Great question! There are a number of things that can cause your MacBook and MacBook Pro LCD screen to break. At TechRestore, we have repaired literally tens of thousands of Mac laptop screens and we're glad to present a few tips for you to help prevent your screen from breaking. The number one reason for broken screens is accidental damage - here's how to avoid accidentally breaking or damaging your MacBook Pro LCD screen:

First, get a case for your MacBook. By keeping your MacBook Pro in a padded case, you will help eliminate damage that is caused by carrying your MacBook Pro without a case. We receive systems each week where the owner dropped their MacBook after carrying it outside of the case. Get a good case and use it.

Be careful when closing the lid on your MacBook Pro. Apple recommends using both hands when closing the lid of your Mac - one hand on each corner. It sounds silly, but if you grab one corner of the screen and pull down, you can actually break the screen.

Don't leave anything on your MacBook Pro keyboard - anything. That means pencils, pens, paper clips, etc.. We see broken MacBook Pro systems arrive daily for repair that a customer closed the screen and forgot to remove an item that was resting on the keyboard or top-case, resulting in a cracked MacBook Pro LCD screen.

Liquids....keep your distance! Keep your drink out of reach of your MacBook Pro. If you can knock over a drink that is near your MacBook Pro, you can easily spill the liquid on your LCD screen or your keyboard. Both are events that you want to avoid. Liquid spilled on your MacBook Pro LCD screen can cause it to short out or crack and liquid on your keyboard usually continues moving down to your logic board and other components - this is bad.

OK, so you bought a bag to protect your MacBook Pro screen from getting cracked, right? Nice job! One last tip is to be very careful about what you put in the bag with your MacBook Pro. The bag should have a separate compartment for your laptop that is protected from the rest of the stuff you know will be finding its way into your fancy new bag. Don't let your cell phone, iPod or whatever push up against your MacBook Pro - the added pressure (especially when you start moving that bag around or tossing it in your car (toss = bad) can cause your MacBook Pro LCD screen to crack or at a minimum cause case damage.

If you still wind up breaking your MacBook Pro LCD screen, with a big, nasty crack or just a black screen that greets you when you turn on your Mac, TechRestore can help! We offer a 24-hour turnaround time on repairs that are performed by Apple Certified Technicians and we back our repairs with a 1-year warranty on parts and labor.

To begin with what exactly is the Macbook Air?

It's Apple's entry into the lightweight portable computer market known as the subnotebook

The 10 characteristics

Cost

The base 1.6GHz model costs $1,799, $300 more than the top-of-the-line 2.2 GHz Black MacBook, and $200 less than the low-end 2.2GHz 15-inch MacBook Pro

Weight

3 pounds

MacBook weighs 5 pounds, the 15-inch MacBook Pro, 5.4 pounds, and the 17-inch MacBook Pro, 6.8 pounds.

Size

The wedge-shaped laptop actually tapers from 0.76 inches high at the back to 0.16 inches at the front. In terms of its width and depth, it's actually almost identical to the MacBook, at 12.8 inches wide and 8.9 inches deep.

Trackpad

The trackpad is capable of recognizing multi-touch gestures, similar to using an iPhone or iPod touch.

Ethernet

MacBook Air doesn't have it. If you need Ethernet connectivity, Apple will sell a $29 10/100BASE-T USB Ethernet adapter that connects to the USB port.

Keyboard

It's a full-sized MacBook-style keyboard, complete with square keycaps, in black. The keyboard is backlit, similar to those on the MacBook Pros

Display

The MacBook Air also has a 13.3-inch widescreen display with 1,280-by-800-pixels resolution. It also includes a built-in iSight camera

Micro DVI ports

Though the MacBook Air uses the smaller micro-DVI port rather than the MacBook's built-in mini-DVI, the computer otherwise has the same video capabilities as the MacBook: it will drive external displays as large as 1,920-by-1,200 pixels, including Apple's 23-inch Cinema Display, and can use that display as either an additional display or as a mirror of the laptop screen's contents. The MacBook Air also uses the same Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics processor with 144MB of shared memory as the MacBook.

Optical drive

Apple's guess is that you'll have another computer in your house or office with a built-in optical drive. That's why it's included the new Remote Disc software with MacBook Air.After you've installed Remote Disc on any Mac or PC with a CD or DVD drive, the MacBook Air can connect to that computer and read the disc in the drive as if it were its own. When you click on the new Remote Disc item in the Finder's sidebar on the MacBook Air, you'll see a list of all the computers on your local Bonjour network that have Remote Disc installed. Click on a computer and one of two things will happen-either you'll just take control of the drive, or (optionally) the user of the other computer will be prompted to allow you to take control.

If your MacBook Air has a catastrophic problem and you need to reinstall Mac OS X, you can even do that via a Remote Disc. As for watching movies, Apple suggests you use an iPod, iPhone, or iTunes to watch movies instead of playing a DVD.

Internet connectivity

The MacBook Air includes 802.11n wireless networking, as well as Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR for mice and the like.

Please feel free to visit electronics-911.com for all your electronic needs. Free shipping within 24 hours!

