Customer Reviews

Apple MacBook Pro MA609LL/A 15-inch Laptop (2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive)

5 star:		(82)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I had my previous Apple computer in the early 80s...a Mac Classic. Then on to Windows 95, 98, some time with NT, and XP in the corporate environment. I have used Dells, Gateways, Fujitsus and Panasonic Toughbooks. Each computer needed some sort of virus program..and then another utility to manage the operating system...and another to back everything up for the blue screen of death. With each new application it got slower...and slower. Tired, stale, consistant, blah and increasingly frustrating computing experiences.

I got my daughter an iMac and was blown away with all the capabilities for enhancing the digital experience. So I just got a 2.33 PowerBook Pro with 3GB memory and and 200GB hard drive and glossy screen. I am in heaven...

The visual experience is quite awesome, and with the lighted key board, you can stay up all night and type away. I have been a pilot for 15 years, among other things, and know something about glare. If you hold it just right, you can see yourself in certain lighting conditions, like when you are having breakfast and the sun is coming up. It is a nice reflection of a smiling person enjoying thier MacBook. If you are going to be doing a lot of work in digital photography or watching DVDs...the glossy screen is just wonderful. If you are going to see how much abuse your nice new computer can take so you can brag about it...just go ahead and get a ToughBook.

For a number of corporate apps, I downloaded Parallels and a fresh copy of XP. It is unbelievable. Download the software, insert the XP CD...and shazam...you have XP running faster than you can believe.

Go to the Dell site, and load up a 15" laptop just like the MacBook Pro for yucs...the Mac is actually cheaper. And I like Entourage a lot better than Outlook for doing the daily contact managment. I am just now getting started organizing the digital photos, but have loaded 3000+ into iPhoto. I have 15 years of photos to scan along with various formats of video...so that is an upcoming experience.

Battery life is only 3.5 hours with a really brite screen setting and no conservation settings...and no, I cant cook an egg due to heat.

Oh, and for backup? Just sign on with .Mac, fill out the preferences and forget about it.

For me, this is the most brilliant computing device ever made. I have a Cingular PCMCIA data card which doesnt fit, so that is a bit problematic for awhile...but everywhere I used to need the data card I can get wireless coverage now...

This is the first review I have ever written, because I am having such a wonderful time with the product. Go ahead Neo, take the red pill and get on with your digital life.

Just purchased and received my MacBook Pro. One-Day Shipping was only $3.99 with Amazon Prime. I wanted to let other buyers know that this MacBook Pro comes with the ANTI-GLARE SCREEN. For those who prefer the GLOSSY, look elsewhere. The Amazon Rep didn't know and the product description didn't specify this info.

i maybe one of the few users out there that had to chance to own both the Core Duo and the Core 2 Duo within 2 weeks. i bought the Core Duo first but after a week the keyboard and track pad stopped functioning so i took it to the Apple guys to see if they could fix it and they couldn't. they told me that they would swap it out for free (normally they charge a 10% re-stocking fee) and it just so happened that the Core 2 Duo was released...so that's what i ended up getting. lucky huh?

CD = Core Duo: older Intel processor
C2D = Core 2 Duo: newer Intel processor
PB = Power Book: older Apple laptop
MBP = MacBook Pro
MB = MacBook

physical build...this machine is perfect. it's about the same size as the G4 PB's but thinner. first thing i couldn't wait to try was the magsafe power adapter cause i can't count how many times i've tripped over my old PB's power cord. works as advertised! besides that, there isn't much of a design change from previous PB's except that they switched the battery placement, the ram slots are located by the battery, and the air vents that were located on the side of the old PB's are now gone. CD's and C2D's have the exact same body and build. same full sized keyboard with wayyyy brighter backlighting, so bright that i kind of hurts to look at it sometimes. there was only one magnetic latch to close the laptop now on the MBP's there are two. makes it more secure i think? can't really tell the difference. you get the standard two usb 2.0 slots (located left and right), a two fire wire slots (located on the right) one fire wire 400 one 800 (located both on the right) and the usual ethernet, headphone jack...etc. only gripe i have is that i wish they put more usb slots on there...

