Apple MacBook MA472LLA 13.3 Notebook PC Review

Introduction:

What do you get when you put up to 2 GHz of pure Intel Core Duo power, an iSight camera, Front Row, iLife '06, and a 13-inch glossy widescreen display into a sleek case? More than you thought possible for less than you thought possible. Meet MacBook.

Specifications

Better bang-to-buck ratio
Now the Intel Core Duo is as affordable as it is powerful. With MacBook, you get the world's fastest mobile architecture in a beautifully designed notebook that costs less than slower, clunkier models. That's like getting a sports car for the price of a scooter. Of course, MacBook holds more than your average two-seater: up to 80 GB hard drive, an optional DVD-burning SuperDrive, built-in Bluetooth, wireless-ready (802.11g) AirPort, and up to 2 GB of RAM. And for the first time ever, choose bright white or sleek black.

Friends for iLife
Every MacBook comes with iLife '06--an amazing suite of applications that make it easy to live the digital life. Use iPhoto to share entire high-res photo albums with anyone who's got an e-mail address. Record your own songs and podcasts with GarageBand. Break into indie filmmaking with iMovie HD and iDVD. Then take all the stuff you made on your MacBook and share it on the web in one click with iWeb. Just turn on your MacBook and you're halfway there.

Take it on tour
MacBook features Front Row, so you can navigate your movies, music, photos, and more at the touch of the included Apple Remote--no matter where you roam. Give an impromptu vacation photo slideshow in your favorite café. Screen your latest iMovie on the train. Watch a DVD in bed. MacBook and Front Row give you the best seat in the house (or out of it).

All smiles
Look closely. See that little lens in the display bezel? That's the MacBook's built-in iSight camera. Use it to video chat simply by opening iChat AV and clicking on a buddy icon (or three). Or fire up Photo Booth and take a few snapshots with the iSight, play around with sixteen fun effects, then admire your handiwork. That little camera lets you create Web-ready videos, too. Just open up iMovie and start the action. From there, iWeb makes it one-click easy to get your talking head on the Web. Looks like fun.

Positively brilliant
Thanks to a 13.3-inch widescreen display that's 79% brighter with 30% more viewing area than the iBook before it, MacBook provides the perfect combination of pixels and portability. Photos feel crisper. Movies play vividly. Even daily tasks like surfing the Web and checking e-mail take on a whole new sheen.

Hit the hotspots
The built-in wireless capability of MacBook puts the "world" back in "world wide web." If there's a wireless hotspot nearby, you can get online. No need to burn valuable surfing time configuring your computer. Just open it up. MacBook automatically detects wireless networks within range and asks nicely if you'd like to join any of them. That's it. Catch up on your blog, share this weekend's trip a s a photocast, or just chat with your friends. Anytime, anywhere.

Review

Features: Well, here is what MacBook really shines. It comes with all you would ever need at the best price package. Look at specs yourselves and you will understand what I am saying. I would recommend getting aftermarket memory stick (1GB costs around under $90). Even upgrade to 1.25GB, it is really worth it. Unlike old small iBook, MacBook aftermarket do-it-yourselves upgrade is a breeze whether memory or harddisk.

Apple PowerBook Notebook 12.1 M9691LLA Review

Introduction:

Crisp new displays that expand your view. Longer battery life to fuel your work (or play) as you fly cross-country. A DVD-burning SuperDrive on every system. The PowerBook G4 packs loads of pro features in a slim enclosure with a slim new price

Specifications

The Future is Bright
With millions more pixels than previous models, each new 15-inch and 17-inch PowerBook gives you a brilliant workspace that rivals many desktop monitors. Spread out your tools, palettes, and timelines. Bounce from one productivity application to another. View your work from the top or side--easily share your work with clients or team members. Now you have a whole new reason to love your PowerBook.

Going the Extra Mile
The PowerBook G4 is ready to work whenever you are. The new 15-inch and 17-inch models boast a healthy 5.5 hours of battery life--an additional hour over the previous generation. Learn about ways to extend battery life.

