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MacBooks
15" MacBook Pro (Core Duo)
- Thinking about a MacBook Pro or have one? Sign up for our MacBook email list.
- Tiger List is for those using Mac OS X 10.4.
- Leopard List is for those using Mac OS X 10.5.
Overview
To the pleasant surprise of the Mac community, Apple began shipping the MacBook Pro (MBP) the week of Feb. 14, 2006 with faster CPUs than originally announced. The US$1,999 MBP ships with a 1.83 GHz CPU instead of the announced 1.67 GHz one, and the US$2,499 MBP has a 2.0 GHz CPU instead of a 1.83 GHz one. For those clamoring for even more speed, there's a 2.16 GHz build-to-order option at a US$300 premium. This is the first time in Apple history that a computer has been released with a faster CPU than originally announced and also the first time Apple has offered a faster CPU as a build-to-order option in a notebook computer.
Apple marked
the transition to Intel by discontinuing the well-known, long-respected
PowerBook name. The Intel-base "pro" laptop is known as the MacBook
Pro, a name that met with a less-than-enthusiastic reception at the
Expo keynote.
Built around Intel's Core Duo CPU, the new 'Book offers up to 4x the performance of the old one. Yeah, that's a lot of power.
The new Intel-based MacBook Pro looks a lot like the old 15" PowerBook G4 at first glance, but its 15.4" 1440 x 900 display (up from 15.2" and down from 1440 x 960) is the brightest Apple has ever used on a notebook. It is a bit larger and thinner than the 15" PowerBook G4.
There are two other visual clues that this 'Book is different. There's a black square above the display - that's the iSight webcam. And there's a round spot on the front, a receiver that works with Apple's remote control.
Just like the iMac, the MacBook Pro comes with Front Row.
New with the MacBook Pro is the MagSafe power connector, which is designed to detach itself when someone trips over the cord - preventing your 'Book from crashing to the floor.
Other changes include built-in dual-DVI support for Apple's 30" Cinema Display, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics, an ExpressCard/34 slot (replacing the older PC Card), elimination of FireWire 800, and a "downgrade" to a 4x single-layer SuperDrive.
Note that the built-in display is only capable of 18-bit color, not the full 24-bit color you might expect.
The Intel-based Macs use a new partitioning scheme known as GPT. Macintel models can only boot from GPT hard drives; APM (Apple's old partitioning scheme) hard drives cannot be used to boot them. Further, Power PC Macs running any version of the Mac OS prior to 10.4.2 cannot mount GPT volumes.
On the plus side, Macintel models are the only Macs that can boot OS X from a USB hard drive. That should make a lot of Mac users happy, although it may be the beginning of the end for external drives with dual FireWire 400/USB 2.0 support.
The MacBook Pro initially shipped with Mac OS X 10.4.4, the first universal binary version. It will also include iLife '06, which is also universal binary.
Battery life is comparable to the 15" PowerBook G4.
As of April 2006, there have been five revisions of the MacBook Pro, A-E. Serial numbers of the original begin with W8608.
- W8607/8, Rev. A.
- W8609, Rev. B.
- W8610, Rev. C.
- W8611, Rev. D.
- W8612, Rev. E.
We wonder what went wrong here, as this is a very fast and unusual hardware revision schedule for Apple. The models demonstrated at Macworld Expo were preproduction prototypes, and shipping models have had reports of whining, AirPort problems, flickering displays (esp. at maximum brightness), and excessive heat. Perhaps the combination of Intel designing the motherboard and Apple designing an even slimmer enclosure have both been contributing factors, but these issues should have been worked out before Apple began shipping the MBP, not worked out in the hands of guinea pig customers during the first six weeks or so of sales.
Apple has begun replacing logic boards to solve "whining" problems. Models with the new logic board require 10.4.6 or later.
Details
- introduced 2006.01.10 at US$1,999 (1.83 GHz) and US$2,499 (2.0 GHz); began shipping 2006.02.14. Build-to-order 2.16 GHz model available for US$2,799.
- speed bump 2006.05.15 to US$1,999 (2.0 GHz) and US$2,499 (2.16 GHz), glossy finish screen a new CTO option.
- replace 2006.10.24 by Core 2 Duo model.
