The original netbook!

I've had a 12" iBook G4 since 2005 and it's still my favorite notebook for browsing the internet writing letters and even reading pdf's. It's very lightweight and I consider the screen the perfect size. It's held up very well. One of the keys has a hairline crack and one of the rubber feet on the bottom fell off but I clean it every month or so and it still looks almost new.



My only criticism is that it gets a little warm so I keep it on top of a clipboard when holding it in my lap. No viruses no crashes no worries.



When netbooks started becoming popular a couple of years ago I had to laugh because I already have a lightweight handy netbook. In fact I'm using it right now to write this review. Given a choice between a new Asus or Dell netbook or a used iBook G4 for the same price I would take the G4 without thinking about it for a second.More detail ...

This is a "Pro" in every sense.

In March 2008 I decided it was time to upgrade from a G4-based laptop to one of the new Intel models. I deliberated back and forth whether the lower priced MacBook would be sufficient or whether to pay the premium for the "Pro" model. Ultimately I decided upon the MacBook Pro for these reasons.



Construction quality

The aluminum case of the MacBook Pro reminds me of a product made by the Swiss. The build quality is outstanding for a mass-produced device. It feels very substantial and all the pieces fit together nearly seamlessly. The MacBook's case however is made from a high-grade plastic rather than metal. It's nice ... but I found the front edge of the MacBook's case a bit sharp on my wrists as I typed.



Ports

Compared with the MacBook the MacBook Pro provides an additional USB port plus Firewire 800. The latter is desirable for people who work with video and external drives that have Firewire 800 connectors. The ExpressCard slot is useful for future expansion and services such as wireless broadband (EVDO).



Keyboard

Keyboard experiences are subjective; but I find the keyboard on the MacBook Pro the most comfortable of any laptop I've ever used. It feels solid and responsive. Plus its backlighting is helpful when typing in dark environments.



Dedicated video

Unlike the MacBook that shares system memory for video (integrated graphics) the MacBook Pro has a dedicated video processor. This is beneficial for driving large external displays and running graphics-intensive applications.



Is the MacBook Pro worth the $700 price differential over a MacBook? That depends on whether you are a general home computer user (i.e. e-mail web browsing iTunes word processing) or someone who uses their laptop for more advanced purposes. My user profile is more in the second category. Also since I intend to keep this computer for three years I figure that the premium breaks down to about $233 each year. This seems reasonable to me for something I use every day.



In view of the additional quality and benefits that the MacBook Pro offers I think its higher price brings with it commensurate value. It's hard to imagine even finicky laptop users being disappointed with the MacBook Pro.



P.S. -- There are two 15-inch MacBook Pro models. I bought the 2.4 gHz "entry level" model. It is the better value. I do not feel the 2.5 gHz MacBook Pro is worth the extra $500.



Also people who care to add system memory (beyond the stock 2 gigabytes supplied by Apple) ought to purchase it from a third-party vendor and install it themselves. It is a simple process.More detail ...