Serious Speed Boost for MacBook Pro

Apple has two strong 13-inch notebooks to entice shoppers, and one of them just got a lot stronger. While the 13-inch MacBook Air ($1,299) emphasizes portability and instant gratificaiton via Flash memory, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro ($1,199) is all about speed and extra-long endurance. The latest version boasts a bevy of new components and abilities, including a second-generation Intel Core i5 processor, a FaceTime HD webcam, and Thunderbolt high-speed connectivity. The much-loved unibody aluminum chassis remains, along with the outstanding backlit keyboard and glass touchpad, all for the same price. So how much better is this 13-inch MacBook Pro than its predecessor, and what do you give up?

The 2011 13-inch MacBook Pro is virtually identical to its predecessor. Slim with its iconic curved lid, the aluminium unibody chassis exudes premium build quality from all angles. Measuring 12.8 x 8.9 x 1 inches, and weighing 4.6 pounds, the new machine has the same dimensions as before but is a fraction heavier (0.2 pounds). Of course, the 13-inch MacBook Air (0.7 inches thick, 2.9 pounds) makes the Pro look heavy by comparison, but this 13-incher still slips into bags easily and is relatively easy to carry.    

Users will also find the same black Island-style keyboard and large multitouch touchpad that have graced previous models. Chiseled from a single block of metal, the MacBook Pro feels extremely sturdy. One drawback is that the MacBook Pro's battery is not replaceable, at least not without Apple tech support. Also, the chassis can scratch easily if exposed to sharp objects, making a custom-fit cover a smart investment.      

Despite its metallic construction, the MacBook Pro mainly kept its cool on our heat tests. After playing a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, we measured a temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit at the center of the keyboard, while the notebook's underside returned the same reading. The touchpad was cooler at 80 degrees. The bottom back end of the 13-inch MacBook Pro did get toasty, logging a temperature of 109 degrees; we consider anything over 100 degrees cause for concern.

Folks familiar with the MacBook Pro know that its keyboard is one of the best around. The laptop's big square keys have a soft finish and are arranged in an island-style setup, offering plenty of spacing. They also make little sound when hit, yet provide a satisfying click. Equipped with an ambient light sensor, the keyboard is backlit as well, one of the advantages the 13-inch MacBook Pro has over the 13-inch Air.

Like MacBook Pros before it, the current version has a vast 4.1 x 3-inch touchpad that doubles as one massive button. Frankly, it's the gold standard; it let us glide our fingers across it with minimal friction and intuitively press down to make selections. We never missed the lack of a discrete mouse button, or even two.

The full gamut of familiar multitouch gestures are here as well. We easily used two fingers to scroll up and down through webpages and zoom in and out of photos and documents. With four digits we pushed all windows out of the way for a clear view of the desktop, and with three fingers swiped our way from app to app.

App Review: Need For Speed Hot Pursuit By EA

-Introduction-Electronic Arts just came out with there newest addition to the NFS. This game on the Iphone4 has great new graphics,sounds,and most of all the cars! When the game first came out you was unable to play as a racer you had to be the cop but now with the new updated version you can play as either a racer or the cop! The games biggest selling point has to be the effects of the graphics.

-Graphics-The game has outstanding graphics with the help of the iphone4. Although there have been reported problems of the having slower load times, and rare freezing.You have several areas of tracks to go trough from deserts to the coast and even the city. The main part has to be the racing cars, they are outstanding to see todays dream machines on an game. The game offers everything from a basic cop car to the new high powered lamborghini speed racer.When playing as a cop you have options such as spike strips,road blocks, and of course oil slicks. Overall graphics on the newer devices is outstanding and is what is making this game not only popular but ranking it on the itunes top ten!

-Sound Effects- When playing the game what makes the most noise has to be the police sirens and the radio noise, which does not sound like much, but it does get a little irritating after a couple of min. The game does sound a lot better with earphones/headphones than just the basic device speaker.The music in the game is not the best but I’m looking for an update that allows you to add your own music soon.Overall the sound effects are a little irritating but don’t let this turn you away from an exciting game.

-Gameplay/Controls- The game has a great interface and very basic controls, like most racing games you tilt to steer and touch to break. New features include auto-acceleration,auto-breaking. These new features keep the gamer less distracted on messing with controls and more focused on playing the game which is a plus for EA. Types of racing events in the game is like most, checkpoint racing against other cops,hot pursuit, taking out multiple players and etc. The awarding system is the game, the more you go through the events and racers the more cars and stats you unlock. The leveling system is based on how much money you earn on each mission. You have a set amount to the next level which you must reach before proceeding. Overall the gameplay and controls are pretty acceptable!

-Final Report- This is a great game among the racing games. It combines great interface with wonderful graphics and great sound. My rating for this game has to be a 7/10. The things I don’t like about the have to be that it lags, and has quite a bit of bugs and a glitch here and there, but I would for sure share this game with any racer or car fan!!!!