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MacBook Pro Reviews and Benchmarks

I would have to disagree with some of the points made you guys and the reviewer. (by the way, I own this MBP 2.0ghz)

1. half dim screen on MBP is still much brighter than almost all other laptops in the market.

2. obviously battery life will take hit when you have both bluetooth and airport on. turn bluetooth off unless you use wireless mouse or listening to bluetooth headset.

3. nobody will be loading web pages constantly for 3 hours!

4. battery life is actually better than 3:10. I am getting about 3:35 right now in normal usage.

5. battery life should be even better with airport off.
 
kkapoor said:
Just you wait till those MEROM chips hit the market. Then you will be thanking Steve for the switch. Battery life will be 5 to 6 hours.
Click to expand...

It's only supposed to be using 20% less, so I'd rather expect something around an average of 4 hours.
 
rjgjonker said:
The problem was not that IBM wasn't willing to invest their R&D towards faster G5 chips. The problem was that Apple refused to invest in the development of chips that they needed and they didn't order chips until they needed them.

Intel is not anywhere near 3GHz on their new platform and 3GHz chips aren't expected anytime soon. However, the chips are 32-bit, far more expensive than IBM's dual core chips and I expect their vector performance to be significantly slower than that of the 970 and the 745x. IBM could have made as much low-power 970's as Apple would have needed, if they would have just ordered them. AMD is currently making chips that outperform Intel's while using less power with IBM's technology.

Apple not delivering G5-class PowerBooks wasn't IBM's fault. It was Apple's. Mac users are now paying the price for that with a transition, more expensive Macs and inferior technology.
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why should Apple invest big chunk of $$$ for IBM's potential profit? get over it. intel switch totally made sense from the beginning.
 
Dissapointing

This is dissapointing, but to be expected. Remember, this isn't a new revision of the Powerbook, this is an entirely new machine. The PB was refined over more than 5 years. At first it had lousy battery life (running OS X at least) too, but over time that was fixed. To be sure, the MBP is a big step forwards (CPU power, screen, graphics), but in many areas (battery life, rosetta performance hit, lack of universal for some major software), it's a step backwards. In time it'll be fixed, but it could be years before the MBP is as refined as the last PB was.

--DT
 
As usual, reviews compare to the very-latest previous model, when most people aren't upgrading from THAT model, but from an older one.

How does Photoshop in Rosetta compare to a 1.25 GHz or 1.5 Ghz PowerBook G4 from a couple years ago? (Like mine :) )


rjgjonker said:
The problem was not that IBM wasn't willing to invest their R&D towards faster G5 chips. The problem was that Apple refused to invest in the development of chips that they needed and they didn't order chips until they needed them. ... Apple not delivering G5-class PowerBooks wasn't IBM's fault. It was Apple's. Mac users are now paying the price for that with a transition, more expensive Macs and inferior technology.
Click to expand...
So you're saying Apple should have increased their development cost per Mac to allow IBM to deliver what IBM promised anyway? Would Apple take a loss on each Mac, then, or would they increase the price of every Mac?

IBM said they could deliver certain things. They didn't say "we can deliver them, but we might just demand a whole lot more money later, and if you don't pay it, then we won't deliver after all." So what you're suggesting is that either Apple or Mac buyers take a loss to pay for IBM's failure.

The fact is, IBM doesn't want to BE in the personal computer processor market. It's more trouble than it's worth to them. They'd rather make gaming chips (consoles are EXPECTED to sell at a loss, remember) and server chips.

Intel, on the other hand, actually WANTS to make personal computer processors. And wants to work with Apple too.
 
stockscalper said:
But Stevie promised us the Mactels would use less power and have better battery life. NOT! Get off the crack Stevorino the damn Intel chips pull 40% more power. Did he even look at the dual core G4's that pull only 25 watts power versus 85 for the Intel dual core? What a dumbass Jobs is.
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That's pretty funny that you so religiously follow a "dumbass"
go buy a dell today and be happy.
 