There's no doubt in my mind that the new Apple Macbook is one of the best laptops in the market right now. Upon release, I began to scour the internet for some great cheap Macbook deals.

I'll first teach you how to spot one yourself. This applies to any thing that you may want to purchase online.

Things to watchout for:

1) Is it in stock?

There are a lot of online dealers out there allowing you to buy the Macbook online but don't tell you that they don't have it stocked yet in their inventory, so it will actually take some time for you to order. Watch out for these people.

How can you tell? Always look for an authorized dealer. Authorized dealers usually post the information regarding the number of items left in their inventory. If it is a very reputable online site, then it's a safe bet that your future Macbook is ready for shipping.

2) Bonus deals

One of the things people don't know about is that, online dealers usually spice the item up in their online store (if they have a physical one) because they're encouraging online orders! They have to give you a better deal otherwise they would be losing a sale to a physical store such as your local BestBuy.

If you don't get Bonus deals out of it, then you may be better off going to the nearest dealer and actually buy your Macbook there.

3) Rebates

Ahhh Macbook cheap deals should have rebates! Mail-in rebates actually decrease the total cost of your Macbook. So instead of paying let's say $1100, after some time you get your $100 back.
Total cost: $1000...not bad eh?

Again, if there are no rebates... go buy your Macbook somewhere else.

4) Financing Options

A good deal offers a great financing option. Low interest payments per month, 0 payments for a certain period of time, all contribute to the overall Macbook cheap deal. The great thing about financing plans is that you really don't have to spend a big chunk of your cash at one period of time. The idea here is to spread your costs over a relatively longer period of time.

When you do this, you can be productive with your new Macbook, get some cash going, and actually pay for those small amounts over let's say 6,12,18 months?

Where to find all these?

Each and every online store will have different features, different bonuses, etc. One factor to consider is buying from a very reputable website.

I consider Macmall to be the best place to buy a Macbook. When I bought my Macbook I was only able to avail of the $50 rebate but now the rebate is already at $100! What a great deal!

Final Words

The Apple Macbook is one of my best purchases yet. No viruses, no hassles, cool eyecandy, fast and reliable performance, all in one! All my pc-using friends have envied my Macbook for a lot of reasons among them of course is the design of the Macbook, simple, classy, and it doesn't look like all the other laptops out there.

Finally, it's a joy to bring to work. I can type all day long and not feel any eye-strain, I can be sure that my Macbook won't crash on me when I have a big project to do and here's a big plus:

It runs Windows. I can still play games with my friends and switch back to OS X when I want to work! If you're still thinking twice about buying a Macbook. Don't. Stop thinking and just buy it. You'll never regret your purchase.

Selling used MacBooks  online is easy once we know the best place to do it. Before I sold my MacBook I researched all available options, mostly looking to get the most cash for my computer, but also for trusted and quick service.

Now many of you may be searching for the same solution. You must read this article before selling your MacBook.

I started with asking Google where to sell my old MacBook. I easily found a few similarly looking online services buying used laptops. The lead companies have a great feature on their websites called Instant Quote so I could see the price from each service. The highest cash value offers www.laptoptraderexpress.com  as well as the quickest turn over. It all sounded too easy to convince me that this was the way to get the most cash for my MacBook.

Making my life more complicated I decided to sell it on eBay. Having a little experience with eBay auctions I prepared my listing. Looking at completed listings I was hoping to get more money on my used computer. But I didn't know that selling a laptop is much more difficult than selling a toy for $10. Businesses selling laptops on eBay professionally make it impossible for individual sellers to succeed. I tried relisting my MabBook three times and every time my auction ended with a fake bid. They either end the listing right away using Buy It Now option or wait till the end and bid higher than anybody else. They never pay nor respond to e-mails. That was a waste of time and money that I spend on the listings.

Other idea I had after eBay was selling my laptop locally by advertising on Craigslist. Once again just like on eBay people selling similar merchandise make selling nearly impossible. After posting my first ads I didn't get any response. As I found out someone flagged my posts to reduce competition and increase chance of selling his laptop. Craigslist doesn't track IP addresses so one person can flag post several times till it's removed. Finally when my add was seen by people I started receiving e-mails and phone calls with low cash offer. I didn't get any offer as high as at www.laptoptraderexpress.com

I went back to that website after couple of weeks since I found it first time. You can save this time by not making my mistakes.

Laptop Trader Express is super friendly and professional. After I submitted my order online they send me shipping box with return shipping label. The box was specially designed to protect laptop from any damage during shipping so I wouldn't have to worry about my laptop. Only a few days later after sending my MacBook I received check in the mail for the exact quoted price. The staff assured me that my hard drive was wiped as I was nervous about my personal data.

