![]() ![]() Still, the MacBook Pro is a bit more expensive than similarly configured Windows laptops for example, an Inspiron E1705 with comparable specs costs $2,889.ĬNET Labs compared the 17-inch MacBook Pro against a number of older Apple laptops running the PowerPC processor as well as other Core Duo-based Macs. For that much money, you'd expect some pretty high-end specs, and the MacBook delivers it has a fast, 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo processor 2GB of speedy 667MHz DDR2 RAM an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics card with 256MB of VRAM and a blazing 7,200rpm, 100GB hard drive. Though there aren't a lot of upgrade options, our review unit included RAM and hard drive enhancements that brought the price up to $3,099. The 17-inch MacBook Pro comes in one default configuration that costs $2,799. In addition, the beta of Boot Camp lets you turn the MacBook into a dual-boot machine that runs full versions of Mac OS X and Windows XP (though you need to purchase a full version of Windows separately). Also included is the robust iLife '06 software suite, Front Row media center software, and a handful of other apps. The MacBook Pro ships with Mac OS X Tiger, highlights of which include the incredibly cool Spotlight search utility and the customizable Dashboard, a collection of handy desktop tools. Arguably the 17-inch MacBook Pro's most stunning feature is its display: the large wide-screen display features a fine 1,680x1,050 native resolution. The touch pad lets you scroll through long documents, Web pages, and spreadsheets by dragging two fingers down or across the pad, a terrific feature that's unique to Apple laptops. We don't like that the keyboard is located 5.4 inches back from the laptop's front edge we wish it were centered to encourage a more ergonomic typing position. ![]() ![]() Though the keys are a bit shallow, they're comfortable to type on, and we love the keyboard's backlighting feature, which adjusts to changes in ambient light levels. The MacBook Pro has just a power button, a big keyboard framed by stereo speakers, a very large touch pad with a single mouse button, and a handy built-in iSight camera that sits above the display. Underneath the lid, the MacBook Pro extends the tradition of the PowerBook's minimalist design. With a solid array of components, a terrific set of features, and the lightest weight of any laptop its size, Apple's 17-inch MacBook Pro is a power user's dream, but it doesn't come cheap. For the sake of comparison, the Dell Inspiron E1705 weighs 8.2 pounds, while the Toshiba Qosmio G35 weighs 10.2 pounds. ![]() With its AC adapter, which like other Apple laptops connects magnetically to the case, the MacBook Pro weighs 7.9 pounds. At 6.8 pounds, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is a hair lighter than its predecessor and the lightest laptop of its size on the market. Measuring 15.4 inches wide, 10.4 inches deep, and 1 inch thick, the sleek, aluminum MacBook Pro looks very similar to the 17-inch PowerBook G4 it replaces. With the MacBook Pro, Apple hasn't radically redesigned the PowerBook form factor, it has just made a few refinements to it. But for graphics professionals and other Mac users who have money to spare, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is a dream. Of course, such performance doesn't come cheap: the 17-inch MacBook Pro's default configuration costs $2,799 (upgrades on our review unit brought the price up to $3,099). Better yet, our fully loaded test configuration powered through most of CNET Labs' performance tests, exhibiting only a few of the growing pains encountered by other Intel-based Apple laptops and desktops, such as the iMac Core Duo. Following on the heels of the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro and replacing the 17-inch PowerBook G4, the 17-inch MacBook Pro delivers many of the same beloved features as its little sibling, such as a scrolling track pad, the Sudden Motion Sensor, and an excellent software package, and adds a huge, bright 17-inch display that's great for graphics work. ![]()
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