Apple is a hardware company (Mini review after a week and a half with my new Macbook Pro Unibody)

I took delivery of my Macbook Pro a week and a half ago, and have been using it for hours daily since.

Specs:
Macbook Pro Unibody
2.53Ghz
4GB Ram
320GB HD @7200
Price: £1,746 ($2,462)

I have to say, despite people warning me that I paid far too much, I don't feel ripped off at all. This is the best notebook, the best computer I have EVER owned. It really feels like a premium product. The build quality is about 1,000,000X better than the competition. That's why I say apple is a hardware company, because their hardware is out of this world. That's most of what I paid for I think. A real premium product. It's like the Gucci or CK of computers, and not just in branding, but in quality. Fantastic machine.

To compare I used my M1330 earlier, and it was like going back to the 90's in comparison. What do you mean I can't two finger scroll, or rotate images with my fingers? Why is the trackpad so pathetically small? How can anyone use this? etc....

Now for OSX. WOW. Just awesome. It takes about 15 seconds to get to my fully loaded desktop after turning on the macbook pro. No extra loading, no waiting for the taskbar to come up, no waiting for taskbar programs to load etc... it's just fully on and ready to go as soon as the desktop appears. It's weird that i'd been conditioned not to believe this was possible? Conditioned to accept that you turn on the computer, and after 30 seconds or more you get to the desktop, and wait some more for background programs and services to load. Weird?

Oh, turning off the computer? 4 seconds. Shut down, and it's off. Seriously, what the hell? Again i'd been conditioned to accept a shutdown screen, and more waiting while programs and the computer slowly closed.

OSX is so simple aswell. I was really apprehensive when I switched, because i'd never used anything other than windows and PC's, and I was pretty clued up on windows too. Most would probably call me a "power user" actually. However, OSX feels like the first time i've ever actually used a computer. There are far far far fewer options. The "control panel" is tiny. You know what though, I really can't think of anything i've missed? Any option I wished was there? Everything I need is there, and everything that I don't isn't. With OSX you just use your computer, not tinker with it. I have been so productive it's been unreal! Take something simple like power saving options. In OSX it took me about 5 seconds to select what I wanted. In Vista or even Windows 7? Hahahahahah. There were so many options and dropdowns that it took several minutes.

Take installing applications. Download file, double click file, drag icon to applications folder. That's it. Seriously. WOW.

OSX is like computing the way it was always intended to be. Windows feels like Linux in comparison, with the tinkering and the need to be more than a basic user.

Oh, one other thing, i've been re-educated! How annoying is "tap to click"? I mean your finger coming into contact with the trackpad counting as a click. I can't believe I ever used that on Windows. What a nightmare! Although the option is there on OSX, the default behaviour is to physically press in the trackpad (the trackpad itself is a button that pushes in) when you want to click. Well that's MUCH better! I can confidently move the mouse around the screen in any manner I please, and it's impossible to accidentally click things. I have to physically push in the trackpad as a button. That works much better with right clicking too. Two finger's, push in the trackpad. Well that's awesome! MUCH better. Trackpad size has spoiled me aswell. I now require a trackpad the size of the macbook pro's not to get frustrated.

I could never go back to windows now. I'm now a fully paid up Apple fanboy

 

Haha great! I'm glad for you!
Have you ever had the chance to compare it the the macbook? (i'm hesitating between the two)

 

Congrats man!hope that you ll continue to enjoy it

btw,Thom,today I played a little with mb and it was awesome!

 

Yeah,... I'm still totally unable to make a decision. You liked the screen?

 

it was quite good.a lot better then my old one!I don't think that you ll have any problems with day-to-day tasks.

 

Even if i'm used to a big screen (iMac)?

 

Congratulations on the new macbook pro. I am using my 17 inch macbook pro. Also do not forget to buy applecare, the extended warranty. It is never a waste of money to buy the apple care

 

Do you feel slightly hard done by that you didn't get the secretly updated 2.66 standard processor that they're doing on the macbook pro at that price bracket?

 

i have the same machine as you, and it is an awesome machine

 

0.13 ghz wont make a difference.