The money I got from Laptop Trader plus some savings bought me a new MacBook. If you are looking to upgrade to new generation or just to sell your MacBook even broken one, you should visit www.laptoptraderexpress.com

1) First steps (a) Unpacking

Remove your Mac Book Pro from the box and place it on a firm surface near an electric socket. In the box, you should also have

an 85W MagSafe Power Adaptor
a power cord
a DVI to VGA adaptor

(b) Charging

Strip the plastic film from the 85W MagSafe Power Adaptor. Ensure the plug sits properly in the Power Adaptor and place it in the electric socket. Take the other end of the Power Adaptor lead and connect it to the magnetic MagSafe power port on the left-hand side of your MacBook Pro.

If the Power Adaptor lead won’t stretch to your nearest electric socket, remove the plug from the adaptor by pulling it up. Beneath the plug is a socket. Insert one end of the power cord into the adaptor socket and the other into the electric socket.

Please note: always disconnect your MacBook Pro from the electricity by pulling the plugs and not the leads.

An amber light on the MagSafe connector at the power port tells you the MacBook Pro battery is charging. When a green light appears, the battery is fully charged. If no light appears, check the connections and make sure you’ve switched on the electric socket.

(c) Basic features

When you open your MacBook Pro, you’ll find

an iSight camera and camera indicator light at the top of the screen
stereo speakers either side of the keyboard
a power button on the right of the keyboard
a microphone to the left of the keyboard
a trackpad and a trackpad button

From left to right along the front edge of the MacBook Pro are

an infrared (IR) receiver
a sleep mode indicator light
a display release button
a slot-loading SuperDrive

From left to right on the left-hand side of your MacBook Pro are

a MagSafe power port
one USB 2.0 port (15 inch model); two USB 2.0 ports (17 inch model)
an audio line in/optical digital audio in port
a headphone out/optical digital audio out port
an ExpressCard/34 slot

From left to right on the right-hand side of your MacBook Pro are

a security slot for a cable and lock
a USB 2.0 port
a FireWire 400 port
a FireWire 800 port
a Gigabit Ethernet port (10/100/1000Base-T)
a DVI port

Underneath your MacBook Pro is the battery. The battery has a row of indicator lights and a button.

2) Initial set-up (a) Setup Assistant

Switch on your MacBook Pro by pressing the power button. Setup Assistant will come up on the screen.

Setup Assistant takes you through the process of establishing your user account and your email and Internet details. If you have another Mac and want to carry files and applications from it to your MacBook Pro, Setup Assistant will show you how. If you want to transfer such information at a later date, use Migration Assistant instead.

Select the Applications folder
Open Utilities
Double-click Migration Assistant

If you have another Mac you don’t intend to use in the future, and you’ve bought music, audiobooks, films or TV shows with iTunes, de-authorise the computer. For more details, go to the iTunes Help menu and select iTunes Help.

(b) Internet connection

You can connect wirelessly to the Internet using your MacBook Pro’s built-in AirPort Extreme facility. For more information

go to the Menu Bar
select Help>Mac Help
search for “AirPort”

Alternatively, connect an Ethernet cable to the port on the right-hand side of your MacBook Pro. Place the other end in a cable modem, DSL modem or network.

For a dial-up Internet connection

buy an external Apple USB Modem
place it in one of your MacBook Pro’s USB ports
connect a phone lead from a phone jack to the modem

(c) Sleep mode

Use the sleep mode on your MacBook Pro if you stop work for a short period. To start the sleep mode, you have the following choices:

select Apple>Sleep on the Menu Bar
close the screen
press the power button and select sleep in the dialogue box
select Apple>System Preferences; choose Energy Saver; set the timer

Please note: don’t move your MacBook Pro until the sleep indicator light on the front edge comes on. This tells you the hard disc has stopped. If you move the MacBook Pro with the disc still spinning, you can damage the disc and lose data.

To wake your MacBook Pro from sleep mode:

open the screen if you closed it, or
if the screen is open, press any key or the power button

(d) Shut down

If you’ve finished work on your MacBook Pro for the day, shut it down by either

selecting Apple>Shut Down on the Menu Bar, or
pressing the power button and selecting Shut Down in the dialogue box

3) Using the trackpad

With the trackpad, you can:

scroll
Click
double-click
drag
move the pointer

To control the distance you send the pointer across the screen, adjust the speed of your finger on the trackpad:

Move your finger slowly to send the pointer a short distance
Move your finger fast to send the pointer further

Other features of the trackpad include the following:

Two finger scrolling. Scroll in any direction by making the same movements with two fingers on the trackpad.
Secondary or right clicking. Use shortcut menu commands by placing two fingers on the trackpad and clicking the trackpad button.

Some trackpad features apply to certain applications:

Two finger rotating. By rotating two fingers on the trackpad, you can turn images and text.
Two finger pinching. By pinching together and pushing apart two fingers on the trackpad, you can zoom in or out.
Three finger swiping. Flick through a series of images or the pages of a document by swiping three fingers on the trackpad.

If you want to fine-tune and set trackpad options

select Apple>System Preferences
click Keyboard & Mouse
click Trackpad

For more information

select Help>Mac Help
click Trackpad

4) Quick Mac OS X guide (a) Introduction

Your MacBook Pro has the Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard operating system. This controls your applications, files and peripheral devices, and works in a similar fashion to Windows.

