MacBook Pro

[ADSL Nation]

I just received my MacBook Pro 1.83 yesterday and thought I'd do a quick review.

I currently use a G4 Mini (10.4) as a desktop and a IBM ThinkPad (XP) as a laptop. My intended use for the MacBook is to combine the functions of the two into one, so I can keep everything in one place and take it with me.

So what I want to be able to do is use the MacBook both at work and away from the office. When at work I don't want to use the MacBook as a portable, but use it with an external monitor, mouse & keyboard as a desktop replacement. I'm not into gaming, 3D rendering and only a light user of Adobe CS2 so can't give any feedback on how it performs when maxed out.

Let me start by saying I was excited by the idea of the MacBook but was sadly disappointed. It looks great in it's silver case with glowing apple logo. It also has a few neat features such as the illuminated keyboard, but it really doesn't make the grade.

The first disappointment is the screen. It is nice and bright but the colour is washed out and the viewing angle is as bad as early LCD's where the colour varies enormously when you move your head 3 inches. I couldn't use the screen for anything more than bashing out a quick email when I had no external screen.

What is incredible is rosetta that manages to run virtually faultless emulation of the PPC system. Apple have done an excellent job with this, most applications being a little slow but usable. I also expect that the speed will be even better when my 2GB memory upgrade is installed. With the standard 512M simple Apps struggle a bit. I expect that with more RAM that this will improve as more of the emulated app can be held in memory. So I would suggest have a minimum of 1G of RAM installed if you run emulated apps. Running Safari, iChat and Entourage uses the full 512M.

There are a few teething problems as well that I won't knock it to much for as I expect they will get fixed with updates. Currently my Airport does not re-connect after the book has been to sleep. Looking on various forums it would seem I'm not alone. There are a number of other problems being reported. Building such a complex system is bound to result in some problems so I fully expect most of these problems to be fixed over the coming months via firmware and software updates.

Where the MacBook is really let down is on it's ability to be moved from desktop to portable use.

I have a 20" DVI connected display that I want to use. On my ThinkPad I have a small port replicator that I just click the laptop onto and all my connections are made. With the MacBook I have an array of fiddly connectors to plug-in spread over 2 sides of the book. I have to connect Power, Audio and USB to the left hand side. Then Plug in DVI-D video, Ethernet and Firewire on the right hand side.

Well if that's not fiddily enough I have to open the lid of the book to press the power button as there is no way to turn on the book without opening it. The ThinkPad has a power button on the replicator. I have no need to use the built-in screen as my desktop display is plenty big enough and the internal screen is so poor. So I close the lid and of course the computer goes to sleep. So I then have to wake it up to use it, only problem is I can't wake it with a 3rd party Bluetooth keyboard and mouse so have to connect a USB mouse just so I can wake it up.

If Apple are going to make headway into corporate use they need to acknowledge that a laptop is taken to and from work every day and it is not practical to plug and unplug six or seven cables twice a day.

The remaining problems are the trackpad button. It is a big wide button but only has a single button function. Apple could of easily put two contacts under it and had the option in software to use it as a single or twin button. Although that's a subject that people don't a agree on so I won't go on about that. But my button has no definite click, it is sort of spongy with a horrid bounce problem that results in double clicks when I only press the button once.

[ADSL Nation]

The catch on the front to open the lid is another design failure it is a small long button in the center of the front. It is so thin that your average male finger can not press it without having to resort to a finger nail. It's also very fiddly as you have to lift the screen with one hand while trying press the button with the other. If you have already put the book down on the desk pushing the button is even more difficult as it is positioned on the base.

The overall design of the MacBook is clearly a case of form over function. It's like a pair of 6" platform shoes, they might of once looked trendy but they absolutely kill your feet.

All these problems coupled with the fact that features such as Dual Layer DVD writing and Firewire 800 missing all add up to a disappointing result. Not to mention the risk of problems associated with being an early adopter. As much as I like apple I don't feel I can recommend the MacBook Pro to anyone.

[michaelm]

Hi there,

Many thanks for posting such a detailed review and very sorry to learn of the problems you have found with the MacBook Pro.