operationally sound...unlike the first release of MBP's that moo-ed and mysteriously shut off the new C2D's (at least mine and what i've heard so far) are problem free. this baby is quiet, in fact, you'd really have to prop your ears next to the air vents to hear the fans whir. i've only heard the fans kick on once when i had it on my lap playing a dvd and photoshopping at the same time. there were some issues with the CD's not being able to sleep when you closed the screen, well this one plops to sleep like a kid who had a big day.

performance is great...if you're coming from a PB to a MBP like i did then the performance gain can be measured in leaps and bounds. start up is amazingly fast, there is no more lag when due to the significant increase in processor speed and ram speed. C2D's can be upgraded to 3 gigs of ram only due to chipset limitations but i'm pretty sure 3 gig's would cover over 95% of what people need. (ie: Photoshop, internet surfing, music playing, dvd burning...etc) the new video is great as well, ati x1600 with 256 mb ram pretty much ate everything i threw at it. supported dual monitors (your laptop screen + another monitor) right out of the box without a hiccup. i ran a dvd on one screen, photoshop on the other and everything purred along fine, no screen lag. if you're comparing C2D's to the CD's then the performance gain isn't really noticeable...trust me, don't feel bad if you're one of those that was just outside of the return period when the C2D's came out. Apple also stuck a new wireless card in there that has the new n-wireless standard...ironically, it's not usable yet on OSX but if you have bootcamp, Windows is able to use it's n-capabilities. battery consumption is pretty good too me but your mileage may vary. i take notes in class, chat and surf the internet when i can't understand the professor...overall i get around 4 - 4.5 hours of usage.

software is elegant...this is probably just something you have to experience for yourself. Mac users will know what i'm talking about. literally everything, well everything that i've tried, have worked without a hitch. MS Office is a must if you're a college student otherwise everything you need is pretty much pre-loaded in the box.

overall...if i didn't get this upgrade for free i wouldn't be quite as happy as i am now. it was painfully obvious that the first release of the MBP with CD processors was pretty much just a MacBook with a bigger screen (1 inch bigger) and a dedicated video card. i didn't think then such minor details would command a $1500 premium. it was literally a battle between how long before Apple incorporated the C2D and how long the consumer was willing to wait. that in my opinion was a low blow. if they tout the MBP's as their top of the line notebooks then they should have made it so that it was significantly different from the regular MacBooks in the first place. i mean, if Toyota started making their sedans in Lexus quality...who'd wanna get a Lexus?

it get's only 4 stars due to the following reason...

- inadequate chipset that can't utilize 4 gigs of ram. just seems like they're cranking out whatever they can for the holidays to rake in the cash. hardware doesn't seem as meticulously thought out as it used to be. i mean, a month down the line when they have the new chipset that CAN use 4 gigs of ram you can bet there will be a lot of customers complaining again.

- the video card, while very decent, is hardly anything to write home about. again, for a top of the line notebook you'd think they would have used something better. to be fair, they probably were thinking about battery consumption on this one. but still...

- i wish they had some sort of extended battery pack included or as an option. i mean, the 4 hours of usage is good but on a day where i have 8 hours worth of classes...well you get the picture. starting to sound like a broken record but again, for a laptop that is around $2600 when everything is said and done, is that too much to expect?

The Apple MacBook Pro with 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 17-inch TFT widescreen display (1680 by 1050 pixels), 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, 160GB 5400-rpm hard drive and SuperDrive is almost everything one could ask for in 15.4 by 10.4 by 1.0 inches package. Yes, the MacBook Pro (MBP) truly is one-inch-thick and weighs in at 6.8 pounds. The requisite USB 2.0; FireWire 400; FireWire 800; Ethernet; optical digital audio in and out; headphone ports are available. An iSight camera integrated into the top of the display can capture video and still images. Airport Extreme (802.11g) wireless networking and Bluetooth are standard. Listing all the features of the MBP would be exhaustive. If you need the MBP's complete feature list and capabilities, visit the 'Hardware' section of Apple's Web site.

The MBP comes sandwiched in between two thin layers of Styrofoam, all enclosed in a svelte square black box with a plastic carrying handle. Apple has a minimalist approach to packaging and documentation. Included in the MBP box are the AC plug, AC power cord, MagSafe power adapter, DVI to VGA adapter and Apple remote. Documentation consists of a small 78-pages booklet entitled, "Everything Mac." Two Mac OS X Install Discs, warranties and two white Apple stickers are enclosed in another packaged entitled, "Everything else."