(b) The basics

Your basic controls are the keyboard and trackpad. Windows users find they have to use the keyboard and trackpad fewer times on the MacBook Pro to achieve comparable results.

(c) Main features

To help you manage and navigate everything successfully on your MacBook Pro, there are four main features:

Desktop
Dock
Finder
Menu bar

Desktop

Desktop is your starting point each time you use your MacBook Pro. It stores items such as files and images.

The first icon you’ll come across on Desktop is the Macintosh HD (hard drive). Other icons appear when you use the various functions of your MacBook Pro. To view an icon’s files and applications, double-click it.

Also note that

if you connect a device to your MacBook Pro, an icon appears on the Desktop
if you allow other users on your MacBook Pro, each one can have a Desktop
when you run applications, Desktop always lies behind them

Dock

The Dock is a row of icons lying at the bottom of your MacBook Pro screen. Click on an icon to reach the files and applications it contains.

When a window appears on the screen, it has three buttons in the top left corner.

The red button closes the window
The yellow button minimises the window to the Dock
The green button maximises and minimises the window’s size

Finder

The icon on the far left of the Dock is the Finder. Use the Finder to navigate and manage your MacBook Pro’s files and applications.

Menu Bar

The Menu Bar is a line at the top of the MacBook Pro’s screen.

With the Menu Bar, you can

see recent work
view and adjust settings and applications
end applications
interact with a programme
log in and out
put the MacBook Pro into sleep mode
begin restart
switch off your MacBook Pro

Customising desktop

To customise Desktop, select the System Preferences icon in the Dock or Apple>System Preferences on the Menu Bar. For more details of what you can do, select Mac Help and search for System Preferences or for the item you want to change.

5) Connectivity

Your MacBook Pro has a comprehensive range of ports for printers, phones, iPods, cameras, joysticks, hard drives and so on. As well as USB 2.0 ports, you have a FireWire 400 and a FireWire 800. These are ideal for connecting high speed devices such as video cameras.

The DVI port allows you to connect a monitor, TV or projector. If you have a VGA device, then simply use the supplied DVI/VGA adaptor.

Use the audio line in/optical digital audio in port to connect digital audio equipment or a microphone. Use the headphone out/optical digital audio out port for audio equipment, headphones or speakers.

The ExpressCard/34 slot accepts all standard 34mm ExpressCards. Please note that when you want to remove a card, push it gently first.

6) Battery

When you use the MacBook Pro without the MagSafe Power Adaptor, the time you can run the computer depends on your applications and the peripheral devices that are draining the battery’s power. You can save battery energy by removing unnecessary devices and by switching off your AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth® features when you’re not using them.

Press the button on the battery to check the energy level. The lights at the side of the button tell you how much charge you have left, if any. You can also inspect the battery level by simply checking the battery status icon in the Menu Bar.

The battery can be charged at any time. You’ll find you can charge it more quickly, however, when your MacBook Pro is in sleep mode or switched off.

If you want to replace a failing battery with a full charged one, always shut down your MacBook Pro first.

At first sight

Computer manufacturers have responded positively to our demands for laptops that are as functional as possible. Too often, however, the results are machines that are space savers on desks but are not as convenient to carry around or prop on your knees as their name suggests. Apple has therefore gone back to the basic purpose of a laptop – portability – and introduced its light and thin MacBook Air.

When describing Mac Computers, there’s always a possibility that words such as "stylish" and "elegant" will appear too frequently; but when you first come across a MacBook Air, no one can blame you if these words spring to mind. "I want people to see me with this," is the sort of comment that may run through your head. The MacBook Air is sleek: it’s just 4mm (1/6 inch) at the front, tapering out to a mere 19mm (3/4 inch) at its deepest point. It’s also robust: the aluminium casing ensures that thinness doesn’t mean fragility.

Pick up the Macbook Air and you further appreciate what Apple has achieved. At 1.36kg (3 pounds), the MacBook Air easily beats Apple’s previous lightweight, the 2.26kg (5 pounds) MacBook.

With such a drop in weight, you cannot help but wonder if you’re going to open up the MacBook Air to find a tiny screen that causes you to squint and a keyboard that bunches up your fingers. The reality is a 13.3 inch widescreen display and a full size keyboard. What’s more, a large trackpad complements these to give an overall impression that this is a laptop that’s both practical and a pleasure to use.

The technology of the MacBook Air

It stands to reason that Apple has had to surrender some technological capability to make a laptop that’s so thin and that has shed so much weight. Or has it? You still get an Intel Core 2 Duo processor of either 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz with 2GB of memory for both. You also have an 80GB 4,200 rpm hard drive for the 1.6GHz model, a 64GB solid-state drive for the 1.8GHz, and built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. These specs are easily good enough for most everyday laptop uses.

