Apple MacBook Pro Review 2009
The Apple MacBook Pro laptop is definitely in the top tier of the laptop world, where power and precision meet in a luxurious package. The machine itself is carved from a single block of aluminum, offering an ultra slim and light carrying experience. Weighing in at under 3kg and only 3cm in height, the Macbook Pro is the ultimate portable computer for the professional on the move.
The Pro also features the an illuminated keyboard and a multi touch trackpad system, offering a plethora of gestures and functionality. The MacBook Pro is available in both 15inch and 17inch screen sizes :
15inch Specification 2 features :
- Up to 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
- Up to 320GB Hard Drive
- Up to 4GB (maximum)
17inch Specification features :
- 2.66Hz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
- 320GB Hard Drive
- 4GB (expandable to 8GB)
Whilst all systems feature :
- 1066MHz System Bus
- Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT 120 Graphics Card with 512MB Memory
- 8x Super Drive
- 1 Express Card 3/4
- 1 Firewire 800 Port
- MagSafe power port
- Gigabit Ethernet port
- 2 USB Ports
- Airport Extreme
- Bluetooth
- Mini Display Port
As with all the latest Apple computers, the Macbook Pro comes fitted with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard operating system, alongside the superb iLife package which features iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, and iDVD. This top of the range, super powered laptop is for people who demand professional quality computing whilst on the move.
>> Shop Online with Apple Australia
Apple MacBook Review 2009
The Apple MacBook laptop is the funky younger brother of the Pro, with a more accessible price, but plenty of high end features to keep even the most ‘techy’ of customers happy. The Macbook is available in white and aluminium, with the white model featuring a durable polycarbonate shell and magnetic latch. Weighing in at just over 2Kg and under 3cm till, this laptop is a truly portable machine which slips into a briefcase or backpack with ease.
The Macbooks features a 13inch glossy widescreen display with a pixel-perfect 1280×800 resolution, and also features a scrolling trackpad which allows two fingers to click the button for easy right-click functionality. The MacBook is available in 3 13inch configurations, with 1 specification in white and 2 in aluminium. These feature -
White 13inch Specification features :
- 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
- 160GB Hard Drive
- 2GB (expandable to 4GB)
Aluminium 13inch Specification 1 features :
- 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
- 160GB Hard Drive
- 2GB (expandable to 4GB)
Aluminium 13inch Specification 2 features :
- 2.4Hz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
- 250GB Hard Drive
- 2GB (expandable to 4GB)
Whilst all 3 systems feature :
- 1066MHz System Bus
- Nvidia GeForce 9400M GT 120 Graphics Card
- 8x Super Drive
- Gigabit Ethernet port
- 2 USB Ports
- Airport Extreme
- Bluetooth 2.1
- iSight Camera
- Mini Display Port
Fitted as standard, the Macbook comes fitted with the fantastic Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard operating system, alongside the superb iLife package which features iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, and iDVD. Plus with Apples environmentally friendly stance, the Macbook features 43% less packaging, PVC free internal cables and polycarbonate enclosure is completely recyclable. A fantastic first port of call when entering into the wonderful world of Apple Mac computers.
>> Shop Online with Apple Australia
Apple MacBook Air Review 2009
The Apple MacBook Air laptop is the thinnest, lightest laptop available on the market today. Weighing in at a measly 1.36kg and just under 2cm high when closed, this is the ultimate portable computer for the professional on the move. Due to the size, one downfall is the lack of an optical drive, but this is countered by the fact the Macbook Air can “borrow” another computers drive to burn CD’s.
