Apple’s latest pro laptop isn’t just a larger version of the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro – it adds a faster processor and the option of a glossy X-Black-style screen. Alongside this release, Apple has offered both of these features as options for the 15.4-inch model too.

The resolution of 1,680-x-1,050 is high enough to give you a large workspace even within palette-stuffed applications such as InDesign.

The 2.16GHz Core Duo T2600 is currently Intel’s fastest mobile processor – though the next-generation of Intel’s chip, Core 2 Duo, is due in August.

As with the 15.4-inch model though, this MacBook Pro is hampered by the lack of Intel-optimized versions of some major design tools – including Adobe’s Creative Suite. Our review model was equivalent to an average Windows model with the same chip and half as much RAM in terms of Photoshop performance.

The MacBook’s LightWave graphics processing was three times slower than equivalent Windows units in our tests. The Universal Binary version of Cinebench saw poor results for real-time 3D, too – but the high rendering result shows that the MacBook Pro is an equal to any Windows laptop when used with updated software.

The MacBook Pro’s aesthetics and ergonomics are great, apart from Apple’s dogged refusal to add a two-button trackpad. However, unless you’re a Final Cut Studio-based editor, the lack of Intel-optimized software is a real problem.

source: www.digitmag.co.uk

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