Apple's Setup Assistant prompts you for your personal information when the MBP is powered on for the first time. The Setup Assistant also guides you through the transfer of information from another Mac - such as users, applications, network and machine settings, files and volumes. I did not use the Setup Assistant to transfer my PowerBook's files to the new MBP. Instead, I later chose to activate Personal File Sharing, and transfer the files I needed over my Airport network. Both methods are relatively straightforward, though, the Setup Assistant is easier. Migration Assistant, which is stored in the Macintosh HD/Applications/Utilities folder, can be run at any time to do the same tasks as Setup Assistant.

Let's dispense with the technical details and get to what the MBP can do - almost everything. The MBP can run both PowerPC (PPC) and native Intel-based applications. Rosetta runs PPC applications transparently. The major difference between Rosetta PPC and native Intel applications is speed. Native Intel applications will run faster. However, the MBP is fast; even Rosetta applications are very responsive. Mac OS X on Intel MBPs does not support Classic applications. If you need to run Classic applications on your Intel MBP, as a last resort, you can search Google for an application named SheepShaver. Applications that are labeled as universal binaries will run natively on both Intel and PPC Macs.

The 17-inch display is wonderful. You will need to decide if you want a matte or glossy display. I chose a matte display, but the choice is yours. The MacRumors forums have good discussions about the matte versus glossy MBP display. Briefly, those who want fewer reflections and colors that are more accurate choose matte; those who want brighter and more saturated colors choose glossy. If you cannot decide, go to an Apple Store or Mac reseller and compare the matte and glossy MBP displays yourself. The display does not open past 135 degrees. At first, this appeared to be an issue, but thanks to the brightness and resolution of the display I have never needed to open the display past the 135 degrees limit.

The MagSafe power adapter uses a magnet to connect to the MBP. If someone trips over the cord or exerts any other undue force on the power adapter cord, the MagSafe adapter will disconnect from the MBP - saving your MBP from crashing to the ground. To protect my MBP from scratches dents or worse, I purchased an aluminum Matias Laptop Armor case because I do not believe the soft-sided cases will offer enough protection. The MBP may be fast, but it is also delicate. You may also want to consider purchasing the AppleCare extended warranty to extend Apple's 90 days telephone technical support/1 year parts and labor service to 3 years telephone technical support/parts and labor service. If you search eBay, you can purchase AppleCare at almost 50% off the retail price. AppleCare does not cover either accidental or cosmetic damage; therefore, due diligence and a good case are necessary.

Does the Intel MBP run Windows? Of course it does! The MBP can run Windows via virtualization or Apple's Boot Camp. If you choose Apple's Boot Camp (a free public beta download), you can boot your Intel MBP to run either Mac OS X or Windows XP. Windows XP will run natively on the Intel processor and on a separate hard disk partition with Boot Camp. If you choose to run Windows through virtualization, you can install XP or Vista; as well as other operating systems. The most developed Mac virtualization software as of this writing is Parallels Desktop for Mac. (VMware Fusion is currently undergoing private beta testing. Search Google if you must try VMware's Fusion.) Installing Windows with Parallels is relatively straightforward on the MBP, but expect to muck around a bit before all is perfect.

The one thing the Intel MBP Core 2 Duo cannot do is either read or write Blu-ray/HD DVD discs. The MacRumors forums suggest a possible Blu-ray drive in the upcoming 'Santa Rosa' MBP, but this is speculation. Having said that, the MBP's SuperDrive is great; it can write CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD+R DL. Of course, the quality of a burned CD or DVD is only as good as the media used - check the AfterDawn forums for media recommendations.

Although you will be able to upgrade the MBP's memory to the 3GB maximum by swapping one of two 1GB memory modules for a 2GB module, Apple does not allow you to upgrade the hard drive yourself. This is a shame since 160GB fill up at a very fast rate with a computer this powerful. Nevertheless, the 5400-rpm hard drive is very responsive. As always, remember to backup often - search Google for 'Dr. Mac's Guide to Backing Up Your Mac' for more information.

