Apple - MacBook® Pro - Intel Core i5 - 13.3" Display - 4GB Memory - 500GB Hard Drive - Silver

So where do I begin so that the legions of Apple critics and fans do not view this as support of their narrow views? I will say that I am not into the Windows vs. iOS argument - I do not think Apple is evil nor that they have, hands downs, the best products. I have had Windows desktops and one laptop - and yes - I had the typical problems with them that are often used as reasons for one moving on to Apple. I had said that my next notebook would be an Apple, but never really wanted to pay Apple's steep price. OPEN BOX is the way to go - I got 10% off a returned MacBook that looks to have never been used - the power cords had not even been unwrapped. Then - as a student and an educator - I was able to get another $100 off the price. Still at nearly a grand after taxes, it was pretty steep when BB had PCs with similar or better specs for half the price. So, why stick with this? I want to find out for myself if this is worth the price and the hype. Apple's customer service is great, and that alone is worth maybe $150. I do very little on my comp - read the news, write some papers, watch a movie, play chess at Yahoo! So, I do not need it to be a power machine, I simply need it to work. And it does, very well, in fact. Processes are seamless -There is great integration of things like the email client, the Apple store, and iTunes - of which I have NEVER been a fan. I avoid iTunes on my iPhone at all cost - I use Media Monkey instead - But I can see how valuable it is on the notebook. I love how even the websites I use can be viewed in cover flow. I have had my MacBook for exactly two weeks; I do enjoy it when I can use it, but I have not yet decided if I will keep it. This is because the thing gets so unbearably hot, that it becomes too uncomfortable to use. My first day with this, I set it up, started playing chess through the included app –I was not even online – and within ten minutes, I thought the machine would burn a whole in my pants! I turned it off and rand to my desktop to do some research. And wow – what did I find! Yeah - yeah - I get that Apple says the MacBook should not be used on laps- I get that I should go into Activity Monitor and quit programs that have high CPU - which are NONE - as I am doing very little on the thing in the first place. Yeah - I get that all of the Apple fans out there have this way and that way - some of it costing extra money - to try to help my computing experience on the MB a more enjoyable one. But this is an experience I should have right out of the box! What other company makes a computer at this price that you cannot use for ten minutes without fearing you will suffer a burn? Now, before the fans come out and say, "Take it back, yours is defective," I will remind you that this problem has been documented all over the Internet. I do not want to hear I should update to Mountain Lion. I have already done the research, some are complaining that their MacBook is running even hotter after the update. A co-worker of mine told me that he had a student bring a MacBook to him that had a battery so swollen that the chassis started separating. Then I thought back to my own iPhone, which had to be replaced in January because of the same expanding battery issue; it split my phones case right down the back! How Apple sells these products in the numbers and gets the accolades they do is beyond me. Maybe it is because, other than this very serious flaw, they pioneer very good and exciting technology. You have the fans who will accept any ole shortcoming to remain loyal to what they think is a superior product. Then perhaps there are others who are in my situation: for the most part really enjoying what I have, wishing I could explore it more, but experiencing such discomfort in just trying to use it for basic computer tasks. This puts me on the fence, as I try to find solutions that do not require my having to dip into my pocket any more to use an expensive computer that simply should not run this hot, especially at this price! I HAD to answer the recommendation question below, so I will say If you do not mind the heat and/or dedicated to spending more money to make it more comfortable, I say go for it. Even if you are not, but you have been thinking of getting one, I say try it out for yourself so that you can come to your own conclusion about the overall quality and worthiness of the MacBook. As for me, I remain hopeful and very disappointed at the same time. I have a decision to make soon.