Hardware

The hardware of the MacBook Air includes

an iSight camera and microphone a mono speaker an infrared receiver a built-in battery an ambient light sensor that adjusts the brightness of the backlit LED screen and brightens the keyboard as necessary

Tucked neatly away in a hatch on the right-hand side of the MacBook Air are also three ports:

a headphone/speaker jack a USB 2.0 port a micro DVI port

A possible hardware concern is the one USB port. By itself such a port is rarely enough, so if you plan to connect a series of peripheral devices at the same time, you’ll need a USB hub. As for the micro DVI port, the MacBook Air comes with useful VGA and DVI adaptors to improve your connectivity options.

You may have noticed by now a hardware omission: the MacBook Air doesn’t have an optical drive. Instead, Apple offers an external 8x SuperDrive. Whether you need this depends on your use of CDs and DVDs. Another choice is to employ Apple’s Remote Disc application so that your MacBook Air connects to a network and links with the optical drive of another Mac or PC.

Remote Disc is very handy because it installs software and gives you access to files. Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t allow you to play or burn CDs and DVDs remotely. When you want to listen to music, or watch a film or TV programme, you must turn to iTunes. If you already own an iPod, this isn’t exactly a hardship.

Software

Apple includes Remote Disc with the usual bundle of MacBook Air software. This software comes with the excellent Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard operating system and offers you everything you’d expect from all other Macs. What’s more, you can swiftly navigate and manage the software with the responsive features of the MacBook Air trackpad.

Battery

The MacBook Air’s battery can give you up to five hours continuous service. Once it dies, however, you may have a problem. The MacBook Air has the battery built in, so you can’t replace it with one that’s fully charged. Your only alternative is to find an electric socket for the MagSafe Power Adaptor, an option that’s not always available if you’re on the move.

MacBook Air performance

For standard tasks such as keeping up with your email, writing, and browsing the Internet, you won’t find a significant speed difference between a MacBook Air and the more powerful MacBook. Some people may still worry about the smaller processor sizes and the relatively slower speeds of the hard drives on both MacBook Air models compared to other Apple laptops. What you have to do, however, is ask yourself why you want the MacBook Air. Complex graphics applications, for example, will certainly strain the processor’s capacity, but then again, if you have this sort of use in mind, you probably need a MacBook Pro anyway.

The fact remains that the MacBook Air is a truly portable all-purpose laptop that performs daily computing jobs extremely well. For most of us, this is precisely what we want.

Conclusion Pros

The MacBook Air is light, thin and unquestionably stylish The casing is robust The 13.3 inch screen automatically adjusts its brightness, thanks to a light sensor The keyboard is full size and lights up in dim conditions There are technology compromises, but most users will notice little difference in speed and responsiveness to a MacBook

Cons

The lower processor and hard drive specs (compared to the MacBook and MacBook Pro) may disappoint some people Inability to swap a dead battery for a fresh one may cause difficulties in some circumstances

The addition of the new generation of Apple notebooks to Mac computers is here. This time, however, the “new generation” tag doesn’t just refer to upgrades – it heralds outstanding changes to design and technology.

Design

To construct the casing for a standard laptop, you need a lot of different parts. In the process, you increase the weight, the size, and the potential for problems. To address these points, Apple set itself the challenge of building the casing from just one part.

This goal may have appeared far-fetched at first, but Apple was convinced the effort was worth the trouble. The result is the new MacBook’s unibody, a casing created from just one piece of solid aluminium.

The unibody has transformed the look of the MacBook. More than ever, it gives the impression of a sophisticated and brilliantly engineered laptop. The unibody also feels incredibly robust. Furthermore, the use of aluminium helps the new MacBook weigh in at 0.23 kg (0.5 pounds) less than the previous model, and shave 0.34 cm (0.13 inches) from its height.

Different manufacturing techniques

Moulding such a casing, as you would with plastic, is a thing of the past. Instead, Apple makes the unibody by milling it with computer numerical control (CNC) machines.

These machines are some of the most accurate manufacturing tools on the planet. Apple has grasped their potential and employed them to the fullest extent. The sleep indicator light on the new MacBook, for example, appears to shine from behind the aluminium. Apple has achieved this by thinning the metal and drilling tiny holes through it.

Environmental standards

The new MacBook will last for years, but it’s good to know the aluminium unibody is recyclable. This reflects the seriousness with which Apple views its environmental responsibility. The company has applied stringent standards to every aspect of the new MacBook, insisting that manufacturing techniques go hand in hand with the most demanding eco principles.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are absent from all the internal components of the new MacBook; none of the internal cables have PVC; the glass of the screen doesn’t contain any arsenic; and the display behind it is mercury-free. The new MacBook is setting a benchmark for the complete removal of toxins from computers.

In terms of energy efficiency, the new MacBook has a double victory to celebrate. Not only does it meet Energy Star requirements as previously, it has also acquired an EPEAT gold rating. EPEAT is the foremost environmental evaluation system for desktops, laptops, and monitors. To obtain a gold rating is a significant achievement.

Other features

Further outstanding features of the new MacBook are the trackpad, the screen, and the Mini DisplayPort. The trackpad immediately catches the eye because it’s almost 40% larger than before. When you start to use it, you also appreciate its extra functions. The trackpad now has full Multi-Touch capability that includes pinching to zoom in and out; three and four finger swiping; creating a right click area for shortcuts; and using any part of the trackpad’s surface as a button.