- requires Mac OS X 10.4.4 or later (10.4.6 with new logic board)
- CPU: 1.83/2.0/2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo (Yonah), soldered in place, no upgrade options
- bus: 667 MHz
- performance, Geekbench 2 (Leopard): 2588 (2.16 GHz), 2388 (2.0 GHz), 2210 (1.83 GHz)
- performance, Geekbench 2 (Tiger): 2684 (2.16 GHz), 2482 (2.0 GHz), 2307 (1.83 GHz)
- performance, Xbench 1.3 (1.83 GHz)
- overall: 93.12
- CPU: 67.79
- memory: 106.15
- Quartz graphics: 106.16
- OpenGL graphics: 123.46
- hard drive: 25.12
- RAM: 512 MB (original 1.67 GHz, later 1.83 GHz) or 1 GB (original 1.83 GHz, later 2.0 and 2.16 GHz), expandable to 2 GB using PC2-5300 DDR2 RAM
- Level 2 cache: 2 MB shared cache on CPU
- Video: ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 on PCI Express with dual-link DVI support
- VRAM: 128 MB on low-end model, 256 MB on high-end model.
- Video out: DVI connector (VGA supported with included adapter; S-video and composite video supported with optional adapters)
- display: 15.4" (38 cm) 16-bit 1440 x 900 color active matrix
- supports 1280 x 800, 1152 x 720, 1024 x 768, 1024 x 640, 800 x 600, 720 x 480, and 640 x 480 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 x 768, 800 x 600, and 640 x 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 720 x 480 at 3:2 aspect ratio
- allows mirroring to external display or extended desktop mode
- hard drive: 80 GB 5400 rpm Serial ATA on high-end model, 100 GB 5400 rpm drive on low-end model
- optical drive: 4x SuperDrive writes DVD±R and DVD±RW at up to 4x, reads DVDs at 8x (double-layer at 6x), writes CD-R at 24x, writes CD-RW at 10x, reads CDs at 24x
- expansions bays: none
- USB 2.0 ports: two, one on each side
- FireWire: 1 FW 400 port
- IR port: none
- IR receiver: supports Apple Remote
- ethernet: 10/100/gigabit
- modem: optional v.92 56k external USB modem
- WiFi: 802.11g AirPort Extreme built in
- Bluetooth: BT 2.0 built in
- ExpressCard/34: 1 slot
- size: 9.6 x 14.1 x 1.0" (259 x 357 x 25.9 mm)
- weight: 5.6 pounds (2.54 kg)
- Part no.: MA090 (1.67 GHz), MA091 (1.83 GHz)
-
Online Resources
- Best online 15" MacBook Pro deals, updated biweekly.
- Best Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' deals. Best online prices for Mac OS X 10.4.
- Best Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard' deals. Best online prices for Mac OS X 10.5.
- Optimized software builds bring out the best in your Mac, Dan Knight, Low End Mac's Online Tech Journal, 2009.06.30. Applications compiled for your Mac's CPU can load more quickly and run faster than ones compiled for universal use.
- Intel's promise fulfilled: More processing power per processor cycle, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.06.30. Apple promised improved CPU efficiencies when it announced the move to Intel in 2005. Three years of MacBooks show the progress.
- Low End Mac's Safe Sleep FAQ, Dan Knight, Online Tech Journal, 2009.06.15. What is Safe Sleep mode? Which Macs support it? How can you enable or disable it? And more.
- The 'Safe Sleep' mailbag, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2009.06.15. Safe Sleep mode is enabled by default on modern MacBooks. How it works, and how to change how it works.
- Tips for installing or reinstalling Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger', Adam Rosen, Adam's Apple, 2009.06.10. Mac OS X 10.4 uses less memory than Leopard, supports Classic Mode on PowerPC Macs, and, unlike Leopard, is supported on G3 Macs.
- MacBook White updated, DIY Mac tablet, danger of 'Safe Sleep', $350 80 GB SSD kit, and more, The 'Book Review, 2009.05.29. Also Apple tablet 'confirmed', 3G and lower cost MacBook Air models rumored, 500 GB bus powered hard drive, Mini DisplayPort adapters, bargain 'Books from $179 to $2,299, and more.
- Mac 'Book power management adventures, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.05.19. If your 'Book won't power up, shuts down while your working, or has other power issues, resetting its internal power manager may clear things up.
- SSD RAID in MacBook Pro, MacBooks sweep Consumer Reports, new SSD drives from Imation, and more, The 'Book Review, 2009.05.11. Also OS X on the Dell Mini 9, MagSafe unsafe?, netbook vs. notebook performance, 8x SuperDrive for older MacBooks, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,200, and more.
- Leaving Linux for a MacBook Pro, Brian Gray, Fruitful Editing, 2009.04.03. Running the $550 HP notebook with Linux just didn't satisfy, and a good deal on a first generation MacBook Pro made coming back easy.
