Best Reviewed
Apple Laptops and Desktops
- Best Apple laptop 15-inch 2.4 GHz MacBook Pro *Est. $2200
- Best ultraportable Apple laptop 13-inch 128 GB MacBook Air *Est. $1300
- Best-value Apple laptop 13-inch 2.4 GHz MacBook Pro *Est. $1200
- Budget Apple laptop 11-inch 64 GB MacBook Air *Est. $1000
- Best Apple desktop 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac *Est. $1200
- Best tablet computer Apple iPad 2 *Est. $500
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- Good value
- Longer battery life than previous generations
- SD card and FireWire 800 slots
- Bright, color-rich display
- Small hard drive
- Not a good choice for gamers
The 13-inch 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro receives rave reviews from experts, including Editors' Choice awards from CNET, PCMag.com, Laptop Magazine and ComputerShopper.com. Apple makes quite a few changes to the entry-level Pro, and reviewers say these changes make the 13-inch 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro an excellent value. The least expensive MacBook Pro maintains the streamlined aluminum unibody design and multi-touch trackpad of the MacBook it replaced. The most notable changes include the addition of SD card and FireWire 800 slots, a full-size backlit keyboard, a more color-rich display and a nonremovable battery that provides longer life between charges. Tests show that the 13-inch MacBook Pro offers better performance than the 13-inch aluminum MacBook it replaced, and the longer battery life also gets high marks. Still, the 13-inch MacBook Pro has a relatively small hard drive -- 160 GB -- and it doesn't have the capacity to accommodate intensive games. Still, reviewers say this computer is a great value and the best choice for most users. If you plan on gaming or doing graphics-intensive work, reviews indicate the top-of-the-line 17-inch MacBook Pro (Discontinued) is a better bet.
A number of reviewers conduct excellent tests of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, including CNET, PCMag.com and Laptop Magazine. Each of these reviews provides detail and benchmark performance scores for previous MacBooks or other updated MacBook Pros. PC Advisor writes a very helpful review that compares the 13-inch MacBook to that of the 15-inch Pro. ComputerShopper.com also provides a rated review, although it has fewer details and less benchmark testing.
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Our Sources
The 13-inch 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro scores an Editors' Choice award from PCMag.com. Reviewer Cisco Cheng praises the longer battery life, SD card slot and addition of a FireWire port. His only complaint is the relatively low standard memory, although you can upgrade to 4 GB for $100.
Review: Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch, Cisco Cheng, June 10, 2009
2. Laptop MagazineDetails/Subscribe
The 13-inch MacBook Pro also gets an Editors' Choice award from Laptop Magazine. Dana Wollman raves about the "stunning display," which has been updated with a richer color range, and the improved graphics quality. Like a few other reviewers, Wollman would appreciate a larger hard drive.
Review: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch), Dana Wollman, June 11, 2009
3. CNET
The 13-inch MacBook Pro earns yet another Editors' Choice award, this time from CNET. Dan Ackerman has plenty of good things to say about the laptop, calling it "one of the most universally useful laptops available." As with other reviewers, the new SD card and FireWire 800 slots get high marks.
Review: Apple MacBook Pro Summer 2009, Dan Ackerman, June 10, 2009
The 13-inch 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro's fourth Editors' Choice award comes from ComputerShopper.com. Denny Atkin says it has the "excellent" battery life and a vibrant, crisp display -- although he'd like to see a matte display option.
Review: Apple MacBook Pro (13-Inch), Denny Atkin, June 2009
5. PC Advisor
James Galbraith at the U.K.'s PC Advisor reviews both the 2.26 GHz and 2.53 GHz 13-inch MacBook Pros. He gives them both 4.5 (out of five) stars. He says colors are richer than on the previous generation, although like everyone else, he would like an anti-glare option (currently only available on the top-of-the-line 17-inch MacBook Pro).
Review: Apple MacBook Pro 13in (Mid-2009) Review, James Galbraith, June 26, 2009
6. Amazon.com
Because the 13-inch MacBook Pro was released in June, it has yet to attract many user reviews. Still, nearly 20 owners leave their feedback at Amazon.com, and it's clear that most are very happy with this laptop. Most users call it a great value with excellent features.
Review: Apple MacBook Pro MB990LL/A 13.3-inch Laptop, Contributors to Amazon.com
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