Apple MacBook Pro Summer 2009 (Core 2 Duo 2.8GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 512MB, 15-inch)
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MB986LL/A
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Apple's 15-inch MacBook Pro makes only minor tweaks to the previous version, but cutting prices and swapping the ExpressCard slot for an SD card slot are enough to make it a solid improvement over its predecessor.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ![]() | In stock Try Free Amazon Prime for one Month | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 11/09/2009 |
Savings, Selection & Service since 1971 | ![]() | In stock Free Shipping! | as of 11/09/2009 | |
| Not yet rated | In stock | as of 11/09/2009 | |
| ![]() | In stock | as of 11/09/2009 | |
| ![]() | In stock | as of 11/09/2009 | |
| ![]() | In stock | as of 11/09/2009 | |
| ![]() | In stock | as of 11/09/2009 | |
| Safe Harbor | Not yet rated | In stock | as of 11/09/2009 | |
| ![]() | In stock | as of 11/09/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Apple MacBook Pro Summer 2009 (Core 2 Duo 2.8GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 512MB, 15-inch) price range: $2,149.00 - $2,299.00
- Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
- Reviewed on: 06/11/2009
- Updated on:06/22/2009
- Released on: 06/11/2009
The good: Price cut from previous version; new SD card slot; keeps the same solid unibody construction and oversize trackpad.
The bad: Loses the ExpressCard slot; switching GPUs not as seamless as it should be.
The bottom line: Apple's 15-inch MacBook Pro makes only minor tweaks to the previous version, but cutting prices and swapping the ExpressCard slot for an SD card slot are enough to make it a solid improvement over its predecessor.
The latest round of MacBook revisions are nowhere near as radical as the aluminum unibody construction rolled out in late 2008. Instead, the 13-inch MacBook has been promoted to the Pro family, while the 15-inch MacBook Pro gets a handful of minor component upgrades. More important than that, however, is a series of price cuts for all of the base model MacBook Pros, including this $2,299 version--the comparable 2008 version originally cost $200 more.
Now that the 13- and 15-inch models have the same basic feature set, including Nvidia's excellent integrated GeForce 9400 graphics, a high-capacity (if unremovable) battery, an SD card slot, and FireWire connection, the main points of differentiation are minor CPU speed boosts, a bigger screen, and the availability of a separate discrete GPU (the GeForce 9600) that can be turned off if needed to improve battery life. Our $2,299 review unit had the 512MB version of the GPU, while the $1,999 version has a 256MB version.
Most users will be ably served by the less-expensive 13-inch MacBook Pro, which starts as low as $1,199, but the combo of a faster CPU, better battery, larger 500GB hard drive, the SD card slot, and a $200 price cut makes the new 15-inch MacBook Pro a solid improvement over its predecessor.
| Price as reviewed / Starting price | $2,299 / $1,699 |
| Processor | 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo |
| Memory | 4GB, 1066MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 500GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | Nvidia GeForce 9400M |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce 9400M (integrated) and 512MB Nvidia 9600M GT (dedicated) |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard |
| Dimensions (WD) | 14.4 x 9.8 inches |
| Height | 0.95 inch |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 15.4 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 5.4/6.0 pounds |
| Category | mainstream |
The aluminum chassis is essentially identical to the last 15-inch MacBook Pro. The construction starts with a solid block of aluminum, which is carved down, rather than a thin outer shell, which has had support struts added to it. The result is a light and thin, yet strong, chassis that feels solid and substantial. Except for the $999 white polycarbonate MacBook, Apple's entire laptop line now uses this type of body.
We're especially fond of the larger trackpad that uses multitouch gestures similar to those found on the iPhone. It offers a much larger surface area than most laptop trackpads, thanks to the elimination of a separate mouse button. While the entire trackpad depresses like a button, simple tapping, as on a Windows laptop, will also work once you turn that option on in the settings menu. Of the multitouch gestures, most useful perhaps is sweeping four fingers: left or right brings up the application switcher, while up hides all your active windows. Once you get used to that, going back to a regular trackpad is difficult.