Macintosh computers are always going to be more expensive. you pay for the name. Believe me, these same specs, or better even, can be had on a PC for literally $1000.00 less. I purchased this for school, because the user interface on Mac is so amazing. The ability to quickly scroll through screens, and multi touch gestures are an amenity that I needed. FAN: When I say hardware glitches, I mean it. All macbook pro's have had reported the same problem I have had. One, or both, of the internal cooling fans will die on you. Every model has this problem. Mine gave out after only 4 months of use, and mild gaming. I did not over clock. The fan in the 15" and 17" are replaceable, but not in the 13". In order to fix the problem, you have to go to a retail store and have them fix it. That is a guaranteed week without your machine. BODY: The computer also tends to get hot, which is not good if the fans aren't working. The aluminum body is awesome, but it conducts heat like none other. Typically, its hot enough around the bottom of the screen to burn you. Although the manual says that it complies with regulations, I don't see how. The heat happened before the fan went out and after the replacement was put in. I can assure you, that the heat is excessive. AIRPORT: Also, a common flaw is that the airport card tends to give out as well. This happens over about 2 years. If you constantly use your airport, please buy the (expensive) Apple Care protection plan. SPEAKERS: When it comes to speakers, This 13" is lagging. The sound isn't amazing, but typically, if you're listening to something, you'll have headphones or a system that you can plug into. KEYBOARD: it is nice and comfy, but gets dirty easily. The oils stick to the keys. Weekly cleaning usually does the trick. WARNING: Latex or rubber keyboard covers for this will make the keys worse than your fingers. I had one, and after about a month of use, I removed it to clean the top, and the rubber had left residue on the keys that took a lot of soap to remove. In some places I had to use a delicate cleaner of diluted alcohol. RAM: Standard RAM on this machine is perfect. If you want to upgrade feel free. the specs claim only to support 8G, but they are capable of handling 16G. I don't see the need for 16G with only an i5, but again, feel free. Know this, The screws on this machine are super super tiny. I have a precision kit for working on laptops, and it is too big to fit the screws. I had to special order a precision set for watch making to even get close to the screws on this. You have to pull off the entire bottom panel, there is not access panel on the unibody model. Camera: Amazing MIC: Amazing POWER CORD: Tends to fail. I have replaced mine twice within the first year of purchase. I have not seen or heard of this problem in the larger models, but the 65W adapter for this is a common fail. Take extreme care to preserve the life of this charger, and be aware that it is possible you will have to buy a new one ($75). SCREEN: Glossy, and awesome! The screen is flawless and compared to retina display, there is little difference. The retina display has a little bit more brightness to it, but the clarity is exactly the same. The screen does have a flaw in the system. Around the edge of the screen is a rubber gasket. That gasket is easily dislodged and can be very pricey to fix. And no, its not covered in the warranty. TRACKPAD: The glass touch pad is great! Apple went above and beyond with the pad and enabled multi-touch gestures that really allow usability on this machine to surpass any technology of the past. Access to all of your documents from simple gestures may be the greatest invention of all time. Other than those issues, the computer preforms as a Mac should. I have no other complaints, and I enjoy using this computer everyday. Again, after 6 months or so, run extended diagnostics, and make sure your fan is working.

Why I bought a Macbook: I bought a Macbook Pro because of Windows 8 as well as the low quality of hardware that comprises most laptop PCs. This machine replaced a Windows 7 laptop that suffered major hardware failure after only 23 months of gentle use. Fortunately I had a full replacement warranty on this unit. Windows 8 is virtually unusable for my purposes, as are tablet computers. I need a full laptop with a real keyboard, built-in CD/DVD ROM reader/writer, USB ports, an OS that supports my applications, etc. After seeing how virtually every laptop PC was loaded with Windows 8, and was very cheaply built, I was thoroughly disgusted and considered other options. Most Mac laptops I have seen have been in service for a number of years and are still running strong. That, and the features of the new Macbooks, convinced me to pay the extra money and go with an Apple. I also use LINUX, and by using VirtualBox or Parallels software, I can run LINUX in a virtual machine within the Mac OS. This has proven to be the best of both worlds. it should also be mentioned that if one needs Windows 7 for certain tasks, Windows 7 can be run in a virtual machine using Parallels, just as was done with LINUX. By going with an Apple Macbook and using virtual machines for certain applications not normally supported in Mac OS, I have avoided the pitfalls of a regular laptop PC. Pros: The machine is light in weight, thin, yet feels solid when you handle it. The keyboard has a very good tactile feel; the keys don't make that cheap plastic "scrunch" that many PCs do. Visually, the machine has a very neat, clean appearance and features a beautiful, bright, sharp display. I like the fact the keyboard keys light up so they can be seen int he dark. The brightness of both the screen and keyboard backlights are user adjustable. Despite the machine's thin form factor and light weight, it sports an internal CD/DVD writer drive. I can write optical discs, watch DVD movies, play music CDs, etc. The built-in speakers provide average sound quality for a laptop computer; a headphone jack provides excellent quality sound to headphones or an external amplifier. Cons: The main things I don't like about Apple is their pricing structure (at $1100, it was a pretty severe budget buster for me!) and the lack of documentation on their hardware. Also, as with Windows, you will need antivirus software for your Macbook. Wi-Fi connections can be a bit troublesome to set up if you are new to Mac OS. You will definitely want to do some Google searches on how to set up Wi-Fi on a Mac before you get started. Apple's own instructions focus on how to make the Macbook connect to an "Airport" access point. But rest assured you can also connect to ANY Wi-Fi access point that adheres to 802.11b or 802.11g standards. Having been a veteran of Windows since the days of Windows 3.1, and LINUX since 1999, Mac-OS has presented somewhat of a learning curve. But I have quickly come up to speed on most things I need to do. In Conclusion: So far, I am quite happy with my Macbook, would do it again, and recommend this to most people who need a full laptop computer. Indeed, this Macbook does most of the things I can do on my dual-boot desktop machine. Hope this review helps someone.

