If you want to know which innovative
features will appear in next year's Windows laptops, look at today's MacBook
computers. The clue here is in the name: the Pro boasts a superb Retina
display.
We've previously looked at the entry-level
2.3GHz, 256GB SSD model (see tinyurl.com/7ygc3kj); this is the top-end Pro,
with a 2.6GHz processor and 512GB of storage.
In terms of ports we find two Thunderbolt,
two USB 3.0, HDMI and an SDXC card slot. You also get dual mics, an HD webcam,
802.11n wireless connectivity and a silky glass trackpad.
And then there's the ultra-high-definition
IPS panel, with 2880 pixels across and 1800 pixels running down its 15.4in
glossy screen.
The build quality of this streamlined
laptop is unimpeachable. Its unibody construction comprises a main chassis
milled from solid aluminium, with a sculpted bottom plate precision-set below.
Lid down, it's just 18 mm thick and weighs exactly 2kg.
Potential niggle points for a would-be
purchaser may include the removal of the optical drive, FireWire and even
Ethernet. The last two are covered with Thunderbolt adaptors (not supplied),
and you can easily add an external DVD drive. Business users may balk at the
omission of a Kensington security slot, though.
Running World Bench 6 in Windows 7, The
MacBook Pro put in the fastest showing here. In fact, its 176-point score
confirmed it as the most powerful laptop we’ve ever tested anywhere.
Graphics performance is outstanding, too -
as it must be to drive the 5.2Mp display. In OS X the nVidia GTX 650M
automatically hands over to integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 when it isn’t
needed, although only the nVidia processor is available in Windows. Our
graphics tests results were strong, but a little more horsepower wouldn't go
amiss: the OS X interface isn't as fluid as it should be.
Totalling 95Wh, the massed array of
non-removable internal batteries led to a Windows runtime of 6.5 hours. Back in
Lion, we found this machine could outlast our working day.
Verdict: The
specifications and benchmark results excel, and that's before you consider the
precision build and meticulous design. If the price alarms, the $2,824 Pro is
as worthy of consideration.
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Information
Price: $3,677
Contact: apple.com
Ratings
Build: 10/10
Features: 8/10
Performance: 10/10
Value: 6/10
Overall: 10/10
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