DVD Burning Across the Line
It’s easy to warm up to the SuperDrive-equipped PowerBook G4 computers. With fast DVD burning on every system--and double-layer burning on the new 15- and 17-inch models--you’ll quickly discover new ways to package your data and your media. Extremely versatile, the slot-loading SuperDrive works hand-in-hand with Mac OS X, so you can burn data CDs, music CDs, and DVDs--right from the desktop.

Drive in the Fast Lane
With more files--and bigger files--you need a hard drive that can handle the load. Not a problem. The PowerBook G4 offers 5400-rpm drives standard across the line: 80 GB on 12- and 15-inch models and 120 GB on 17-inch models.(1) Need to get at those files fast? Through the Apple Store, you can configure your new 15- or 17-inch PowerBook with a 100 GB 7200-rpm internal hard drive that gives you room for huge files--and speedy access too.

Hearing Is Believing
Connect your new 15- or 17-inch PowerBook to decks, receivers, digital instruments and 5.1 surround sound systems. Built-in optical digital audio input and output enable you to enjoy true noise-free, pristine sound — without ground loop interference caused by copper wiring. Of course, all PowerBook systems have built-in stereo speakers for easy listening and an integrated microphone, handy for making calls using iChat AV. A standard minijack provides audio line-input for plugging in a powered microphone, and with a headphone-out port, you can plug in headphones and listen to music, watch a movie, play games or compose a new song in complete privacy.

Portable Performance
Thanks to the PowerPC G4 processor with Velocity Engine, every PowerBook packs a tremendous punch for doing everything from numerical computations to editing video and designing show-stopping presentations. The 15-inch and 17-inch models boast processor speeds of 1.67 GHz, and the 12-inch model crunches away at 1.5 GHz.

Working with multiple RAM-hungry applications? All PowerBook G4 systems ship standard with 512 MB of fast DDR memory. If you’re feeling expansive, you can quadruple that to 2 GB on both the 15- and 17-inch models. Even the 12-inch PowerBook allows you to pack in up to 1.25GB of RAM, more than enough to store an entire graphics project in main memory for fast image manipulations.

Featherweight Champ
Light enough to carry around all day, the PowerBook G4 starts at just 4.6 pounds. Housed in a lightweight aluminum alloy enclosure, these sleek notebooks resist stains and scratches. They’re also perfectly smooth on all surfaces, with no doors, protruding latches or levers to break, and no sharp edges to catch on your clothing. Start carrying one today.


Review

The battery on my PowerBook was also dead on arrival when I received it. It wouldn't charge at all. A quick call to Apple and the customer service representative acknowledged the problem and quickly set me up to send me a replacement battery. Within 48 hours of that call, I had a new, working battery in my doorstep. I sent back my dead battery in the pre-paid box and didn't even have to step out of my house because it was picked up.

Apple PowerBook Notebook 15.2 M9969LLA Review

Introduction:

Crisp new displays that expand your view. Longer battery life to fuel your work (or play) as you fly cross-country. A DVD-burning SuperDrive on every system. The PowerBook G4 packs loads of pro features in a slim enclosure with a slim new price


Specifications

The Future is Bright
With millions more pixels than previous models, each new 15-inch and 17-inch PowerBook gives you a brilliant workspace that rivals many desktop monitors. Spread out your tools, palettes, and timelines. Bounce from one productivity application to another. View your work from the top or side--easily share your work with clients or team members. Now you have a whole new reason to love your PowerBook.

Going the Extra Mile
The PowerBook G4 is ready to work whenever you are. The new 15-inch and 17-inch models boast a healthy 5.5 hours of battery life--an additional hour over the previous generation. Learn about ways to extend battery life.

DVD Burning Across the Line
It’s easy to warm up to the SuperDrive-equipped PowerBook G4 computers. With fast DVD burning on every system--and double-layer burning on the new 15- and 17-inch models--you’ll quickly discover new ways to package your data and your media. Extremely versatile, the slot-loading SuperDrive works hand-in-hand with Mac OS X, so you can burn data CDs, music CDs, and DVDs--right from the desktop.