Do not expect to get much use out of most the trial software included with the MBP, the trial status severely limits usability. However, BitTorrent (peer-assisted digital content delivery platform) users can rest easy as the MBP works well with the popular Mac BitTorrent clients Azureus and Transmission. I can easily get 100 kB/s uploads and downloads over my Airport network connected to a cable modem. (I believe more people should look into BitTorrent, there are downloads for every taste available; just remember to seed after downloading.) The Apple Airport Extreme and Express base stations integrate fabulously with Mac OS X and the MBP to create wireless networks. If you buy AppleCare for your MBP, the Airport base station that you use with your MBP is also covered.

Obviously, I am a Mac evangelist, but there really is no reason not to buy a MBP. I am glad I chose the 17" MBP over the 15" model for the extra screen real estate. Working with many applications at a time is a breeze on the 17" screen. Yes, the MBP is pricey, but you are getting a lot of computer (in a slim package) with the MBP. Moreover, if you use PriceGrabber to price the MBP, you can rest assured of a good deal. If nothing else, if you purchase a 17" MBP Core 2 Duo, you will be able to see your PC-using friends turn green with envy when they spot your MBP. I hope this helps.

All the Best.

Pros
Applications run faster than previous PowerBook or MacBook Pro
MagSafe
Built-in iSight
Improved Trackpad
Front Row
Runs cooler than previous MacBook Pro, yet quiet
Beautiful screen, easy on the eyes
Still the same (or similar) size and weight
2GB RAM standard

Cons
Relatively speaking, not as portable

I upgraded to the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro (MBP) recently after deciding to upgrade from a 1.67GHz PowerBook, which I used for Aperture, web surfing, and all-around general computing.

And what a difference an extra 0.66MHz and an additional processor core makes! In my subjective experience, applications such as Aperture run much, much faster, making it more enjoyable to use. It lets me focus at the work at hand rather than twiddle my thumbs waiting for the application to finish its processes. The new Macs all run on Intel processors, which means that if your applications are categorized as Universal Binary, which means it can run natively on Intel or PowerPC processors. they will run "natively." I have Microsoft Office which is not a universal binary, but Rosetta (which allows non-universal apps to run) does a pretty good job. The startup is slow, but once the application is started, everything else seems to run fine.

I really like the MagSafe power connector. It connects to the notebook via a magnetic connection, unlike the PowerBook's traditional "plug" connector. The advantage is that when someone trips or snags the power cord, the MacBook Pro's MagSafe connector just snaps off without dragging the rest of the notebook off the table or your lap. It also saves the connector from getting damaged, which on my PowerBook, did happen when I tripped over the cord (clumsy me).

Compared to the PowerBook, the MBP seems to run cooler. At least my lap doesn't get too uncomfortable running extended sessions of Aperture. The keyboard remains pretty cool to touch, too. Generally, I think Apple improved on the cooling/ventilation of the MBP over the PowerBooks. I was also able to compare my MBP with a previous generation MBP (2.16GHz Core Duo, with 2GB RAM) and the difference I could feel on my lap is very noticeable as well. As with the PowerBook, my MBP seems to run pretty quiet.

The screen resolution, at 1680x1050, over my PowerBook is higher, which as 1440x900. The keyboard controls remain exactly the same, with brightness, volume, and keyboard illumination. The keys themselves feel the same, which is a good thing because I really liked typing on the PowerBook. The trackpad has been improved over the PowerBook. It's bigger, and it allows easy substitution for right-clicks. On my PowerBook, right-click meant Control-click. On the MBP, right-click means placing two fingers on the trackpad and clicking. It's far easier and simpler. And I think it's better than having two physical buttons.

The MBP comes with a built-in camera called iSight. There's a little camera on the bezel of the display, and a green indicator lights up when the camera is in operation, with applications such as iChat or Photo Booth. The camera works well for video conferencing in iChat (camera is also compatible with Skype) and spending hours with Photo Booth. My MBP also came with a small remote control that operates Front Row, which is like a media center for your Mac. The remote is a 6-way remote and it's simple to operate Front Row. I can place my MBP on the table and sit back to enjoy a DVD or some of the movies and TV shows I purchased from iTunes, or listen to my music collection. The only drawback with a simple remote is that if you're deep inside many layers of menus, you have to press 'menu" many times to get back to the top level.

