Posted to Notebooks 2010-08-19
If you are ready to step up from the standard MacBook, then consider the Apple MacBook Pro MC371LL/A, which is the most affordable 15-inch MacBook Pro with a new 2010 Intel processor solution. Although this notebook is not without its faults, it is a refreshing next-generation version of one of the most popular laptop series in the company's history. Even better, if the stock options are not good enough for you, you may customize your MacBook Pro online at the Apple store. Measuring 14.35" x 9.82" x 0.95" in dimensions and weighing approximately 5.6 pounds, the Apple MacBook Pro is not for the frequent traveler. While it does not offer the largest screen size in the series, it is large enough for students or multimedia gurus who need a vivid workstation to suit their composition needs. If the hard drive space, processing power, and RAM capacity does not seem enough, you can easily upgrade for the additional costs. Or, you may even opt for choosing a different model altogether, such as the 17-inch MC024LL/A model. Overall, this is a good middle ground for the MacBook Pro notebooks, and highly recommended if you want to go beyond typical dual-core Macs.
FeaturesEach model in the MacBook Pro series offers advantages over the notebooks below them. As one of the most basic, the MC371LL/A edition features a 320GB hard drive, 8x DVD/CD SuperDrive, integrated iSight camera, gigabit LAN (10/100/100), Bluetooth, AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless, two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, a SD card slot, and one Mini DisplayPort video output. The stereo speakers could be better, but the backlit keyboard and large glass multi-touch track pad are certainly benefits to this notebook. This model comes pre-installed with Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard and iLife '09. PerformanceWhile this MacBook Pro certainly outperforms its MacBook predecessors, the performance is slightly better in the Core i7 models. For this one, the 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 processor, paired with 4GB RAM, is probably enough for most people, but again you have the option of upgrading. If you don't want to pay the extra to upgrade, then this one is probably the best fit for you. The-next generation NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M graphics chipset comes with 256MB memory (compared to 512MB in the Core i7 models), but even more impressive is that the system automatically switches from the integrated Intel graphics to NVIDIA graphics when the load needs the stronger performer. Battery life is also fairly impressive, reaching lengths of up to 8 or 9 hours. SummaryOverall, the Apple MacBook Pro (MC371LL/A) is a great 15-inch notebook that combines the power of an Intel Core i5 with the functionality of a Mac OS. If you feel like you need even more power and capacity, then consider stepping up to the Core i7 models, or perhaps adding upgrades to the existing MC371LL/A model. While this notebook still has several flaws, such as keys being hard to type, or the unibody being sharp, overall it is very good for the average user. Pros
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