Apple MacBook Pro 17in (2011) review

The ‘uni-body’ aluminium chassis from the old MacBook Pro was always a thing of beauty, so we can’t fault Apple for re-using it, but all that metal adds significantly to the Pro’s weight. Tipping the scales at 3kg, you won’t want to be taking it far, even if the slim body means it slips relatively easily into a laptop bag.

Apple still refuses to add USB3 support to its products, instead sticking with two regular USB ports as well as FireWire and an SDXC memory card slot, but it also has an ace in the hole. The single video output (a Mini DisplayPort) doubles as a Thunderbolt port, designed for super-fast data transfers using Intel’s Light Peak technology. Thunderbolt storage devices are starting to appear online, but they are expensive and only really suited to professionals that need blazing-fast transfer speeds. Considering the price, we were surprised to find only a slot-loading DVD writer, which can’t play Blu-ray discs.

We were impressed with the MacBook Pro when we first saw it and little has changed in the few months since; it looks fantastic, has fantastic performance and an unbeatable battery life for a 17in laptop. No other manufacturer has come up with a combination to beat it, but it’s far too expensive to recommend. If you’re determined to buy a MacBook Pro, you’re better off saving £250 and getting the smaller 15in version, which can be customised with the same internal components. However, if the larger 1,920×1,080 screen is crucial, you won’t be disappointed with the 17in.