The 15.4-inch wide-screen display offers a 1,440x900 native resolution, which is standard for premium 15-inch screens (cheaper 15-inch models are often 1,280x800). All of the MacBook Pro screens are backlit LEDs, which allow for thinner lids and provide some power-saving benefits. We like the look of the edge-to-edge glass over the screen, but it's also very reflective, and we wish Apple would offer a matte screen option on all its systems, not just the 17-inch MacBook Pro.
| Apple MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo 2.5GHz, Nvidia GeForce 9600M) | Average for category [thin-and-light] | |
| Video | Mini DisplayPort | VGA-out, S-Video |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 2 USB 2.0, FireWire 800, SD card reader | 4 USB 2.0, SD card reader |
| Expansion | None | ExpressCard/54 |
| Networking | Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional WWAN |
| Optical drive | DVD burner | DVD burner |
The biggest news is probably that Apple has at long last embraced the simple joys of the SD card slot. After claiming for years that photographers could just use an external USB adapter to access their SD cards, the 13- and 15-inch Pros now include this very common component. The cost, however, is the ExpressCard slot, which is now found only on the 17-inch Pro. Most people used their ExpressCard slots, if at all, for card-reading adapters or mobile broadband antennas. While we use SD cards, even in our dSLR camera, several pro photographers have reminded us that Compact Flash cards are their preferred format.
The 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU in our review unit is a bump up from the 2.5GHz version we saw in the last high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro. The least expensive configuration still has that 2.53GHz version, but an extra $300 (for a total of $2,599) adds an optional 3.06GHz processor--the fastest one you can get in an Apple laptop. While our MacBook Pro had a clear advantage over both the 13-inch MacBook Pro and previous 15- and 13-inch MacBooks, most users can feel comfortable using any of the current Intel processors Apple offers for basic Web-surfing, productivity, and multimedia playback.
Besides that dedicated GeForce 9600M, the new Pro also included the same integrated GeForce 9400 GPU found in the 13-inch MacBook. The settings menu has two power options: for high performance or for longer battery life. Choosing high performance turns the 9600 chip on, while choosing longer battery life turns it off, leaving you with just the integrated chip. The switch made virtually no difference in our standard benchmarks, although those interested in high-end video and photo editing may see a more practical benefit.
One frustration remains about this entire process: switching between GPUs is simple, requiring only a button press on the power options menu, but the changeover isn't totally transparent. You have to log out and log back in, requiring you to close all your apps and save your data.
The new battery in the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros is nonremovable, but Apple claims the system can last up to 7 hours while surfing the Web, and somewhat less for DVD playback. To assuage concerns about the sealed battery, the company says the new models are good for at least 1,000 full recharge cycles--which they estimate to be about five years of use. We were able to run the system for 5 hours and 5 minutes on our video playback battery drain test, with the GPU set for the better battery life option. That's about an hour longer than last year's 15-inch MacBook Pro, and an impressive result.
Apple has an above-average reputation for support, along with a series of accessible retail stores (as long as you live in a market served by one). But MacBooks continue to include a standard one-year parts and labor warranty, with only 90 days of toll-free telephone support. This, along with the proprietary nature of Apple's products, makes purchasing an extended Apple Care warranty almost a necessity, at $349 (or $249 for 13-inch laptops) for three total years of coverage.
| Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch | |
| Off (watts) | 0.63 |
| Sleep (watts) | 0.8014 |
| Idle (watts) | 19.772 |
| Load (watts) | 65.4 |
| Raw (annual kWh) | 75.96 |
| EnergyStar compliant | Yes |
| Annual operating cost (@$0.1135/kWh) | $8.62 |
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test laptops.