- No $99 netbooks, Apple netbook will fail, learning from a stolen laptop, tiny iDrive, and more, The 'Book Review, 2009.03.27. Also OLED coming to MacBooks and iPhone, X1600 issues in older MacBook Pro models, battery tips, online backup, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,999, and more.
- Making the switch from a G4 PowerBook to a Unibody MacBook, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.03.17. The transition to an Intel-based Mac hasn't been without its problems - slow dialup performance, incompatibility with Eudora, and no real gain in speed with standby apps.
- 2 compact portable USB 2.0 hubs, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2009.01.12. Compact hubs from Targus and Proporta make a great complement to your notebook computer. Each accepts a third-party AC adapter to provide bus power.
- Unbuntu Linux and Boot camp make it easy to create a triple boot Mac, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.12.24. Boot Camp makes it easy to install Windows on Intel Macs, and Ubuntu now makes it easy to install Linux to a virtual Windows drive.
- Notebooks and blackouts, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.12.23. When the power goes out, a notebook computer with long-lasting batteries lets you keep working for hours and hours.
- The 'better safe than sorry' guide to installing Mac OS X updates, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.12.16. Most users encounter no problems using Software Update, but some preflight work and using the Combo updater means far less chance of trouble.
- Why you should partition your Mac's hard drive, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.12.11. "At the very least, it makes sense to have a second partition with a bootable version of the Mac OS, so if you have problems with your work partition, you can boot from the 'emergency' partition to run Disk Utility and other diagnostics."
- MacBook slowdown without battery, DisplayPort and DRM, 256 GB SSD, MagSafe solutions, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.11.26. Also Mac netbook prospects, laptop cooling table with 2 fans, solar notebook bag, hard shell cases for unibody 'Books, bargain 'Books from $500 to $2,299, and more.
- Software to keep your MacBook cool, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 2008.11.25. Heat is the enemy of long hardware life. Two programs to keep your MacBook running cooler.
- Virtualization shootout: VMWare Fusion 2 vs. Parallels Desktop 4, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 2008.11.20. Both programs do the same thing, but one runs Windows XP smoothly alongside Mac apps, while the other bogs down everything but Windows.
- How to clone Mac OS X to a new hard drive, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2008.10.07. Whether you want to put a bigger, faster drive in your Mac or clone OS X for use in another Mac, here's the simple process.
- CodeWeavers brings Google's Chrome browser to Intel Macs, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2008.10.02. Google's new Chrome browser uses separate processes for each tab and brings other changes to Windows users. Now Mac fans can try it as well.
- Apple trumps Microsoft in making the 64-bit transition transparent to users, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.09.18. To use more than 4 GB of RAM under Windows, you need a 64-bit PC and the 64-bit version of Windows. On the Mac, OS X 10.4 and later already support it.
- SATA, SATA II, SATA 600, and Product Confusion Fatigue, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.09.08. In addition to the original SATA specification and the current 3 Gb/s specification, SATA revision 3.0 is just around the corner.
- Does running OS X system maintenance routines really do any good?, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.08.26. Mac OS X is designed to run certain maintenance routines daily, weekly, and monthly - but can't if your Mac is off or asleep.
- MagSafe out of warranty replacement, nVidia Flaw Affecting Macs, MacBook Air revision soon, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.08.22. Also 160 GB microdrive from Intel, MacBooks on grocer's shelves, Intel future CPU plans, a checkpoint friendly notebook case, bargain 'Books from $220 to $2,699, and more.
- Tricking out your notebook for superior desktop duty, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.07.29. For desktop use, you don't need to be limited by the built-in trackpad, keyboard, and display or a notebook's compromised ergonomics.
- The compressed air keyboard repair, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.07.24. If your keyboard isn't working as well as it once did, blasting under the keys with compressed air may be the cure.
- Free VirtualBox for Mac now a virtual contender, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.07.21. A year ago, the Mac version of VirtualBox lacked some essential features. Over the past year, it's grown into a very useful tool.
- SSD prices to dive, MacBook heat, solid state drives for MacBook and MacBook Pro, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.06.09. Also Scorpio 7200 rpm 300 GB notebook drive, USB 2.0/FireWire Blu-ray drive, Acer's tiny, low-cost Linux laptop, bargain 'Books from $180 to $2,699, and more.
- Fast drives mean fast Macs, 256 MB SSD, 16:9 ratio notebook screens the new norm, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.05.30. Also Centrino 2 delayed, traveling with a MacBook Air, time for notebooks to drop internal optical drives, how to right click with a trackpad, bargain 'Books from $279 to $2,699, and more.