 

Congrats on enjoying your MacBook Pro, CF! Always nice to see people thrilled with their purchase!

It is if you drop the MBP, spill something on it, or have anything accidental happen to it, since AppleCare doesn't cover accidental damage.

 

I spent two hours at the store, with the intention of checking out the Macbook, not the Macbook Pro, which I had no interest in. I then went home and ordered a Macbook Pro.

Make of that what you will

STORY!!!

I didn't know this

I went to apple.com and yep, you're right, for the same price I paid just a week ago, you can now get a 2.66Ghz model

So I called apple, with the intention of getting some goodwill of some kind, like a free case, or maybe a discount on apple care? They immediately offered me a swap to the 2.66Ghz version for free! So I organised it. At first I was elated, but then sad My new Macbook Pro and me have been through so much already! Imagine a field of long grass blowing in the wind with blue skies, and music playing... "why do birds, suddenly appear, every time, you are near...." - that's me and my macbook pro! So I called them back and cancelled the exchange! I explained that I was looking for a bit of goodwill really, not to get rid of my macbook pro. I was hoping for a free case. Specifically, the red £24 case I currently had on my screen. Instead she offered me a £40 refund!

So I bought £24 case, have £16 for beer, and my Macbook Pro stays where it is! Score!

 

Haha nice! Which case are you talking bout? The Incase one?

 

Congrats. I've been so itching to get the new 17 but the latest I've heard that we're getting them locally by March 14. The wait is killing me. I'm almost tempted to forgo the 17 and just get the same machine as yours.

I also second the applecare recommendation. It's so worth it IMO but remember you don't need to get it right away as long as it's before the 1st year is up (put a reminder on your blackberry or something). Also don't get it from Apple, it's cheaper to get it from a reseller or better yet from eBay.

 

That is really impressive
The 4 sec shutdown is a proper shoutdown right ? Not suspend or hibernate ?

I'm sure this feature can be disabled.

It seems like the premium you paid for Apple should be split between hardware AND software according to what you are liking.

Is there any way to purchase accidental care ? Dont people spill/drop their MBPs ?

DONT DO IT man, wait for the 17" one. The 17" is so much sweeter. Enjoy the sweet torment

 

haha, welcome to the club, now you see why people really do like their macs.

 

Now i know why i really need the 4gb of ram!!!!

 

Oh believe me I'm trying. But I think availability of the 17s here in Canada is just about non-existent. I spoke to a manager today of FutureShop (which is the same company as BestBuy here) and it's showing that they've got 4 units on order nationally! Also, the earliest date of availability is showing in their system as April 9 09'. That's a long time to wait.

 

Awesome mini review. TBH I thought Captain Fail already was a Mac user. Glad you saw the light at the end of the tunnel. You're just in time for Snow Leopard, it will be what Windows 7 wants to be.

 

Congrats man! I'm glad everything worked out, and you were able to get your MBP!

 

Units purchased at Best Buy have the option for Geek Squad Black Tie Protection, which ADH versions of the plans do cover accidental damage.

Aside from that, I'm not sure.

 

Captain Finn, are you as ticked off as me when you heard about the high end MBP refreshes (i.e. 2.53 35w processor to 2.66 25w processor)??

 

Where does it specify that the 2.66 is the 25W processor ?

 

http://www.intel.com/products/processor/core2duo/mobile/specifications.htm

The 2.66 GHz processor is a P9600 and all P generation processors are 25 W.

Detail specs of the P9600 are available here:

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLGE6

Note the TDP value of 25w

 

Where do you see it listed as the p9600??? The T9950 is also 2.66 GHz

 

I think you meant the T9550

I'm also curious, where does apple say that the processor is the P9600 ?

 

Some users on the MR forum had posted their CPU-Z (I think thats the program) screenshots that confirm its a P9600. I'll try to locate the link and post it.

Apple hasn't updated its tech spec sheets yet, surprisingly. So we will have to wait. Also, I believe that the base Uni MB 17" uses the P9600 and I would think in terms of a cost-benefit analysis, it would be in Apple's best interest to use the same 2.66 Ghz processor in both systems.