System configurations:
Apple MacBook Pro - Summer 2009 - Core 2 Duo 15.4 inch - 2.8GHz
OS X 10.5.7 Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8GHz; 4096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 9400M / 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT; 500GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo - 2.4GHz / 13.3-inch (2008 Edition)
OS X 10.5.5 Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz; 2048MB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 9400M; 250GB Toshiba 5,400rpm
Dell Adamo
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U9300; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 779MB (Shared) Mobile Intel GMA 4500MHD; 128GB Samsung SSD
Apple MacBook - Summer 2009 - Core 2 Duo 13.3 inch - 2.13GHz
OS X 10.5.7 Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.13GHz; 2048MB DDR3 SDRAM 800MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 9400M; 160GB Hitachi 5,400rpm \
Apple MacBook Pro - Summer 2009 - Core 2 Duo 13.3 inch - 2.26GHz
OS X 10.5.7 Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.26GHz; 2048MB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 9400M; 160GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
User reviews
-
-
Outstanding laptop
by seanman236 on June 12, 2009
Pros: The new battery life
The huge hard drive
The graphics capabilities
the adjustable backlit keyboard
the track padCons: Ambient light sensor not as accurate as I would like,
I am nervous about the sealed battery in the long runSummary: I had purchased the late 2008 macbook pro, the 2500 dollar high end one, thirteen days ago and after several visits to the Apple store, I finally was able to ...
Summary: I had purchased the late 2008 macbook pro, the 2500 dollar high end one, thirteen days ago and after several visits to the Apple store, I finally was able to exchange my old laptop for this new one. I love it. The battery life on it is incredible, often time surpassing Apple's claim of seven hours. Games play brilliantly and it runs doom 3 (yes I know, not exactly state of the art, but graphics intensive none the less) on full performance without a hitch. The aluminum frame feels sturdier than ever, and the hinge feels more durable too. I am digging in the new SD card slot for my camera as well.
6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Apple steps up to the plate...
Pros: Screen - Great colors on a laptop screen and the LED backlight is awesome. Glare can be an issue.
SD Card Reader - good addition
Battery Life - I don't want to carry a second battery, I just want it to last and it does as advertised.Cons: USB Ports - 2 is just not enough
Mini Display Port - Just a way for apple to get an extra 30 bucks for adapters
Switching CPU's - I agree with the review. You shouldn't have to log out and back in.Summary: I too had recently purchased a 2008 version MacBook Pro and was heartbroken when the new ones came out. Fortunately one call to my Apple Store landed me the updated ...
Summary: I too had recently purchased a 2008 version MacBook Pro and was heartbroken when the new ones came out. Fortunately one call to my Apple Store landed me the updated version with little hassle and the switch between computers made me a believer in Time Machine. Truly Seamless. But on to the computer...
This is far and away the best computer I've ever owned, desktop or laptop. The extra memory and larger hard drive is very noticeable over the previous model. I get very little lag running multiple programs and running Windows and Leopard simultaneously has been hardly noticeable.
Battery life is maybe my favorite feature between the new model and the old. I spend a lot of time just on the web or in word processing and I've had no trouble getting 6-7 hours. What I really like is how accurate the countdown timer is based on your program usage.
Design wise the aluminum body is well beautiful. My only beef is the rest area for your wrists. The edge is a very sharp precise 90-degree edge and it rubs/scratches a bit. Not the most comfortable when typing. The outside (monitor top and bottom are rounded and a little rounding here would have gone a long way in long-term comfort. Keyboard and mouse live up to the apple standards here that make it a joy to type on for long periods once you get use to the spacing if you're not already.
As mentioned in the cons I really think the USB ports should be addressed by Apple. 2 is lagging for sure. Also the mag safe power adapter is convenient but slips off a little too much for my taste and the mini display port while nice in size is just an annoyance unless you plan on paying a big premium for the Apple Display.
The screen and overall design is the final winner for me. It's a great screen with top line resolution and colors and contrast that I haven't seen on any other display. The whole computer is just so well built and solid feeling that it is worth the apple premium, especially at the new price points. Just go out and pickup some of the other notebooks and Apple blows it away.