Drive in the Fast Lane
With more files--and bigger files--you need a hard drive that can handle the load. Not a problem. The PowerBook G4 offers 5400-rpm drives standard across the line: 80 GB on 12- and 15-inch models and 120 GB on 17-inch models.(1) Need to get at those files fast? Through the Apple Store, you can configure your new 15- or 17-inch PowerBook with a 100 GB 7200-rpm internal hard drive that gives you room for huge files--and speedy access too.

Hearing Is Believing
Connect your new 15- or 17-inch PowerBook to decks, receivers, digital instruments and 5.1 surround sound systems. Built-in optical digital audio input and output enable you to enjoy true noise-free, pristine sound — without ground loop interference caused by copper wiring. Of course, all PowerBook systems have built-in stereo speakers for easy listening and an integrated microphone, handy for making calls using iChat AV. A standard minijack provides audio line-input for plugging in a powered microphone, and with a headphone-out port, you can plug in headphones and listen to music, watch a movie, play games or compose a new song in complete privacy.

Portable Performance
Thanks to the PowerPC G4 processor with Velocity Engine, every PowerBook packs a tremendous punch for doing everything from numerical computations to editing video and designing show-stopping presentations. The 15-inch and 17-inch models boast processor speeds of 1.67 GHz, and the 12-inch model crunches away at 1.5 GHz.

Working with multiple RAM-hungry applications? All PowerBook G4 systems ship standard with 512 MB of fast DDR memory. If you’re feeling expansive, you can quadruple that to 2 GB on both the 15- and 17-inch models. Even the 12-inch PowerBook allows you to pack in up to 1.25GB of RAM, more than enough to store an entire graphics project in main memory for fast image manipulations.

Featherweight Champ
Light enough to carry around all day, the PowerBook G4 starts at just 4.6 pounds. Housed in a lightweight aluminum alloy enclosure, these sleek notebooks resist stains and scratches. They’re also perfectly smooth on all surfaces, with no doors, protruding latches or levers to break, and no sharp edges to catch on your clothing. Start carrying one today.

1GB = 1 billion bytes; actual formatted capacity less



Review

The battery on my PowerBook was also dead on arrival when I received it. It wouldn't charge at all. A quick call to Apple and the customer service representative acknowledged the problem and quickly set me up to send me a replacement battery. Within 48 hours of that call, I had a new, working battery in my doorstep. I sent back my dead battery in the pre-paid box and didn't even have to step out of my house because it was picked up.

Apple PowerBook Notebook 17 M9689LLA Review

Introduction:

Miraculously engineered, the ultralight 17-inch PowerBook G4 is a mere 1-inch thin and only 6.9 pounds, making it one of the planet's thinnest, lightest, 17-inch notebooks. The first thing you'll notice is the megawide display -- the largest ever in a notebook. This PowerBook's stunning display gives you the same viewing area as a 19-inch CRT monitor. And as for the amount of information you can see on the screen at one time, the 17-inch PowerBook supports a resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels -- an eye-popping 1.3 million pixels appearing on the screen simultaneously, with room aplenty for your menus, toolbars and palettes. Thanks to its built-in, dual-link DVI support and 128 MB of graphics memory, you even have the option of connecting your PowerBook to Apple's breathtaking flat-panel displays, including the massive 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display. Featuring a powerful 1.67 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, a standard 5400-rpm 100 GB hard drive, an 8x SuperDrive, up to 2 GB of DDR RAM and AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR built right in, the top gun of notebook computers has it all.


Specifications

As Smart as It Looks
You'll love the high-resolution 17-inch active-matrix display with brilliant 1440 x 900 pixel resolution. And you'll marvel at the way this supersharp display fits into such a remarkably small frame: just 15.4 inches wide, 10.2 inches deep, 1.0 inches thin and a mere 6.9 pounds. Housed in a lightweight and durable aluminum alloy enclosure, the 17-inch PowerBook G4 is resistant to stains and scratches. Flat-out, drop-dead gorgeous, this revolutionary notebook is perfectly smooth on all surfaces, with no doors, protruding latches, levers or external buttons to accidentally press or break, and no sharp edges to catch on your clothing.

