MacBook Pro: A great HD portable

HD Beat has taken a nice look at the MacBook Pro as a portable HD machine (the "ultimate," as they call it). Ben Drawbauch sings the machines praises:

"It can decode two HD videos at once and watch them in Expose, but not without dropping a few frames...The most impressive thing is how well it plays H.264 HD encoded material, the CPU never goes over 60% and is usualy closer to 50% and scrubs perfect."

Hmm, maybe 2006 is the "year of HD," not 2005. Check out the rest of the post, it's a good one.

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Source: http://www.hdbeat.com/2006/03/02/macbook-pro-the-ultimate-po…

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Multimedia Portables Video Macbook Pro

HD Beat has taken a nice look at the MacBook Pro as a portable HD machine (the "ultimate," as they call it). Ben Drawbauch sings...

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Derek

Quicktime crashed on my 2GHz, 2GB RAM MBP when I tried to watch two HD trailers at the same time. Not like I'd ever need to do this, but it was disappointing. One trailer at a time, however, looked incredible.

March 03 2006 at 11:51 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

snac

polakowski. what you are feeling is not uncommon.

however, if you convince yourself to wait for a more compelling macbook before upgrading, ultimately you will be much happier. unless you need to watch two HD movies play together in expose ;).

March 03 2006 at 6:12 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Julien

No MBP for me until the 17" version in out and that somebody has Windows Dual-Booting... I currently have a maxed out 1.67 Ghz version and only the fact it will replace my PC as well will make me change it now...

March 03 2006 at 4:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

brett

So of all you guys (and ladies), if you have a Powerbook 1.67 with 2gb of ram but could get a new, tricked out 2.16 Macbook pro, what would you do?
I face this dilemma right now.
I see great opportunity in the macbook but I know everything "just works" right now on my pbook.

Opinions?

March 03 2006 at 3:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

The New York Times had a review of the MBP
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/02/technology/circuits/02pogue.html

"Over all, the MacBook Pro is a beautifully engineered machine. If it's not the world's finest, it's darned close.

But in so many ways, it's a forward-thinking laptop. It won't achieve true greatness until the important programs have been rewritten for the Core Duo chip's blazing speed, expansion cards for the new slot are available, and wireless Internet is offered by every hotel, bed-and-breakfast and friend's house. Until then, call it the MacBook Po for Potential."

March 03 2006 at 12:52 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

XIV

I had the chance to see it from my own eyes a couple of days ago and I want want...

I just bought a iMac G5 in June (the one before the built in iSight :( ) so my money went there. I'll wait 2 years to buy a new apple product. We'll see what out there then.

March 02 2006 at 11:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Fabulo

"the CPU never goes over 60% and is usualy closer to 50% ..."

Maybe the decoding is single threaded and only keeps one core busy at 100%, nicely averaged to 50%.

March 02 2006 at 11:42 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Boss Sauce

The end of the pre-quote paragbraph should be:
"...sings the machines' praises:"

March 02 2006 at 11:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply