Apple MacBook Pro MD314LL/A Price Review

Capacity: 750 GB

50 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars MD 314LL/A 2.8 GHz, 750 GB HDD, November 13, 2011
By Steelers Fan See all my reviews This review is from: Apple MacBook Pro MD314LL/A 13.3 Inch Laptop (NEWEST VERSION) (Personal Computers) The reviews here are for the MD313LL/A, still the computer is really MD314LL/A, which has a faster processor and bigger hard drive.

The MD314LL/A features a 2.8 GHz i7 processor, integrated Intel 3000 graphics and a 750 GB hard drive. I have never owned an Apple laptop before, so there was a bit of a learning curve. Now that I am to get the hang of it, I am beginning to like OSX Lion better than Windows. Programs may be run on separate virtual desktops, and the computer never misses a beat when some number of programs are active. Switching between different desktops or open programs may be done by just sliding three fingers forward on the big touchpad. Control clicking on words or phrases in Safari brings up a perspective sensitive menu which lets the user to choose to view a dictionary, Wikipedia, or do a Google search in a pop up window in the browser. You may also ask the computer to speak the word or phrase, if you have any doubts about articulation. Safari also will include links to a library of plug ins at extensions.Apple.Com, which will include a plug in for Flash, so you may be able to now watch free Hulu videos and other videos online. The network preferences window makes it far easier than Windows to set up a list of public DNS servers to bypass the on occasion slow, glitchy ISP servers.

This computer is totally silent. I was not sure it had a cooling fan till I downloaded a utility to monitor the fan speed. This computer is super fast, and the base plate never gets more than lukewarm. The light weight, small footprint, lighted keyboard, crisp screen and speed really make this computer shine.

The attention to detail is really remaining. The cooling vents on the back of the base are totally covered by a sliding plate when the cover is closed, keeping dust out of the innards. The power supply has flip out legs for winding the cord for storage and the prongs may be removed so it may be used as a brick type supply with the supplied AC cord. The computer also has a green LED battery position gauge built into the left side of the base, which is activated by a flush button. The cover snaps shut silently though there aren’t tacky stick on rubber bumpers, and it’s held closed by magnets. The fitted light sensor shuts off the keyboard backlighting and brightens the display in bright ambient light. The computer also has a three axis accelerometer to protect the hard drive from damage. The attention to detail is why Macs are costly than the different PC clones.

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40 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of five stars Value for money, October 31, 2011
By my_2_cents See all my reviews This review is from: Apple MacBook Pro MD313LL/A 13.3 Inch Laptop (NEWEST VERSION) (Personal Computers)
Mac Book Pro 13 (early 2011 and late 2011) are excellent laptops. It works really well. The pricing is competitive. You’ll fall in love with it in no time. If you could stretch by some 100 dollars I greatly recommend you may want to replace your Windows laptop with this one.

My review primarily talks about the difference I have felt between an early 2011 and late 2011 mac book pro.

I bought mine from Apple Store the day it has been released as did not have it still.

Processor When in comparison to my three week old Early 2011 edition there I barely experience any difference in performance (2.3 GHz v/s 2.4 GHz).

Hard disk The new editions gives you more hard disk space (500GB instead of 320GB) but time has taught me never to trust an interior hard disk. I generally use a backup hard disk to store vital files at all times. The hard disk capacity really does not matter to me.

Issues I encountered so far on the Late 2011 Edition (new one):

Fan noise: The fan made a constant hissing sound in the background. I took it back to the apple store and they narcissist genius bar staff) fixed it by resetting the fan at boot up.
(Beware, their staff could send you back making you feel that only they know what a computer is. I had the staff telling me older variant didn’t make the fan sound cause it’s a “different” computer. Yeah, of course smarty pants “fix it now”)

Software in comparison to the early 2011 edition I did see inbuilt applications crashing and it prompted me to send the report to Apple (which I quickly did).I think this will happen to any new variant of computer/phone released and I have to wait for the next set of updates to have all of this fixed. I’ll be patient for not many months.

Overall,at this point I feel for 100 bucks more you’ll get a newer hardware but it isn’t significantly different and you won’t miss anything if you want to save many money and want to stick with the Early 2011 edition.

Enjoy your mac book pro !!

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Six of eight people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars MacBook Pro is the best laptop for your money., November 30, 2011
By Misanthrope See all my reviews () This review is from: Apple MacBook Pro MD313LL/A 13.3 Inch Laptop (NEWEST VERSION) (Personal Computers) I debated about to get a Macbook Pro rather than to get a Windows laptop, though I personally have some number of Macs, had PCs in the past, and am well aware of the benefits and disadvantages of each. I wasn’t sure if I could want to use up that much money on a laptop that I may not use almost as much as my desktop. I considered buying a Windows laptop that was about half the price.

When researching different brands of laptops, but, I found it hard to choose on what exactly to buy. There are so various choices, and choice is a good thing usually. But, I have had only one PC (a Dell) out of some number of over the years that wasn’t a problem in many way. Others were another Dell desktop, a Dell laptop, and an HP desktop. My last try was an ASUS laptop, and the charger was able to go through two charging cycles before it died. I have experienced the “service” of all of the above, and I am not impressed.

There are some things I considered:

+ dependability / Quality
+ Service
+ User friendliness
Crapware / bloatware
Viruses and other malware

After considering where I’m more probably to find the desirable characteristics and a lack of undesirable ones, Apple wins again. Call me a fanboy, if you have to, but anybody that sticks to Windows through thick and thin, considering the alternatives, is more fanboy than anybody.

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