Macbook Pro 13-inch
£899
The Macbook Pro is part of Apple’s high-end laptop line, but this relatively new model with a 13.3-inch screen is rapidly attracting a corporate following thanks to its relatively low price.
The design, as you’d expect, is impeccable – it’s milled from a single piece of aluminium, using a heavily patented process Apple spent years developing. This, according to the company, makes the machine both sturdier and lighter than its rivals –the machine does indeed feel very durable.
The trackpad hides all manner of special features, so make sure you check out the manual to get the best out of it. The multi-touch facility means you can use multiple fingers to trigger commands. This is great for picture editing, as you can “pinch” or “pull apart” images to change their size.
The display is LED backlit, so uses far less energy than traditional screens. It’s also super-glossy, something that has divided buyers – I thought it worked well, and despite showing up fingerprints a little more than expected, was definitely an improvement over “normal” backlit screens.
One potential pitfall is how your IT department will feel about it – despite Apple’s best efforts, there are still issues with some email systems, and many IT teams won’t support you should you have problems.
With previous generations, Apple has made some good laptops, but they have been marginalised by Apple’s “arty” image. With this latest range, that has changed. It’s not to everyone’s taste, but this is a machine that proves Apple can be as at home in the boardroom as it is in a web designer’s studio.
PROS Powerful all-rounder
CONS Only a 13.3-inch screen