Built for Speed
The 1.67 GHz processor gives a tremendous performance boost with an advanced cache memory architecture that provides ultrafast dedicated memory with massively enhanced throughput. The 17-inch PowerBook G4 comes with 512MB of DDR SDRAM -- expandable to 2 GB of RAM -- allowing you to run several RAM-hungry applications simultaneously, or to store an entire graphics project in main memory for fast image manipulations.

Exremely Fast Wireless
Bluetooth. Wi-Fi. Ethernet. Modem. When it comes to communication, the PowerBook G4 covers all the bases, offering state-of-the-art solutions right out of the box, including built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, built-in AirPort Extreme, built-in high-speed Ethernet and a built-in modem.

Built in to the PowerBook G4, AirPort Extreme delivers state-of-the-art wireless performance, employing the 802.11g wireless standard. Now you never have to worry about compromised data rates: AirPort Extreme gives you blazing connectivity speeds up to 54 megabits per second(1). And with 802.11g and 802.11b interoperability, AirPort Extreme allows you to connect at the majority of wireless hotspots.

Feel the Burn of 8x SuperDrive
Your PowerBook G4 with SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW) comes loaded with iDVD software. Use it to burn DVDs that can be played in most consumer DVD players. Or use iTunes to burn your own CDs, or the Disc Burner feature in Mac OS X to burn data CDs and DVDs. The 8x SuperDrive reads DVD titles and burns DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs.


Sizzling Graphics Processor
The 17-inch PowerBook G4 models come standard with the ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics processor featuring 128 MB of DDR SDRAM. Featuring a number of cutting-edge graphics technologies, including programmable pixel and vertex shading for lighting, the Mobility Radeon 9700 dramatically enhances all aspects of your visual experience in every application.

Fast FireWire 800 and USB 2.0
The PowerBook G4 features FireWire, for connecting external hard drives and DV cameras, and USB, for connecting graphics tablets, digital cameras, printers and scanners. With more than 30 times the bandwidth of the popular USB 1.0 peripheral standard, FireWire 400 has become the gold standard for high-speed data transfer. And Apple ups the ante, effectively doubling data throughput, with FireWire 800. The new 15-inch PowerBook G4 has two FireWire ports -- one for the hundreds of FireWire 400 peripherals already available and the other for the coming generation of FireWire 800 peripherals. In addition, the PowerBook G4 offers the fastest connection to USB peripherals with two 480 Mbps USB 2.0 ports.


Built-in Bluetooth 2.0
Three times faster than Bluetooth 1.x, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (enhanced data rate) is now built into every new PowerBook model. Like AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth connects wirelessly to digital devices, including Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, handhelds and peripherals. What's more, you can even choose to enjoy a cable-free desktop with Apple's Bluetooth-enabled wireless keyboard and mouse. Operating within a 30-foot range, Bluetooth enables wireless data transfers between a rapidly growing list of Bluetooth-savvy peripherals. Using iSync, for example, you can use Bluetooth to synchronize your personal information between your PowerBook, your mobile phone and your Palm OS-based handheld. And your new PowerBook can use your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone to take advantage of GPRS or 1xRTT connectivity, so you can check your email from just about anywhere -- a life saver for those occasions when an 802.11 wireless hot spot isn't available

Review

I use my Powerbook as my primary machine. At any given time, I am usually running Adobe Photoshop and/or Illustrator, Macromedia Flash, as well as a few native applications (Mail and iCal are always open, usually iTunes as well). The programs that come with the computer are well integrated into the operating system. I use mine for about 15 hours a day, and I put it to sleep rather than shutting it down. Even with all of the work that I do on it, a year and a half after purchasing my model it still stays on for two to three weeks with no need to shut it down.

