Digital Trends

Apple MacBook Pro 15.4-inch 2.16GHz May 24th, 2006 | by Jason Tomczak

Features and Design

The MacBook Pro is the thinner, sexier, more energetic cousin to the PowerBook line.  At 1" thin, 14.1" wide, 9.6" deep and only 5.6lbs, the MacBook Pro is lean and fit.  The brushed aluminum casing is unique, aesthetic and unmistakable world-wide.  Carrying a MacBook Pro is a sure conversation-starter. 

Differentiating the physical characteristics of the 15" MacBook Pro from the 15" PowerBook involves noticing subtle differences.  Apple removed the less popular Firewire 800 port, however there are still two USB 2.0 ports and one Firewire 400 port on the 15" MacBook Pro.  The dial-up modem port has been given a 21st century adieu.  (Reactionaries can pick up a USB dial-up modem from Apple if they must use old school connectivity.)  On the MacBook Pro, the screen is much, much brighter.  Gone is the PCMCIA (PC Card) slot.  In its place is the newer, slimmer, faster ExpressCard/34.  To date, very few ExpressCard/34 options are available to Mac users.  Flash memory card readers were the first to appear.  Of course, the quickest way to tell if you're looking at a MacBook Pro and not just a clean PowerBook is the tiny iSight camera built into the top frame of the MacBook Pro screen. 

Apple gave the MacBook Pro a newer, slimmer 4X SuperDrive, whereas the recent PowerBook line came with 8X SuperDrives.  Apple reported that the 4X SuperDrive was necessary due to space limitations, however the newest 17" MacBook Pro comes standard with an 8X SuperDrive.  Unless the 8X SuperDrive takes up significantly more horizontal space, it should be offered in the 15" MacBook Pro.  That said, the use of the slower 4X SuperDrive has created no negative effect on my work flow or my overall satisfaction with the MacBook Pro.

The MagSafe power connector is one of the best little innovations added to the MacBook Pro line.  Standard power adapters on iBooks and PowerBooks (and most PC laptops) plug into the side of the laptop body and are intended to fit tightly so they do not fall out.  The downside to this tight male-female fit is the fact that when someone inevitably trips over the power cord, the tip of the power cord and the connection on the logicboard can be damaged.  Many laptops have been sent flying to the floor from tables, desks and counter tops.  MagSafe successfully cures "Airborne Mac Syndrome" by using magnetic attraction and surface-to-surface electric conductivity - simple, yet brilliant.  A small array of magnets holds the tip of the power adapter to the charging port on the MacBook Pro.  While connected, electricity flows and charges the battery.  Tripping over the power cord (or simply unplugging it from any angle) harmlessly disconnects the MagSafe from the MacBook Pro.  No more Airborne Mac Syndrome, no more internal or external damage, no more tears. 

One more obvious improvement on the MacBook Pro - the battery bay.  A big 'thank you' goes out to the individual who designed away from the annoying and damage-prone, coin-slot-shaped eject unit and adorned the MacBook Pro with a simple and elegant two-thumb slide-eject battery bay.  Two thumbs up!

The white plastic power-brick, cables and external video adapter still do not match the MacBook Pro's sexy silver body.  I truly wish Apple would make motions to close this tiny, yet obvious cosmetic gap.