When you first turn on your MacBook Pro, you will go through the normal Mac OS X setup/registration. Included in this setup is something I had never done before, the migration of data from your old Mac to a new one. I tried it with my iBook, and it worked like a dream. In no time, all of my old files and applications were sitting on the MacBook Pro. This is a great way to quickly set up your new Mac the way you preferred the old one.

The MacBook Pro is definitely a professional computer. It has so many features, I could probably write forever on the various aspects. Therefore, to help organize this review, I will break up this section into various segments that deal with different aspects of the computer.

Seeing as the MacBook Pro is a professional laptop, you can expect this machine to perform very well. I ran some benchmarks of my own, and found it to be as fast, or faster than a Dual 2GHz G5 in almost all tasks. The one exception is hard drive speed. Both machines feature 7200 RPM SATA hard drives, but the drive in the G5 has proven to be faster. I'm not exactly sure why, but it may be due to higher density platters (that is purely a guess).

Anything CPU bound runs astonishingly fast for a laptop. This includes not only universal/Intel only applications, but PowerPC applications under Rosetta as well. When starting a PowerPC app, there is a noticeable delay in the launch time. However, once launched, it is often hard to distinguish the performance from that of an Intel native application. I am extremely surprised and excited about this. Emulation is normally a slow proposition, but Apple has managed to optimize it beyond my wildest dreams.

One of the major differences between the MacBook Pro and the MacBook is the video card. This laptop features an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 128 MB of video RAM. When playing Unreal Tournament 2004, I found the frames per second to be more than acceptable. For the power user who wants to enjoy a game or two on the road, this computer certainly has the provisions for it.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the CD/DVD burner. The slot loading drive can burn CDs at up to 24x, and DVDs up to 4x. Both numbers are much slower than many other drives on the market today. I don't plan on burning media while traveling, so I could always get an external burner if needed, but I think this drive will suffice for now.

Probably the biggest reason for paying more money for a MacBook Pro over a MacBook is the display size. With the MacBook Pro (15 inch), you get a nice 1440x900 resolution, which is the resolution of most 19 inch wide screen LCDs. This provides you with plenty of workspace, and the widescreen aspect ratio allows you to watch movies without those annoying black bars on the top and bottom. One physical aspect of the display I don't like as much is the max angle it can be opened to. I haven't pulled out a protractor, but it seems like 115° is as far as it goes. I assume this is done to prevent wire pinch, but it would be nice if it opened just a bit further.

Another difference between the displays on the two MacBook models is the glossy/matte option. With the MacBook Pro, you can choose whether to get a glossy screen which provides sharper/brighter colors, or a matte screen which reveals more accurate colors and doesn't glare as much. I originally thought the glossy screen might be cool, but then decided against it, as I often view the screen from weird angles. I don't think I could stand looking through glare all the time. That said, I had the chance to play around with a glossy screen MacBook, and found that the glare wasn't as bad as I assumed it would be. Nevertheless, I feel like the good old matte screen is the way to go.

I find the brightness of the built in LCD to be very good. I normally use it at 4-5 bars, and will comfortably drop it down to 3 bars when it starts getting darker in the room. One of the features of the MacBook Pro is an ambient light sensor which can be used to automatically adjust the brightness of the display depending on lighting conditions. I found this to be more distracting than useful. I would prefer if it slowly adjusted the screen brightness, instead of instantly jumping a few bars. Luckily, the auto-adjust can be turned off in System Preferences > Display.

The video card in this machine can not only pump pixels on the main display at a more than decent rate, but it can also power very large external displays. The DVI port (and included DVI to VGA adapter, something which is not included with the MacBook) supports displays up to 2560x1600. It can drive the external monitor in three modes: mirrored (duplicate what is on the main display), extended (larger desktop area), and shut mode (main display off while external display remains on). The first two can be switched using the F7 key, while the last one is activated through closing the MacBook Pro, attaching the display and a keyboard/mouse, and then waking the computer via external input. Also worth noting is that Apple sells a DVI to S-Video/Composite adapter which allows you to easily connect your MacBook Pro to a TV.

When the DualUSB iBooks were first unveiled in 2001, the white enclosure was a huge step up from the green/orange clamshell models. I found the white polycarbonate to be even more attractive than the black G3 PowerBooks at the time. But that all changed with the introduction of the titanium PowerBook G4s. I had always been envious of that metal finish. After a few years, Apple switched from titanium to aluminum, and have kept that style with the MacBook Pro.

I prefer the look of this laptop to any other laptop on the market, even the black MacBook. The brushed aluminum alloy screams professionalism, and should stand up to abuse very well. The only detraction of the overall appearance is the speaker grills on either side of the keyboard. They are so large, it seems like they bring your eyes to them when first opening the MacBook Pro. I like how the speakers are hidden under the plastic in the MacBooks, but find the audio output to be better on the Pro models. Overall, I feel that the slight visual detraction is well worth the increased audio quality.

