Comments on: 2008 MacBook Pro Review

By: tom

tom — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:50:05 +0000

But you do lot of photography-stuff. And on glossys the colour or saturation is not even right. So you need really a second display to work accuracy? Or do you say, that on only high-expensive displays the colour is really right, so it dosen’t matter.

By: Terry White

Terry White — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:32:08 +0000

Tom,
I work with the 15″ Glossy screen everyday and don’t find it to be an issue.

By: tom

tom — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:21:36 +0000

Well, I’m a professional illustrator/graphic designer and want switch to a notebook-only workspace. So I’m thinking of getting a 2,8GHz MBP 15” or 2,93GHz 17”. Is glossy such a bigh think and it’s impossible to work well on it? I thought to use only the 17”-setup to work on.

By: Brett

Brett — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:35:54 +0000

Dante, go for the 2.8. For your line of duty, the 2.8 will render files and smooth out videos. Also, when you start adding stuff on your HD, the processor needs to be fast enough to meet your needs. Also, the extra .3ghz will go to hidden processes.

By: DanteR

DanteR — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:55:08 +0000

Terry,

I’m a lifetime Mac user currently using a powerbook 1.25 Ghz Powerbook. I’ve been comparing the different speeds of the 15′MBPs but can’t find a helpful review to tell me exactly how substantial is the speed difference bet the 2.4/2.53 & 2.8 Ghz MBPs (More between the 2.53 and 2.8). Any words to help?

P.S…I will be doing graphic work/video editing /music recording & DJing from it…Thx

Dante.R

By: David Bankston (TechWizard)

David Bankston (TechWizard) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:37:33 +0000

Terry, I got to tell ya, I differ with a couple of your conclusions.. Of course, all based on opinion – but here goes.

1. The trackpad is horrible. The clicking is insanely loud, hard to click and really does not promote the same finger /dexterity setup as before. – My previous MBP (v4.1) has a great trackpad with button and fits my style.

2. Monitor – way to glossy to use outside and anywhere with bright lights. Simply takes more effort to concentrate to ignore the glare than reasonable. Now im a Glossy guy so i appreciate the rich colors glossy gives, but this is just too much. Im also a photographer, i tried to do a dump of photos I took today and used the New MBP to see how workflow would go. I usually do a quick card dump to Lightroom, then take a few minutes to flag the hot photos with a rating tag. I got 1/3 thru the photo tagging then gave up and switched to my Glossy MBP 17inch to finish.
This is a real problem, apple must offer other choices.

3. Speed – The new MBP running in fast graphics mode is truly faster for things like games that require fast GPU calculations. – No doubt. But for everyday usage, I find the Previous gen 2.6 MBP is simply – faster. (Launching Office, Final Cut Pro, Shake, Lightroom, etc. ) I ran tests with both side by side. the old one is faster.

So Try this test. Go the the Apple store, launch a program at the same time on the current 17inch and new 15 inch – see what happens..

Dont get me wrong, Im a huge Apple fan. Im even an apple certified pro. – so Im not a PC head out here with a problem..

My bottom line – But for the super slick 1 part case, im considering Apples new release a step sideways, not forward.
Cons: Buggy trackpad, also there are complaints about the new MBP’s locking up here ( http://gizmodo.com/5099671/beta-culture-apple-acknowledges-video-problems-in-new-macbooks), No FW 400, No Matte, DVI dongle required, too too glossy screen, battery meters removed and put on machine requires to install a battery to check its levels –duh, not enough everyday speed enhancements..

David

By: Mark Lyndersay

Mark Lyndersay — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:44:47 +0000

Hello Terry
Thanks for this review of the new MBP. I have the same configuration, having upgraded from a 2.2ghz black Macbook and the biggest adjustment that I’m working through is the drastic difference in battery life. I’m using 10.56 and getting just around 2 hours in average use. Processors are hovering around 50% (got to close some of those browser windows), monitor is one tap away from complete darkness (still quite bright) and I have kept the discrete processor active.
Your experience would help to shed some light on whether this is the nature of the 2.8ghz model wit 7200rpm drive or whether I should be having a conversation with Apple.