- WiMax likely, Apple not green enough, next MacBook in Q3, Cool Feet for notebooks, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.05.23. Also LED backlighting in all MacBooks in 2009, cooling down hot laptops, OLPC plans second generation laptop, universal Apple notebook battery charger, slim external third-party SuperDrive, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
- SheepShaver brings Classic Mac OS to Intel Macs and Leopard, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.05.20. Mac OS X 10.5 doesn't support Classic Mode. Neither does Leopard. But SheepShaver lets you emulate a PowerPC Mac and run the Classic Mac OS.
- Windows on Macs: Three paths for integration, Jason Packer, Macs in the Enterprise, 2008.05.14. Mac users have three routes for running Windows apps: Run Windows using Boot Camp or virtualization, or use a compatibility layer such as WINE.
- Firmware 1.5 screen blanking, air travel notebook stand, battery calibration, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.04.25. Also aluminum MacBook rumored, PowerBook converted to desktop, Apple IIgs converted to notebook, new battery tech may end explosions, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
- 18 bits can't display millions of colors, today's magic is different from yesterday's, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.04.16. Also more feedback on Mac browsers, slow dialup Internet, and a SCSI-to-USB 2.0 solution.
- Mac benchmarks, firmware updates for all MacBooks, sleep-and-charge USB ports, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.04.11. Also troubleshooting the MacBook Air, keyboard protectors and sleeve cases for the MacBook Air, bargain 'Books from $150 to $3,099, and more.
- 18-bit video inadequate, restoring AppleWorks speed, Macintosh display info, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.04.09. Also problems importing AppleWorks drawings and a damaged, unfixable mail database in Outlook Express 5.
- Millions vs. thousands of colors: What's the difference?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.04.07. Once again Apple is being sued over a Mac that can display 'only' 262,144 colors per pixel, not the millions it claims. Does it realy matter?
- MacBook Air tossed out with newspapers, Penryn MacBook and MBP reviews, MacBook Periscope, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.03.14. Also Intel shows 160 GB SSD, Microsoft losing ground, fix for MacBook Air overheating, mini surge protector with USB power, multiple monitors with MBP, bargain 'Books from $260 to $2,699, and more.
- Maximum MacBook RAM, booting PowerPC Macs from USB, Eudora 8 'different', and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.03.12. Also possibly replacing a 1.33 GHz PowerBook with an Intel-based 'Book and recent iPod incompatibility with Panther.
- $18 USB WiFi adapter, AirPort flaw in last gen iBook, SuperDrive failure in MacBook, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.02.26. Also DVD-RAM for MacBooks, the quietest MacBook, aluminum PowerBooks and Mac OS 9, and expansion slots in affordable Macs.
- Solid state drive vs. hard drive in MacBook Air, Mac drivers for Atheros WiFi cards, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.02.08. Also MacBook Air reviewed, Intel offers new CPU to all, MacBook Pro update imminent, MBA teardown, 8x SuperDrive for MacBooks, bargain 'Books from $180 to $2,599, and more.
- Restore stability to a troubled Mac with a clean system install, Keith Winston, Linux to Mac, 2008.01.15. If your Mac is misbehaving, the best fix just might be a fresh reinstallation of Mac OS X - don't forget to backup first.
- We need more than 2 USB ports in MacBooks, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.01.14. There's something wrong when you can't plug a thumb drive, mouse, and printer into a notebook computer at the same time.
- Modbook shipping, new MacBook confirmed, Blu-ray for MacBook Pro, XO vs. eMate, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.01.04. Also fixing MIA Bluetooth on MacBook Pro, US bans spare batteries from checked luggage, an in-flight laptop stand, bargain 'Books from $200 to $2,649, and more.
- MacBook nano rumored, laptop sales strong for holidays, MacBook Software Update 1.1, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.12.21. Ultralight MacBook expected at Macworld Expo, Software Update for MacBook and MacBook Pro, Sonnet's ExpressCard/34 memory card reader, and bargain 'Books from $140 to $2,599.
- iPods, notebooks, and other modern electronics more readily replaced than repaired, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 2007.12.07. Whether it's an intermittent failure or a broken display cable, more often than not it's cheaper to replace a broken electronics device than repair it.
- MacBook replaces PowerBook: The name grows on you, Trevor Wale, One More Thing, 2007.12.04. A PowerBook by any other name would be as sweet, but it took a while to get comfortable with the new MacBook name.
