First Impressions: MacBook Pro

I would never think the day would come that Apple Computer Corp would actually dump the PowerPC chip and go with Intel. Last month Apple announced the new Intel Core Duo powering MacBook Pro which is actually two processors built into a single chip. This, combined with myriad other engineering leaps Apple has implemented such as a boost of performance up to four times higher than the PowerBook G4. With this awesome power, its a breeze to render complex 3D models, enjoy smooth playback of 1080p HD video, or host a four-way video conference. In this review it will be geared towards the user who is thinking of making the leap and my daily journal using my MacBook Pro.

It was 8:20pm as I was surfing the internet and noticed on one of my favorate Apple websites TUAW had received their MacBook Pro. I immediately called my local Apple store who was very trivial with giving me a true answer until I asked them for the 2GHz Intel Core Duo MacBook Pro. Once I asked for that specific model he told me, "Sir I have only received one MacBook Pro and the one you are asking for is the model we have". I immediatelty jumped into my car and drove (a little fast) to the Apple store and tried to play beat the clock before they closed. Once I pulled up I ran inside the store as I noticed a customer walking in at the same time as I as we raced to the counter. Luckily enough my days of running track helped and I immediately asked for the, "2 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro".. Right when I said that the kid behind me screamed, "Oh COMON!"... Whew I couldn't believe he was going to the store at the exact time I was and I had an intuition to run to the counter...Wow I guess you can say that is pretty geeky!

So the fun begins, the first thing I noticed about the box its very slim! I was extremely eager to crack it open but as you all are aware I had another 20 minute drive back home. The box is a slim Black box with the traditional Apple look and feel.. The model I purchased was the MacBook Pro 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo with 2MB shared L2 Cache, 667MHz frontside bus, 1GB (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM, 100GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive, Slot-load SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW) and an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB GDDR3 memory... Now can we say this baby is going to fly!!

As you crack open the box the first thing you will notice is a very weird styrofoam inside the case has a cool circular cutout pattern. One always wonders why Apple does things like this but I guess it all goes back to the slogan, "Think Different". Inside the box you will also notice the AC adapter, DVI>VGA adapter, FrontRow remote, Max OS 10.4.5 and user manuals. The one thing I have to say is once you pull the MacBook Pro out of the sleeve you are amazed with delight on how thin it really is