Physically, the MBP is the same size as my PowerBook, or at least it appears to be. I didn't take long to get accustomed to it. Like I mentioned, the keyboard layout is the same, and getting accustomed to the trackpad took just a few moments. I'm glad that Apple has finally gotten enough sense to make 2GB RAM as standard. My PowerBook had 512MB as standard. The MBP is able to accommodate up to 3GB.

Even though it's only 1-inch thick and weighs less than 7 pounds, it's nevertheless a big notebook. If your priority is portability, then a 15-inch MBP or a MacBook can be a better alternative. I chose this model for the screen size and resolution. It's a bit of a hassle when traveling, but the benefits of having a near full-fledged notebook outweighs the small inconvenience.

The MBP is a lot of computer. It appears to be expensive, but if you add up the features, the attention to details that's apparent starting from the packaging (the box is like a quarter of the size of my PowerBook packaging), the built-in software, and ease of use, the price is well worth it. There aren't many (or none at all) 17-inch Windows-based notebooks of the size and weight of the MBP. The feel of the notebook, the keyboard, the trackpad, and how it feels on my fingers, to the elegance of OS X and Mac applications, wins me over time and time again over its rivals.

As a dedicated PC user who's bought a lot of top end, Windows based desktops and laptops over the years I recently bought a fully spec'd 17" MacBook Pro (3 megabyte RAM) to see what the fuss was about. So what happened?

Well, right from that first start-up you're into the Mac's "it's so easy" world and, once you've installed all those pretty & clever widgets, got over the "it looks a bit too funky for me" reaction to the, actually, extremely useful docking bar, realised that installation of your applications is as simple as they claim, eventually, after much searching on the Internet, found someone kind enough to explain how you emulate the MacBook Pro's one ridiculous weakness - the missing "Delete" key (you hold down the "fn" & "backspace" keys at the same time) - and had a week of installing huge amounts of programs, coupled with a lot of messing about, without a single "crash" or "freeze" and with no obvious delays to the impressively quick start-up sequence, you're where you hoped you'd be... which is, from bitter experience, a pretty unusual experience with a new Windows PC.

But, once over the "I think I've fallen in love" phase, it's time for a more sensible evaluation of how the things work on a day-to-day basis for a Windows user. First off, the big disappointments... those staple programs of your PC either don't look too great on the Mac (Word & Excel), are difficult to emulate in Mac dedicated software (Outlook in particular), don't work on it at all (MS Publisher, Autoroute and the wonderful Digiguide), or, in the case of Adobe Photoshop & InDesign, run noticeably slower... isn't the Mac supposed to be the best thing out there for imaging & DTP? Sure, the imminent new releases of both Adobe programs are supposed to rectify this problem but hey, we're on a top end machine here with the current versions of two of the Mac's "signature" programs.

And the good news? Well, Apple's "Pages" is an incompatible but wonderfully powerful alternative to Publisher - you won't want to go back - the Mac's Utilities (hidden in the Applications folder) are simple to use and brilliantly effective, the installation of a wireless network using Airport Extreme & Express units is remarkably straightforward, that is once you've figured out that you use the Mac (not any of the PC's connected to the network) as the machine on which the configuration settings are made, and the whole "feel" of the OSX environment inspires confidence, making you want to keep exploring new Mac applications.

But that's only the start of it... because what makes this machine so stunningly impressive for any Windows user is what it does once you install and correctly configure "Parallels", the Mac's recently released "killer" application that lets you run Windows as though it's just another Mac application. Quite simply, it converts this MacBook into the fastest, highest resolution Windows laptop I've ever used. Set the screen resolution in the Windows "window" to 1538 x 921 pixels, make sure that the Parallels Tools are installed correctly, select "Full Screen" mode and there it is... quite amazing... looks better than the any laptop you've ever seen (better than the MacBook Pro in Mac mode itself), works like a PC, lets you seamlessly transfer files between the Mac window and the PC window, and transforms your Windows versions of Word, Excel, Publisher and even Photoshop into the most beautiful experiences. And, when you get bored with your Windows programs you're only a keystroke away from watching the screen flip round to reveal your Mac.