- MacBook goes Santa Rosa, Seagate SATA drive alert, WD's quiet 320 GB notebook drive, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.11.02. Also MacBooks face Intel chip shortage, FireWire 800 ExpressCard adapter, fan control software updated, bargain 'Books from $100 to $2,719.
- External $100 Sony DVD burner likes Macs, Brian Gray, Fruitful Editing, 2007.10.10. The box and manual say nothing about Mac compatibility, but this 18x USB 2.0 DVD burner is plug-and-play (at least with Tiger).
- FastMac 8x SuperDrive and BurnAgain DVD: Fast and easy multisession disc burning, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.10.08. FastMac's 8x SuperDrive upgrade is remarkably fast compared with older PowerBook burners, and BurnAgain DVD makes it easy to append files to a previously burned CD or DVD.
- Premature Momentus failure in MacBook, superfast ExpressCard Compact Flash adapter, the LED future, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.10.05. Also which MacBook to buy, Battery Update 1.3 for 15" MacBook Pro, new bags, and bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,688.
- No looking back after MacBook switch, 8x SuperDrive upgrade for MacBook and MacBook Pro, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.09.21. Also $100 laptop now $188, iBook logic board repair service, metal jacket for MacBook, MoGo mouse lives inside notebook, bargain 'Books from $130 to $2,688, and more.
- Region free DVD viewing on Macs and Windows PCs, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 2007.09.07. There are three ways to get around region restrictions on your computer's DVD player: software, hardware, and extraction.
- Apple #3 in laptops, 5 802.11 options below $100, Dell's color laptops not available, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.08.31. Also rendering of a possible MacBook Lite, Sonnet delivers FireWire/USB 2.0 and 21-in-1 memory card reader for ExpressCard/34, bargain 'Books from $130 to $2,599, and more.
- 250 GB 5400 rpm notebook drive benchmarked, Apple shrinks pro MagSafe adapter, $150 Linux laptop, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.07.27. Also touchup paint for TiBooks, Dell and Lenovo offer wireless USB, Logitech's nano mouse and receiver, and bargain 'Books from $130 to $2,199.
- Laptops trump handhelds, 1.3 MP webcam in new MacBook Pro, a foldable mouse, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.07.13. Also Sony takes a lesson from the MacBook, SuperDrive Firmware Update warning, Plantronics' new USB headset, Belkin's Mouse Trap, bargain 'Books from $130 to $2,199, and more.
- iPhone launch a religious event, Apple's 13% market share, noise in OS X 10.4.10, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.06.29. Also Apple's 500 MB drive shortage, Seagate's first 1 TB drive, a memory optimizer for OS X, MigliaTV software, and more.
- MacBook sales up 94%, MacBook Pro update expected at WWDC, new notebooks from Intel and Palm, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.06.01. Also upgrading the MacBook Pro's hard drive, Axiotron Modbook to begin shipping, manual fan control for G4 PowerBooks, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,299, and more.
- Apple sued: Can 262,144 colors be considered 'millions'?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.05.16. A new class action lawsuit claims Apple is deceiving buyers when it claims to display "millions of colors" on its notebook computers. What's really going on here?
- MacBooks drive Mac sales, LED backlighting this year, flash laptops, battery update, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.05.04. Also cracking MacBooks, RAID in your 'Book, battery issues, a rugged USB flash drive, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,299, and more.
- 1 core, 2 cores, 4 cores, 8: How much difference does it make?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.04.10. Geekbench scores make it possible to compare the newest 3 GHz 8-core Mac Pro with the 1.5 GHz Core Solo Mac mini - and all the models in between.
- Another sudden shutdown fix, sunshade for notebooks, Modbook sensitivity improved, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.04.05. Also new MacBooks could constrain MLCC supply, new enclosure for SATA notebook drives, turn off backlighting with LightMe, bargain 'Books from $180 to $2,299, and more.
- Flaming MacBook, flash-based MacBook mini speculation, NEC's daylight-friendly LCD, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.03.16. Also tricking out the MacBook Pro, SanDisk and Intel enter flash drive market, DuelAdapter lets MacBook Pro use PCMCIA and CardBus cards, bargain 'Books from $180 to $1,999, and more.
- 11 ways to optimize your Mac's performance, Ed Eubanks Jr, The Efficient Mac User, 2007.03.12. If your Mac is getting sluggish, here are 11 tips that can help restore its original performance.
- DST fixes & info for OS X, Classic Mac OS; Maynor demos WiFi hack; Samsung's hybrid drive; and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.03.09. Also glossy vs. matte displays, troubleshooting slot-loading drives, 802.11n upgrade for MacBooks and Intel iMacs, bargain 'Books from $209 to $2,299, and more.