I personally don't like the new Macbook Pro, here's why:

1) iSight - I don't feel secure with a camera always pointed at my face
2) size - it's wider and deeper (and insignificantly thinner)
3) no modem built in - I can't tell you how many times I've been away from home and the built in modem came in super handy
4) no built in tv output - I output to tv a lot, at home and away
5) mag safe fall out - I like to throw my laptop around and have it in weird places and angles
6) intel chip - while it may turn out to be good in the long run, right now all it means is most apps will run much slower and some may not work at all
7) battery life? - It's still not conclusive, but it looks like the battery life is less
8) Macbook Pro - the name is terrible and part of what you're buying when you buy a high end product is status, and the "Macbook Pro" does not sound like a high end product that serious cash was dropped on.

I could buy an external modem, but that would not have helped me because most times that I've had to use my modem I didn't expect to need it before I left and so I wouldn't have taken it. Plus it costs extra money for what had been included. I use the tv out frequently, so I'd have to carry the converter around, plus that too would cost extra for what had been included.

Seeing this first gen of the Macbook Pro I am happier and happier that I have my Powerbook. I hope that Apple can fix these issues and get their high end notebook line back to what it should be by the time I need to get a new one.
 
motulist said:
I personally don't like the new Macbook Pro, here's why:

1) iSight - I don't feel secure with a camera always pointed at my face
2) size - it's wider and deeper (and insignificantly thinner)
3) no modem built in - I can't tell you how many times I've been away from home and the built in modem came in super handy
4) no built in tv output - I output to tv a lot, at home and away
5) mag safe fall out - I like to throw my laptop around and have it in weird places and angles
6) intel chip - while it may turn out to be good in the long run, right now all it means is most apps will run much slower and some may not work at all
7) battery life? - It's still not conclusive, but it looks like the battery life is less
8) Macbook Pro - the name is terrible and part of what you're buying when you buy a high end product is status, and the "Macbook Pro" does not sound like a high end product that serious cash was dropped on.
Click to expand...
1) There's a green light to show when it's on (although I do like the physical iris on the full iSights)

2) True--but going back and forth I couldn't tell much difference.

3) Agreed. One more dongle to carry. Sadly this ship has sailed. Hopefully Internet access from mobile phones will improve in the US, or that dongle will stay in my life.

4) True--but you have to carry a video cable for that anyway (and for most TVs I use, you also had to carry Apple's S-video-to-composite adapter).

5) The Magsafe I tried was MORE FIRMLY secure than my PowerBook G4s connector. It takes little force to pull my power cord straight out, while the Magsafe was surprisingly strong--it's not what you may be thinking. The difference is when you pull forward or back instead of straight out: then MY power cord won't come out at all, and damage will result. Magsafe on the other hand had about the same force no matter what the angle, and tripping over the cord would disconnect it safely.

6) "Most" depends on your needs of course. Especially with Apple's pro apps about to be universal, and considering that some apps just don't NEED much speed.

7) Reports suggest the same to me, not worse.

8) Change is hard, but time heals :)
 
motulist said:
I personally don't like the new Macbook Pro, here's why:

1) iSight - I don't feel secure with a camera always pointed at my face
2) size - it's wider and deeper (and insignificantly thinner)
3) no modem built in - I can't tell you how many times I've been away from home and the built in modem came in super handy
4) no built in tv output - I output to tv a lot, at home and away
5) mag safe fall out - I like to throw my laptop around and have it in weird places and angles
6) intel chip - while it may turn out to be good in the long run, right now all it means is most apps will run much slower and some may not work at all
7) battery life? - It's still not conclusive, but it looks like the battery life is less
8) Macbook Pro - the name is terrible and part of what you're buying when you buy a high end product is status, and the "Macbook Pro" does not sound like a high end product that serious cash was dropped on.

I could buy an external modem, but that would not have helped me because most times that I've had to use my modem I didn't expect to need it before I left and so I wouldn't have taken it. Plus it costs extra money for what had been included. I use the tv out frequently, so I'd have to carry the converter around, plus that too would cost extra for what had been included.

Seeing this first gen of the Macbook Pro I am happier and happier that I have my Powerbook. I hope that Apple can fix these issues and get their high end notebook line back to what it should be by the time I need to get a new one.
Click to expand...