This is definitely one of the surest purchases I've made. I sat on the sidelines a while trying to justify a new computer and the move back to Apple and the wait was worth it.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Best Computer I've Ever Owned
by jrclay on October 11, 2009
Pros: Beautiful screen, elegant design, great backlit keyboard, battery life, Snow Leopard is amazing, built in eyesight camera.
Cons: Some consider the non removable battery to be a con, I consider it to be a plus. The use of a non removable batter allows for a larger battery and thiner design.
Summary: This is the best computer I've ever owned. This is my first mac, I've been a windows user since the first version came out. The transition from windows ...
Summary: This is the best computer I've ever owned. This is my first mac, I've been a windows user since the first version came out. The transition from windows to mac OS was actually very easy. I've found using the mac to be very natural and incredibly easy. Everything works just like you'd expect it to. The large multtouch track pad is incredible. It makes every other laptop trackpad seem archaic and antiquated by comparison. I'm sure other PC makers will be ripping this off as soon as they can figure out how to make it work with windows.
Battery life is amazing when using the 9400 graphics card instead of the 9600. It would be much nicer if you could switch between the two without logging out and back in, but this is a minor inconvenience when you consider that this process takes less then 10 seconds. Star up and shut down times are amazing with Snow Leopard, 3 seconds to shut down and about 20 seconds to start up, though I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually shut down. I usually just shut the lid when done and then open it up instantly wake up. It's so nice to have a sleep mode that actually works.
Snow Leopard is a great OS. Coming from a windows background the transition, which I expected to be lengthy was very smooth and easy. Things are just logical and easy to figure out on a Mac. I was quickly up and running and doing everything on the Mac that I used to do on the windows machine with little trouble. The Mac comes preloaded with everything you need and no bloat-ware like most windows machines. The pre-loaded software is also fantastic, not cheap crap like the "included" software on most windows machines. iLife includes macmail, iCal, Address Book, iPhoto, Garage Band, iTunes, and more. Spotlight is the most amazing search feature I've ever used on any computer. Expose and spaces are also fantastic features and Time Machine is the best back up software I've ever used. Get yourself something like a Western Digital Passport and use that as your Time Machine disk, backs ups are effortless.
I'd like to say a word about Apple Care as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm not some Fan Boy who thinks that Macs are flawless machines. There is no way that something as complex as a modern laptop with all it's components and millions of lines of code running could ever be completely flawless. With my last computer (Dell) when you had a problem you called up the manufacturer and got some guy in India reading from a script who would usually tell you it was a software problem and you needed to contact Microsoft or whoever. You then call the software company and they tell you it's a hardware problem and you end up going back and forth for sometimes hours to get a problem resolved. I had a chance to use Apple Care support when for no reason my bluetooth stopped working. I called the number and got a guy in the US with no script. He walked me though a couple of things and got it working again in less then 10 min. That's the difference with Apple compared to other PC makers, they support both the hardware and the software. If you have a problem with a Mac you call one number and they'll get it figured out.
I got the anti glare 2.8 ghz model and love how everything looks on the laptop. I also use an external 23" Samsung display but it doesn't look nearly as nice as the screen on the laptop. I've calibrated that display but it's still not as nice as the screen on this laptop, Apple makes incredible display panels.
I doubt that I'll ever buy another windows machine.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Best laptop on the market to date
by WildSquid on November 2, 2009
Pros: Thin, light, portable. Excellent LED screen. Lots of standard horsepower under the hood.
Cons: Keyboard takes getting used to. Few more USB ports would have been nice. Price is still kinda high even after they've reduced it across the board, but it was enough to entice me to buy a standard 15" model
Summary: I bought this Macbook Pro based on my need for a super powerful laptop for to use as part of my Unix/Linux lab at home and remotely. I have ...