Looks like Apple have missed an opportunity with a docking station here as this would improve things considerably. Probably does not bode well either as they don't have one for the old Powerbooks either.

Comments about the screen are a surprise too - I thought that Apple had surpassed the screens on the PB range but possibly not.

I will continue to wait for a decent replacement for my current 12" PB which has the right combination of size and performance I need from a laptop.

Thanks again for sharing this with us and hope things improve soon!

Best wishes

Michael

[electricdave]

Yeh, good post, well done!

Great to get such a detailed insight from an actual end user....

[StudioworksMedia]

Great review, havin only tried out a MacBook for an hour or so in store I hadn't had time to get to grips with it fully and give it close enough inspection so I left it semi impressed.

But now having read your comments I feel I will have to re-think my stance on this new piece of Apple kit and maybe give it a closer inspection in the near future.

Well Done!

[ibecks]

Another perspective on the MBP...

Brief history of my Mac ownership: Performa 5260 (I know!), iMac G3 400, iBook 466, iBook G3 800, MBP 1.83. So this is my first top-of-line laptop.

I've had my MBP for three weeks now, having upgraded from an iBook G3. Given that huge jump, my perception of the relative speed of the MBP is more than a little distorted, but I've been running Photoshop 7, CS and The Sims 2 regularly and have found that despite all being Rosetta apps, they run at a reasonable speed. I am planning to max out the RAM as I really think it needs it, but I can live with it for the moment.

I have to disagree about the screen. Again, going from an iBook to an MBP of course I'm going to see a big improvement, but I'm very pleased with it. Whatever coating they've got on it really helps with glare and doesn't seem to pick up as many fingerprints as the iBook did.

Lack of dual-layer DVD support isn't a big deal for me, nor is the lack of Firewire 800, but as this is a step backwards from the Powerbooks, I can understand the disappointment some have felt.

The MagSafe connector is a great idea - I had tripped over the cables on the iBook a few times and either sent it crashing to the floor or yanked the connector so hard I was worried I'd ripped its innards out. I've 'trip-tested' the MagSafe a few times and it passed the test with flying colours. Just a shame I can't make use of the old power adapters I have lying around the house.

I don't have the multi-purpose requirements you do as my MBP is my main computer, used both at home and at work. I much prefer having the connections spread across both sides of the laptop as it means less trailing of cables than I had to endure with the iBook. However I can understand the frustrations of having to unplug everything when you want to move it around. Mind you, I don't recall Apple laptop docks having been around for a good few years, although there is a third-party solution by 'BookEndz'. They don't have an MBP version yet, but it's only a matter of time. The display release button is a perfect fit for my dinky fingers (my display 'pops up' fine) and I haven't experienced any problems with the trackpad button... and as a long-time Mac user, one function is all I need, thanks very much!

So, on to the problems I've had.

Apart from a couple of instances of waking it from sleep and finding the screen frozen in a bizarre pattern (immediately ran hardware test to check the logic board!), I haven't had any unforseen crashes or system software faults. What I have found fairly frustrating is the lack of UB drivers for older devices. I know the peripheral companies need to sell new stuff, but I'd still like to see wider support. For example, my Wacom Graphire tablet isn't covered by their UB driver and Kensington haven't even released a UB version of Mouseworks yet. RSI here I come. Having said that, I've early adopted before and I'm content to go through that again. To be fair, though, most of my hardware works faultlessly through Rosetta. My scanner, digicam, Palm, printer and many others work fine... including my Belkin USB fan, which brings me to my next point.

This thing runs HOT. Admittedly I've upgraded from a relatively cool, plastic-cased laptop to a metal-cased powerhouse, but I can't keep it on my lap for more than two minutes without worrying about getting third degree burns. And yes, the manual does actually warn of burns as a result of using it on your lap. On a couple of occassions I have resorted to using my USB fan just to help disperse the heat. The next third-party accessory I'll be looking for is a 1/2" thick plastic tablet filled with a cooling gel you can put in the freezer overnight and then use as a laptop-table to protect your thighs from MBP-shaped burn marks.