I agree with you completely, especially the point about the modem and the isight. Not to mention that the isight restricts where you can take the laptop. Many companies, law firms, and the like don't allow devices with cameras, which is why Treos come in camera and noncamera versions. It should have been an option.
 
nagromme said:
1) There's a green light to show when it's on (although I do like the physical iris on the full iSights)
Click to expand...

Would you say it's absolutely impossible for someone to plant a trojan that disables the green light and transmits video discretely? I think that it could happen.
 
I'm not saying the Macbook Pro is bad, if anyone wants to buy one for me I'd gladly accept it. ;) What I'm trying to do here is add a voice of reason. Given the forum we're in it's very easy for people to accept a biased version of reality. Here's reality as I see it. The Macbook Pro is a great machine with lots and lots of potential. At the moment though, it is clearly a first gen machine that needs some kinks worked out. If you're a person who likes to be on the bleeding edge then this machine might be just right for you. But for many Mac users, ease of use and real world functionality are paramount, and in that regard I'd suggest people wait for the next gen Macbook unless they really must buy a new laptop right now. Just my 2 cents.
 
To me, that battery life isn't quite good enough. Now if they would drop it into a 12" or 13" MBP, then I would find that to be quite acceptable. But overall, this isn't a good enough improvement over my fairly recent Powerbook. I think I will wait for Merom, unless of course, the one I am typing on breaks or something...:)
 
motulist said:
I personally don't like the new Macbook Pro, here's why:

1) iSight - I don't feel secure with a camera always pointed at my face
2) size - it's wider and deeper (and insignificantly thinner)
3) no modem built in - I can't tell you how many times I've been away from home and the built in modem came in super handy
4) no built in tv output - I output to tv a lot, at home and away
5) mag safe fall out - I like to throw my laptop around and have it in weird places and angles
6) intel chip - while it may turn out to be good in the long run, right now all it means is most apps will run much slower and some may not work at all
7) battery life? - It's still not conclusive, but it looks like the battery life is less
8) Macbook Pro - the name is terrible and part of what you're buying when you buy a high end product is status, and the "Macbook Pro" does not sound like a high end product that serious cash was dropped on.
Click to expand...

1) For me personally the isight is of little to no use, but it is a nice feature.
2) I wonder how thin is too thin, i think the size of my 1.5 Ghz PB is perfect (except a wider screen would be okay)
3) agreed
4)I dont output to TV but i think many miss this feature
5) This is disagree with, if there is something i dont like about my powerbook it is the power cord which becomes unplugged so easily i cannot imagine the magsafe plug being any worse
6) mostly agree, it will be sweet in due time though
7) Battery life is dissapointing, would have liked to see it with airport and bluetooth off, i was hoping near 5hours, that is unrealistic maybe
8) The name, is alright, powerbook is a lot better of a name, but its not a powerbook anymore, itll do
 
DTphonehome said:
Would you say it's absolutely impossible for someone to plant a trojan that disables the green light and transmits video discretely? I think that it could happen.
Click to expand...

If the light is hard-wired to the imaging chip's power system, then yes, it would be impossible. That would be like me trying to palnt some kind of trojan into your home to prevent the bathroom lights from turning on when you flick the wall switch. Not gonna happen.
 
Apple will sell the iTape soon enough for those people that don't want to have an iSight staring at them. Here is the *EXCLUSIVE* leaked photos of what the product will look like :D

duct%20tape.jpg


But really the MBP is a great notebook. Although I feel some of the stuff I do not need like the remote, isight, etc. Apple sells the experience through packages that work well together. That is one reason why you buy Apple products (uh don't turn this into a long argument of why this isn't true). But 3+ hours is great. Besides the point, stop looking at numbers at think real world. Intel was pure numbers with the whole mHz myth. So 3 hours is great. If you are going to be doing work for longer than three hours, I'm sure there will be an outlet for you to do your work. Also, if you are in desperate need for battery life, just turn dim the screen, turn off bluetooth, etc. Do not expect to get a some crazy battery life with like full screen brightness, encoding video, and downloading stuff of all bittorrent via wifi. You have to be willing to sacrafice somethings and work with you have. Now if the battery life was like 2 under max battery performance, then you can complain :p
 
stockscalper said:
But Stevie promised us the Mactels would use less power and have better battery life. NOT! Get off the crack Stevorino the damn Intel chips pull 40% more power. Did he even look at the dual core G4's that pull only 25 watts power versus 85 for the Intel dual core? What a dumbass Jobs is.
Click to expand...