Summary: I bought this Macbook Pro based on my need for a super powerful laptop for to use as part of my Unix/Linux lab at home and remotely. I have already installed Sun Micro's Virtual Box and run Debian Linux through it. Before I bought it, I did my research thoroughly on this machine. I must have played with it at the Apple store at least 10 times at the malls before I finally bought it. It is quite an expensive purchase, for anyone. After using my student discount on the 15" standard model, I ended up paying $1772 after CA tax for it. I paid another $100 for a printer at the store that I'm supposed to get a $100 rebate on, so that was nice, as long as the rebate does come. As far as this Macbook being worth the money, that's highly debatable. It's not for everyone, I only got it for its superior component parts and excellent slim build that I know will come in extremely useful for me. At some point, I will probably upgrade to SSD hard drive and 8GB of ram once prices drop or I can get it for free from a friend. The aluminum casing/shell is an excellent idea, I don't know why any other companies thought about this sooner. It really keeps the MBP extremely cool and quiet. I never hear a peep out of mine except for when I was burning a DVD disc, and even then it was still pretty quiet. This notebook would also make a great option to use for school, my sister got one before me and she loves it. It's slim-ness and light weight makes it easy to carry in a backpack along with books for class. One thing though, I'm sure it would be a prime target for theft so make sure to lock it up with the security hole using a laptop secure cable when you use the restroom while at the Library for example. I originally wanted one with the matte screen, and while that option was not available until a month ago, I compared the glossy screen and matte screens of the 15" models side by side at the store a few times. At first I thought the matte screen was better to have partly based on that's what I'm used to using with my work's laptop, and everyone sayng how the glossy one reflects back. But I'm glad I spent so much time examining it at the store prior to my purchase, I ended up deciding that I didn't like the cheap look of the matte option using the silver bezel just like every other laptop out there. The glossy one uses a edge to edge glass cover for its LED screen, and gives everything a sharper contrast. So that's what I chose and I'm glad I chose it. When other laptop models start catching up to Apple's designs and innovations then those who bought the matte version will be disappointed how outdated their matte screens will look. When I bought this MBP, I did not care for the OSX Snow Leopard OS on it, I was mainly using it for my Linux virtual machines to be installed on it. But the OSX OS really impresses me how much better it is than Windows and if anyone complains to me about how their Windows caught another virus then I will be telling to get something MAC. Windows is also severely hampered by the fact that there is not a single laptop out there that can compare to Apple's MBP's aluminum frame, slim design, DDR3 ram, HHD's, LED screen, retail stores to drop in to ask stupid questions. I predict more people will be buying Apples from now on, even with Windows 7 out. If there was such a machine that could compete with Apple based on a aluminum frame and details above, I would have bought that if it were cheaper and I'd just install Linux right over Windows, but nothing like that exists, I've looked up and down the internet and found nothing to compare to the MBP. So if that is what you are contemplating also, now you know.
-
my first mac.... amazing!!
by scottier2 on October 29, 2009
Pros: set-up was so simple... display is great... SPEED... almost things for you!!
Cons: a bit heavy... the battery life is really as advertised.
Summary: bottom line... this computer has been amazing. it has convinced me that PC's are NOT the way to go. This computed from the time you turn it on is ...
Summary: bottom line... this computer has been amazing. it has convinced me that PC's are NOT the way to go. This computed from the time you turn it on is so easy to use, it almost reads your mind. i have had it for about 8 months and it is extremely durable and is running just as fast and efficient as the day i took it out of the box!
This was also a refurbished unit purchased directly from Apple... saved $300 and it arrived wrapped with no sign of use. highly recommend the refurb!! -
From Pc World to MAC Overnight!
by darccyber on October 19, 2009
Pros: Excellent all around laptop! Why didn't I change years ago? This a an exceptional piece of equipment. Nice 15inch screen, excellent colors, back light keyboard with auto or manual on/off, great sound and nice track pad. Excellent battery life 7+hrs
Cons: The screen swings towards closing when moved quickly - from picking up or from lap position. Takes sometime to get use to.
Summary: I have been a pc user since 1996 - 13 years experience in pc repairs and pc building. I have a excellent backround using Microsoft products in troublshooting and consulting. ...
