The MacBook Pro ships with Mac OS X Tiger, highlights of which include the incredibly cool Spotlight search utility and the customizable Dashboard, a collection of handy desktop tools.

Unlike most PC laptops, the MacBook Pro lacks a built-in media reader for flash memory cards, and there's no S-Video output or built-in modem-both of which the PowerBook had. One new extra is the Apple remote that controls the included Front Row multimedia player we wish, though, that the MacBook had a storage slot for it. As with the PowerBook, the MacBook Pro features a slot-loading SuperDrive that plays and burns DVDs and CDs. It's also equipped with Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (enhanced data rate), and you can access the Internet via 802.11g Wi-Fi radio, and Gigabit Ethernet. That said, the MacBook Pro features three USB 2.0 ports FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 ports an ExpressCard slot and a DVI port (VGA with included adapter) for connecting to an external monitor.

The 17-inch MacBook Pro offers a decent selection of ports and connections, though it comes up a bit short of what you'll find on a similarly sized PC laptop, including the Inspiron E1705. Arguably the 17-inch MacBook Pro's most stunning feature is its display: the large wide-screen display features a fine 1,680x1,050 native resolution. The touch pad lets you scroll through long documents, Web pages, and spreadsheets by dragging two fingers down or across the pad, a terrific feature that's unique to Apple laptops. We don't like that the keyboard is located 5.4 inches back from the laptop's front edge we wish it were centered to encourage a more ergonomic typing position. Though the keys are a bit shallow, they're comfortable to type on, and we love the keyboard's backlighting feature, which adjusts to changes in ambient light levels. The MacBook Pro has just a power button, a big keyboard framed by stereo speakers, a very large touch pad with a single mouse button, and a handy built-in iSight camera that sits above the display. Underneath the lid, the MacBook Pro extends the tradition of the PowerBook's minimalist design.

But for graphics professionals and other Mac users who have money to spare, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is a dream. Of course, such performance doesn't come cheap: the 17-inch MacBook Pro's default configuration costs $2,799 (upgrades on our review unit brought the price up to $3,099). Better yet, our fully loaded test configuration powered through most of CNET Labs' performance tests, exhibiting only a few of the growing pains encountered by other Intel-based Apple laptops and desktops, such as the iMac Core Duo. Following on the heels of the and replacing the 17-inch PowerBook G4, the 17-inch MacBook Pro delivers many of the same beloved features as its little sibling, such as a scrolling track pad, the Sudden Motion Sensor, and an excellent software package, and adds a huge, bright 17-inch display that's great for graphics work.

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