Apple MacBook Pro MA092LLA Review

Introduction:

Powered by a dual-core Intel engine. Up to five times the speed of the PowerBook G4. Eight times the graphics bandwidth. With built-in iSight for instant video conferencing on the move. Front Row with Apple Remote to dazzle everyone in the room. Now available in 15- and 17-inch models.


Specifications

Performance squared
MacBook Pro is built upon the revolutionary Intel Core Duo--which packs the power of two processors (up to 2.16 GHz) inside a single chip. It provides 2 MB of Smart Cache, L2 cache that can be shared between both cores as needed. It delivers higher performance in 2-D and 3-D graphics, video editing, and music encoding. And the new engine is only part of the story. MacBook Pro has a frontside bus and memory that, at 667 MHz, runs faster than any previous Mac notebook. It's the first Mac notebook with PCI Express, a Serial ATA hard drive, and the ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 for superfast graphics performance

iSight to behold
Sit down. Click on someone's iChat icon. And video conference from anywhere in the world. Though you can barely see it, there's an iSight camera built into the thin bezel just above the display. So now you can conference with associates during the day and chat with the kids at night. iChat AV lets you video chat with up to three other people simultaneously. And when you go head to head, you'll see your colleague more clearly, thanks to the VGA resolution made possible by the superfast Intel Core Duo. MacBook Pro also comes with Apple's Photo Booth application, a fun program that lets you take warped and Warholesque snapshots. With the new iLife '06 (included, of course), you can even record movies with iSight right into iMovie, then use the new iLife's newest application, iWeb, to create a video blog entry or podcast in just a few clicks.

Road show
MacBook Pro delivers the Front Row media experience, making it easy (and rather spectacular) to showcase your latest creations. Whether you're at the client's office, on location, or back at your hotel room, you just use the Apple Remote to control your videos, music, movies, and more. Front Row lets you quickly navigate through your work and play from anywhere in the room. You can even use the Apple Remote to navigate through Keynote presentations.

Do something. Say something. Make something.
MacBook Pro comes with iLife '06, a suite of easy-to-use applications that make it easy for anyone to make postcards, calendars, DVDs, Websites, and podcasts. Even professionals with proficiencies in high-end applications can appreciate the ease of creating initial compositions. Or posting pictures, videos, and commentary of current events almost before they happened. Enjoy the freedom of the press on MacBook Pro.

What's in the box
MacBook Pro notebook (with non-glossy screen), MagSafe power adapter, AC wall plug and power cord, lithium-polymer battery, Apple Remote, DVI to VGA adapter, install/restore DVDs, and printed and electronic documentation.

Product Description
You've seen improvements in notebook performance before--but never on this scale. The Intel Core Duo powering MacBook Pro is actually two execution cores built into a single chip. This, combined with myriad other engineering leaps, boosts performance up to five times higher than the PowerBook G4. With this awesome power, it's a breeze to render complex 3-D models, enjoy smooth playback of 1080p HD video, or host a four-way video conference.

More power, using less power
Intel Core Duo is the first chip built using Intel's groundbreaking 65-nanometer process--resulting in transistors so small, you could fit a hundred inside a single human cell. With smaller distances for electrons to travel, and two execution cores designed to share resources and conserve power, Intel Core Duo achieves higher levels of performance as it uses fewer watts. Which is what makes it possible to design a super-powerful MacBook Pro that's only one inch thin.

Review

I just received my new 17" MacBook Pro. I was a bit reluctant to replace my totally worn out PB 15 Titanium which is over 4 years ago: dings, replaced frames, and other maladies from falls, travel, etc. "Reluctant" due to the new operating system, new chips, new about everything. And then there's the issue of a ton of gigabytes and programs moved over to a new machine. Geez. What's that... days of adjustment, reloading, re-installing, and finding serial numbers.