One of the most important aspects for people researching laptops is battery life. At one time, Apple was on the forefront of battery technology, providing users with the longest runtimes of any manufacturer. However, this doesn't seem to be true any longer. Apple claims up to 4.5 hours with the 15 inch MacBook Pro. In my completely unscientific testing, I normally get around 3.5-3.75 hours from a full charge. This is with the display between 3-5 bars, Bluetooth on, and Airport on. Turning off the wireless technologies will increase your battery life, in case you need it. One important thing to note is that turning off one of the CPU cores (possible via installing the CHUD tools), will actually decrease your battery life. Therefore, if you are looking to get extra juice from your battery, you'll have to find another solution.

If you can get to an outlet, you will be happy to hear how fast the battery charges in the MacBook Pro. Up to about 90% full, the battery charges at a rate of about 3 times as fast as it drains (i.e. a 10 minute charge provides about 30 minutes of runtime). Once it hits the 90% mark, the charging slows down quite a bit, requiring about 35-40 minutes to finish the last 10%. But what gets me excited is that I can plug it in for a short time, and have enough juice to use it for much longer. This was certainly not the case with any other laptop I have owned.

Not only is fast charging cool, but so is the AC adapter. Most electrical gadgets have big/heavy AC adapters that are more of a nuisance than anything. However, Apple has changed the way we think about AC adapters with its new MagSafe technology (technically some kitchen gadgets such as the FryDaddy also provided something similar, but this is the first I have heard of it used with computers). MagSafe is basically a safety measure that uses magnets to quickly disconnects the MacBook Pro from the AC adapter if someone trips over the cable. Because the connector disconnects, the laptop isn't sent hurling off the desk towards the ground. I am sure this will come in handy when the dog decides to get tangled in the wires.

As with previous Apple laptops, MagSafe provides instant notification of whether it is currently charging the battery, or the battery is fully charged. It does this via built in LED light that is amber while charging, and green when charged. Fortunately, the LED is very small, and doesn't light up the desk like some of the older Apple AC adapters.

Some questions I had about the MagSafe were the size of the plug, how strong the magnet is, what it takes for a disconnect, and if it needs to be oriented correctly to fit into the port on the computer. Therefore, here are my observations. The plug is about the same size as a USB plug, just not nearly as long. The magnet is strong enough to attract the adapter from about half an inch away. To disconnect it manually, you must pull the plug to the side. Pulling straight out is very difficult, and could damage the cable if you don't grip the plug itself. The plug itself is a rectangle with four pins in it that can be inserted upside down without a problem. In fact, there is in indicator LED on each side to make sure you always know the status of your battery. I hope this helps clear up any MagSafe confusion.

I still remember watching the MacWorld Expo keynote where Steve Jobs displayed the first ever laptop to connect to the Internet without wires. I must admit, I wasn't quite sure why the crowd was going crazy, because the quality of the webcast wasn't too great. But when I came to the realization of what was happening, it changed my view on how to connect to the web forever. Back then, Airport was a feature which costs extra to add to your machine. With the MacBook Pro, this is no longer the case. Airport Extreme (802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a officially supported according to the manual) is a standard, built-in feature of all MacBooks.

Reception quality is always a question on peoples' minds when they think about wireless networking. Some of the PowerBooks provided less than stellar signal strength. With the MacBook Pro, I don't feel like this is an issue any more. I have been able to connect to my wireless router from about 150 feet away, through three walls, one of them brick! It is really hard to imagine the reception being any better.

The other built-in wireless technology provided by the MacBook Pro is Bluetooth 2.0. Bluetooth allows you to connect various peripherals such as mice, keyboards, headphones, PDAs, cell phones, and even other computers from up to 30 feet away. I bought a Bluetooth mouse to use with this computer, and I will never look back. It works just as well as a wired mouse, but doesn't require me to drag a wire around the house. I have noticed that when coming out of sleep mode, and turning the mouse on, it can take up to 30 seconds for the computer to reconnect to the mouse. I am sure if I turned on "allow Bluetooth devices to wake this computer" in the Energy Saver System Preferences, this little annoyance could be avoided.

The very first thing anyone looks at when buying a laptop is the size. This MacBook Pro has a 15 inch screen, which means it certainly can not be considered tiny, but it is not too huge to carry around either. When compared to my old 12 inch iBook, I found the footprint of this computer to be only slightly larger. And at 5.6 pounds, it shouldn't weigh you down too much when you are running to the terminal just before your flight leaves.

