameters

Storage Controller

Storage

Optical Storage

Optical Storage (2nd)

Display

Video

Audio

Notebook Camera

Input Device(s)

Telecom

Networking

Expansion / Connectivity

Miscellaneous

Power

Battery

Operating System / Software

Manufacturer Warranty

Sustainability

Accessories

Manufacturer info

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