The Macbook Air features a 13.3inch LED glossy widescreen backlit display and also encompasses the latest trackpad technology with Multi-Touch gesture with pinch, rotate, swipe and drag capabilities. The MacBook Air is available in 2 different 13.3inch aluminium configurations which feature -
Specification 1 features :
- 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
- 120GB Hard Drive
Specification 2 features :
- 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
- 128GB Solid State Hard Drive
Whilst both systems feature :
- 1066MHz System Bus
- 2GB RAM
- Nvidia GeForce 9400M GT 120 Graphics Card
- 8x Super Drive
- 1 USB Ports
- Airport Extreme
- Bluetooth 2.1
- iSight Camera
- Mini Display Port
The Macbook Air comes fitted with the Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard operating system fitted as standard, alongside the superb iLife, the perfect package to help you store and edit photos and make music with Garage Band. The Air also features arsenic free glass, 40% less packaging and a mercury free display, which has helped Apple meet Energy Star requirements and also gain an EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment) Gold Rating.
>> Shop Online with Apple Australia
Mac Mini Review 2009
The Apple Mac Mini computer is the baby of the Apple family, but don’t let the size put you off – good things really do come in small packages. This is Apple’s most affordable desktop and is perfect for users with limited office space. The machine itself is a little over 5cm tall and weighs in a just over 1.3kg, but it’s a mighty mouse with a big roar!
The Mac Mini may be small, but Apple has certainly crammed plenty inside to enable users the functionality of a regular sized desktop. The Mini comes in two different specifications, with both featuring super fast Intel Core Duo technology whilst also using 45% less power than the previous incarnation.
Prices start at just $1,049, and features :
- Up to 2GB RAM (expandable to 4GB)
- Up to 320GB Hard Drive
- Intel Core Duo 2.0Ghz Processor
- Nvidia GeForce 9400M Graphics Card
- 8x Super Drive
- Bluetooth
- Ethernet Port
- 1 Firewire Port
- 5 USB Ports
- Mini Display Port
Mac minis come fitted with the Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard operating system, plus the groundbreaking iLife package which features iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, and iDVD. The Mac Mini is also designed to be environmentally friendly, with PVC free internal cables and highly recyclable aluminum and polycarbonate enclosure. The only major downside to the Mac Mini is that you have to provide your own keyboard, mouse and monitor.
To put it simply, purchasing a Mac Mini allows you to dip your toe into the wonderful world of Apple without having to make a huge financial commitment. Some people may not like the Mac experience, but to me it’s like the first time I ever tried snowboarding – I haven’t touched a pair of ski’s since!
>> Shop Online with Apple Australia
Dell Adamo Laptop Review
We at Computers AU were delighted when Dell’s PR department sent us an Adamo to review. Our first impressions of the Dell Adamo (Pearl / DESIRE model) were that we hoped the actual product was as impressive as the box and slick presentational case. Luckily, upon removing it from its ‘floating effect’ packaging we were not disappointed, it was immediately apparent that this is one sexy beast with full marks in terms of the design aesthetic – check out the pictures below! Anybody who’s familiar with Latin (erm, no thought not..) will know that the word Adamo means ‘to fall in love’ and whilst nobody in the office was seen (at least in public) to consummate their affection we were definitely all smitten. Holding its cold aluminum chassis it was evident that this was definitely not your run of the mill Dell laptop.
The first thing I’d say is that the build quality of this machine is equal to pretty much anything we have laid our hands on. The precise attention to detail and engineering is quite obviously the crux of the Adamo range and there is no doubt that it is to be put in to the ring with other notable high end ultra light players – particularly the MacBook Air which I’d say that Adamo just shades in terms of both its style and visual impact. The rest comes down to application and practicality for the discerning buyer so we’ve given it a thorough road test to help you decide on the pros and cons before you buy.
The price tag on the Adamo from Dell Australia starts from $3,799 and puts it in that category that focuses on users seeking refinement and highly stylised design quality as well as portability and Dell have most definitely produced a top quality product that enters them as a new player in this distinct market.
