PRODUCT REVIEW
Apple Hits Target Again With MacBook Pro

Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) may be embarrassed by Apple Computer's (Nasdaq: AAPL) marketing campaign for its new line of byteboxes based on that chipmaker's processors, but when no one's looking, I wouldn't be surprised to see the bold ads elicit a smile or two on the faces of the corporation's execs. After all, they're proud of what they do and at long last, they're basking in the kind of excitement that, until now, has been the sole province of Steve Jobs and company.

While Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) bumbles its way toward the next version of its Windows operating system, Vista, Apple keeps cranking out new and arresting products and sharing the limelight with its new buddy Intel. The latest example of this phenomenon is the MacBook Pro, announced earlier this year, but just making it to the shelves now.

The new Intel-based notebook, which has a base price of US$1,999, is surprisingly understated, given Apple's penchant for leading edge design, although its sleek and svelte aluminum case will still turn heads. You don't have to tickle the keys of this laptop's keyboard for long to realize it's something special.

Fast Boot-Up

That realization starts on boot-up. My Intel-based desktop -- which, admittedly, is getting long in the tooth, but still runs at a respectable 1.9 GHz and has a gigabyte of memory -- takes an agonizing seven minutes to wake up. The MacBook Pro takes 25 seconds.

The unit has a gorgeous 15.1-inch display (17 inchers have just been released) with a resolution of 1440-by-900 pixels. It's very bright, so much so that at 50 percent brightness, it outshines the LCDs on my other notebooks set to the max.

If you feel cramped by the display size, the unit will support a digital monitor up to 30 inches.

No Sweat Video Conferencing

Implanted into the display's frame is a 640-by-480 video camera and microphone. This iSight camera lets you set up video conferences, shoot stills and create video podcasts with the unit's built-in applications.

Using Apple's instant messaging program, iChat, and a subscription to the company's .Mac service, you can run video conferences that include yourself and three other people.

Although the quality of the video degrades as you add members to a conference, the audio remains crystal clear.

Along with the built-in camera, the unit has Front Row. Introduced in the Intel iMac earlier this year, that application lets you control the computer with a remote control included with the unit.

The applications packaged with the notebook -- Apple's iLife suite and others -- behaved with breathless zip, as might be expected with a machine that runs more than five times faster than its fastest predecessor.

Accommodates Older Apps

The drawback at this time is that applications written for older Apple machines, which used the PowerPC chip, can't take advantage of the notebook's Intel Core Duo processor. They need to be passed through a technology called Rosetta.

Rosetta is transparent to the user. While it allows the old applications to run on the new machines, they perform at about the same speed as they did on the older machines. When you think about it, that's quite a feat in itself.

Users of ancient Apple applications that pre-date OS X are orphaned with Intel Macs.

While many reviewers consider a paramount measure of battery life to be the transcontinental flight, my measure -- because I spend so much time listening to MLB.com -- is the average baseball game. From that point of view, the MacBook's battery life is excellent at 3 to 3.5 hours.

Design Let-Downs

As solid a machine as the MacBook is, there are a few design let-downs.

The SuperDrive is slower than previous models, with a top speed of 4x, compared to 8x, and it doesn't support double layer burning. Double layer DVDs hold twice as much information as a typical DVD.

There's no modem in the unit -- a USB model sells for $50. Neither is there an S-Video or PC Card slot -- the newer ExpressCard standard is used. Also, the FireWire port is the slower 400 rather than 800 model.

Even with those omissions, the MacBook remains an outstanding notebook computer. Apple calls the MacBook Pro "the finest laptop in the world." If there's a finer one, I haven't seen it yet.