- 12" PowerBook G4 the new Pismo?, recovering MacBook Pro wakeup failure, MacBook Pro noise, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.03.02. Also why you should buy a MacBook Pro, Apple Store's inefficient RAM upgrade, PB/iBook lower RAM slot failure, bargain 'Books from $209 to $2,299, and more.
- CrossOver: Run Windows apps on Intel Macs without Windows, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2007.02.28. If you need to run Windows apps on your Intel Mac once in a while, CrossOver may be the least expensive way to do so since it eliminates the need to buy a copy of Windows.
- Simple ergonomics for the road warrior, Ed Eubanks Jr, The Efficient Mac User, 2007.01.16. The benefits of external keyboards and mice, laptop stands, typing gloves, and anti-RSI software for notebook users.
- Core 2 'Books more reliable, top 10 apps for 'Book users, notebook security, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.12.22. Also using iSight to photograph failed logins, rent a MacBook in France, safer laptop batteries, Core 2 MacBook "best budget laptop", MacBook handle, keyboard lockout, bargain 'Books from $209 to $1,999, and more.
- Cable company sets PowerBook ablaze, glossy vs. matte, first 300 GB notebook drive, MacBook reviews, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.12.15. Also lithium polymer batteries, 'handheld lag' from using PDAs for email, MacBook Pro target disk mode bug, wireless DSL card for MacBook Pros, bargain 'Books from $209 to $1,999, and more.
- Parallels revisited: Release version far more polished than beta, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2006.11.21. Parallels lets you run Windows or Linux without rebooting your Intel-based Mac, and it's made great strides since the beta came out earlier this year.
- Core 2 boosts MacBook by 7%, undervolting ups battery life and drops heat, firmware update for MB and MBP, more, The 'Book Review, 2006.11.17. Also 17" MacBook Pro delays, extended warranties, making EVDO work with Parallels, MacBook Core 2 developer notes,$50 WiFi PC Card, bargain 'Books from $275 to $2,199, and more.
- Disabling deep sleep on MacBooks, 'Other Red' a scam?, mixed RAM can reduce performance, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.11.13. Also other disk utilities Mac owners should know about, Lombard cooling, Netscape 7 on OS 9, Final Vinyl for ripping LPs, and more.
- MacBook goes Core 2, Core vs. Core 2 benchmarks, MacBook Pro hard drive transplant, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.11.10. Also the MacBook Pro's 3 GB memory limit explained, Apple's 200 GB hard drive, Hitachi's forthcoming 250 GB drive, a notebook stand with an integrated keyboard, bargain 'Books from $199 to $2199, and more.
- MacBook Plus: Adding flexibility and easy upgrades to Apple's notebook line, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 2006.10.20. Apple's current 'Books have limited expansion options. A MacBook with a device bay that accepted a second battery could be a big success.
- Better laptop performance: What's the best upgrade?, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.10.09. Memory, CPU, bus speed, and hard drives all impact performance and battery life. Which upgrades will give you the most up time in the field?
- Region free DVD viewing options for Intel and PowerPC Macs, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.09.12. Several hardware and software options that will let your view 'wrong region' DVDs on your PowerPC or Intel Mac.
- Apple updates battery recall, MacBook 'best computer for school', random MacBook shutdown, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.09.01. Also more on battery safety, high capacity battery for 14" iBooks, low-cost USB 2.0 PC Cards, turn your 'Book into a reading light, bargain 'Books from $380 to $2,399, and more.
- Merom and the MacBook, Apple's original Duo laptop, Dell battery woes may impact Apple, iBook G3 SuperDrive, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.08.18. Also MacBook a back-to-school recommendation, MagSafe patent may block third-party power adapters, wrist rug and trackpad film for MacBook and Pro, bargain 'Books from $119 to $1,699, and more.
- MacBook Pro battery exchange, MacBook reliability, strangest MacBook hacks, DIY laptop case, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.08.04. Also Apple admits MacBook issues, more on palmrest issues, powering the $100 laptop, another Dell notebook bursts into flames, repairing your AC adapter, bargain 'Books from $300 to $2,149, and more.
- Apple 'Books now 12% of market, MacBook Pro's 'daft power supply', pimp your MacBook, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.07.28. Also more Americans taking laptops to work on vacation, updates on MacBook noise and discoloration, dozens of burned Dell laptops, bargain 'Books from $335 to $1,799, and more.
