Review: MacBook Pro (15-inch, late 2008)
Still a great portable from Apple in spite of some quirks. (October 26th, 2008)
The Good
- Sturdier, cooler, thinner aluminum chassis.
- Still the performance champion; option for power-saving graphics a boon.
- Trackpad a more effective use of space.
- Colors 'pop' on the display.
- Good notebook-class speakers.
The Bad
- No FireWire 400.
- Glossy screen a potential distraction with no matte option.
- Can't use both GPUs at once like that coming for Windows notebooks.
- Expansion, screen still used to push users to a system they may otherwise not need.
the keyboard, speakers and trackpad
The two biggest visual differences between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro are the keyboard and the speakers, though this isn't as conspicuous as it used to be. The high-end MacBook now shares the same illuminated keyboard as all MacBook Pro models, but the larger systems continue to come with the feature standard. This illuminated keyboard lets you use your computer in dimly lit conditions, but you also have the option of turning it off completely or having your Mac turn it off after a fixed interval of inactivity.
You can customize the illuminated keyboard.
Beyond building in the lighting feature, the MacBook Pro keyboard is physically identical to the MacBook keyboard as well as that of the MacBook Air. Like before, you'll find a pair of speakers on each side of the MacBook Pro keyboard.
The speakers appear on the side of the keyboard.
The MacBook Pro speakers provide crisp, clear audio whether you're watching a DVD or playing music from iTunes, even if space still dictates certain limits. In comparison, the MacBook's speakers are buried in the lid hinge area, which provide adequate, but slightly muffled sound. With its speakers embedded next to the keyboard, the MacBook Pro's speakers offer a high quality audio experience that rivals some dedicated desktop computer speakers. With the MacBook Pro, you'll never need to drag an extra pair of portable speakers along to play audio at a decent level.
Of course, the MacBook Pro's speakers are only useful if you can regularly listen to your favorite songs without wearing headphones (such as out in a park). If you can freely blast your tunes out in the open, then the MacBook Pro gives you a portable stereo in your lap. If you're always forced to wear headphones to hear your music (such as in a library), the extraordinary MacBook Pro speakers will simply go to waste.
Naturally the MacBook Pro adopts the same multi-touch trackpad asf the MacBook, allowing one, two, three, and four-finger gestures. Although there's a small learning curve to using the trackpad, most people should become proficient within minutes. The trackpad's surface provides just enough friction to allow your finger to smoothly maneuver the mouse pointer, and the trackpad's surface provides the physical mouse button itself. After using this trackpad, you'll likely find other laptop trackpads clumsy, tedious, and awkward; why confine clicks or scrolling to a particular section of the pad?