Apple Laptops and Desktops Reviews

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Apple Laptops and Desktops Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Apple Laptops and Desktops Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Arstechnica.com	Apple Jonathan M. Gitlin, Eric Bangeman As of Feb. 2008		Ars Technica has the best reviews of Apple laptops and desktops. They are comprehensive, balanced and backed by thorough, relevant testing. Ars Technica directly compares iMacs and MacBooks in benchmark tests. Comparisons within the entire Macintosh line are outstanding. Some products are rated and others are not. All models are heartily endorsed, but the conclusions offer enough guidance for many readers to sort between must-have capabilities and deal breakers. One negative is that the reviews are intermixed with other Apple-centric articles, but looking for them is certainly worth the effort.

Apple Laptops and Desktops Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Apple Laptops and Desktops Ratings Comments on Reviews

2. PC Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Apple MacBook Air Cisco Cheng Jan. 28, 2008		PC Magazine comprehensively tests the MacBook Air, weighing the presence and absence of all relevant features. The Air is directly compared with several ultra-portable PC laptops. More comparisons with the regular 13-inch MacBook would be helpful. That model is not included in the benchmark test results. Cisco Cheng’s review is exceptionally balanced, and his conclusion pegs the reasons why people will buy the Air or not want it. The context of ultra-portable laptops is commendable, but we think more consumers would weigh the Air against a regular MacBook, perhaps one they already own.
3. MacUser >> Details/Subscribe	MacUser A list Kenny Hemphill, Keith Martin As of Feb. 2008		U.K. magazine MacUser reviews the full line of Apple laptops and desktops. MacUser’s reviews are less than comprehensive, and test results are unevenly referenced in the review copy. In spite of those shortcomings, MacUser’s reviews are very useful, because they provide the greatest level of comparison and relative buying advice within the Mac lines. Keith Martin’s laptop reviews are wonderfully comparative. He evaluates the relative value of the three models, and explains his reasons well. The range of ratings is the best we found from a Macintosh-centric reviewer.
4. PC Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Apple laptops and desktops Joel Santo Domingo, Cisco Cheng As of Feb. 2008		PC Magazine reviews the Apple iMac (20-Inch Aluminum), MacBook Pro 17-inch (Core 2 Duo T7700), MacBook Pro 15-inch (LED), MacBook 13-inch (Core 2 Duo T7200) and MacBook Air. Joel Santo Domingo’s iMac review is product-driven, and overlooks several key ownership considerations. He notes that the iMac has the same CPU as the MacBook, but neglects to compare performance. Cisco Cheng’s laptop reviews are better. The MacBook and MacBook Pro are directly compared, although informally. Ratings have some variation, and some models are selected as Editor’s Choices. In that regard, PC Magazine does a fine job of identifying the best Apple laptops.
5. Macworld >> Details/Subscribe	Desktop Reviews and First Looks James Galbraith, Jonathan Seff As of Feb. 2008		Macworld reviews the full Macintosh line of laptops and desktops. The reviews are improved over those we've seen in the past, with more balance and more comparisons within the line. While the conclusions are indecisive, there are some variations in ratings, and one specific consumer model is tentatively identified as the best choice. Testing is very good, and benchmark charts are helpful, although the machines are primarily compared with older Macintosh computers. None of the models are tested with Windows.
6. MacLife.com	Reviews Editors of MacLife.com As of Feb. 2008		MacLife’s reviews are short but succinct, and relatively irreverent for a Mac enthusiast magazine. Reviews are balanced with mostly substantive pros and cons. Ratings are high and have little variation, but only a couple of models are honored as Editor’s Choices. Testing is documented in text rather than charts. The MacBook Pro and iMac are directly compared. Performance (speed) differences are expressed in percentages, which should be helpful for many readers.

Apple Laptops and Desktops Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Apple Laptops and Desktops Ratings Comments on Reviews

7. Notebook Review.com	Notebook reviews: Apple Editors of NotebookReview.com As of Feb. 2008		This enthusiast website features its own reviews, as well as links to reviews at other sites around the Internet. NotebookReview.com's own reviews are more comprehensive than many other reviews we've seen. Most are in a consistent format and lavishly illustrated. Benchmark performance is shown in a comparison chart with other models. Testing and comparisons are excellent. The limitation here is the small number of recent Macintosh reviews. Only the Air and the current MacBook Pro are reviewed. Old reviews are still posted on this website. It is the best resource if you are considering purchasing a used Macintosh laptop.
8. Computerworld.com	MacBook Air: Ethereal or Unrealistic? Scot Finnie Jan. 19, 2008		Computerworld editor Scot Finnie is an unabashed Macintosh fan, but he criticizes Apple for the minimal usability of the MacBook Air. Finnie’s blog falls short of a review and is not supported by testing. Otherwise, his analysis is thorough and balanced. Without recommending alternatives, Finnie identifies the context for considering the Air. More than 50 readers contribute comments. Some are emotional reactions, but many are thoughtful considerations for prospective buyers.
9. AppleInsider.com	Reviews Aidan Malley As of Feb. 2008		Computer reviews are not easy to find on this enthusiast website, but Aidan Malley’s August 13, 2007 review of the 24-inch iMac appears to be the only review of a current model. That’s a shame, because it’s an outstanding review. Testing is thorough and documentation is very good. The comprehensive review is nicely wrapped with a Conclusions and Reservations section that includes lists of pros and cons and a rating. AppleInsider is also a fine source for Apple and computer industry news and rumors.
10. Macworld >> Details/Subscribe	Laptop Reviews and First Looks Editors of Macworld As of Feb. 2008		Macworld reviews the complete lineup of Macintosh laptops, including the new MacBook Air. Testing is solid, and charts in individual reviews show benchmark comparisons with the rest of the lineup. Otherwise, reviewers offer little help in choosing between Macintosh laptop models. All but the MacBook Air have the same high rating. The use of three reviewers weakens the frame reference for each, and all are predisposed to like any computer Apple offers.
11. Macworld >> Details/Subscribe	Stacking up the MacBook Air and a Sony VAIO Rob Griffiths Jan 23, 2008		This article is follow-up to the January 16, 2008 article, "MacBook Air's tradeoffs" by Dan Frakes. Rob Griffiths compares all aspects of the Sony VAIO TZ with a MacBook Air. Griffiths explains in response to a reader comment, "This was not a review in any way, shape, or form. It was a feature comparison." Except for the approach and a stronger bias, this article is very similar to the Computerworld article (above). Like Finnie, Griffiths discusses the new computer in terms of what he wishes Apple had produced instead.
12. CNet.com	Apple Laptops Dan Ackerman As of Feb. 2008		CNet.com reviews most of the Macintosh laptop models. Reviews are overly focused on appearance and features, but CNet adequately covers the more important buying considerations. The major shortcoming is the lack of comparison between Macintosh laptops. Many are selected as Editor’s Choices, and ratings offer no distinction between models. Models are benchmarked against one other Mac and some PC laptops (some comparisons are fair and others aren’t). Practical discussion of usage differences within and between the MacBook and MacBook Pro lines is needed.
13. CNet.com	Apple MacBook Air Core 2 Duo 1.6 GHz - 13.3" TFT Dan Ackerman Jan. 25, 2008		CNet’s comparisons of the MacBook Air with other Mac laptops and PC alternatives are the best we found. The editor notes that testing is still in progress at press time, so we won’t criticize CNet for showing benchmark results with old, slow PCs. Except for that limitation, testing and evaluation are good. The rating seems high relative to the stated pros and cons.
14. Macworld >> Details/Subscribe	State of the Mac Dan Miller June 2007		Macworld conducted a reliability and satisfaction survey of more than 5,000 readers. The data in the article doesn’t exactly match data shown in charts, which is confusing. The article says 32 percent of Mac laptops "used as primary computers" were out of commission for at least one day. We’re not sure how that qualification skews the data. Readers are generally satisfied with Apple as a service provider when they need warranty repairs.
15. Macworld >> Details/Subscribe	State of the Mac: Reader responses Contributors to Macworld As of Feb. 2008		Reader response to the Macworld survey cited directly above is as informative as the survey itself. Many people describe problems they’ve had and how they were resolved. A few readers cite a long list of repairs, yet they remain loyal to the platform. A minority of respondents haven’t had problems. Of those who described problems, most were very pleased with the quality and promptness of service they received from Apple. Service appears to be best with new products that can easily be repaired or exchanged.
16. PC Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	20th Annual Reader Satisfaction Survey Editors of PC Magazine Sept. 13, 2007		PC Magazine conducts yearly service and support surveys. Readers report instances of repair (both quantity and quality), experiences with tech support (quantity of instances, quality of problem solving) and other information about contact with manufacturers. Last year's poll included responses from 500 Macintosh desktop owners -- about 2.5 percent of the total. Apple earns the highest overall satisfaction ratings. The sample is small compared with other surveys, but Apple aced all the categories. Except for percentage of units needing repair, the story is nearly identical for laptops.
17. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Brand repair history/Tech support Editors of Consumer Reports Through June 2007		Consumer Reports conducts an annual product-reliability survey. The report covers many consumer products, so coverage of computers is nowhere near as comprehensive as in PC Magazine's annual survey. More than 60,000 readers reported their instances of repair or other major problems and their experiences with tech support. Results are similar to the PC Magazine poll. In general, the most expensive brands have the fewest repairs, and the cheapest brands have the most repairs.
18. Which.co.uk >> Details/Subscribe	Desktop PCs Editors of Which.co.uk Jan. 9, 2008		Like Consumer Reports and PC Magazine, British consumer magazine Which? conducts a support, reliability and satisfaction survey. The Which? survey has the smallest number of responses. Unlike in the other surveys, Apple fares poorly in reliability (last in laptops, but high in desktops). Apple has the highest percentage of customers who are satisfied with tech support, but it’s only 32 percent. Apple desktop and laptop owners are most likely to recommend the brand to friends.
19. CNet.com	Apple Desktops Rich Brown, Daniel A. Begun As of Feb. 2008		CNet.com reviews most of the Macintosh desktop models. Analogies are based on Apple’s unique form factors instead of against midrange and budget PCs, which would be the real competition on the PC side. Daniel Begun struggles to make an argument for the value of the 24-inch iMac relative to the 20-inch model. He makes a weak case for spending the extra $800, but both models are rated about equally.

