Mac > All Reviews > Hardware > MacBook Pro 2.53GHz review

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 MacBook Pro 2.53GHz review

We take a look at Apple's high-spec MacBook Pro 2.53GHz

Jackie Dove & Mark Hattersley Macworld.com

Manufacturer: Apple
Pros: Thin, rounded design; easier to service and upgrade; ecologically conscious; gorgeous, bright, glossy screen; retains FireWire port; large trackpad with numerous multi-touch gesture choices; great new keyboard; powerful graphics processor
Cons: No choice of matte screen; trackpad button can be hard to press; disappointing battery life compared to the last model; some multi-touch gestures more difficult to maneuver than others.
Min specs: Height 2.41cm, width 36.4cm, depth 24.9cm; weight 2.49kg; 15.4in LED-backlit glossy display; 1440 x 900 resolution; 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB on-chip shared L2 chace; 1066MHz frontside bus; 2GB DDR3 SDRAM (up to 4GB supported); 250GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive; NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics processorkwith 256MB of GDDR3 memory; Geforce NVIDIA 9400M graphics processor with 25MB of DDR3 memory (shared with main system memory); AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi based on 802.11n specification; Bluetooth 2.1; 8x SuperDrive; iSight; Mini DisplayPort
Price: £1,749
We rate this 4 out of 5.Star rating:

The MacBook Pro 2.53GHz shares an identical design to the 2.4GHz model, and – as with that laptop – you could be forgiven for thinking little has changed from the old MacBook Pro. You'd be wrong though, this is a radically new laptop.

The new MacBook Pro 2.53GHz has completely rethought with a new physicial case, remodlled design and reengineered innards.This isn't just a new MacBook, it's a new type of laptop.

While all the previous Macbook Pros felt rock solid, the new models seem even more so due to the brand new manufacturing process introduced with this generation of MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Instead of assembling the laptops piecemeal and expertly splicing the components together, the new models sport a unibody architecture that constructs the entire machine out of a single piece of recyclable aluminum. Such assembly, according to Apple, eliminates the need for fine-tuning parts and diminishes the possibility of construction failures. With the new MacBook Pro in hand, it feels almost like an extension of your arm. There’s no clasp keeping the lid shut: simply grip the thumbscoop etched into the bottom of the case, and it opens right up. Even without a clasp, it feels secure when closed.

The unibody composition also makes these new laptops easier to service and fix, and great for do-it-yourself types who have, in the past, lamented how difficult it was to do things like swap out the hard drive or battery. The new MacBook Pro makes it very easy to access the battery and hard drive—move the lever on the bottom of the case, and you’re in. Upgrading RAM requires the removal of eight screws; the previous MacBook Pro had only three screws.

The new MacBook Pro sports a radical departure for Apple's professional laptop

Next: MacBook Pro specifications

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