Mac "geeks" may continue to argue that OSX is better than Windows but the truth is that Apple have produced the perfect solution... a laptop that runs OSX at its highest levels and Windows at a level that's as good as and possibly better than any dedicated PC laptop out there. Incredible.

I'm a Microsoft Certified Software Developer by trade, and have been a die hard PC zealot for a long time. Once Apple made the move to the Intel architecture and Boot Camp was released, I made the decision to give Apple and OS X a try. I'm now a Mac convert.

The system is, hands down, the best system I've ever owned. Its speed is nearly unmatched. It's extremely responsive. The quickness with which it goes to/resumes from sleep is amazing (about 3 seconds from lid open to completely usable). In this configuration with 2GB ram and the 2.33GHZ C2D, the system rarely if ever suffers from slowdown, no matter what I'm doing with it.

The aesthetics are a whole other story. Everything about the system screams quality and class. It looks beautiful, it behaves beautifully, and Apple's Mac OSX is hands down the most elegant and useful operating system I've ever used.

With Boot Camp from Apple, Windows XP installs and runs effortlessly. Even though I've installed Windows XP SP2 and Visual Studio, I find myself booting into Windows less and less.

Coming from a recent Mac convert, if you haven't given a mac a try, this is the machine to buy. Especially since you can install Windows XP (and vista, in the future), you can still run your Windows Applications if need be. There's no excuse not to try it. You will not regret the decision.

As others have said this is an excellent machine and I have had no problems with it so I am going to skip the obvious and get to the point. As a photographer I decided that I would purchase the matte screen. The matte screen has a better viewing angle which is very imporant when evaluating exposure and color adjustments. My wife has a standard MacBook which comes with the glossy screen. Side by side the same image does appear more vivid on the MacBook however, if you are not looking at the screen from the ideal position the brightness and contrast fall off remarkably.

Another thing I find annoying when working with the glossy screen are reflections. Most of the time I don't notice them but when I am evaluating the detail in a photo the subtle reflections from lights or other things catch my eye every time.

As a parting note, if you still can't decide between the two screen types you can always pick one and find an external display with the opposite coating to have the best of both worlds.

I have had my macbook pro for a little over a day now and I must say that even with my highly picky standards, I'm satisfied with the product in every way, shape and form. I love the glossy screen, the built-in isight, Mac OS X, the sleek design, Apple's customer service, everything. I had doubts that I may have a hard time switching to a mac because this is my first mac ever after about 10 years of PC use, but after 5 minutes, I was ready to go and now I have no difficulty using my mac. The fan is barely noticeable even if you really intently listen for it, and there is absolutely no heat problem. The fan is nonexistent and my macbook pro runs cooler than my acer, and the warmness feels good on my lap, all while beating my old acer's performance. Apple's build quality is amazing. I don't miss the right click at all, and the magsafe power cord is just really cool. Everything about this product is just great. Never shut down, the wireless network was set up in 10 seconds without any of my effort, and recognized every peripheral I threw at it. And at 5.5lbs, the macbook pro is very portable.

About Apple's customer service, I was rarely on hold for more than 3 minutes at a time, and it took longer to write this review than the time it took for the 4 calls combined. They just get stuff done.

I rarely ever give 5-star ratings, but I would gladly give my macbook pro a 5-star rating or even higher. Windows, NEVER AGAIN.

I had purchased a Core Duo MBP just 9 days before Apple announced the Core 2 Duo line, so I returned my original and swapped out for a new one. The new MBP--or at least the unit I bought--seems to have fixed many quality control issues and improved upon the last one's features. For example, whereas my old MBP ran EXTREMELY hot (a common complaint about that model), the new C2D product runs cooler than almost any other laptop I've ever used. The old one's lid didn't close flush on both sides (noticeable gap on the left side), whereas this one does. Excessive fan noise had been a problem; this one is extremely quiet. The infamous MBP "screen hum" had afflicted my Core Duo model, whereas it's never present on this one, no matter what the screen's brightness is set to. As for a few complaints I've read about inconsistent backlighting on the LCD on both models, I never had that problem on either one. The LCD is extremely bright and provides an excellent display. It's less than perfect because contrast falls off too quickly with only minor changes in viewing angle (matte screen), but a minor gripe.

Simply put, I think Apple got it right on this second rev, in terms of build quality etc. By far the nicest laptop I've ever owned.