Macbook Pro 15" 1.83Ghz Duo Core - Still Has MANY Years Left!

I bought this on eBay in December 2008 as a Christmas present to myself for $600 and it is probably the best deal and purchase I've ever made on eBay. Even though this is the first generation 2006 MacBook Pro 15" Core Duo, it still has many years to go thanks to the well designed hardware and operating system Apple has been known for over the years.

I could start off by rambling on endlessly about the notebook's aesthetics but that was done over three years ago on other reviews and they are now in the unibody design of the MacBook Pro so I'll just stick with what affects me. I like the fact that this is only an inch thick when and the weight is EVENLY distributed throughout the notebook making it very easy to carry by hand, in a backpack, or in a laptop bag. There's also the lightup keyboard that comes in handy at night or in low light conditions. What this notebook does need is a built in 5-in-1 memory card reader (yes I know the new MacBook Pros has an SD card but that's not good enough!). I did find great alternative however by installing an unobtrusive Express Card reader by Sandisk.

Even though this was the 2006 incarnation of the MacBook Pro, it still performs very well and runs just about every one of 2009's applications I've thrown at it without any slowdowns or issues. After the Fedex guy dropped it off and powered it on to make sure that everything works (hey it's eBay, you never know), I installed a Hitachi 320GB 7200 RPM drive and did a clean install of Leopard along with the rest of the applications that I use on a day to day basis such as Microsoft Office 2008, Adobe PhotoShop, iLife '09, Adium, FireFox, VLC, etc... I can run all of these programs simultaneously and have no slowdown issues whatsoever.

I can use iChat with video conferencing in one window, have Entourage in another, and PhotoShop in another, and FireFox in another (I normally have all of these up at once) and everything runs so smoothly compared to when I have something similar running in Windows Vista. Speaking of Windows, I set aside a partition of 60GB for Windows XP and Parallels because I still have a bunch of Windows only applications that I need.

Listening to music, watching videos, managing my iPhone and other entertainment related applications having been working great so far so really not much to talk about there except that since I have the Matte screen, I don't have a glare problem when I'm working with this outdoors.

Just recently I replaced the crappy UJ-857C drive with a GSA-S10N DL DVDRW which now gives me Dual Layer capability and it was quite an easy process. I feel like I've just about maxed out everything I could on this old MacBook Pro but I have no doubt that I will still be using this for another 2-3 years or whenever the successor to Snow Leopard comes out.

I have this hooked up to an HP w2207 22" LCD screen along with an external keyboard and mouse and use it as my main 'desktop' PC and usually take use my HP DV2-1030us when I travel. However this MacBook Pro isn't always left at home and I do take it back and forth to the office or to the coffee shop when I need because I love how efficient and reliable OSX Leopard is.

if you can afford a new MacBook Pro, I say go for it. but if you need a reliable notebook with great performance, try finding an older Mac on eBay because there are definitely a lot of great deals out there. I highly recommend any Intel powered Mac because of the design, performance, software, and operating system.

 

I was just recently looking for a new computer, and was torn between going for the 15" unibody or the 17" non-unibody. I ultimately went with the 15" because I happened to find an incredible deal on it, but I agree, Macs definitely hold up well even over many years and upgraded models.

 

Kind of a late post ha? Well, glad you are happy with your purchase.

 

I'm glad the OP is happy with his/her purchase as well. The only thing I'm going to say against the OP's post is just that it's way too long. I really wish people would take the time and LOOK at what they wrote and determine if people are really gonna read all of it, because I just didn't. It was too much and too long.

 

It was supposed to be a quick review. No one is forcing you to read it and this is not a Twitter

 

$600 is a nice deal.
I used to own this laptop but the 2ghz version. It was a nice laptop. You're kind of limited with the ram though.This is restricted to 2GB, i soon not long after got a C2D version and upgraded to 4GB of ram.
It also cannot make full use of Snow. However, Apple will still support it.

Still, it is a good laptop that works for you.
I also prefer the design and matte displays of these earlier MBP's.

 

Well, it didn't turn out to be a quick review and I would highly recommend that you learn to be more humble and not rude. You created this thread so you have to expect mixed reviews, not everyone is gonna patronize you. At least I said I was happy for you.

 

I got the same model for my brother as a gift last year. Only cost me $25. I got such a deal on it (bought it from my job) because it was banged up - dents in the casing and needed a new keyboard. Other than that, it was flawless as far as performance goes.

 

You are right. If only it wasn't limited to 2gb ram it would be so much better but it's still good enough for a couple of years. People still use PowerBooks to this day

Of course I wouldn't mind having the newer MacBook Pros if I was able to afford it!

 

Honestly, all computer manufacturers use the same processor. Apple doesn't have magic wizardry to make your processor last longer.

The only thing that Apple has control of is aesthetics and body construction. The core duo in an Apple is the same as the one in a Dell.

Most people hardly do anything intense at all with their computers and processors have become so powerful now a days. So i'm not surprised that your fine with a core duo.

 

This is absolutely true. BUT the big difference is the software. Currently Mac OS upgrades have been/are less taxing on hardware, thus allowing much older hardware to still upgrade with minimal fuss. This isn't always the case with Windows, for multiple reasons both hardware and software (eg no drivers)

At the OP, congrats on the purchase, I hope the laptop servers you well
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His thought of connecting his 15" to a large display causes me to ask a question: how many people do this for their main desktop, i.e. use a laptop for their main drive?
I ask because I seem to have migrated to that as has my wife. Instead of a main desktop we've found it much more convenient to use our 15" MBPs connected to large displays with external keyboards and mouse.
Just musing a little here...

 

I use external display as a dual monitor, it is cheaper than having two displays that you sometimes need on a desktop. And I use external keyboards and mice as well.

After all the heavy duty lappys are really Desk Top Replacements.

 

I also use a external display for desktop use. Its a Dell 2408 and its an awesome monitor.

Thats why I didn't go for the 15" and I'm pretty happy with my 13"mbp. I wish lappies were more powerful as I would just get rid of my desktop.

 

I hook my MBP up to my 42" Sharp LCD from time to time just for kicks. Other than that, I prefer not to use an external monitor with my laptops

 

I decided to consolidate my MBP 15 and MBA into a uMB 13 or MBP 13. Tough decision to part with my MBP 15 though. Best laptop I've ever had. I bought it mostly because of the Dual-Link DVI and it just grew on me. Sad sad but I have other hobbies that can use the money.