Apple MacBook Pro 17in

The rest of the MacBook's specification, compared to rival machines, seems rather meagre. Both the Apple and Dell Studio XPS 16 have 4GB of RAM, but the latter has a 500GB hard disk versus the MacBook Pro's 320GB Fujitsu unit. The A-Listed Sony VAIO VGN-AW11Z/B has 640GB of hard disk space, and both the Dell and Sony systems offer Blu-ray drives and memory card readers. The lack of a TPM chip and ISV certification may prove crucial for professionals intending to use the system as a dual-OS workstation laptop.

Battery life is a mixed bag under Vista. Apple's Boot Camp application currently offers no support for the MacBook Pro's twin GPUs, and consequently uses only the higher-power GeForce 9600M GT. The MacBook ran out of steam after a reasonable 4hr 22m, but this figure plummeted to just an hour in our heavy use benchmark.

The results were far more encouraging when we simulated a light use test in Mac OS X, in which the MacBook Pro lasted a minute shy of seven hours, just 61 minutes off Apple's impressive-sounding claim of eight hours battery life. The final, much-discussed caveat is that the battery isn't removable, so the entire system has to be sent back to Apple should any problems crop up.

The latest MacBook Pro comes with a considerable list of pros and cons. The stunning, high-resolution screen, powerful hardware and superb build quality will endear the 17in Apple to those keen on image and video editing, or simply those just looking for a luxurious desktop replacement. Conversely, the keyboard and trackpad are a mite disappointing and the specification isn't as versatile as rival machines. The most prominent challenger is that Sony VAIO. Not only does it offer a larger (if lower-resolution) 18.4in TFT, you also get twice the hard disk capacity, a Blu-ray writer and very similar performance, all for £600 less.

If you're happy spending the best part of £1,700 before VAT on a machine that places style and design ahead of more practical considerations, or are a professional user who demands a near-perfect screen with plenty of desktop space, the 17in MacBook Pro is a great choice. Be warned, though: your money could go an awful lot further elsewhere if you contemplate life without the iconic logo.

Author: Mike Jennings