Like the standard MacBooks, the new Pros can be customised at the time of purchase. Using the entry-level MacBook as an example, you can add up to 4GB of RAM (£100), a 7,200RPM 320GB drive (£105), or a 128GB solid state drive (£420). Software includes Time Machine for creating backups, Mail, iChat, the Safari browser, Photo Booth, Front Row, Boot Camp (for installing Windows XP in addition to OS X), and the iLife '08 suite.
Performance
The MacBook Pro has always been a strong performer, and a long-time favourite of video editing professionals. If you fit that bracket, you'll be pleased to learn the new models are, on the whole, just as quick as those that came before it.
The 2.53GHz MacBook Pro completed our multimedia multitasking test in 402 seconds. That's around 67 seconds quicker than the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro from the previous generation, and 29 seconds quicker than the current generation MacBook we reviewed recently.
Graphics performance was solid, too. With the single GeForce 9400M card enabled, it ran Quake IV at 55.7 frames per second. With the two running in tandem, this jumped to 84.9 frames per second. Don't get too excited, though: we hardly noticed any difference in desktop graphics applications when running the two cards simultaneously.
With the two cards enabled, the MacBook Pro lasted 3 hours and 16 minutes in our video playback test, which isn't bad for a laptop of this size. With just the integrated 9400M enabled, it lasted a more impressive 4 hours and 5 minutes. That's not quite the 5 hours claimed by Apple, but it's impressive nonetheless.
Conclusion
The MacBook Pro is an excellent laptop, but we find it difficult to recommend. It's great in its own right, but it offers relatively little in comparison to the standard MacBook, except perhaps in gaming terms. If you can afford it and can live with its numerous foibles, it'll be fine, but given the price, our money's with its little brother.
Edited by Marian Smith
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