Overview MacBook Pro 15 "2011: the enslavement of" Lion "

Today let's talk about the MacBook Pro 15 ". Intel has made a huge leap in the performance of its platform based on Sandy Bridge architecture, increasing the speed of its processors almost doubled compared to the previous generation. Moreover, they are no worse than the predecessors, and sometimes even better energy efficiency. Naturally, a similar breakthrough made and Apple, but already in the notebook market. Despite the fact that outwardly range of MacBook Pro 2011 does not differ from last year and pozaproshlogodney line, but dramatically increased the performance of the platform given to felt. Although not all as good as we would like.

In particular, 13-inch model - this is a step forward, half step back. The graphics subsystem Intel HD become more productive by increasing the frequency and placement of the graphics core on the same die with processor, but because of the old architecture, in some cases, it loses an integrated solution of the previous generation of NVIDIA, GeForce 320M. But the 15-inch model, even in younger configuration, which I will discuss in this article, was much more interesting solution. Moreover, on the test laptop has a new operating system was installed

OS X Lion. It turned out to be an entertaining experience as on a personal 11.6-inch Air, I "the Lion" is still not decided to put for a decent amount of complaints about a significant drop in performance compared to Snow Leopard.

Clones are attacking again

Identical packaging similar appearance. It feels like, and less than three years since the announcement of the first MacBook Pro Unibody models in-package. Of course, on the characteristics of the population and on the design of these devices still remain some of the best laptops on the market, but still want something new. I hope that next year Apple will fulfill its promise and really offer a new Pro-model generation that will change not only within, but also outside, but in the meantime let us touch another clone.

Front and rear box has not changed, but there is on the side of innovation - the advertising of a new high-speed data transfer interface, Thunderbolt.

All labels and descriptions are in the usual places. In this case, working with standard junior model, which is equipped with a 15.4 inch display with a resolution of 1440x900 pixels, four GB of RAM, a 4-core Processor Intel Core i7 2 GHz (Turbo mode increases to 2.9 GHz), Intel HD Graphics 3000 graphics and AMD Radeon HD 6490M with 256 MB of graphics memory Of GDDR5, hard disk capacity of 500 GB, modules Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n and Bluetooth 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet adapter and almost a standard set of ports I / O. That is, on one face of the usual handful of two USB ports, FireWire 800 port, audio in and out, as well as SD card slot, which is now in addition to the SDHC is compatible with SDXC cards.

Naturally preserved and proprietary battery indicator. Optical drive from model to model does not change - the same DVD-burner unit of Matsushita. Of innovations are the only port Thunderbolt, which gradually begins to emerge peripherals. For example, corporate cable to connect a MacBook between 2011 and connect to accessories like the Apple Thunderbolt Display.

I want to underline the display hinge, which in comparison with the two previous generation 15-inch MacBook Pro has become tougher. From accidental bumps, when the laptop is on your lap, the display is no longer loose. In addition, branded keyboard island type backlit seemed to me after the second generation MacBook Air a little softer. For the rest, there is no change: all the same glass touchpad, familiar power button in the upper right corner of the perforated area above the speaker and the inscription below the display MacBook Pro.

As I mentioned above, the laptop looks fine, though a design procedure is already fed up. However, many of its competitors and to this has not grown.

The Elephant and the Flea

Still, I was very accustomed to its 11.6-inch "baby" and compared them with the reporting laptop looks elephantine. Weight felt it too, to put it mildly, severely. And it is not just about carrying, but also about using the device on your lap. Basically that's what I use a laptop - a matter of habit.

Nevertheless, in spite of the great weight and dimensions, working with the machine very comfortable, I felt full, typing this text. Display size matters. By the way, the matrix it is not different in color reproduction and viewing angles from its predecessor. When compared to the 11.6-inch Air screen, the color reproduction in the MacBook Pro 15 "is slightly better, and vertical viewing angles are a little bit wider.

Faster, higher, stronger!

In terms of performance review, the notebook, the experience is mixed. Still, having worked with the SSD, to return to a mechanical hard Winchester. On the one hand, the photos in iPhoto or in Pixelmator are processed incredibly quickly. Video editing in iMovie - it's just a song after Air. Loading pages in Safari is very fast and smooth scrolling. Even, it seems that the windows overtighten softer, perhaps, or maybe a feature of Lion, or tricks of my imagination. But on the other hand, the launch of applications is pretty slow compared to the not so bright, but very small Air. The difference in speed is great and very noticeable to the eye, because it is not some sort of percentage - start programs takes place much faster on SSD. In general, if a MacBook Pro equipped with high-speed solid-state drive, it will simply ultimate machine.

