Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.4GHz) review

Compared with the recently updated non-Pro MacBook, the Pro gives us a decent boost in performance, but unless you need the Pro's vastly superior video abilities, you might be able to save a few quid and go with the 13-inch model.

The new Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics card, however, was a vast improvement over the ATI Mobility Radeon x1600 featured on last year's models. Running Quake 4 at 1,024x768 pixels, with antialiasing turned on, we got 65 frames per second from the updated Pro, while only about 42fps from the 2006 MacBook Pro.

Perhaps the biggest improvement in the revamped MacBook Pro is in battery life. Thanks to the LED-backlit display (and partially to Intel's energy-efficient Centrino Pro platform), we got an impressive three hours and 35 minutes with our DVD battery drain test -- that's 36 minutes more than the non-LED version of the MacBook Pro. Bear in mind the DVD battery drain test is especially grueling, so you can expect longer life from casual Web surfing and typical office use.

Conclusion
Despite its high price, the MacBook Pro makes a strong case by keeping its components on the cutting edge, especially because Apple has bumped up the specs without raising the price.

By upgrading to the latest Intel platform and Nvidia graphics for better performance, adding a new screen tech for better battery life, and keeping the same great design and same starting prices, the MacBook Pro puts enough distance between itself and the lower-end MacBook.

Additional editing by Shannon Doubleday

System configurations:

OS X 10.4.8; 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7700; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT; 160GB Hitachi 5,400rpm

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.3GHz
OS X 10.4.8; 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7600; 3072MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon x1600; 150GB Hitachi 5,400rpm

HP Pavilion dv6500t
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition; 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM; 128MB Nvidia 8400M GS; 200GB Toshiba 4,200rpm

Sony Vaio FZ180
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition; 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 8400M GT; 160GB Hitachi 5,400rpm