The Bottom Line: Don't Buy! OVERPRICED, UNRELIABLE. You will be without a computer for WEEKS, because of repairs, etc. Trust me, this is my SECOND faulty unit in 3 months!

The Computer itself:
Looks very nice. It's quick, and the screen looks nice. I had no problem toting it around to classes and work using a Mac-case Sleeve (recommended). The keyboard is a bit mushy, but the keys are very quiet. They don't make much noise, so this might be good for someone whose typing might disturb those around him/her. I have not had any problem running applications, connecting to the internet, etc. I haven't had any popups or viruses since I've had the thing either, which is priceless.

I do have a few gripes, however. It gets really very HOT when operating. You can't put the thing on your lap, or even carry it around for too long, because it might burn you. If you're optomistic though, you probably can flip the unit over and cook an egg on the back. It's a great computer if you like eggs and don't have a frying pan. The battery has an led indicator on it by the way. It looks pretty cool, but I've never actually paid attention to it, so I think it's just a marketing gimmick.

Video Quality:
Surprisingly, it's not as great as I'd hoped. Dvds and movies will always look better on a tv I suppose, but the HD sample videos that Apple displays in their stores make you think that everything will look tip top on this unit. I thought - especially taking into account the hugely powerful video card- that DVDs and videos would look great on this unit, but they just seem a bit grainy. On the upside, i've never had any lag or hesitation from the unit. Motion flows effortlessly.

Build Quality:
but the build quality is questionable. I have owned two of these. The first one had a problem where it made a high-pitched squealing noise that came from the power supply. After A LOT of negociation with several Mac customer service reps, I got them to replace it. The second one that they sent me had a broken DVD Burner (it would just spit discs back out), and a disfuntional wireless card (my internet would only work sometimes). This was a huge disappointment for me, because I paid a premium to get the best Mac had to offer. For $2500, I feel like I got ripped off. Even little things are annoying, like the trim for example. There is a thin line of trim that runs around the corners of the unit, and this plastic is not entirely flush with the rest of the unit. If this were a car, I'd be afraid that it had been in an accident before I'd owned it. It's just so disappointing to know that you've paid so much money for a product that has inconsistent build quality.

Reliability:
It's horrible. The buzzing, the burner, the wireless card. I'm afraid to put important documents on this, because I don't know what will go wrong next. If you're thinking of buying one of these because you think Macs are reliable, think again. Maybe they used to be, maybe they will be again some time in the future, but right now they have a lot of kinks to work out.

Value for money:
I don't think this thing is worth the price. I actually got rid of my second MacBook PRO 2 days ago and purchased a Macbook for $1099. Honestly, I feel absolutely NO DIFFERENCE. Videos actually look better on the glossy screen of the cheaper Macbook than the Macbook Pro. The cheaper Macbook doesn't have a DVD burner, but hey the Macbook Pro's dvd burner didn't work anyways. Ultimately, the Macbook Pro is more than twice the price of the cheapest Macbook laptop, but it doesn't offer twice the noticable features. If you're a professional graphics designer, web developer or the like then you might think otherwise, but if you're just someone who wants to play movies, surf the net, and download music, then the MacBook Pro is just overkill. If you really want a fast mac, get a MacBook for a grand.

Customer Service:
I bought this computer about 4 months ago. About 3 weeks into ownership, the computer made high-pitched whining noises that made using it unbearable. I went to the Michigan Ave. Apple Store and talked to a very rude and pompous representative who told me nothing was wrong with the thing. I wrote an e-mail to apple corporate (sjobs@apple.com), and after some arguing I got them to give me a replacement unit. The replacement unit is garbage.

So the second computer they have sent me has a wireless card that doesn't work properly, so I can only connect to the internet SOMETIMES. I went to the apple store, and after a 2 hour wait they told me that they can sent it in for repair. I went home to back up my data using the dvd-recorder only to find that THAT doesn't work either! I am tired of this computer, and it's a real shame because I bought it for its supposed reliability.

Apple's reliability is a myth, and several friends of mine who own powerbooks, ipods, and ibooks would agree. I bought this $2500 computer because of its supposed reliability. I cannot be without a computer for even a day for my purposes, and because of this I wanted something that was solidly built. It turns out that this computer is what Jaguar is to automobiles - it may look nice, but it's high-maintenance.

Moreover, the customer service is a joke. It seems like they hate their jobs. Just visit the Michigan Avenue Apple Store in Chicago, and observe what goes on at the "Genius Bar". If you see people being mistreated, looking unsatisfied and upset, then my point has been validated. Moreover, you can expect that same sort of treatment if you should ever need assistance. It will be worth your time. In my experience, 90% of the time customer service has been unable to help me with or resolve any issues. Recently they told me "sorry, but there's just nothing we can do for you" when I've asked them to take the faulty computer back to issue me a store credit. Well, I might be stuck with this lemon of a computer, but I can at the very least help the rest of the world stay away from the company.