Apple MacBook Pro MA464LLA Review

Introduction:

Powered by a dual-core Intel engine. Up to four times the speed of the PowerBook G4. Eight times the graphics bandwidth. With built-in iSight for instant video conferencing on the move. And Front Row with Apple Remote to dazzle everyone in the room. Wait no more

Specifications:


New engine, same soul
This is the first Mac notebook built upon the revolutionary new Intel Core Duo--which is actually two processors (up to 2.16 GHz) engineered onto a single chip. It provides 2 MB of Smart Cache, L2 cache that can be shared between both cores as needed. It delivers higher performance in 2-D and 3-D graphics, video editing, and music encoding. And the new engine is only part of the story. MacBook Pro has a frontside bus and memory that, at 667 MHz, runs faster than any previous Mac notebook. It’s the first Mac notebook with PCI Express, a Serial ATA hard drive and the ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 for superfast graphics performance.

Embedded reporter
Sit down. Click on someone's iChat icon. And video conference from anywhere in the world. Though you can barely see it, there's an iSight camera built into the thin bezel just above the display. So now you can conference with associates during the day and chat with the kids at night. iChat AV lets you video chat with up to three other people simultaneously. And when you go head to head, you'll see your colleague more clearly, thanks to the VGA resolution made possible by the superfast Intel Core Duo. MacBook Pro also comes with Apple's new Photo Booth application, a fun program that lets you take warped and Warholesque snapshots. With the new iLife '06 (included, of course), you can even record movies with iSight right into iMovie, then use the new iLife's newest application, iWeb, to create a video blog entry or podcast in just a few clicks.

Road show
The first notebook to deliver the Front Row media experience, MacBook Pro makes it easy (and rather spectacular) to showcase your latest creations. Whether you're at the client's office, on location, or back at your hotel room, you just use the Apple Remote to control your videos, music, movies, and more. Front Row lets you quickly navigate through your work and play from anywhere in the room. You can even use the Apple Remote to navigate through Keynote presentations.

Do something. Say something. Make something.
MacBook Pro comes with iLife '06, a suite of easy-to-use applications that make it easy for anyone to make postcards, calendars, DVDs, websites and podcasts. Even professionals with proficiencies in high-end applications can appreciate the ease of creating initial compositions. Or posting pictures, videos, and commentary of current events almost before they happened. Enjoy the freedom of the press on MacBook Pro.

What's in the box
MacBook Pro; power adapter with MagSafe Connector, AC wall plug and power cord; lithium-polymer battery; Apple Remote; DVI to VGA adapter; install/restore DVDs; printed and electronic documentation.

Product Description
You've seen improvements in notebook performance before - but never on this scale. The Intel Core Duo powering MacBook Pro is actually two processors built into a single chip. This, combined with myriad other engineering leaps, boosts performance up to four times higher than the PowerBook G4. With this awesome power, it's a breeze to render complex 3D models, enjoy smooth playback of HD video, or host a four-way video conference.Intel Core Duo is the first chip built using Intel's groundbreaking 65-nanometer process - resulting in transistors so small, you could fit a hundred inside a single human cell. With smaller distances for electrons to travel, and two processors designed to share resources and conserve power, Intel Core Duo achieves higher levels of performance as it uses fewer watts. Which is what makes it possible to design a super-powerful MacBook Pro that's only one inch thin.When Mac technology makes something easy, it's hardly news. So here's more non-news for MacBook Pro owners: software just works. If you see the Universal logo on a new application, that means it will run on Intel- and PowerPC-based Mac computers. For most existing applications, you simply do what you've always done: double-click them. Thanks to the Rosetta technology in Mac OS X, they look and feel just like they did before.


Review


The Intel Core Duo processor in the new MacBook Pro is an amazing chip. What have I noticed about the speed of the machine featuring this chip? It is incredibly fast. You'd be surprised by how much faster even web browsing is, when you have a processor as powerful as the Core Duo. However, what I've really been impressed by is doing things such as video encoding. I've encoded videos in H264 as much as eight times faster than my Powerbook G4. Furthermore, the iLife applications that are included on the MacBook Pro fly, with the speed. iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, and Garageband perform like never before. I've really been impressed by the speed.