Special heating device I have not noticed. At room temperature about 28 ° C processor warmed up no more than 50 ° C, although the temperature is generally kept below. In this mode, the machine worked almost all the time typing and processing of related photos in iPhoto or Pixelmator. But trying experiment with ACDSee, I managed to warm up the processor to almost 80 ° C, after then the cooling fan is accelerated to 5000 rev / min, but it is less noisy than MacBook Air. By the way, knees laptop case did not burn, although warmed up from the bottom well.

performance test showed more than three-fold superiority over small-large laptop that is to be expected.

Endurance news quite on the level. Apple promises about seven hours of active web surfing. I unit is discharged to 19% a little more than five hours, but it is worth considering that I not only enjoyed the Safari, but also handle photos and experimented. Accordingly, if the work with texts, and not really shipping the machine Flash-Videos, then it can really work for about seven hours. What else noticed, it's a quick battery charge - just over an hour. During charging, the area near the top left corner of the notebook heats up pretty well, and after reaching a 80% capacity is sharply reduced heating.

AMD Radeon HD 6490M discrete graphics card on its performance is approximately equal to the NVIDIA GeForce 330M MacBook Pro 15 last generation ", but as a bonus can be considered support for the latest graphics technology. Its capacity is sufficient to run most modern games at medium graphics level. Of course, Radeon HD 6750M with 1 GB of video memory used in the older 15-inch model looks interesting (in general play performance by about 50% higher), but it also costs a laptop in the configuration is much more expensive (in our reality - $2400-2500).

The Taming of the "Lion"

I would like to tell about the experience and work with OS X Lion to present laptop. He was positive. The system works quickly, animation has become more and she looks very harmonious. To Mission Control, had replaced Exposé and Spaces I got used very quickly - a handy thing. I liked the Launch Pad, new gestures, new TextEdit to search in Pages, and Safari. The web browser is also quite good with all the buns, like the full-screen mode, download manager class, reading list and return to the previous pages of two-finger gesture. In general, full-screen mode - this is a very useful thing in a number of applications such as iMovie and the iPhoto, but in the "Calendar" it seems superfluous. Possibility of automatic opening of all programs and windows after a restart of the system is very pradovala. Of course, OS X have to restart often, but when it is still required, according to the law of large velenskogo beastliness, always open a dozen programs with lots of windows and their subsequent restart, to put it mildly, annoying. I lost touch with both Windows and features work with the OS, much weaned. There, permanent reboot in the order of things (updates come out too often, and in sleep mode vindovyh Nout voracious, better turn them off).

Did not like the new design of the Dashboard. In my opinion, his removal to a separate screen looks worse than the old effect in Mac OS X Snow Leopard, when widgets fell over the shaded desktop. to get used to the inverted scrolling, though, can be installed and the old method, if desired. But the special problems this innovation should not cause. Total "rubber" in the iOS interface style, rounded windows, no scrolling sliders - all I had to taste.

There are some features, like not just appearing Finder information about image size and the absence of these data in the Preview (that is called when you press the "Space"). Somehow cunningly acted Pages, refusing to "hide" by clicking on «cmd + H». System for some reason, did not respond to the shutdown option AutoCorrect text, although perhaps this is due to ORFO 2011. In general, there are nuances and have to wait for system updates and third-party software. Through this, we go almost every release of a new version of OS X.

This "beast-machine"

What can I say? Computer uniquely successful! Going it current owners of 15-inch MacBook Pro 2010 can be considered quite seriously, especially if the device solved intensive tasks. Still, increase in speed of the novelty was significantly higher than when compared to laptops of 2009 and 2010. Although the owners of last year's "Proshek" there is another alternative in the face of MacBook Air this year. For example, a 13.3-dyyumovaya model in the standard of performance can be compared to the top-end 17-inch MacBook Pro last generation.

I'm after a little experience with the device in a feeling of nostalgia. My first Mac - this 15-inch model 2008 is the first device in-Unibody case. Liked it and display it to the ratio of the diagonal resolution, liked the built-in acoustic performance, but did not like the large size and weight.

But now I firmly decided for myself that necessarily take a new MacBook Air 13-inch version. Earlier still had some doubts, not whether to choose again the 11.6-inch model, but in a top-end configuration, which is comparable to a 13-inch device. But still a little bigger display is important, plus I finally get the same workspace as the 15.4-inch model MacBook Pro (resolution displays they have the same). Built-in memory card reader is also important - too often have to transfer photos from a SD-card, and the constant use of the external accessory has become tense.

The truth is, I have a dream to someday return to the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but to this, that a matte display and higher resolution, with SSD and 8 GB of RAM. I look forward to Apple's, I hope for the total renovation of Pro-models in 2012: IPS-display, less weight and thickness, the SSD as standard, what more could you ask for full happiness? Ah, yes, that's right - you can still wish for having enough money to buy such a "monster" and not to be left after this without pants.

MacBook Pro 15 "for review given store "America"