Summary: I have been a pc user since 1996 - 13 years experience in pc repairs and pc building. I have a excellent backround using Microsoft products in troublshooting and consulting. I owned numerous laptops, pc's and custom built computers. I never thought of using or purchasing any Mac products until recently. In my search for a laptop, i purchased the Thinkpad t400s for around the same price - has nothing on this Macbook pro! To have a laptop that has tons of useful software, slot drive dvd writer, back lit keyboard, amazing 15 inch screen..my jaw is on the floor! This is an easy system to learn and it's fun. I feel like a big kid trying to sleep the night before Christmas! The sound is excellent, everything you need is loaded in this MacPro book. The aluminum chassis looks very good and keeps the Mac cool. When you turn on the Mac - wow your on your desktop in seconds, much much faster than a pc or laptop loading into Windows. Very fast and excellent graphics. If your in the market for a new laptop and you can get past the price - the Macbook pro is for you! Don't worry about the switch from Windows to Mac, this system is new user friendly- you can dual boot and add the new Windows 7 if you just can't get away from Microsoft. I can go on - but to make this short "This is by far the best laptop out today"
-
Battery life Outstanding, Super fast-excellent graphics
by Kent_Sommer on October 16, 2009
Pros: The battery is one of the most amazing things ever. My maH level for my battery was 5450 when I bought it Four months ago. Today the maH level is 5477!!!!!! I went up which almost never happens in a battery.
Cons: NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
FREE Macbook Pro!
by cinive55 on September 21, 2009
Pros: This laptop is perfect!
Cons: no negatives!
Summary: Hey everybody,
I know Macbooks are expensive, so I thought I'd let everybody in on this little secret I found. This site is offering FREE MACBOOKS! Check it out ...Summary: Hey everybody,
I know Macbooks are expensive, so I thought I'd let everybody in on this little secret I found. This site is offering FREE MACBOOKS! Check it out and let me know what you think! I'm enjoying mine at this very moment. :-)
http://www.computersncs.com/rd_p?p=192109&t=9544&a=25222-7smacbook&gift=25222
Cin -
AWESOME Machine! ~ Recomend++ if you have the $$
by drachimera on September 8, 2009
Pros: The keyboard is really nice to type on! (I have wrist problems) it glows!
The looks are awesome!
The OS is not vista
The machine just works... UNIX ROCKSCons: Would like a mat screen option like on the 17; the glossy is lame.
Trackpad and gestures is awesome! You really don't need a button at all. I would remove the button.Summary: In a sentence, this is the best laptop I have ever owned. PERIOD!
Serious number crunchers are still going to need Linux servers, but this box makes everything else pretty ...Summary: In a sentence, this is the best laptop I have ever owned. PERIOD!
Serious number crunchers are still going to need Linux servers, but this box makes everything else pretty much obsolete. It is amazingly fast, really robust and well built. I just can't believe how awesome it is every time I use it. Well DONE apple! I have owned just about every type of computer and I run just about every operating system (VISTA, XP, Ubuntu, RedHat, SUSE, Solaris ... and on and on) I have to admit that after the Mac problems of the late 90's I vowed I would never own another mac (started with mac and had 6). This machine changed my opinion forever! I just have to tell anyone who uses a computer for more than 8 hours a day: you need a mac! Leopard is finally mature enough to actually enjoy using and Snow Leopard is laying a strong foundation going forward. As far as Apple goes; they need to start making good machines for less than $1000 (e.g. netbooks, desktops give us some $300,$500 and $700 options!) but if you have the $$ then PLEASE don't buy anything but an apple laptop. -
Best Mac I ever owned
by gkantz on August 15, 2009
Pros: Fast processor; great screen quality; battery life is fantastic; perfect desktop replacement with 24" LED Display
Cons: Needs another USB port - a minor gripe
Summary: This laptop screams. It is extremely well built and durable, and is extremely fast. Contrary to a prior post, RAM and HD CAN be swiped out. Battery life is definitely ...
