Apple MacBook Pro Winter 2006 (15.4-inch, 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo)

Pros: Very Powerful, Includes iSight and Frontrow, High Screen Resolution

Cons: Expensive When Compared to Similar Laptops

Summary: I got an opportunity to use a MacBook Pro for a day and I thought I would share my opinion.

Setting up the MacBook Pro is very simple, just like all Apple computers. Within a few minutes, the system was ready to run. The first thing you notice is the screen. In high resolution, the pictures is simple amazing. If you need high resolution for video/photo editing on the go, this is the laptop for you.

Like the iMac, performance received a significant boost. It is a very powerful computer. I reccommend upgrading to at least a gigabyte of RAM. At 512mb, multitasking can get a bit sluggish.

The keyboard is very comfortable and is backlit. The touch pad is very big and easy to use. I really like the touch pad scrolling. I am primarily a Windows user, so the one button was a bit hard to get used to. But you can connect a USB mouse if you want.

The built in iSight camera is very nice and quite handy. I like taking a picture of myself in PhotoBooth, using an effect, and making it my MSN Messenger (for Mac) display picture. Like the iMacs, the MacBook Pro also has FrontRow. It is a very nice idea, allowing you to listen to music, view picture slideshows, watch videos, and play DVDs. A small remote controls the whole thing. The remote doesn't have a storage area on the computer itself, making it a bit less portable. Also, I'm not sure how useful FrontRow will be on a laptop.

OS X is a blast to use, making tasks like ejecting CDs almost "fun". The built in iLife programs allow you to play and organize all of your pictures, music, and videos. You can burn high quality DVDs and even edit HD movies. Also, there is a web site creation program, though it lacks versatility.

Most people will need some type of word processing software, so iWork is almost necessary. For a mere $50 (with student discount) you can get a text/graphic design program in Pages and a presentation maker in Keynote. Pages can also function as a basic word processor and even a spreadsheet. Both programs are fully compatible with their Office counterparts.

Though it is an expensive, it is simply the best laptop I've ever used. You get tons of functionality and the included software makes up for the higher price when compared to a Windows laptop. After all, Apple includes almost all the software you would ever need to use right on the machine. Just be sure to get iWork or a similar program.