MacBook Pro outclassed

Apple's MacBook Pro loses in CNET's nine-round face-off against the the PC competition, the Acer TravelMate 8200. Apple's laptop wins several rounds, including for Design ("for its innovative usability features, stunning good looks, and compact profile"), Display ("beautiful MacBook Pro display takes this round, though its text rendering is not a knockout"), Software ("includes hundreds of dollars of equivalent PC software"); however, Apple's popular laptop loses in several categories: Features ("overpowering the MacBook Pro with a profusion of ports, superfluity of slots, and competent connections"), Performance ("for outrunning the MacBook Pro on every performance test but one"), Battery life ("by a nose [the TravelMate] held out 8 minutes longer than the MacBook Pro"), and Price ("cost $400 less than the similarly configured MacBook Pro"). The laptops draw in the Warranty and support category: "Both laptops are backed by industry-standard one-year warranties, but Acer's support site is weak and Apple's phone support miserly. This round is a draw."

by MacNN Staff