Summary: This laptop screams. It is extremely well built and durable, and is extremely fast. Contrary to a prior post, RAM and HD CAN be swiped out. Battery life is definitely in the range Apple quoted - about 7 hours. I dumped my iMac for this and bought the 24" LED Screen, making this a better desktop than the iMac! And also contrary to reports, the laptop rarely gets hot.
If you want real quality, buy this Macbook Pro. Don't be deceived by what other companies are saying. And BTW, they've dropped the price.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: MB986LL/A
- Description: The latest Intel processor, a bigger hard drive, plenty of memory, and even more new features all fit inside just one liberating inch. The MacBook Pro has the performance, power, and connectivity of a desktop computer. Without the desk part.
General
- Built-in Devices Stereo speakers, Bluetooth antenna, Wireless LAN antenna
- Width 14.3 in
- Depth 9.8 in
- Height 0.9 in
- Weight 5.5 lbs
- Notebook type Thin-and-light (4-6 lbs.)
- Screen type Widescreen
- Wireless capabilities IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11 n (draft), Bluetooth
Processor
- Processor Intel Core 2 Duo 2800 MHz
- Multi-Core processor technology Dual-Core
- 64-bit processor Yes
- Data bus speed 1066 MHz
Cache Memory
- Type L2 cache
- Cache size 6 MB
RAM
- Installed Size 4096 MB / 8 GB (max)
- Technology DDR3 SDRAM - 1066 MHz
- Memory specification compliance PC3-8500
- RAM form factor SO DIMM 204-pin
- RAM configuration features 2 x 2 GB
Environmental Parameters
- Environmental standards EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Gold
- Min Operating Temperature 50 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 95 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 0 - 90%
- Max Altitude Operating 10000 ft
Storage Controller
- Storage controller type Serial ATA
- Storage Controller / Serial ATA Interface Serial ATA-150
Storage
- Floppy Drive None
- Hard Drive 500 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
- Storage Removable None
- Hard drive type Standard
Optical Storage
- Type DVD±RW (±R DL) - Integrated
- CD / DVD read speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
- CD / DVD write speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD±R DL)
- CD / DVD rewrite speed 10x (CD) / 4x (DVD±RW)
Optical Storage (2nd)
- 2nd optical storage type None
Card Reader
- Card reader type Card reader
- Supported flash memory cards SD Memory Card
Display
- Display Type 15.0 in TFT active matrix
- Max Resolution 1440 x 900 ( WXGA+ )
- Widescreen Display Yes
- Features Glossy, LED-backlit
Video
- Graphics Processor / Vendor NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT / GeForce 9400M
- Video Memory GDDR3 SDRAM - 512 MB
Audio
- Audio output type Sound card
- Audio Input Microphone
Notebook Camera
- Camera Type Integrated
Input Device(s)
- Input device type Trackpad, Backlit keyboard
- Features Multi-touch technology
Telecom
- Modem None
Networking
- Networking Network adapter
- Networking / Wireless LAN Supported Yes
- Data link protocol Ethernet, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
- Networking standards IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.1, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2 ( 0 ) x Memory - SO DIMM 204-pin
- Interfaces 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45, 1 x IEEE 1394b (FireWire 800) - 9 pin FireWire 800, 2 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x Display / video - Apple mini-DisplayPort, 1 x Audio - SPDIF input/line-in - Mini-phone 3.5 mm / TOSLINK, 1 x Audio - SPDIF output/headphones - Mini-phone 3.5 mm / TOSLINK
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Cleaning cloth
- Cables Included Power cable ( 1 pcs.)
- Features Aluminum enclosure, Ambient light sensor, Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately)
Power
- Power device form factor External
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V
- Power provided 73 Watt
Battery
- Technology Lithium polymer
- Installed Qty 1
- Battery capacity 73 Wh
- Mfr estimated battery life 7 hour(s)
Operating System / Software
- OS Provided Apple MacOS X 10.5
- Software Front Row, Apple iCal, Apple iChat, Photo Booth, Apple Safari, Apple Spaces, Apple iTunes, Apple Dashboard, Apple QuickTime, Apple Spotlight, Apple iLife '09, Apple DVD Player, Apple Quick Look, Apple Address Book, Apple Time Machine, Apple Mac OS X Mail, Drivers & Utilities, Apple XCode Developer Tools
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year, Technical support - Phone consulting - 90 days
Sustainability
- EPA Energy Star Compliant Yes
- EPEAT Compliant EPEAT Gold
- Greenpeace policy rating (Sept 2009) 4.9
Product series
-

Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.53 GHz), 4096 MB DDR3 SDRAM, 250 GB, Apple MacOS X 10.5, 5.5 lbs, 15.4 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Gold
-

Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2660 MHz), 4096 MB DDR3 SDRAM, 320 GB, Apple MacOS X 10.5, 5.5 lbs, 15.0 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Gold, EPA Energy Star
-

Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo (2800 MHz), 4096 MB DDR3 SDRAM, 500 GB, Apple MacOS X 10.5, 5.5 lbs, 15.0 in TFT active matrix, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Gold
Accessories
- Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station (Winter 2009) (33549749)129.99
- Apple Mighty Mouse (wireless) (31985391)69.00 - 69.95
- Apple AirPort Express Base Station (30910240)222.22
- Apple Wireless Keyboard (30568482)59.99
- Apple Mighty Mouse (31470406)37.77 - 49.00
- Lenovo IdeaPad 15" Backpack B450 - notebook carrying backpack (33639291)19.00
- Sony VGP-CCP3/H - notebook carrying backpack (31959340)56.45 - 63.99
- Targus Zip-Thru laptop bag (33232921)59.72 - 99.00
- SanDisk Cruzer USB flash drive - 32 GB (33544914)62.86 - 149.99
- SanDisk Cruzer Micro - USB flash drive - 8 GB (32631690)12.98 - 44.99
- SanDisk Cruzer Micro - USB flash drive - 16 GB (33032681)27.96 - 79.99
- Apple Magic Mouse (33783857)68.00 - 99.99
- Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX (33767206)59.99 - 79.99
- Apple keyboard (32568153)43.67 - 59.00
- Logitech Wireless Desktop MK300 - keyboard , mouse (33687687)32.88 - 43.46
Manufacturer info
- Apple
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Apple products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.apple.com
- Address:
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-996-1010
Similar products
-
Apple MacBook Pro Summer 2009 (Core 2 Duo 2.26GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, Nvidia GeForce 9400M, 13-inch) $1,149.00 - $1,199.00 - CNET Editor rating:
- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 83 reviews
-
Apple MacBook Pro 2009 (2.66GHz, 17-inch) $2,249.00 - $2,299.00 - CNET Editor rating:
- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 36 reviews
-
Apple MacBook Fall 2009 (Core 2 Duo 2.26GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Nvidia GeForce 9400M) $988.99 - $999.99 -
Apple MacBook Pro Summer 2009 (Core 2 Duo 2.53GHz, 4GB RAM, 250GB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, 15-inch) $1,678.99 - $1,699.00 - CNET Editor rating:
- Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 6 reviews
-
Apple MacBook Pro Summer 2009 (Core 2 Duo 2.53GHz, 4GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Nvidia GeForce 9400M, 13-inch) $14.95 - $1,499.00 - CNET Editor rating:
- Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 6 reviews
Popular accessories
-
SanDisk Cruzer USB flash drive - 32 GB (33544914) 62.86 - 149.99 -
Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX (33767206) 59.99 - 79.99 -
Apple AirPort Express Base Station (30910240) 222.22 -
Apple Mighty Mouse (wireless) (31985391) 69.00 - 69.95 -
Logitech Wireless Desktop MK300 - keyboard , mouse (33687687) 32.88 - 43.46




