Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch Laptop (Quad-Core i7 2.2GHz, RAM 4GB, HDD 500GB Graphics, Radeon HD 6750M SD)

This laptop is by far the best thing I've ever owned! I understand why people get annoyed because of the price in comparison with other top brand names. A few years ago I was a complete Mac hater! I never wanted anything to do with Apple because i too thought it was a money machine that drained the customers of all their cash to keep up with the latest gadgets. Last year though, i made the plunge! I'm a musician and gamer, and i wanted something that would really benefit me in these areas (more so for the music though). Since buying this machine, I haven't looked back. I can't believe how fast and smooth this laptop is. Apple really have made something that works so well in the users hands. At first it takes a LOT of getting used to, especially coming from Windows, you'll find that sometimes you get frustrated, but surely that will only last for a limited time, because the more you get used to the layout of Mac OS X, the easier it gets (obviously). I love the little details on it too, for instance, you don't have to clog your desktop up with a million and one folders, but it has this nifty little platform at the bottom where you can place all your preferred applications and what not (I understand you can also do this on Windows.) The graphics processor is also fantastic! It has incredible detail and it's also very powerful. They keyboard layout is easy and quick, when it comes to turning volume up, down, fast forwarding etc. It's so great how user friendly this thing is!
What's also great about Mac is if you still have programs or things you use in Windows that can't really be used on Mac (though you could purchase the 'Crossover' application) you can create a Windows partition, which basically means that you can have Windows 7 (as i have) on your mac! I don't use the windows partition so much, but it REALLY comes in handy when you want to do a few bits and bobs with the windows program (i also prefer partition as oppose to running Windows next to OS X in parallel mode, because in parallel, it runs not even at half the speed, it takes up too much ram to run as smoothly as you like). Even some of the Apps on this machine are awesome. GarageBand for instance, is such a simple music creation application. I've been writing and recording music for over 10 years now and used many different programs and packages, but GarageBand is by far the easiest and simplest to use. I've never found myself wanting anything else since using it. Anything I need to do, GarageBand usually provides me with the service (Though i'll probably move to Logic soon to keep up with the youngsters).
All in all, this is a great laptop. You can set up the desktop however you please, you can make things so user friendly it's sick! It's a really beautiful machine and i'm so glad i left my 'Apple Hater' days behind me. If you're considering buying this machine, i'd say go for it.

Having been using computers now for the best part of thirty years and probably every conceivable operating system there is, I have to say this is by far and away, the best machine and operating system I have ever used. I have been using Linux for home use for the best part of six to seven years, Linux Mint in particular, as M$ Windows in any disguise just does not cut it in terms of performance or reliability, which is why I switched. I didn't think anything would tempt me away from Linux but when Gnome released their new version it seemed quite buggy and not quite as user friendly and the Mint Team appeared to be having a problem making it work within their system so APPLE seemed like the only option open.

So, as my trusty old Lenovo laptop was dying anyway the time seemed right to migrate and I am so glad I did and went for a MAC. Yes, the machine was expensive but like everything in life, you get what you pay for. This machine is solid, both the hardware and the system. Built from an aluminium block there is nothing that creaks or squeaks on it no matter how you handle it. Everything from the magnetic lid, magnetic power lead, backlit keyboard to glossy screen is just pure craftsmanship. Once you start it up you get the comforting whirr of a motor starting up and the system appears in just a few seconds. Thats when the real fun starts. Yes the system is different, vastly different and anyone coming from Windows is going to find it very strange at first and will find it hard to get used to. But, after a few weeks using it, they will find out that everything is natural and has been designed to be much easier to use than Windows. Users coming from linux may not find it quite as hard as the core system is UNIX based and anyone used to using CLI will feel right at home. As an experienced PC user even I have to say I had my reservations and wondered if I had done the right thing at first but I needn't have worried because after two months of using it, I find it pure joy to work on. The system is so solid, no blue screens, no lags and no bugs. The Apps just work. I also made a point of using all Apple applications, from Safari to Mail, as everything is designed to work seamlessly together and using third party or open source would probably have a detrimental affect on it and would advise anyone to do the same. I have to say I would definitely not now go back to Windows and as much as I loved using Linux I ail probably would not go back to it either. Once you have experienced MAC you will wonder why on earth you wasted so much time and had so many frustrated hours on M$ windows.

All I can say is if you are seriously thinking about buying a MacBook Pro and you have the budget for it, then go for it, you will not regret it. No matter how strange it is at first, stick with it because once you get used to it, you will wonder how you ever lived without it.

I guess there isn't much more you can say about a macbook - it is an excellent machine although if you have moved from a pc it takes a little learning - but so far so great. I use it mainly for photo processing work and I love the fact that I don't get crashes anymore -