The new MacBook’s screen has changed to a thinner LED backlit display that provides full brightness the moment the MacBook comes on. A frameless glass front complements this and makes the widescreen appear larger than its 13.3 inches.

A Mini DisplayPort replaces the Mini DVI and FireWire 400 ports. The Mini DisplayPort provides an easy, plug-and-play connection for an Apple LED Cinema Display, and can show images on both the MacBook and the Cinema Display at the same time. Mini DisplayPort adaptors for VGA, DVI and dual-link DVI connections are available should you need them.

The 2.4GHz MacBook also has another bonus. It now boasts the illuminated keyboard so admired on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

Technology

The new aluminium MacBook is available in two models, the 2.0GHz and the 2.4GHz. Both processors use Intel Core 2 Duo technology with 3MB on-chip shared L2 cache.

The standard models of the previous generation were 2.1GHz and 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duos with the same L2 cache. Both new versions, however, have a 1066MHz system bus, compared to 800MHz. In addition, 2GB of memory is now a standard feature (with the capacity to accept 4GB if you prefer). The hard drives are 160GB Serial ATA at 5,400 rpm for the 2.0GHz, and 250GB for the 2.4GHz. You can increase storage to 320GB or 350GB, and there’s an option of a 128GB solid-state drive.

As for the optical drive, the new MacBooks no longer offer a Combo. Apple has passed this over in favour of the superior 8x slot-loading SuperDrive on both models.

Graphics

The features and technology of the new MacBook all deserve your attention, but one in particular is creating both interest and excitement.

The old MacBook had an Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with the main memory. The new MacBook has an integrated processor that provides up to five times better performance. This graphics powerhouse, the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, is the result of development work between Apple and NVIDIA. It has 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM, and contains 16 parallel processing cores. The result is 3D images that are fast, responsive, and more detailed. The MacBook is now a highly desirable laptop for game players.

Battery

With all these extras to cope with, particularly the graphics processor, you might expect the MacBook’s battery to suffer. On the contrary: the official life of the battery has increased from four and a half to five hours.

Apple has accomplished this by keeping the principle of energy efficiency to the forefront of its thinking. From the MacBook’s screen to the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M processor, the design has incorporated the lowest energy use possible.

Innovation

The developments the MacBook represents are profound. This is a laptop that introduces impressive design, manufacturing, performance, and environmental innovations. It also throws down a gauntlet for other companies to pick up if they choose. In the meantime, the MacBook remains exceptional.

Unibody

The MacBook Pro boasts Apple’s new Mac computer design concept: the unibody. The unibody is a laptop casing manufactured with incredible precision from a block of aluminium. The result is not only a laptop that looks fantastic with its brushed finish and smooth edges; it’s also more than capable of absorbing the rough and tumble of life on the move.

Furthermore, the unibody has enabled Apple to make the MacBook Prolighter and thinner. This powerful, feature-packed laptop now weighs just 2.49 kg (5.5 pounds), and at its thickest point is 2.41 cm (0.95 inch).

The monitor

The MacBook Pro’s 15.4 inch monitor is still an LED backlit glossy widescreen with 1,440 x 900 pixel resolution. The fact that these specs haven’t changed is certainly no cause for concern because the quality is first-rate. Apple has managed to enhance it, however, with a glass front that stretches across the whole of the interior surface and does away with a metal frame. The glass looks better, is tougher and lasts longer. It’s also free from arsenic, a toxin released when glass is recycled.

Multi-Touch trackpad

Another striking feature of the MacBook Pro is the larger, more versatile trackpad. The smooth etched glass of the trackpad now has a surface area 39% greater than before. This gives you plenty of room for your fingers to make every trackpad signal.

These signals have also developed, and now incorporate some useful extras. Apple has introduced a four finger swipe, for example, that takes full advantage of the trackpad’s size increase. Swipe four fingers to the right or left, and you trigger Application Switcher. This allows you to view all your open applications. Swipe four fingers up or down, and you prompt Exposé to show desktop or all your open windows.

If you’re more used to right-hand clicking, the trackpad gives you the chance to do this by tapping with two fingers. It’s also possible to arrange for the trackpad to give you a specific right-hand click zone.

Current Mac owners will spot the lack of a button lying along the bottom of the trackpad. Apple has replaced this by simply turning the whole trackpad into a button. In other words, you can click the trackpad anywhere on its surface.

Mini DisplayPort

The new Mini DisplayPort connector on the MacBook Pro is a tenth of the size of a normal DVI port. It provides a fast, no-nonsense method of connecting the 24 inch Apple Cinema Display, or peripherals such as projection systems. Various Mini DisplayPort adaptors also enable you to connect VGA, DVI, and dual-link DVI monitors.

Cinema Display

Apple’s 24 inch LED backlit Cinema Display is the perfect complement to the new MacBook Pro. It’s just what you need if you’re making a presentation, or you just want the advantages conferred by a larger screen. Apple has also designed the Cinema Display so that you can connect and use the MacBook Pro as simply as possible. Similarly, you can disconnect with ease and walk away with the MacBook Pro at short notice.