- Is 512 MB enough?, Macs gain share in business, wireless Mighty Mouse, Toast adds Blu-ray support, and more, Mac News Review, 2006.07.28. Also OWC's FireWire 400 & 800/USB 2.0/eSATA drives, miniXpress 160 GB drive, Jeep flash drives, SteerMouse supports up to 8 buttons plus vertical and horizontal scrolling, and miniStat2 system monitor.
- 7 tools for keeping your laptop (uh, notebook) cool, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.07.24. A quick look at the Podium CoolPad, ChillMat, ChillHubs, Laptop Desk, Xpad, iLap, and iBreeze - seven stands designed to keep you 'Books running cooler.
- Exploding laptops, ExpressCard 34 roll-out, 1.75 GHz G4 upgrade, SeisMac, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.07.14. Also MacBook reviews, problems using disk images to install Windows on Intel Macs, nylon vs. leather cases, 160 GB hard drive upgrade, size matters, and bargain 'Books from $280 to $1,299.
- Drive matters, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.06.14. There's more to picking the right hard drive than size, spindle speed, buffer size, and price. But how can a 5400 rpm drive ever outperform a 7200 rpm drive?
- Upgraded PowerBook vs. new MacBook: Which makes more sense?, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.06.12. Especially for serious gamers, the older PowerBooks with their graphics processors and dedicated memory run circles around the low-end Intel GMA950 graphics of the MacBook.
- Power strategies for using your 'Book in the field: Batteries and AC adapters, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.06.05. One or two extra batteries and at least one spare AC adapter can be essential when you're traveling and need to get hours and hours of use from your 'Book.
- Matte vs. glossy screens, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.06.05. Also how DiskWarrior can save the day even when it 'fails', thoughts on keyboards for those with neuropathy in their hands, Norton SystemWorks for Mac, and more on OS X browsers.
- MacBook a sign of things to come to MacBook Pro line, Jake Goodridge, Fresh Picked Apples, 2006.05.26. The MacBook isn't just an incredible value compared to the MacBook Pro, it also introduces some features sure to migrate to the pro line.
- What's the best 'Book for my needs: MacBook, MacBook Pro, iBook, or PowerBook?, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.05.25. You need to balance size, weight, price, power, and processor to find just the right 'Book for your own needs.
- Picking the right laptop in 2006, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.05.23. You need to balance size, weight, price, power, and battery life to find just the right notebook computer for your own needs.
- Glossy MacBook screen, MacBook keyboard, fix for MacBook Pro heat problems, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.05.19. Also inside the MacBook, positive 17" MacBook Pro reviews, third-party power supplies, Hitachi's notebook 'drive of steel', bargain 'Books from $1,000 to $2,199, and more.
- MacBook Pro whining and overheating, 80 GB drive failure in 1.5 GHz PowerBooks, Pismo G4 price drop, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.05.05. Also problems with MacBook Pro batteries, MacBook Pro firmware update, transceiver doubles MacBook WiFi range, Temperature Monitor updated, bargain 'Books from $230 to $1,849, and more.
- 13" widescreen 'Books 'imminent', colors possible; MacBook available with Windows preinstalled, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.04.21. Also lots of Windows users choosing MacBooks, MacBook's underclocked graphics, MacBook firmware update, bargain 'Books from $325 to $2,399, and more.
- Apple's original Boot Camp installation instructions, Jeff Adkins, The Lite Side, 2006.04.11. "Was it just me, or did anyone else catch those little jabs at Windows on the Boot Camp installation page? 'If your computer becomes infected, well, what did you expect?' and so on."
- Apple joins 'Win on Mac' army with Boot Camp, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2006.04.07. The hackers did it first, but Apple's Boot Camp is a much more elegant solution to putting Windows XP on Macintel hardware.
- 13" widescreen MacBook coming?, 5400 vs. 7200 rpm notebook drives, MacBook Pro issues, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.04.07. Major League Baseball online, lesson of $100 laptop, slot-loading drive in a white iBook, bargain 'Books from $300 to $2,399 (refurb 2.16 GHz MacBooks!), and more.
- Boot Camp: Apple officially supports Windows XP booting on Macintel hardware, The Macintel Report, 2006.04.06. No more need to do any hacks to get WinXP booting on Apple's Intel-based Macs. Apple's new Boot Camp software fully supports it.
- MagSafe up in flames, MacBook love, turn iBook into desktop, USB 2.0 faster on Macintel, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.03.24. Lots of positive MacBook press, Apple sells 36,000 iBooks to Maine, DayStar's 1.92 GHz PowerBook G4 upgrade, 32 GB flash drive for 'books, bargain 'Books from $230 to $1,999, and more.
