Apple Laptops and Desktops: Reviews

It's not the most feature-packed Apple laptop, but reviewers say the 13-inch 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro packs a ton of value. At just $1,200, the least expensive MacBook Pro boasts an impressive array of features, including… aluminum unibody construction, a glossy widescreen display and a multi-touch trackpad. The 2.26 GHz version has 2 GB of memory and a 160 GB hard drive. Reviewers say it has great battery life and good graphics performance, although some would prefer a larger hard drive. Still, most are impressed by the addition of much-requested SD memory card and FireWire 800 slots, and they praise the color-rich display.

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Because the top-of-the-line MacBook Pro received a serious overhaul at the beginning of the year, Apple made only modest changes to the latest version. However, reviewers say the $300 price drop makes the 17-inch MacBook… Pro more attractive than ever. It comes in only one standard configuration, with a 2.8 GHz processor, 4 GB of memory and a 500 GB hard drive, but there are a variety of upgrade options. Experts say the 17-inch MacBook Pro is the best choice for professionals or those seeking a desktop replacement. It's also the only Apple laptop that offers an anti-glare display option, eight-hour battery and Express Card/34 slot, although it lacks the SD memory card slot found on all of the other MacBooks.

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The all-in-one iMac has always been the best value among Apple desktop computers, and reviewers say the latest update is better than ever, with faster performance than its predecessors. The iMac comes in a variety of… configurations, but reviews indicate that the 24-inch 2.66 GHz iMac strikes the best balance between price and power. It includes 4 GB of memory, a 640 GB hard drive and Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics. Although the 24-inch 2.66 GHz iMac gets good performance reviews for a general-use desktop, serious gamers should consider the 3.06 GHz iMac (*Est. $2,200 and up) or a Mac Pro (*Est. $2,500 and up) instead.

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Apple's professional-level Mac Pro has also been overhauled for 2009. The Mac Pro is offered in two versions, a Quad-Core model with one 2.66 GHz Intel Xeon Nehalem processor and an 8-Core model with two 2.26 GHz… processors. Between the two, the Quad-Core model stands out in reviews. That's largely because benchmarking shows it to be a speedier performer overall, outperforming the 8-Core Mac Pro in most tests, including Photoshop, iMovie and 3-D games. Reviewers say that the Quad-Core Mac Pro will suit most professionals, although it's probably overkill for general consumers. Mac Pros do not come with monitors, and you'll need to add that cost to the base price.

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The Mac mini doesn't impress reviewers as an exceptional computer or a bargain, but it is the most affordable Apple computer on the market. Although the Mac mini has always received relatively mixed reviews, reviewers say… that the 2 GHz Mac mini with 120 GB hard drive offers improved graphics and video performance over previous generations, though they also recommend upgrading the memory to 2 GB (*Est. $50) for the best user experience. The Mac mini also comes in a more expensive model (*Est. $800 and up) with a 320 GB hard drive and 2 GB of memory, but most reviewers say the 120 GB mini is a better value, even with the recommended memory bump. One catch with the mini is that it doesn't include a monitor, keyboard or mouse, so unless you have those items, your total cost rises considerably. Another consideration is that the mini is not upgradeable after purchase.

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