The Cinema Display’s cable, for instance, branches into three connectors. One of these goes into the new MacBook Pro’s Mini DisplayPort; another plugs into a USB port; and the third is a MagSafe that you connect to the MacBook Pro’s Power Port. In other words, you can display your images on both the MacBook Pro and the Cinema Display; use the Cinema Display’s iSight camera, microphone, and speakers; and charge the MacBook Pro via an adaptor built into the Cinema Display.

NVIDIA graphics

Apple has teamed up with NVIDIA to produce an integrated graphics processor that’s ideal for professional applications and advanced games. The NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics processor comes with dual-link DVI support and, for the 2.4GHz 15 inch MacBook Pro, has 256MB of GDDR3 memory. The memory capacity doubles to 512MB on the 2.53GHz and 2.8GHz MacBook Pro models.

This isn’t the only graphics processor in the new MacBook Pro, however. Recognising that users will sometimes require less intensive power, Apple also installs the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with the main memory. This means you can save battery power by opting for the 9400M whenever you’re working on your day-to-day applications.

Storage

Storage on the new MacBook Pro has increased to 250GB on the 2.4GHz model, and 320GB on the 2.53GHz. Both of these hard drives run at 5,400 rpm, but you can opt to increase the speed to 7,200 rpm if you choose. There’s also a 128GB solid-state drive available.

The environment

Apple’s innovations continue with the MacBook Pro’s environmental credentials. Traditionally, laptop manufacturers have used brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in logic boards; PVC in cables; arsenic in glass components; and mercury in the CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) backlights of LCD monitors. Apple has successfully eliminated these toxins from the new MacBook Pro.

Apple has also worked hard to ensure every aspect of the design and manufacturing process considers environmental impact. As a result, the new MacBook Pro reaches the gold standard of EPEAT (electronic product environmental assessment tool). EPEAT measures the way in which a product affects the environment; the amount of energy it consumes; and the ability to recycle its parts. A gold rating is proof of Apple’s ecological commitment.

The new MacBook Pro also meets the exacting standards required to give it Energy Star status. In fact, the MacBook Pro uses just 33% of the electricity needed for one light bulb.

A high calibre product

The new 15 inch MacBook Pro has a range of exceptional features as well as industry-leading improvements in technology and green standards. With the unibody, it also has a remarkable design concept. Put all these innovations together, and you have a truly superior laptop.

First impressions

The previous MacBook Pros were very good indeed. They delivered consistently professional quality and great features. Reviewing next generation MacBook Pros is therefore something of a treat.

An initial glance at the latest models shows nothing new. This isn’t disappointing: the sturdy casings and the smart design are exactly what you want from a superior laptop. The keyboard appears tidier – the result of some minor changes – but apart from that, everything looks as impressive as it always has.

This might suggest that any internal changes are also minor. Not so. When you fire up the MacBook Pros and start putting each model through its paces, you soon realise you’re working with machines that excel expectations.

Technology

To begin with, the processors are Intel 45 nanometer Penryns. These are noticeably faster than the 65 nanometer Meroms installed in the older MacBook Pros, and easily beat the Meroms in all benchmark tests.

The standard processors for the two 15 inch MacBook Pros are 2.4GHz and 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duos. The 17 inch has the 2.5GHz. Allied to these are enhanced hard drives of 200GB for the 15 inch 2.4GHz, and 250GB for the 15 inch and 17 inch 2.5 GHz.

Of particular interest to the multimedia user is the doubling of the video memory on all three MacBook Pros. The 15 inch 2.4GHz has a NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB, and the 15 inch 2.5GHz and 17 inch 2.5GHz have the same graphics processor but with 512MB.

2GB of RAM supports the above technology across the range. The overall results are laptops that cope easily with advanced graphics and audio applications.

Hardware

Each of the three MacBook Pros comes with standard hardware, such as:

slot-loading 8x double-layer SuperDrive

iSight camera

AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth® wireless connections

stereo speakers

FireWire 400 and 800 ports

USB 2.0 ports (two on the 15 inch models; three on the 17 inch)

DVI port

Audio ports

Gigabit Ethernet port

ExpressCard/34 slot

There are also hardware “extras” that help the MacBook Pro stand out from the crowd. These include a powerful lithium-polymer battery; an ambient light sensor that illuminates the keyboard in dark conditions; and an energy-saving LED backlit screen.

These screens are mercury-free and anti-glare, and have resolutions of 1,440 x 900 pixels for the 15 inch models and 1,680 x 1,050 pixels for the 17 inch. With both you have bright, natural and pin sharp images.

Perhaps the best hardware extra of all, though, is the new MacBook Pro trackpad. This now has the multi-touch functions that have proved so popular on the iPhone. By pinching, swiping and rotating your fingers on the trackpad, you have remarkably fast and positive control over the features of the MacBook Pro’s creative software.