So all in all, I'm a happy bunny and I'm confident that in time any little niggles with drivers etc will disappear, performance will improve when it has to run fewer programs through Rosetta and my 'iCool' invention will make me millions.

[ADSL Nation]

I guess our point of reference is very different.

I am comparing the screen on the MacBook Pro to my IBM ThinkPad and the desktop TFT. Both vastly superior to the MacBook Pro. The ThinkPad is over 3 years old. I expect the MacBook screen is better than the PowerBook but it still isn't that usable. My desktop screen for example the colour remains constant if I sit down, stand up or move a meter to left or right. The MacBook screen however literally if I move my head 3 inches in any direction the colour changes significantly. I wonder if it is the anti-reflective coating optimised for use in bright light but compromises the colour fidelity.

I'm comparing the portable aspects against my thinkpad.
The bookends thing is a bit of a kludge, most proper PC laptops, I'm not talking about the £400 jobbies from Argos but proper corprate names like IBM, HP, Toshiba etc all have a proper dock or port replicatior. I can see it's not such a big problem if you use it as a portable only or if it spends most of it's time in one place only to me moves occasionally. But for someone who takes home their computer every day a proper replicator is needed.

The last Mac laptop I had was the first ever G3, where apple shoehorned a G3 into the 3400 case. Since then I have had a PC portable and a Mac Desktop, B&W G4, Mirror Door G4 and then the mini.

[electricdave]

This thing runs HOT. The next third-party accessory I'll be looking for is a 1/2" thick plastic tablet filled with a cooling gel you can put in the freezer overnight and then use as a laptop-table to protect your thighs from MBP-shaped burn marks.

Looks like you just found a use for your old iBook....!

[andymac]

This is all interesting stuff - my wife received her 1.83 MBP yesterday afternoon, so I'll let you know how she gets on. Again though, she's upgrading from an old iBook G3 500, so the MBP is a leap ahead. However her desktop is a DP 2.5 G5, so performance wise it'll be interesting to compare.

Cheers,

[StudioworksMedia]

No offense andymac but it is unusuall to hear of a female with such powerfull Apple hardware (for me anyway) what does you wife use it all for if you don't mind me asking? I am trying to get my girlfriend on a computer more often but i'm just taking it one small step at a time

[andymac]

Good question StudioworksMedia

My wife does Art & Design, and needs the power to run Photoshop (mainly RAW images). Macromedia & other graphic apps. The DP G5 has been great for her working with (it replaced a G4 iMac), but the iBook just didn't have the steam to allow her to show her work at presentations etc. Hoping that the MBP will do this with more ease.

She's pretty cool with IT stuff, and did an OU course in basic IT before embarking on the Art Degree a few years ago (I work in a different industry to fund all this BTW ).

Cheers,

[StudioworksMedia]

Good for you buddy, it's good to hear of more ladies embarking on pro design. I think it is one thing that design mag's have to little of is showcased work and tutorials by female designers. It would be great if you could post a few example of her work so we can all see how good she is?

[michaelm]

Good question StudioworksMedia

My wife does Art & Design, and needs the power to run Photoshop (mainly RAW images). Macromedia & other graphic apps. .... Hoping that the MBP will do this with more ease.

Don't forget that Adobe have promised a revision to a universal app sometime in early 2007! This means that Photoshop will have to run under Rosetta which will mean a bit of a performance hit until the universal version comes out.

Should still be a lot quicker than an iBook though (I hope!) even having to run through an emulator.

Best of luck

Michael

[ADSL Nation]

In my experience so far Photoshop runs a bit slower than on my 1.4 G4 mini. But my extra memory hasn't arrived yet so I'm not sure how much faster it might go. Make sure you only run one CS2 app at a time as apparently they cause each other to crash under rosetta.

[andymac]

Thanks for the responses folks - we've added 1GB of extra RAM to the MBP, so will see how it performs with the older apps under Rosetta - at the moment still finding all the discs to load it up !

Will let you know when there's some stuff on my wife's website to look at - it's being overhauled, and only has a single image on it at the moment.

Cheers,