Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" Laptop - MD313LL/A (October, 2011)

The new 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro brings a lot of new features to the table from the previous generation. Users now get a large battery that gives pretty amazing life, a better display, faster processor, FireWire, SD-card slot, and best of all a lower starting price. Getting more for less seems to be the trend during this slow economy, so is there any reason not to buy the new 13" MacBook Pro?

Build and Design

The 13.3" MacBook Pro is very sleek and classy, which is what we have come to expect from Apple. The design is sharp with the unibody chassis showing no panel lines or breaks except on the bottom for the huge panel that covers the internals. Apple gives us a very simple interface with little clutter (and ports) turning what is usually a mindless appliance into a work of art. To further simplify the design they switched to an internal battery for this model, instead of having a cover and release bar like in the previous revision.

MSRP: $1,199

PROS:
-Excellent battery life
-Great build quality
-SD-card slot!

CONS:
-This notebook gets hot!
-Good looks, poor ergonomics
-Slow hard drive

13-inch Apple MacBook Pro Specifications:

-Mac OS X v10.5.7 (9J3032)
-Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz (3MB L2 cache, 1066MHz -frontside bus)
-2GB 1067MHz DDR3 SDRAM
-160GB 5400rpm SATA hard disk drive
-13.3" glossy widescreen TFT LED backlit display (1280 x 800)
-NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics (256MB of DDR3 shared memory)
-8x slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
-iSight webcam
-AirPort Extreme WiFi (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n)
-Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
-Mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports (480Mbps), -----FireWire 800, Audio out and microphone in, SD-Card reader
-Dimensions : 0.95" x 12.78" x 8.94" (H x W x D)
-Weight: 4.51 pounds (A bit on the heavy side)
-Integrated 58-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
-60W MagSafe power adapter with cable management system

great price, fast delivery, love computer and good purchasing experience. Computer does everything that my business requires and is much more affordable than newer mac laptops. Macs just rock, anyone purchasing computer for first time be it retired folks or younger students this is the computer for you. Easy to learn operation and super fun to play with. These computers are fast and user friendly. The storage space is huge if compared to file cabinets and should last for years. Personally, I have never had a problem with Mac breakdowns. I just purchased this model and it is the 5th mack i have bought over the last 5 years. One for each member of my family. We all love them. Really happy with mine.

Rich Piper
Supervisor
Small Business Owner
Teacher
Mechanic

A PC just can't top a mac. switched from pc a few years ago and will NEVER go back. After all the virus's, blue screen's of death and general clutter of windows OS's. It was refreshing to see someone builds a computer and OS that are truly meant for each other and work in harmony. I spend more time getting more work done or enjoying my music and movies, and less time fixing and rebooting.

The computer works well but came with no system software. I had the Mountain Lion software so was able to initialize, but I wasn't aware that it came with someone else's name and image in the startup. I didn't have a password, so have no way of knowing if there was any software. I had to erase and re-initialize the whole thing. I could have bought a later version of the same computer for a couple of hundred dollars more than I paid and had a computer ready to run.

I suspect the computer was pawned by someone who had stolen it, or found it. Never again would I buy from a pawn shop. I bought it to replace a newer version that I had left in a taxi in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I suspect someone pawned it there. Mine was locked so no one would have been able to open and operate it.

My concerns at downsizing to a 13 inch lap top have been erased as I find the weight and size more convenient for every day use without any negatives in practical use.

As a musician, I use my MacBook for live recording and for composition and find the battery life to be fine.

The speed is amazing and Apple's Garage Band, I Movie and I DVD make production a joy.

There's no doubt that the initial outlay of money is high, but the ease of use, and the elegance of the operating system make this a great value.