Apple Laptops and Desktops Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Apple Laptops and Desktops Ratings Comments on Reviews

20. Trusted Reviews	Notebooks: Latest Reviews Editors of TrustedReviews.com As of Feb. 2008		UK website TrustedReviews.com regularly reviews desktop and laptop computers, but only a couple of Macs: the 20-inch iMac and the 17-inch MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, the reviews are written by two different people, and the models are not compared at all. Test results aren’t published. Comparisons are just generic. TrustedReviews.com raves about the Macs, but provides more thorough and balanced reviews of PCs. The lack of context and depth weakens these reviews. In an editorial, Riyad Emeran admits he's actually yet to use a MacBook Air, but questions "why Apple has chosen to create a notebook with such obvious limitations."
21. Laptop Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Notebook & Laptop Reviews Jeffrey L. Wilson As of Feb. 2008		Laptop magazine is the most prolific reviewer of laptops. Testing is referenced, but test data isn’t published online. Laptop reviews the Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch) and Apple MacBook Black (Santa Rosa). Both reviews are entirely favorable, and both models are recommended as good choices for someone considering switching from a PC. The MacBook Pro is briefly compared to the very different Sony VAIO FZ, but the Macs are not compared with each other. The two models are rated half-a-point apart, which is the distinguishing factor between Laptop’s reviews and marketing copy on Apple’s website. The MacBook Air is also very recently reviewed. The low rating, many noted limitations and mixed performance are offset by high praise about the laptop's aesthetics.
22. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	Top 10 Power Laptops Carla Thornton Feb. 1, 2008		PC World reviews the 17-inch MacBook Pro in a roundup of ten high-end laptops. Tested in a configuration that costs nearly $3,000, the MacBook Pro "set new speed records," though those have since been eclipsed. PC World also achieved excellent performance results with it running Windows Vista Home Premium. Reviewer Carla Thornton criticizes the in/out options and cites disappointing battery life as the biggest weakness.
23. Amazon.com	Apple Mac Contributors to Amazon.com As of Feb. 2008		Amazon.com is a good spot for Macintosh user reviews. Amazon sells a good assortment, and all models have significant numbers of reviews. All Apple laptops have very high average ratings (from four to five stars), but we found a direct correlation between price and satisfaction. The Mac Pro models have the highest ratings, and Mac minis have the lowest ratings. Dissatisfied buyers either bought lemons or were unhappy with the quality of iMac displays.
24. Computer Shopper	Reviews Wendy Sheehan, Louis Ramirez As of Feb. 2008		Computer Shopper reviews the 20-inch iMac, a MacBook Pro and the previous generation MacBook. The reviews are short, shallow and glowing. All models are selected as Editors' Choices. Testing is documented in a short paragraph in each review. In spite of the unbalanced reviews, Computer Shopper rates two PC laptops over the MacBook Pro in its narrow Thin-and-Light Laptops category. The iMac has the top rating in the Midrange Desktops category. Macs are not compared with each other.
25. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Apple iMac: Preview Editors of Consumer Reports Sept. 2007		This article is presented as a preview, but is nonetheless very disappointing. The 20-inch and 24-inch iMacs are tested. The article describes the difference between them and the previous generation of iMacs. As few consumers would be upgrading from a nearly new machine, this article has minimal value. Rather than addressing performance or features in absolute terms, all are compared with the recent iMacs. These models are also included in the latest Consumer Reports desktop computers chart.
26. Wall Street Journal	Apple's MacBook Air Is Beautiful and Thin, But Omits Features Walter S. Mossberg Jan. 24, 2008		The Journal’s personal technology columnist Walt Mossberg is a Mac fan. He informally tests the MacBook Air for several days. Mossberg itemizes and weighs the pros and cons. He makes a few general comparisons, but offers no specific alternatives for Mac or PC users.
27. Newsweek >> Details/Subscribe	The Skinny on the MacBook Air Steven Levy Jan. 23, 2008		This review is very similar to The Wall Street Journal review (above). This one is somewhat less useful, because the Air is considered in a vacuum and testing doesn’t go much beyond empirical impressions. Half the article is devoted to standard laptop features that the Air lacks. The vague conclusion seems to put the reviewer’s emotional attraction to the product ahead of the practical considerations against buying it. Some readers add insightful comments.