Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Core i7) Review

LapTop Magazine ^ | April 14, 2010 | by Michael A. Prospero

[Swordmaker]

The latest version of Apple’s 15-inch dream machine delivers Core i7 power and automatic switchable graphics while lasting nearly 8 hours on a charge.

Lowest Price: $2,099.99

Pros

Excellent battery life
Strong Core i7 performance
Automatic switchable graphics
Comfortable backlit keyboard
Great touchpad with inertial scrolling

Cons

Runs warm
Limited ports
Pricey

Quick Specs Full Specs

CPU: 2.66-GHz Intel Core i7-620M
Operating System: OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
RAM/Upgradable to: 4GB/8GB
Hard Drive Size/Speed: 500GB/5,400 rpm
Display Size/Resolution: 15.4 inches/1440 x 900
Price as Reviewed: $2199

Nearly a year has passed since Apple released its updated 15-inch MacBook Pro, featuring a unibody aluminum construction, SD Card slot, and a longer-lasting lithium ion battery. Now, the Cupertino-based company has incorporated a few important upgrades under the hood to supercharge this elegant machine (starting at $1,799; $2,199 as configured). These enhancements include the long-awaited Intel Core i7 processor, capable of overclocking on the fly, and automatic graphics-switching technology that makes moving from integrated to discrete graphics mode all but invisible to the user. Best of all, even with the jump from Core 2 Duo to Core i7, Apple has managed to deliver all-day battery life. These are collectively welcome improvements, but are they enough to justify the premium? Yup.

[Swordmaker]

Laptop Magazine's review of the new MacBook Pro i7 _ "nothing comes close" PING!

MacBook Pro Review Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[Plutarch]

Did Apple deign to include a USB port?

[skr]

I saw two on the side. Not going to buy one though. My old iBook still works for what little I need an Apple computer for.

[Leonard210]

FireWire 800 and 2 USB 2 ports.

[rmlew]

Ddi you see Anandtech first review? It is more detailed.

Personally, if you're spending that much money, get a SSF. a 5400rpm hard drive doesn't cut it.

[Syntyr]

You sound knowledgeable on the subject. Do you know if you can run Access on it? I mean a native version. I don’t want to have to use bootcamp and reboot in to a Windows version to use Access.

I would love to have a Macbook for Work but I use Microsoft Office and spefically Access and Project/Visio a LOT.

[dangerdoc]

bump

[devane617]

You can run Parallels 5.0 and not have to boot....Works great...But I believe Access is available for Apple in the native mode.

[TheStickman]

Still happy with my Macbook. When it dies or the wife ever shows an interest in using it, I will replace it with a new Macbook.

Drool factor for the new MBP’s however, is VERY high :)

[SunkenCiv]

E, check this out:

the long-awaited Intel Core i7 processor, capable of overclocking on the fly

Thanks Swordmaker.

[SunkenCiv]

I love that — “Pricey” — and yet nothing else comes close. Yeah, I can see how it should cost no more than a bottle of pasteurized not-from-concentrate orange juice. :’)

[Richard Kimball]

On MacRumors a guy was touting a Toshiba laptops with similar specs that was less than a grand. I checked the comments section on his link and battery life was listed by one user at around two hours. Another said he knocked off a star because there was a ton of adware on it. A third said the keyboard was not comfortable. Case was plastic. It had a ton of ports on the sides. I’d probably use one or two of them at most.
Same old argument that’s gone on forever. Is it worth the extra money for the better ergonomics and touches? Does the longer life span make up for the extra money? Each user has to make his or her own decisions.

[SunkenCiv]

:’) One can try to juice up an old laptop by adding new guts, but to get Mac-level duration out of one battery charge won’t work, simply because Apple has maxed the size of its batteries in part by removing plugs, doors, etc — hence the lack of ability of users to replace the batts themselves.

I tried out a Toshiba netbook or two lately, seems to be very good build quality, pretty much as I would have expected (I remember those excellent — for their time — Toshiba laptops of years ago). I like the size and totability of netbooks, but the keyboards are too small. Having dinked with a few iPads now, I think the same can be said for those as well, but A) I have big hands and B) younger people who have been using mobiles for a while (Palm, Blackberry, iPhone, etc) are going to gobble them up, particularly when the 3G model arrives.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

AMD is about to turn out their version of that capability....in a 6 headed chip.

"Fry will sell me one,...but I want the black version.

[Richard Kimball]

You make good points and I wasn’t trying to diss the Toshiba. Each manufacturer makes choices based on what they think will sell.

I feel for you on the big hands thing. I’ve got a friend that has huge hands and even on a full sized keyboard, he’ll sometimes hit three keys at a time.

[johngrace]

I just went Apple- December 2008 no regrets I have mac book pro. A few months later mac mini, A few months later an I-phone. What a difference!! I was laid off now do video editing on all. Its the Best!

[SunkenCiv]

It’s not just the keyboards, I don’t like the scratch pad mouse substitutes either. If I absolutely needed the mobility, which I probably don’t (but would not mind at all having around), I would just carry a USB mouse as well, and live with the keyboard. I picked up one of those rollup silicone keyboards last year ($7 at Staples) as another move in my lifelong campaign to squander money, but without a mobile (and significant amounts of beach weather in the summers here these past two years, and high gasoline prices) there’s little reason to use it.

I have what I think is a great idea for a mobile computer, but the only way I’d ever see it come to pass is if I had the cash to develop and market it myself.

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[dangerdoc]

I have one of those i7 Toshiba laptops. The quality and feel are very nice. It has provided me with the most satisfaction from the purchase of a new computer since I moved up from an 8088 to an 80386. I had my doubts about Win 7 but have been pleasantly suprised.

I’m doing things in an evening on that laptop that used to take days. I ran my last laptop day and night crunching video, literally wore the cooling fan out.

That being said, I would be tempted to switch to Mac full time for this piece of kit. That is one impressive list of specs. It’s even faster than my screamer and doesn’t look shabby either.