May 19, 2012

2011 MacBook Pro Review

A review of the early 2011 MacBook Pro updates, as well as the 13" MacBook Pro

2011 MacBook Pro Review: Introduction

Which Apple MacBook Pro would you buy?

Yesterday, Apple refreshed the entire MacBook Pro line. Although the new machines look identical to the old ones, massive changes were made below surface. I have been waiting to upgrade my now three-year-old Santa Rosa-based MacBook Pro, and seize the opportunity yesterday to pick up a brand-new 13 inch model. What made me pull the trigger? Read on!

Decision Point: Comparing the 2011 MacBook Pro Models

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As I discussed in my 2011 MacBook Pro introduction, all three models of Apple’s Pro lineup include key inside upgrades: Speedy “Sandy Bridge” CPUs and Intel’s new Thunderbolt port. Although the aluminum case is unchanged, it was these features I was waiting for. But which model to buy?

Benchmarking the 2011 13″ Core i5 MacBook Pro

The new 13" MacBook Pro performance admirably

As I mentioned in my previous article, I decided to buy the 13″ Core i5 (base model) MacBook Pro. It meets my needs as a travel workstation, but how does it perform? I decided to benchmark it against my other Macs to see how it stands up.