Livin' Large: Life with a SWEET 17" Mac laptop

Let me first say that I am NOT the most tech-savvy woman on the block. But, having used computers for the last 22 years (since the IBM PC and original Apple Mac back in the mid 1980s, as my father was a Silicon Valley engineer before retirement), I'm picky when it comes to my computers. I may not know how to discuss the merits of an Intel vs. an AMD CPU, but I can tell you what a heavy computer user like myself needs to be happy.

Ever since my husband, Brace33, bought this 17" screen, 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro (with 2 GB memory and 160 GB hard drive) for nearly $2,800, I have walked around with a blissfully happy smile on my face and felt like a whole new world has opened up to me. Part of this is due to the luxury of having a relatively lightweight yet LARGE screen laptop, and part of it is the speed and versatility of a Mac (and its new Leopard operating system).

THE BASICS
Now, there are certainly those users who just want speed and high performance: fast start-up, fast processing of memory-intensive tasks (like desktop publishing), crisp graphics, and the ability to have multiple programs running at once. I certainly appreciate everything that this group of users rightly prioritizes. I have had multiple windows and programs open, running numerous tasks without any hint of strain on this system. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, the 2GB memory and 2.4GHz CPU means this MacBook Pro has the "horsepower" to perform but it's still a delightful experience compared to my S-L-O-W desktop PC at work. Plus, it's under 7 pounds. Thus, the speed and performance isn't sacrificed to ensure that it is still a relatively lightweight laptop.

We waited to buy this until Leopard was released. Brace33 and his family are longtime Mac users, so he can speak more to this, but I found this new system to be entirely problem-free. I have never had this crash on me, and I think I've used it for a month now. What a shock compared to my Windows problems! It's easy to use, intuitive, and works when it's supposed to. What a novel concept that Microsoft might want to consider.

There are also the small touches that make one appreciate a Mac. The battery charger has a magnetic connection to the laptop, so if my toddler walks by and trips the cable, it easily pulls away as opposed to pulling my laptop to the ground. The keyboard will automatically light up, too, if it's too dark!

I haven't yet fully explored the other options on this laptop, like the built-in iSight camera, but I am so thrilled with this laptop that anything extra truly is icing on the cake!

LESS IMPORTANT BUT INFLUENTIAL NONETHELESS
There is another group of users who are drawn to the aesthetics of a Mac laptop and the "political statement" it makes. I think it does make a statement and Apple certainly likes to promote in its commercials of the hip young Apple guy and the old fuddy duddy PC guy. If you have a Mac, you're bucking the trend of PCs, you're likely to be a creative type (since these work so well for graphic needs), and you are probably more likely to be at a coffeehouse than a corporate conference room.

And let's face it, this is a beautiful laptop. Its sleek, slim profile (only 1" high when closed!), its matte silver body, and its distinctive apple logo (lit up when the laptop is on) make a powerful fashion statement. I still remember the clunky heavy first-generation laptop I had in the late 90s--now that was a utilitarian laptop. Comparing that laptop to this one is like comparing an RV with a sleek sexy roadster coupe. And the laptops I see other manufacturers offer even now are dull gray/black sedans next to this silver speedster.

THE UNNECESSARY BUT LUXURIOUS UPGRADE
Now, one can certainly find all the previously mentioned attributes in a cheaper model, but what makes this one stand out is its 17" screen. Yes, there's a $300 difference between this and the 15" model with the same horsepower, but I think that is a bargain given the convenience of having a large screen. I often use multiple screens and hate having to click around to find the others. I also use the laptop for graphic work, so I love being able to zoom in at a higher percentage.

MARCH 2008 UPDATE
I was recently given a new Lenovo Thinkpad T61 for work, which enables me to do a side-by-side comparison, so I came back to update this review. Please note that the Lenovo is a much cheaper PC, so it's not a fair comparison but I felt the added experience I've had would help consumers better understand the MacBook Pro.

I also realized that an additional couple months of using the MacBook Pro meant I discovered new capabilities and new drawbacks.

1. Keyboard issues - I previously mentioned the light-up keyboard, but I have found it is inconsistent in terms of how dark it needs to be light up. I also found, after extensive word processing, how much I miss having a regular DELETE key (as opposed to just a Backspace key). I also haven't figured out how to get around the lack of Page Up/Page Down or Home/End keys, which are missing on the MacBook Pro keyboard. The Lenovo keyboard has more options (including page forward/backward keys handy for surfing the web). Still, I can't say my Lenovo's keyboard is better even though it has those keys because it has an annoyingly loud "click" sound with each key you hit. I feel like I'm tap dancing when I type on the Lenovo, whereas the MacBook Pro has a silent soft click. So the winner is still the MacBook Pro.

2. Touchpad navigation issues - The MacBook Pro has a large rectangular trackpad and one button to click. It took me a while to get used to the two finger scroll up/down function, but now I miss it dearly when using my Lenovo. Still, I am so glad to get back my right click button on this PC laptop. However, the Lenovo has a red "TrackPoint" button navigation tool and the touchpad, so I sometimes find I accidentally hit something and have to fight furiously to stop the "ghost" controlling my cursor. MacBook Pro once again wins this category.

3. Battery life - I recently brought the MacBook Pro to a car dealership, where my 2 hour wait turned into a 6 hour ordeal. Thus, it was the first time I used the battery until it died (roughly 4.5 hours). The MacBook Pro has an excellent "time remaining" counter so I was able to allocate my time accordingly to stretch out the last few remaining minutes. I haven't used the PC until the battery died, so I can't yet compare these two.

4. Ports - Both laptops have 3 USB ports, with 2 on the left side of the keyboard and 1 on the right. They also both have ports for ethernet cable wire, headphones, microphone, and a port for a monitor. Yet the MacBook Pro has several other slots that I'm unfamiliar with and haven't used - 2 Firewire ports, ExpressCard slot, and a Kensington cable lock slot. I'm assuming the slots are for those with special needs beyond word processing or surfing the net.

5. Opening the laptop - I forgot to mention in my original review that I sometimes have trouble opening the laptop screen itself. Rather than using a slide-button type unlocking mechanism, MacBook Pro has a very skinny rectangular slot/button you have to push to open. Sometimes, I just can't get a finger in there.

6. Reading media - The MacBook Pro has a Superdrive, which can read and burn DVDs and CDs. I don't use this function at all, but I wanted to comment that it is a simple slot that you push discs into, as opposed to the Lenovo's slide out tray that adds bulk to the laptop.

7. Heat Generation - Our MacBook Pro generates quite a bit of heat if you have it on your lap for more than an hour. When I am writing or surfing for 5-6 hours, it becomes unbearably hot. The Lenovo PC has a handy "vent" on the left side of the latop that means it doesn't get as warm when sitting on my lap. Thus, this is the one category where MacBook Pro falls short.

8. Fit and Finish - As I alluded to above, the MacBook Pro is heads and shoulders above PCs when it comes to aesthetics. The fit and finish on my Lenovo feels so coarse, bulky, cheap, and utilitarian. Sure, this is a personal opinion, but I think it's worth stating nonetheless.

FINAL THOUGHTS
This is an investment in both a technical tool and a political/aesthetic statement. Yes, it's pricey, but it's worth every penny!