Accessories

Great computer
This is a powerful, elegant computer that can do pretty much anything I want it to do.

Mac Is The BOMB!!!!
This particular item was a absolute deal, with $400.00 down and the remaining $1500.00 was put on my amazon store card with NO INTEREST for 24 months. The computer is FAST AS HELL, it arrived a week AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, and was completely set up in 3 minutes. Fast, intuitive, and beautiful I recommend this computer to all technology lovers. ***And to anyone worried about switching to Mac, don't worry about it almost every program works with Mac, and all those little annoying things that you thought were normal on all computers, they are all gone on a mac, stream-line and fast as lightening. Death to PC, Long Live the MAC!!!***

Made me into an Apple Convert from Windows
I purchased this notebook to replace my pre-existing Windows XP based laptop. Whenever I watched a movie and saw a celebrity working on a computer, it was always on a Mac. When you buy a notebook like this, you are buying a Hollywood Superstar.

WHAT IS IN THE BOX

Notebook
Instructions
AC Adapter

SETUP

When you turn on the notebook, there is an initialization process to register your notebook and allow you to password protect the computer. Right out of the box, the Macbook Pro works well. It is accompanied by iLife and iTunes. I initially updated iTunes and updated the operating system after placing my information to work wirelessly.

Operation

The notebook is so easy to operate. As a Windows operator since the Windows 1.0 inception, it was not a steep learning curve. In lieu of the Control button, you push the Command button.

The touchpad is generous and the various mouse gestures are a welcome addition. The keyboard is full-sized and buttons are extremely comfortable.

The hard drive is quiet. There is no screen flex or wrist pad flex, either. The function keys control contrast, volume and screen brightness. Being used to a Dell Latitude D620, I am used to about a 50% brightness. Configured with a 320 GB hard drive that is a lot of space to store my 120 GB of music and over 100 GB of photos/videos. The hard drive appears to run fast at 5400 RPM (for what I do a 7200 RPM HD was not worth it).

I do not game but I wanted the option given the video capabilities. However, to conserve energy I use the integrated memmory card. If I decide one day to play video games, this notebook will afford me that ability.

Installation of programs have never been easier for me on a Mac than my previous 5 generations of Windows based notebooks (ranging from Dell, Gateway, HP, Compaq). I was able to install my printer software and drivers in 1/3 of the time of XP and 1/5 of the time from Vista. Password protecting the notebook, ensured that only I would be able to install ANYTHING onto my notebook. It is so frustrating when someone uses your computer only to find junky software installed into your notebook which add spyware and run your computer less efficiently.

Construction

The solid construction by the aluminum body is elegant and durable. The glass screen is highly reflective but at the angle by which I operate the notebook, I find no problems. It is so easy to wipe off. I have read that viewing angles were limited but I don't find that to be the case for me (with regular positioning and use).

For the size of a widescreen 15.4" notebook, this design is thin and lightweight (5.5 lbs) which matches the weight of many notebooks at the 14.1" size of Windows based notebooks.

I use this notebook on a table or my lap. It does not get hot like prior generations of Macbook Pros which got very uncomfortably hot.

The plug attaches by a magnetic type interface which is easy to use and more durable than other notebook interfaces that tend to dislodge from regular use (My old Gateway and an older model Compaq).

There are 2 USB ports, a Firewire 800 port, earphone and microphone jacks, and a monitor port. A slot for the optical drive is convenient and is software/hardware driven. It is relatively quiet for its operation. I do not even hear the cooling fan when it runs.

Integrated webcam with very good field of view and resolution for its size. Using the camera it is easy to do videoconferencing or video chatting (iChat). The video chat also works with Google's Chat interface.

Batteries

The battery is unlike the batteries of its predecessors. I ordered the older battery and obviously, it would not fit.

Battery life is decent with WIFI and Bluetooth inactivated and brightness set to lower levels, allowing me about 3 hours and 45 minutes. I love how you can display batter life as a percentage or absolute time.

Wifi and Bluetooth activation are easy to operate (at the upper right hand corner of the screen).

Programs

Armed with the Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard (includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools) and iLife '08 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand), you can do a lot with the notebook right out of the box. I did purchase extra software for more versatility:

Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Special Media Edition
Final Cut Express 4
Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 (Mac)

I had Windows XP before and syncing the IPOD with that system was well, buggy. With the Macbook Pro, as soon as I turned on the notebook, the updates ran seamlessly and did not affect the performance of the machine. I also decided to sync my notebook with the Macbook Pro which was very easy and I had not one error. I also found it faster to sync with my IPOD when compared to my Windows based predecessor. Overall, it was a more positive experience for me.

PROS
Lightweight for the size of the screen
Thin profile
Next generation trackpad (works similar to an iPhone/IPOD Touch
Ease of operation and installation of programs
Good base of programs installed
Virtually no BLOATWARE
Simplicity of design
Can run windows
Dual video card configuration

CONS
Cost
Average battery life
No matte screen option

I also added the Applecare Protection Plan (3 year duration) which I was advised will be worth the price for technical support and repairs (if necessary). I highly recommend getting the Protection Plan:

AppleCare Protection Plan MA515LL/A for MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o display)

One peripheral that I thought was very useful was the Apple Remote which I found new on the Amazon Marketplace for $5:

Apple Remote Control for iPod (White)

Conclusion

Overall, this is a solid notebook with the capabilities to run Windows (but why?). The design is simple and easy to use.

It has made an Apple convert out of me, out of all of these years (23 years - am I that old?) of PC computing from the IBM AT/XT days (monochrome screens, 5 inch floppy drives, 2400 baud modems, noisy dot matrix printers and clicky keyboards).

I highly recommend this product. It made an Apple Mac OS X convert out of me!

New Mac experiance
As someone with about 20 years in IT, mostly on the server/desktop side, all Microsoft, I have to say that using my new Macbook pro has truly been a pleasure. I had considered getting a Mac for about a year and finally took the plunge a month or so ago. The setup was easy and using the computer itself is also easy. With parallels installed, I am still able to work in my PC based applications without any of the seeming lag that you normally see in any other virtualization product. I liked it so much, i recently bought my daughter a Macbook.

Macbook Pro is awesome
My first ever Apple, and it is sweet. It took a short time for me to get used to OS X, but it's awesome. Boot up and restarts are the fastest I've seen, far faster than Windows based PCs. The notebook itself is pleasing to the eye, just aesthetically gorgeous. I have no problems with the display being reflective. I love how it is so thin and the backlit keyboard. I'm loving every bit of my new MBP!

For almost $2K, the MBP's lack of HDMI, Blu Ray, and 1600 x 900 display makes me give it 4.5 stars.