- Windows XP on Macintel a reality, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2006.03.23. It took a while, but it's now possible to boot Windows XP on the new Intel-based Macs.
- WinXP boots on Macintel, real world thinking about Rosetta performance, and Intel's impact on future Macs, The Macintel Report, 2006.03.23. If you want to run Windows XP on Macintel hardware, it's now possible. Also, common sense thinking about Rosetta speed and how Intel's future CPU plans will shape the Mac.
- Ego's clamshell notebook, MacBook praise, battery update for 15" AlBook, FlashDiscs, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.03.17. New Windows laptop looks a lot like old clamshell iBook, MacBook Pro not compatible with some wireless services, lots of MacBook Pro reports, battery calibration tips, bargain 'Books from $399 to $1,699, and more.
- 2 GHz MacBook Pro vs. upgraded PowerBook G4, MacBook reviews, 'Simpson-proof' MagSafe, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.03.10. Lots of new reviews and benchmarks of the MacBook Pro, a tiny USB 2.0 flash drive, 3 new PC Cards for OS X, bargain 'Books from $50 to $1,699, and more.
- Positive MacBook Pro press, sticking with a PowerBook, super capacity batteries for Lombard and Pismo, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.03.03. Also troubleshooting a MacBook Pro that won't turn on, higher capacity 12" PowerBook battery, wireless drivers adds speed and range, bargain 'Books from $320 to $1,849, and more.
- MacBook battery life and performance, MacBook teardown guide, longer life PowerBook batteries, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.02.24. Also iTab, an iBook turned into a tablet; end in sight for 12" and 17" PowerBooks; QuickerTek Automator antenna switching software; bargain 'Books from $390 to $1,849; and more.
- MacBook Pro value equation revisited, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.02.15. The MacBook Pro is shipping at higher speeds than expected. But is it time for you to go Intel, or should you stick with PowerPC a while longer?
- MacBook Pro: What's up with bumping the speed when Apple can't even meet demand?, Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living, 2006.02.16. More speed for the same price is nice, but why not concentrate on meeting demand first? And what's with that $300 premium for the 2.16 GHz model?
- Apple, IBM, and Intel: The choice was clear, and the transition says a lot about Apple, Paul Brierley, The 'Book Beat, 2006.02.13. Apple's history is full of change, and when it became obvious that IBM was pushing power while Intel was switching the focus to efficiency, the time was right to move Apple to Intel.
- Computer benchmarks and other baloney: Don't expect 2-4x performance from Intel Macs, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2006.02.06. The Intel Macs are faster than the models they replace, but only with software written for them. With older software, they're actually slower than last year's Macs.
- New tech parallels and perils: PowerBook 5300 and MacBook Pro, Paul Brierley, The 'Book Beat, 2006.02.06. Ten years ago, Apple's PowerBook 5300 was known for flaming batteries, sluggish performance, and underperforming emulation. Has Apple learned their lesson, or will the MacBook Pro repeat history?
- Tech: Booting an Intel iMac from an external drive, Jonathan Rentzsch, TidBITS, 2006.01.30. Intel Macs use a different partitioning scheme (GPT) than older Macs (APM), so you can't simply update an existing drive - your must repartition it with GPT.
- Comparing Apples to Apples: When is Macintel faster? When does PowerPC make more sense?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.01.29. Benchmarks show the Intel Core Duo flies through native code but plods through PowerPC programs. Will PowerPC or Intel give you the more productive workflow?
- Macintel stumbling block: Sometimes you need Classic, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 2006.01.25. As nice as the new Intel Macs seem to be, the lack of any Classic environment makes it impossible for some people to upgrade.
- MacBook Pro benchmarked, launched too soon?, battery life, ExpressCard slot, and more, Charles Moore, The 'Book Review, 2006.01.20. Also win a MacBook Pro, BlackBerry to support OS X, 1.2 GHz G4 upgrade for TiBook, Seagate's new 160 GB notebook drive, bargain 'Books from $369 to $1,699, and more.
- MacBook Pro Performance Analysis, Craig Wood, Woodware, 01.17. Preproduction MacBook Pro compared to 1.67 GHz PowerBook G4, 2 GHz dual Power Mac G5, and 500 MHz PowerBook G4.
- Four times the power makes the MacBook Pro 'totally lustworthy', Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.01.12. Apple claims the MacBook Pro is four times as powerful at the PowerBook G4. Then add iSight, Front Row, and a remote control, and it's another winner for Apple.
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