Despite the hefty price tag, the Apple MacBook Pro remains one of the best selling laptops on the market, and as of Summer 2011, is the second best-selling laptop on Amazon.com. There is quite a large fan base of Apple MacBook users who return again and again, not just out of brand loyalty, but because they know Apple produces a well-built computer than is often worth the extra cost. Today we take a look at the 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air (MC700LL/A), released earlier this year, and the latest incarnation of a well-praised notebook dynasty.
Look & Feel
Best 13 Inch Laptop
As with most Apple products, the aesthetics of the MacBook Pro has always been one of its primary selling-points. The computer is produced from a single block of aluminum, giving it a very solid and durable feel. In this respect it is very similar to the previous generation of MacBooks. Due to the device's slim design, the solid construction doesn't make the laptop any heftier than average. While some may call the overall design somewhat "plain," with the standard white Apple logo on the top, we contend that it has a professional and clean look most users will appreciate for its simplicity.
The trackpad is arguably one of the best you will find on any laptop. Made of glass, and featuring Apple's Multi-Touch technology, the trackpad is durable, responsive, and just feels "right" under our fingers. There are no buttons - all motions are captured by Multi-Touch, which translates swiping, pinching, rotating and scrolling motions fluently onto the screen. The MacBook Pro also has a back-lit keyboard, great for typing in darker environments.
The MacBook Pro's display measures 13.3 inches diagonally. The LED-backlit glossy display has a 1280�800 pixel resolution, which is fairly standard. The size of the display is a bit on the "petite" side as laptops go, but it offers better portability than large notebooks. The 15.4 MacBook Pro adds a bit of weight and costs roughly 0-0 more.
Performance
MacBooks have generally offered very strong performance, and the latest MacBook Pro is no exception. The notebook is powered by Intel's latest generation of "Sandy Bridge" processors, the Core I line. The processor is a dual-core Core i5, which runs at 2.4 GHz and has a shared L3 cache for better multi-tasking performance. The performance of the i5 is somewhere between the cheaper Core i3 and the more expensive i7. For most applications, the Core i5 processor, combined with 4 GB of installed RAM, has more than enough processing power to get the job done.
The MacBook Pro is not a "gaming" computer, but still offers modest graphics performance. The Intel HD Graphics 3000 is an integrated, rather than a stand-alone, graphics chip. While not as powerful as a separate graphics processor, the 3000 can handle many of the latest games, albeit on low graphics settings and with occasional glitches. For games and other graphic-intensive software like Photoshop or AutoCAD, you might want to consider a laptop with a discrete graphics card.
The latest Apple MacBook Pro, currently retailing for about ,150, is a serious investment. For anyone looking in this price range, however, the MacBook delivers great performance and a pleasant, portable, and durable design. Although there are cheaper alternatives out there, the MacBook Pro is certainly a shoe-in for long-time fans.
Review of the Apple MacBook Pro 13.3-Inch Laptop (2011)
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