I recently traded up from an older 15-inch MacBook Pro to a new 15-inch unibody MacBook Pro. I wanted to get a faster machine with better graphics capabilities, in order to get the most out of the new version of Final Cut Studio. That ruled out getting a 13-inch MacBook or MacBook Pro (though I love the design and small size of those machines), along with the $1699.99 MacBook Pro with 9400M graphics. I went for the model with the GeForce 9600M GT graphics plus NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, in order to have extra oomph running Motion.
So far I’ve been very impressed with the machine (especially its speed), though a couple of features left me puzzled or with mixed feelings. Rather than get into detailed clock speeds, etc (there are many great sites for that, including Barefeats.com, Macworld.com, even the Apple section of Arstechnica.com), I’m going to focus on the day-to-day experience of using the new MacBook Pro.
First, I love the “new” (as of October 2008) unibody MacBook Pro case, which is famously milled out of a solid block of aluminum. The machine truly feels solid and robust. It feels like a well-designed, truly professional machine, which makes it inspiring to use (not unlike using any other well-made tool.)
I also really like the square, recessed keys on the keyboard. I can type faster and more comfortably with this layout. I don’t miss the old keyboard at all.
On previous PowerBooks, iBooks, and MacBook Pros, I preferred using the trackpad to an external mouse. At first I was excited to try the new buttonless multitouch trackpad on the new MacBook Pro, since multitouch on the iPhone works so well. However, that’s not quite the case with the trackpad on the new MacBooks. I occasionally accidentally resize webpages with the new trackpad, and the secondary click option does not always work as expected. Also, if you have the trackpad configured to “click to select” (rather than tap to select), not only do you have to push down rather hard, the clicking sound is loud. I admit that I simply have to get used to a new input technique, after years of old habits. I see lots of potential in the new trackpad. But for now, I miss the old trackpad. Ask me again in a year – I bet I’ll dislike the old version.
The glossy screen is another area of contention. It looks awesome, with vivid bright colors. I really do like the way it looks over a matte display. However, I find it disconcerting to occasionally see myself reflected in my work. Like right now, as I write this. I am used to a glossy display on my iMac, so I don’t find the glossy display as offensive as many others seem to. But all things being equal, I would probably have preferred the matte option. I do appreciate that the display is LED vs LCD, as it was on my previous MacBook Pro.
I questioned the idea of the new built-in battery, but so far battery life has been excellent, and I have to admit I never in three years of use did I ever remove the battery in my previous MacBook Pro. Likewise I never used the Expresscard slot, which was also removed in this generation MacBook Pro.
I do use and very much appreciate the addition of the SD card slot. I take dozens of photos a week and always seem to loose my SD card reader. It was great of Apple to finally have added this. I don’t know why it took so long; maybe Steve Jobs just got a digital camera.
I also appreciate the standard 4GB RAM (first time in a decade I’ve purchased a Mac and didn’t immediately upgrade the RAM), and will hopefully upgrade all the way to 8GB RAM when prices drop in the future.
I plan on selling my iMac or putting into a different task in the near future. My main desktop setup at home will then be this new MacBook Pro with the newish 24-inch Apple LED display. The 24-inch Apple LED display only has Mini DisplayPort connectivity. Some people have complained that the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros also only use Mini DisplayPort video out; however, in this case, that works for me. If I want to use a projector or any other monitor, I’ll have to buy a $29.99 adaptor.
So, in short, I am delighted with the new machine. It’s so close to perfection it hurts. I can live with the minor quibbles (still adapting to the new trackpad, glossy display is more reflective than my tastes) since everything else with the machine is so great. Speed, reliability, ability to breeze through Final Cut Studio files — all there. This is a machine I truly look forward to using for the next few years. I think it’s up for it.