Dell Adamo Laptop Pros :
- Portability – For on-the-go users this is an away from the office solution that offers pretty much everything you need – robustness, practical size and weight, lengthy battery uptime, connectivity, speed and reliability, it fits the bill 100%. It has the hardware to handle higher demanding tasks with ease. 9/10
- Engineering - Looks awesome, feels solid and is easy to gain access to the innards of this machine. From a technician’s point of view, screwless entry to the entire underside of the chassis is a credit to the designers at Dell. The tidy layout also means it’s a breeze to install mini PCI add-on’s or, possibly when technology and price permits, a larger hard drive. 10/10
- Robustness – The build feels so solid that you could feel as comfortable using this on a dusty red mine site as you would reclining on an automated massage chair in your business lounge or simply on your desk. 8/10
- Ease of Use - The layout of the external ports is very well placed to ensure minimal interference during practical use. eSATA and USB ports aplenty should satisfy most users. The 13.4″ 16:9 HD edge to edge glass screen is delightful to look at from every angle. The brushed aluminum backing looks nice and gives the screen a robust feeling. 8/10
- Value For Money - The backlit keyboard is something that these days should be a standard on all laptops and the key touch feels robust and like that of the dials and buttons inside a luxury car – refined and high quality. In fact we’d say that the screen is delightful to look at (not a superlative that we’d normally use lightly!) and again it looks and feels robust yet delicate like the whole machine. Definitely worth every cent – 9/10
- Practicality – The most common real world uses of the Adamo are for browsing, email and standard applications – these were without disappointment and speed was no issue. 8/10
Like all computers, there are aspects of the Dell Adamo which can be improved and we’d like to see Dell address them on future releases within the Adamo range.
Dell Adamo Laptop Cons:
- Upgrades - Upgrading the Adamo is not possible with the current hardware configuration as RAM is soldered to the motherboard. Choose your Adamo configuration carefully based on your usage demands and this should ensure you don’t have any issues further down the line. 4/10
- Features – There is no optical drive and whilst this is easily overcome with the cheapness of flash based memory this may not suit all users. Additionally, graphics based users will find the hardware limiting in its capabilities e.g. users wanting to play games or use any CAD programs will have to shop elsewhere. The 128MB graphics of the Adamo is a bit of an anticlimax. Again choose carefully if this is a priority. 5/10
Overall we peg the Dell Adamo as a target market product for prospective buyers looking for a luxury laptop that is both practical and solid but ultimately a very impressive, uber-sexy and stylish piece of kit (now all we need to do is convince them to let us keep it!).
It’s certainly a great entry into this market segment and Dell can only impress more with further releases that improve on this as a foundation.
>> Click Here to Buy the Dell Adamo Online
Dell Studio Hybrid Review
Not so long ago, in a galaxy far far away, a simple computer could literally fill up a whole room with wires, screens, and things that constantly went beep until you wanted to sacrifice your soul to the devil. As time moved on, computers became smaller, but not always for the better.
Having wasted my formative years spending hours typing code into my 1K ZX81 only for the programme not to work, I for one am not fooled by a computers size.
To say the Dell Australia Studio Hybrid is a bit sexy is like saying Russell Crowe is a reasonable actor. This machine oozes class from the exterior, and if it had a hand I would ask for it in marriage, it really is that hot! The shell has a selection of colours to please even the most discerning palletes, including an ultra sleek bamboo casing which would blend in perfectly if you were stranded on a desert island with only coconuts for company.
The Dell Studio Hybrid may look a bit puny, bit trust me, under the hood the components are a match for any machine thrice the size. Let’s have a look -
- 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo T8100 Processor
- 2GB of memory
- Intel Media Accelerator 3100 Graphics Card
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- TV tuner
- Wireless keyboard and mouse
- 8x dual-layer DVD burner
- 8-in-1 memory card reader
You like? Downfalls are it doesn’t come fitted with a screen as standard (though you can add one when ordering), so yes, OK it’s not perfect, but hey show me a computer that is and I will show you a ZX Spectum 48K with an ‘R tape loading error’.
The Studio Hybrid is sex on legs, which is just as well as you can stand it up vertically and admire it’s form from afar. Do I want to go on a date with this computer? I’ll leave you to be the judge of that…
> > Click here to order a Studio Hybrid with Dell
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