My PB around 1 1/2 yrs old gets between 2hrs 35mins to 3hrs(if is everything is turned down). For me thats about 30+-min of battery life. Which is enough for me. I know my Pansonic Tough book only gets around 2hrs 30mins and thats just using freakin Word.

So anything over 3hrs is good enough for me. What was everyone expecting 4+hrs?? That just plan crazy...when you look at all the specs. When they said they go to Intel's I figured 3 hrs was a given.

My guess is when the new Intel's come out we'll get atleast 4+hrs on them.
 
notjustjay said:
If the light is hard-wired to the imaging chip's power system, then yes, it would be impossible. That would be like me trying to palnt some kind of trojan into your home to prevent the bathroom lights from turning on when you flick the wall switch. Not gonna happen.
Click to expand...

Yes, but there are many other ways that this is a security risk.

1) If someone has physical access to your computer all they need to do is disable the signal led and then your security is gone.

2) How do I prove to other people that I can't be taking pictures or video unless that light is illuminated? And what are people around me supposed to do? Always be peeking over at my computer to check that the light isn't on?

3) You can call me paranoid if you like, but having a camera that I can't physically turn off and cover pointed at me 24/7 is way too big brother for me. I'm not saying it's probable, but it is possible that there is a backdoor coded into the system that allows remote activation of the camera without activation of the signal light.

I could go on, but that's enough to make the point. I don't need a built in camera, I don't want a built in camera, and I wont have a built in camera.
 
YoNeX said:
Apple will sell the iTape soon enough for those people that don't want to have an iSight staring at them. Here is the *EXCLUSIVE* leaked photos of what the product will look like :D

duct%20tape.jpg
Click to expand...

i know you were half joking about this, but just to give a serious answer, it is really not cool to buy a beautiful $2000 + computer and then have to go putting scraps of black electrical tape on it just to partially ensure your security.
 
motulist said:
i know you were half joking about this, but just to give a serious answer, it is really not cool to buy a beautiful $2000 + computer and then have to go putting scraps of black electrical tape on it just to partially ensure your security.
Click to expand...

What are you worried about? Someone secretly spying on you? :rolleyes:
If the cam would be activated through a security hole, etc. you'd still the light that the camera is active.
 
Diatribe said:
What are you worried about? Someone secretly spying on you? :rolleyes:
If the cam would be activated through a security hole, etc. you'd still the light that the camera is active.
Click to expand...

Read my previous post.
 
nagromme said:
Intel, on the other hand, actually WANTS to make personal computer processors. And wants to work with Apple too.
Click to expand...

Intel only wants to work with Apple because it is the only computer manufacturer they can tap. All the pc makers are going with AMD. It was when Dell announced they were changing half their production to AMD that Intel, seeing their marketshare go out the window, began putting the full court press on Apple making outrageous promises with their chip roadmap.

By the way, I'd like to see comparisons with the new 2 GHZ G4 and the 2 GHZ Intel chip. It's not fair to compare benchmarks with the Mactel to the old 1.67 Powerbooks. And although it wouldn't be possible to see the new G6 in a computer I'd like to see how the weak Mactel does against it head on.
 
stockscalper said:
By the way, I'd like to see comparisons with the new 2 GHZ G4 and the 2 GHZ Intel chip. It's not fair to compare benchmarks with the Mactel to the old 1.67 Powerbooks. And although it wouldn't be possible to see the new G6 in a computer I'd like to see how the weak Mactel does against it head on.
Click to expand...

The new 2Ghz G4 is benched against similar speed procs at barefeats, go check it out. The summary is, with the hobbly slow FSB, the G4 is doomed as it is. A hair faster than the 1.67's. That's as much as I recall from reading that a while back.

As for the G6, if you are referring to the next gen Power ISA IBM chip, that's a narrow chip just like the P4, for fast serial execution. For all those who didn't like P4's style and high power consumption native of narrow chips, you won't like the next IBM chip as well. Clock for clock it is a loser unless IBM can solve the problem Intel never could, how to clock it high enough and keep it going.
 
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