Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch

If you do not look closely - very - close to you may not realize that the Apple MacBook Pro 13 - inch ( Mid 2012 ) ( $ 1,499 direct ) is any different than most similar models from spring and autumn 2011, as Apple MacBook Pro 13 - inch ( Thunderbolt ) ( $ 1,499 direct , 3.5 stars ) . Iconic design for Apple laptop largely unchanged outside , but getting a new model of bump in processing speed and can now take advantage of the newer USB peripherals thanks to the addition of USB 3.0 ports . It is a solid laptop , but the results are not that different from the previous iteration , and the little to stand out from the crowd of Windows laptop with similar specifications .

Design
Let's start with the obvious - the current incarnation of the MacBook Pro looks just like the last let . From glowing white Apple logo in its lightweight aluminum unibody chassis , most aspects of the 13 - inch MacBook Pro is identical to the previous iteration . The dimensions remain the same 0.95 by 12.8 by 8.9 inches ( HWD ) and weighing 4.5 pounds anyway. It is a little heavier than other 13 - inch laptop we've seen recently, such as 3.2 - pound Editors' Choice ultraportable , the Toshiba Portege R835 - P88 ( $ 849.99 list , 4.5 stars ) , but ( $ 989 the same HP ProBook 6360b dimensioned direct , 3 stars ) is both thicker and heavier ( 4.8 pounds ) . The difference in weight is easily accounted for - which uses Toshiba lightweight plastic construction, Apple will use all of the aluminum .

The display has the same resolution 1280 -by -800 - roughly equivalent to resolution 1366 -by - 768 used on other laptops, and high enough to enjoy 720p videos or to multitask with the windows side by side . The chiclet - style keyboard is the same black tile backlit keys , although there is a fair amount of light seepage around the keys . The surfaced glass trackpad is one of the best still available , and motion control Apple is much more easy to understand and fine than others we've tried .

Features
New on the MacBook Pro , at least - is the addition of USB 3.0 . This allows rival Thunderbolt has dual - advantage of being compatible with older USB 2.0 devices and becoming widely available accessories such as external drives - although we expect to see more affordable Affordable Thunderbolt peripheral devices hitting the market soon . Apple has also changed the connection more slender MagSafe2 power connector , which offers the same functionality , but with a slightly different shape so will not be compatible with older and third party power accessories . Apple moved the connector MagSafe2 this year , prompted by the introduction of the new MacBook Pro with Retina display .

MacBook Pro also retains a FireWire 800 port , a Gigabit Ethernet port , and SD card reader . Apple does not include an HDMI port , opting instead for the option to use the Thunderbolt display output or connecting adapter with mini DisplayPort -to - HDMI . A space - load optical drive reads and burns CDs and DVDs , but Apple still does not offer any love with the Blu- ray owners . Apple expects you to buy HD video from iTunes . Apple also included a FaceTime HD camera lets you make video calls in 720p . Internally, the MacBook Pro 13 - inch fitted a 750GB 5400 rpm hard drive offers plenty of storage space . It is larger than the 500GB drive found in the Dell XPS 14 or the Lenovo ThinkPad X230 . Plus , with 802.11n Wi - Fi and Bluetooth , all your wireless connectivity needs should be reasonably well met .

Buying a 13 -inch MacBook Pro now can give you a laptop preinstalled with OS X 10.7 Lion , but upgrading soon -to - be released Mountain Lion ( OSX 10.8 ) later this month will be free . OS X Lion has all the award -winning iLife Apps , such as GarageBand , iTunes , iMovie , and iPhoto . The upcoming Mountain Lion added new features such as iMessage , which is expanded from being overtaken iChat Mac -to - Mac just to include Mac -to - iOS as well .