Apple MacBook Pro (15.4-inch 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo)

Pros: Easy to use, comes with many useful applications that just work

Cons: Battery life could be better, power supply is a bit too big

Summary: I always want to start by saying I own one of these, since so many people love to write reviews based on emotions rather than user experiences. For the last year, I've been buying these Macs, keeping them for a few months, and then selling them and getting a new one, so I do have some limited perspective on this particular one. I also have a 24" iMac desktop, and a PC laptop from work that runs Windows XP.

I agree with most people here that Cnet reviews appear to have a certain anti-Mac handicap. So you know what, don't get mad, VOTE WITH YOUR WALLET, IT IS THE ONLY VOTE THAT IN THE END, MAKES A DIFFERENCE AND REALLY COUNTS. Wall Street does not care how many points Cnet gave it, but how many Macs were sold.

For most people, these Macs are an irresistible and great value:
- no viruses
- comes with a lot of USEFUL software that is FREE
- saves you money - because you do not spend hours troubleshooting technical issues with 3rd party software or blue screens of death
- It is easy and FUN to use
- The time has come where these machines simply cost less than a comparably equipped PC laptop, period. Jsut price a similar machine at HP or Dell and decide by yourself. Even if you are a gamer, why get a laptop? get a desktop if performance and bang for the buck is what you need. Want reliability, ease of use, works-out-of-the box, don't need crazy training or messy installations, get this one!

Cnet makes an effort to show you the goods and shortcoming of the equipment they review, but I do not know if these scores are just arbitrary, or follow some kind of "score card". I would chop more points for less memory than for a freakin' card slot. It depends on what your needs are.

For most people that do video, photos, e-mail, office, music and even science (that is about what % of the population, 90%?) This machine just delivers the goods in spades. It is fast, reliable, very pretty and portable.

I definetly notice that the machine is about 20% faster than a comparable Mac Core Duo (previous model). And it also runs significantly cooler - the previous one ran hot.

Of things that could be better, the battery life for sure. If I am surfing the web, my battery lasts 2:30 to 2:45 MAX. And I wish the power brick was smaller.

It is a beautiful machine, and I think that it is funny to see many PC laptops trying to copy the MacBook's design features.