MacBook Pro

Apple instituted a radical redesign to its laptop range last year by bringing out two new MacBook Pros, each cast from a single block of aluminium. The latest overhaul sees a compact 13-inch model promoted to the Pro line-up with a tempting lower price tag.

Features
The baby in the Pro family is not unlike its bigger siblings, the 15- and the 17-inch models. Mac acolytes familiar with the Pro line-up will recognise its features, such as the robust aluminium unibody chassis, the back-lit keyboard, edge-to-edge glass over the LED screen and the multi-touch trackpad. Happily, Apple noted complaints about the absence of an SD card slot and has righted this grievance, and has also returned the FireWire port.

Performance
The battery in the 13-inch MacBook Pro is non-removable but Apple claims it can manage up to seven hours of web surfing on one charge. During our test, it passed this benchmark and even kept going a little longer while on a wireless network – a definite improvement on older 13-inch MacBooks. The machine is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor that is cooled by a fan that is considerably quieter than the ones used in previous models. One area we found a little disappointing was the speakers, which are middling at best. Movies, however, look great on the LED screen.

Ease of use
If you use Apple gadgets such as the iPhone and the ubiquitous iPod, then you’ll have become familiar with Apple software. While Apple does things a little differently, it has always emphasised simplicity and user-friendliness. For people who make the switch from PC to Mac, there are rewards – the backlit and spacious keyboard is a joy to use and, while the oversized trackpad might take a little getting used to, it is an excellent Apple innovation. Overall, getting to grips with the ProBook is an easy and enjoyable experience and PC advocates needn’t fret about the transition.

Value for money
The 13-inch costs £900, a hefty pay-out for a laptop in the current economic climate, particularly when you consider the recent proliferation of sub-£300 netbooks. However, for this lump sum you get a selection of Apple’s proprietary software services such as iMovies, iPhotos, iChat, and its back-up service Time Machine, all bundled together in a beautifully crafted machine. Moreover, if you are considering purchasing one of Apple’s Pro MacBooks, this is the only one that’s priced less than £1,000. Ultimately, it’s a good price for an Apple Mac, but expensive for a compact laptop.

Verdict
Promoting the 13-inch to the MacBook Pro range has resulted in a higher-powered Mac that isn’t going to break the bank. It’s a great-looking product and, while Apple hasn’t made too many changes on last year’s major overhaul, the addition of an SD card slot and returning the FireWire port are welcome. If you’re looking for a sexy but serious laptop, the 13-inch Pro is worth investigating.