By: Kevin Spencer

Kevin Spencer — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:53:50 +0000

I got a new MBP this week and you’re spot on about the USB ports. They’re so close together that I can’t plug more then one thing in at a time. Terrible design decision. I’m going to have to go buy a separate USB hub splitter thingy now.

Dear Apple, not every USB device is an ultra slim flash drive. Just sayin’.

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:20:08 +0000

Hey Terry- I’m looking to pull the trigger on a 2.8 myself next week, the only things im trying to figure out is what kind of battery life you get with the fast processor and fast hard drive and how much cooler it runs then the old MacBook Pro which you could fry bacon on. My girlfriend has the new MacBook and it runs very cool, just a little warmer then body temperature.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:55:52 +0000

I love the rigidity and speed of the new MacBook Pro. It is gorgeous eye candy. But after 2 days working all day with it I returned it in favor of a maxed out earlier edition 2.6 MacBook Pro with a 320 GB hard drive. It is just a tad slower, but the matte screen is all the difference to me. I just could not get comfortable dodging the reflections in both the black frame and the working area of the screen. I constantly move around and travel with my “book” and it was just too much hassle having to constantly make sure there was no light behind me and having to angle the screen “just so” in order to minimize the reflections and fingerprints.

By: C.A.Williams

C.A.Williams — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:54:00 +0000

Great review!

I hope removing the button from the track pad is just an anomaly. I have an essential tremor and that tap-to-click thing makes me nuts! One of things I like about my current MacBook Pro is I can turn it off. The other thing in the new MBP that turned me off was the glossy display. I’ve always preferred matte finishes to glossy. Did they put any kind of anti-reflective coating on it? Is this a side-effect of the move to LED displays?

I love Apple kit but there are times when the make me scratch my head!

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:41:12 +0000

I just bought a new MBP. I am a home enthusiast when it comes to computing. The new unibody is amazing. My pros over my original MB 1.83 Core Duo is the speed, the LED screen is nice and for my failing eyes the 15.4" is a blessing. I am learning to use the gestures more than clicking and occasionally get a few errants entries. But I do think they work pretty well overall. I do like the glass trackpad. It has a great feel. I like quick access to the hard drive.

The battery is HUGE and runtime is well less than desirable IMHO and agree access is an issue and you have to line up the cover just so. Lack of FW400 may have us utilizing the Express Card slot. The aluminum case is so nice but it feels slippery in my hand. Maybe it is because of the physical size and weight but I am unable to carry it like I did the MB.

I was torn between buying the previous model but in the end I bet my chips on Snow Leopard that Apple will crank every last bit of HP it can out of my new MBP and I can keep it for a few years.

2.4Ghz, 2GB, 250 GB 5400 RPM

By: Terry White

Terry White — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:30:42 +0000

Chase,
I’ve tried that option before and I’m just too heavy fingered/handed for it. I always inadvertently click when I’m just resting my finger/thumb on the trackpad.

By: Chase

Chase — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:12:46 +0000

My friend got a new macbook with the new track pad like your pro and has the same problems that you have. what I dont understand is why you and him are not using tap to click. it makes alot of sense to use tap to click (with drag lock on also) with a single finger for click and two fingers for right click. Its better for your hand and more natural when moving between all the trackpad gestures. I think once you get used to it it will be so much faster than using a button.

By: Gnufist

Gnufist — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:32:53 +0000

I was really looking forward to upgrading my current MBP and Apple Cinema Display 20" setup to the new MBP and 24" LED LCD. But the new glossy screens are just too much a distraction, especially the wider black glass bezel of the screens. They are just like a mirror and are very distracting, specially when you are getting tired it’s getting harder to concentrate and ignore div. reflections.
This really made me realize how dependent I’ve become on Apple hardware, if you want to great OS X you have to take what hardware Apple makes available, if it works for you or not…

A previously very happy Apple fan.