MacBook Pro

Best Price:
For a long time, Apple Macs were considered the preserve of designers and Mac-fanatics, ignored by the mainstream computer-using community. But Apple has been slowly chipping away at the home market, taking over the portable audio market to such a degree that everyone started thinking of iPod and iTunes above most other portable music devices and software. At the top end is the new MacBook Pro, a robust and powerful notebook. Could it become the iPod of portable computers?

Features:
With Apple, aesthetics are always important. That’s not to say they take precedence over functionality, but you get the feeling Apple likes to make things look good as well as work well. The new MacBook Pro is as impressive as its predecessors: it’s built from a single block of aluminium, making it both stronger and lighter. It features a larger touchpad, made from glass, which makes it feel like an iPhone or iPod Touch. The click bar has been abandoned so you can use the entire smooth-as-ice pad to click. Although first-time Mac users might find this a bit odd, it is a genuine pleasure to use.

Performance:
Under the bonnet, the MacBook Pro runs an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, with 2GB of memory and two new NVIDIA graphics processors. There’s a choice of a 250GB or 320GB hard disk. Apple promises nearly five hours of battery life when using its Wi-Fi capability. With all systems blazing, it fell just short of this for us, but that should still be enough for most purposes. A new Mini DisplayPort replaces the DVI (digital video interface) ports, letting it transmit more bandwidth while also supporting much larger external displays. The downside is that monitors must come equipped with this new socket or you’ll have to purchase an optional adapter (around £20) to use a separate screen.

Ease of use:
For first-time users, MacBooks present some subtle differences from PCs, such as the one-click touch pad and slightly different keyboard – as well as, of course, a whole new operating system. But you quickly get used to these features and most people find Macs to be fun to use. The Pro, like the rest of MacBook line-up, comes bundled with Apple applications such as iTunes, iPhoto and the in-built camera, as well a raft of other applications. The new enlarged touch pad is a good example of how easy it is to use Mac features; after a short while you’ll be wondering why old Macs had one button and Windows-based laptops come with two.

Value for money:
At £1,399 the 15-inch MacBook Pro will make a significant hole in your pocket. However, Apple has maintained its pricing scheme in spite of significant upgrades. If you’re looking for a heavy hitting laptop, a workhorse that will last for quite a few years, then this stylish laptop is recommended. But if you need a more mainstream laptop for everyday computing and surfing, and it has to be a Mac, it might be worth considering the standard MacBook, which is more than £400 cheaper.