Apple MacBook Pro 13 13.3-inch Ultraportable Laptop PC

Sep 8 2009 - Apple's MacBook Pro 13 is essentially the older 13-inch MacBook aluminum MaBook system redesigned with some of the features found in the larger MacBook Pros. This is for the most part a benefit to consumers as the price tag for the entry has remained the same at $1199. The aluminum body provide it with a very stylish and durable exterior. This combined with its solid performance and features make it a great laptop for those looking for a highly portable but fully featured laptop.

Sep 8 2009 - The MacBook Pro 13 is essentially a redesigned version of the unibody MacBook that gets features of the latest MacBook Pro series laptops. This includes the move to the non-removable battery pack that provides a longer running time, replacement of the ExpressCard slot with an SD card slot and removal of the ability by users to replace the hard drive. Some of these are beneficial but others are a bit more disappointing.

The MacBook Pro 13 retains some of the faster performance in the ultraportable market thanks to the faster Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processor typically found in larger laptop models. This combined with the DDR3 memory means that it can be used completely as a primary computer system for those looking at a highly portable laptop.

While the MacBook Pro 13 has the advantage of coming with a slot loading dual layer DVD burner, storage is a mixed bag. It is nice to have the ability to playback or record DVD and CD media unlike many ultrathin laptops, the 160GB hard is relatively small in this market segment. This is especially true when you look at similarly priced Windows based PCs.

The 13.3-inch screen is very bright and colorful but the highly reflective glass coating means that it is very difficult to use in certain lighting conditions. It would be nice to see Apple offer non-glare versions for order similar to what they offer and the 15 and 17-inch models. Unlike its larger siblings, this version only uses the integrated GeForce 9400M graphics. While this does reduce performance, it is still much better than the Intel solution in many ultraportables when it comes to 3D and HD video.

Apple's MacBook Pro 13 still retains its position as one of the better full-featured 13-inch laptops on the market, provided you can afford a $1200 price tag.