Worth mentioning here is the strength of the case on the MacBook Pro. When I move this computer around the house, I often pick it up by one of the wrist rest areas. When doing this, there is absolutely no flexibility in the case; it's as sturdy as can be. Also, the hinge on the display stays in places very well when moving the computer around, and holding it at strange angles. the construction of the MacBook Pro is top notch.

Apple did make one decision with the MacBook Pro which could hurt some road warriors. They decided that the 56k modem is a relic of the 90's, and completely eliminated it as an option for the latest laptops. the only way to get dial-up capabilities on these computers it to purchase an external USB modem for $50. Personally, I think it would be nice to still have the option of a built in modem, instead of requiring us to carry around another peripheral.

Of course, being a 1 inch thin laptop, internal expansion is nearly non-existent. There are two RAM slots, each of which can accept up to 1 GB sticks (and probably 2 GB sticks when those are available). The installation is very straightforward, requiring the removal of the battery, and a protective cover with three screws. One of the screws is notoriously hard to get loose, but it really just requires a little elbow grease. I was able to install RAM in less than 5 minutes.

One disappointing aspect of the MacBook Pros when compared to the MacBook is the lack of easy hard drive upgradability. The MacBooks allow you to pull out the hard drive, and install a new one easier than on a desktop computers. I wish Apple would have done the same with the MacBook Pro, so that I could easily add a larger capacity 7200 RPM hard drive when they become available. Of course, by the time I want to upgrade the hard drive, my warranty will likely have expired, allowing me to open up the computer to go through the convoluted install process.

When it comes to external expansion, the MacBook Pro fairs much better. The included ports are: two USB 2.0, one Firewire 400, one audio in mini-jack (digital/analog combined), one audio out mini-jack (digital/analog combined), DVI, and 10/100/1000 ethernet. Most notably missing form the list is Firewire 800, which is included on the 17 inch MacBook Pros. One of the USB ports and the audio ports are all located on the left side, while the rest are located on the right side of the MacBook Pro. These should provide you with enough options for your external expansion needs.

Furthermore, the left side of the laptop also sports an ExpressCard/34 slot. This slot completely replaces the PCMCIA slot found on previous PowerBooks. Currently, there are not as many ExpressCard/34 options, but I am certain that is changing every day. If you need to provide extra expansion to your MacBook Pro, this card will provide it.

One thing that normally sets Apple computers apart from others is the amount and quality of included software and cool accessories. The MacBook Pro comes with iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, ad GarageBand for all your creative needs. Also included are demos of Microsoft Office 2004, iWork '06 (Pages and Keynote), and FileMaker Pro. I trashed Office and FileMaker almost immediately, but iWork is pretty cool. Too bad it is just a demo. Third party software is limited to Comic Life and Omni Outliner. Both are quality programs, but will not see much use from me. One glaring omission is that Graphic Converter is no longer included. I was looking forward to getting a new license for the 5.x version, but alas, it is no longer bundled.

Beginning with the iMac G5, Apple started building iSight cameras into the computer itself. This "tradition" has ben extended to the laptops, which means there is an iSight camera in the MacBook Pro. I wasn't really sure how much use I would get out of it, but it turns out that this thing is really fun. Video iChats are a blast, Photobooth with its crazy effects is a world of fun, and there is a growing number of software titles that utilize the camera. The resolution is limited to 640x480, but that has not turned out to be a hinderance. I don't think I would ever buy a separate iSight, but having one built-in is handy.

The other really cool accessory is the included remote control. Next to the display latch on the front of the Macbook Pro is an IR receiver which accepts input from a stylish six button remote. Press the menu button on the remote, and Front Row will spin into view. While in Front Row, you can listen to songs from your iTunes library, view a slideshow of your iPhoto film rolls, watch a DVD, or watch movies. The movies section will not only find movies in your home folder, but also picks up videos from iTunes, shared videos from other computers on your network, and even movie trailers from Apple's website. It is great sitting back in my recliner, controlling what I see and hear from my Mac without moving anything but a finger.

As for input devices, this laptop sports the two most common: a keyboard and a trackpad. But just because they are common doesn't mean Apple provides run of the mill components. For instance, the same ambient light sensor that is used to automatically adjust the brightness of the display controls the backlight of the keyboard. That's right, when it gets dark, the keys light up, so you can see what you are typing. I have recently learned how to touch type, but still find myself looking at the keys to find some of the modifiers or when trying to hit an f key. The backlight keyboard is a wonderful invention!

The rest of the keyboard is pretty standard. The new MacBooks provide a new style of key that has a small gap between each key. I tried one, and it was kind of hard to get used to, especially if you switch back and forth between that and a desktop keyboard. On the other hand, the MacBook Pro keyboard types very easily for me. Most of the keys are fairly quiet, except the space bar which has a little squeak to it sometimes.

