Win some, lose some
Indeed, the only real issue I encountered came when I needed to instal Windows 7 under Boot Camp to run a couple of applications which are not yet Mac native. I ran the Boot Camp assistant and gave Windows a 32GB partition – you’d think that was enough but it turns out I was wrong. After installing Windows along with DeadRising 2 - I may as well play some games if I absolutely have to run Windows - and Solidworks, Windows kindly informed me that the partition was full as I prepared to instal PCMark Vantage.
No Blu-ray drive as usual
So I decided to attempt a partition re-size using Paragon CampTune. However, this resulted in Windows being unable to boot and OS X constantly reporting disk errors. Despite numerous attempts to restore my Windows partition, death seemed preferable and I wiped the disk entirely. Fortunately, my Mac OS Snow Leopard instal was safe thanks to the wonders of Apple’s Time Machine backup, and only Windows needed to be born anew.
Sonically, for a laptop there's little to complain about. There's no sub-woofer gimmickry, but a fairly even sound albeit a little bass light, with a respectable volume output. The only recurring gripe was the spacing of the three USB ports, which can involve repositioning connectors to accommodate odd-shaped flash drives and dongles.
USB port spacing can seem rather cramped at times
The anti-glare screen, however, given the size of the panel, avoids distracting reflections and has excellent definition. For some though, the 1920 x 1200 resolution of the MacBook Pro 17in results in system menus appearing in type that is rather too small. Indeed it can take a bit of getting used to but is worth it for all that screen real estate, which this laptop can even output at 2560 x 1600 on an external display.
Verdict
Certainly, at this end of the range, Apple hardware appears expensive, but if you’re after a high-end laptop, use the MacBook Pro 17in for any length of time and it will constantly remind you that there’s a reason why it commands such a price. ®
More Notebooks Reviews |
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Apple MacBook Pro 17in Core i7 BTO notebook
COMMENTS
how about
1. the fact that the same spec alienware laptop is the SAME price (see post above which I have verified)
2. the fact that the comparable alienware laptop weighs 5.5KG
3. the fact that Dell rate the battery life of the aforementioned alienware laptop at 2.5 hours.
4. AW laptop = ugly as hell
So you can add the cost of 3 spare batteries (and their weight) to the specs if you want something you can really compare with.
Go away troll
Comparison specs / prices
I Google the machine models you compared against, and both came back as £800-900 machines.
Did you use upgraded versions of these, or did you really just compare a £2000 laptop to machines that cost less than half that price?
Surely a comparison against similarilly priced IBMs / Dells would be better?
@Wyrdness
"8 times faster for the same price? You're talking out of your arse."
My sentiments exactly. But almost without exception, the "Look at me! I'm too cool to like Apple" brigade are long on wishful thinking sophistry and short on reason.
If Jobs & Ives found a cure for Aids, Ebola virus, brought peace to the Middle East and ended African famine, you can bet your last penny these people would still be spewing out spittle-laden invective...
Do it then
If you can then do it. Why tell us that? Some of us like to run OSX and software only available for it. Just like some people are totally fixated with Excel and all the VBA rubbish.
But then 8 times as fast? I doubt it. The Core I7 is the fastest Intel mobile CPU at present.
Go on then, let's see you do it.
I've just specced out the nearest equivalent Alienware laptop (2.66Ghz i7, 1920x1200 screen, Win7 Pro, 500Gb disk, bluetooth, no anti-virus). It comes out at £2,139. So that's £39 more than this Mac.
8 times faster for the same price? You're talking out of your arse.