Multi-touch does give rise to a slight problem: the size of the trackpad may feel a little small for someone learning the appropriate gestures. That said, once you’re familiar with multi-touch, it’s not difficult to work within the trackpad’s boundaries.

Software

As with all new Macs, the MacBook Pro comes with the best operating system around, the Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard. If you’ve never used Leopard before, its proficiency will delight you. If you’re already a Mac user, you still have something to please you because the new MacBook Pros boost the speed of Leopard and the applications that run off it.

Among these applications is Apple’s latest version of the world’s fastest browser, Safari. This comes with the usual batch of updated Apple software such as Boot Camp, Mail, iChat, iTunes, DVD Player, iPhoto and iLife ’08.

Performance

Experienced MacBook Pro users can load their preferred applications on these latest models and immediately notice the improvements in speed. For example, you can set up Photoshop CS3 in approximately eight seconds on the 15 inch 2.5GHz. You’ll then go on to discover Photoshop runs 20 – 25% faster than a 2007 2.6 GHz MacBook Pro.

Compared to a 2006 MacBook Pro, the differences are even greater. Overall, you can experience speed increases of around 50% across a range of applications. This is good news for all those who want maximum performance from a laptop.

Options

With any laptops designed for professional use, it’s always worth looking at the manufacturer’s options because some people will need a buffer zone of extra speed and power for specific applications.

The configuration options of the MacBook Pro are unlikely to let you down. To give you extra power, you can request a 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor upgrade for either the 2.5 GHz 15 inch or 17 inch models. As for RAM, you can upgrade any of the three MacBook Pros to 4GB.

On the 17 inch MacBook Pro, you might want to increase the hard drive to 300GB to provide additional room for space-stealing graphics applications. Similarly, you can ensure the perfect clarity of your images by asking for a 1,920 x 1,200 pixel screen for the same model.

Finally, if you prefer a glossy rather than anti-glare matt screen, you can request this when you place your order, as is possible with most Mac Computers.

Value

With all these upgrades packed into the same shells as the previous MacBook Pro models, you might anticipate a rise in prices. If you do, you’d be wrong. The new MacBook Pros are unquestionably better machines but the prices across the range haven’t changed. The old MacBook Pros were good value, but the latest incarnations are simply excellent for the price.

Conclusion

Want the best laptops from a great manufacturer? Look no further.

Pros

Speedier than the previous generation of MacBook Pros

Double the video memory

Smooth, multi-touch features on the trackpad

Improved battery life

Excellent configuration options

More for your money: no price increase compared to the older MacBook Pro equivalents

Cons

Trackpad may be a little small for novice users

The new Macbooks and Macbook Pros represent a sizable change in Apple's portable computing lineup. The biggest change is in the manufacturing process. Instead of polycarbonate, the Macbook is now crafted out of a CNC machined block of aluminum. The same goes for the Macbook Pro.

On the Macbook, this means you'll have a lighter machine that's also structurally more rigid. The Macbook Pro also uses this same manufacturing method. So instead of that flimsy, thin aluminum that dents rather easily, you get something much more substantial.

On both the regular Macbook and Macbook Pro, you get a glass trackpad. Gone is the click button. Instead, the whole trackpad becomes the click button. Because of this, you also get over 30% more trackpad real estate. Like the Macbook Air, various gestures can also be used with this trackpad.

The display has not been ignored. You get LED backlighting. Compared to the traditional backlighting (called compact fluorescents) LED backlighting is much brighter, gets to optimal brightness almost instantly, and is more consistent. This will make photographers and other people who depend on their displays very happy.

The display is surrounded in black and encased in a sheet of glass. Those who prefer a matte screen might find this annoying. But I didn't find the glare to be all that distracting and in the end, the deeper/richer colors more than made up for it.

Nvidia powers the display for both Macbook models. Instead of Intel integrated graphics, the Macbook gets the Nvidia GeForce 9400M. The Macbook Pro gets a GeForce 9400M and a 9600M GT. Depending on the situation, the user can switch between either graphics chips.

Macbook users will notice the biggest difference since the Intel graphics chips from the past generation offered so-so performance at best. Macbook Pro users should also see a performance boost in the 9600M GT but it's still a far cry from the budget desktop SLI configurations that you can put together yourself.

One area where a lot of Macbook fans will complain loudly is the lack of firewire. People like firewire because it offers target disk mode, it uses less resources than USB 2.0, and some find it to be slightly faster than USB 2.0. Users will have to step up to a Macbook Pro if they want their firewire.

Instead of DVI, users will have to use DisplayPort. It's much more compact and supports DVI and VGA connections. As of right now, there's not a whole lot of industry support for DisplayPort.

Overall, the Macbook and Macbook Pro line has received a nice update. They both feel really solid and represent some of the finest notebooks available today. If you're looking for a notebook that offers a lot of bang for the buck, look elsewhere. You can buy a similarly configured Dell notebook for hundreds less. They won't have the really nice exterior casing, but the overall performance will be similar. But for those who prefer to use a Mac, this new line-up is hard to resist due to it's improvements and overall refinement.