Likewise, the trackpad has its own pluses and minuses. First the downside: only one button. Apple finally got out of the one button mouse game, but still provides just a single button on the laptops. I really wish they would include a second to make right clicking without a mouse easier. Making up for the lack of a second button is the ultra-cool two finger scrolling. When you move the pointer around the screen, you normally use just a single finger on the trackpad. But, it you use two, the trackpad goes into scroll mode, taking place of a scroll wheel. In fact, it's better than a scroll wheel, since you can scroll in any direction with ease. I really enjoy using this feature when I don't have my mouse readily available.

There are a few things which I just couldn't easily fit into the categories above. The first is the sudden motion sensor. I remember seeing commercials for this technology in the early 2000's, and Apple started using it in the PowerBook G4s a couple years ago. In a nutshell, there are sensors in the MacBook Pro which can determine when the computer is falling to the earth. The red alert sounds (figuratively), and the hard drive automatically parks its heads in preparation for the impact. By doing this, the hard drive headers will not come into contact with the platters, potentially saving data, or even the entire hard drive. Hopefully your MacBook Pro never needs to engage this feature, but it is good to know it is there, just in case.

Earlier I mentioned how the speaker grilles allow for better sound than the MacBook provides. Unfortunately, better doesn't mean spectacular. The maximum volume is fairly low, which is most detrimental when I need to hear status sounds from another room. The only way to rectify this is with some external speakers, but that would require wires sticking out from the computer (unless you can find some bluetooth speakers). I would appreciate the ability to crank up the volume a little higher than what is currently provided.

If you have been reading any Mac-centric websites, you know that a lot of people are having various troubles with their MacBook Pros. Here are the big three, and what I think about them. First up is heat. Many people are reporting that their MacBook Pros run too hot. I believe this is very subjective. On a desk with no air movement, the MacBook Pro does get very warm. But I can still hold my fingers up against the case, so it is not scalding. If it's in my lap, it is actually cooler than my iBook was. Heat is not a problem with my MacBook Pro.

The next most commonly reported problem is with various noises. From whining, to mooing, to excessive fans, some people just can't stand the noise their computer makes. My MacBook Pro only makes slight fan noises that can be heard if I put my ear right next to the keyboard. It would be uncomfortable using it like that, so I never hear anything unusual coming from this computer. In fact, I have accidently left the computer running overnight (instead of the normal sleep mode), because it was so quiet, I thought it was already asleep as I walked past.

The other major problem people are having with their MacBook Pros is with CDs and DVDs getting stuck in the drive. While this hasn't happened to me, I will not dismiss this as people being overly sensitive. I have had one DVD only eject about half an inch because it didn't have a label, and the drive couldn't get a good hold on it to eject it further. After reading many user experiences on this subject, the answer seems to be a two step approach. First try to restart while holding down the trackpad button. If that doesn't work, get a credit card, stick it in the DVD slot, and press down on the top of the DVD while pressing the eject button on the keypad. This may take a few tries, but seems to work in all cases that I have heard.

I have not encountered the high heat, noise, stuck CD/DVD, uneven display brightness, or any of the highly reported problems with the MacBook Pro. In fact, I have not run into a single issue with this computer to date.

Jan 28, 2007 Update: Recently the battery in my MacBook Pro has been giving me fits. It started shutting down (instead of sleeping) when the battery was nearly empty. As time when on, the remaining percentage at the time of shut down kept increasing. Yesterday, it happened with more than 50% of the battery capacity remaining. Resetting the SMC and trying to calibrate the battery did not provide any relief, so I called Apple to get a replacement battery under warranty. Once I receive that battery, I'll update this spot with information on whether it solved the issue or not.

This is easily the best laptop I have ever owned. The big screen (compared to my previous laptops) is extremely nice. The speed is better than I would expect from any laptop. The aluminum finish makes me want to show it off. And the rest of the features round out this laptop nicely.

Pros	Cons
Very fast at nearly everything Nice sized screen with great resolution Extremely thin Aluminum finish is professional looking Video card has enough horse power for even modern games Backlit keyboard is a great addition MagSafe power adapter keeps the laptop on your lap/desk DVI connector can be used to display external video in multiple ways Built-in Airport Extreme reception is spectacular Built-in Bluetooth frees your peripherals from wires Built-in iSight provides for fun iChats Included remote control is a great addition Scrolling trackpad is perfect when you don't have a mouse available Sudden motion sensor keeps your hard drive safe	Lowest battery life of current Apple portables Ambient light sensor is too sensitive No Firewire 800 ports Speakers are fairly weak
10/10 stars