I broke down and purchased a MacBook pro. Being the proud owner of an Iphone, Ipad and Apple Tv streamer, it’s safe to say I am no newcomer to apple. However, until this purchase I had been exclusively a PC man for my personal computing needs. Hopefully my observations will help some people still on the fence. Looks/Maneuvering: As I have found to be the case with most Apple products, the unit is beautifully housed. The aluminum materials used seem high-strength and durable. The solidity of keys inspires confidence. Even the clam-shell style closure of the screen to the base is down with a solid thump, with the top aligning flush with the base for maximum portability. It’s also fairly light which makes it great for carting around the house or taking with me on the go. It’s not as light as an Ipad, but far lighter than the laptop I replaced with it. Actual Usage: In the month since I have purchased it, I have been extremely busy and haven’t used it as much as I’d have liked to. However, I have found it to be so capable for the tasks I normally complete. Right out of the box I was able to log onto my home wireless network and start surfing. It boots up from a dead start in less than a third of the time on my pc. The clarity of the graphics is breathtaking and the unit is blessed with many ‘thoughtful conveniences’ that I have come to appreciate from apple. The backlit keyboard is absolutely wonderful, which, combined with the silent keys, makes it possible to get those last few bits of work finished in bed without disturbing the Mrs. Nice touch. I loathe the touchpad features of most laptops in general. However the one on macbook is worlds better. The different commands that allow you to highlight, rotate, flip back-forward(webpage) etc are slick and even faster than using an actual mouse. As well, the experience of the internet is worlds different than on pc. The way in which the pages are toggled, is very easy to use. Also, all of your pages are running in the background, so you can literally open tons of diff pages and never lose your place. A really neat trick is that your session will be saved even if you shut all the way down. All it takes is a few clicks and your session is restored. Best thing is you didn’t have to leave it in ‘sleep’ mode and drive up the power bill. Extras: As mentioned, I also have other apple products which means I can share files, photos etc; via the cloud. However, with my macbook pro, I can now broadcast my computer screen to my TV – in 1080p HD quality using the appleTV unit!! Now I get to enjoy all the free internet t.v. like Crackle, Hulu, Hi-Five and others, as well as my youtube favs, facebook, ESPN.com highlights etc. without leaving my couch. All without having to use my P.c. jack. It is all wireless. The ability to have so much content has even allowed me to do something I have been wanting to do for a long, long time. Fire my cable provider! There are surely an untold number of features on this computer that I have yet to tap. However, for the limited exposure I have had with it in my brief history of ownership I am more than pleased with its performance. I look forward to a long, gratifying experience over the next couple of years.

This is not my first Mac computer, and certainly will not be my last. Before I begin, I will say that I am not like a good percentage of the people that will end up writing a review on this computer - I am not an Apple fanboy. I have owned many PC computers as well, and like them too. I currently own a Lenovo laptop as well as my new MacBook Pro, and each have their own strengths and weaknesses. To start with the strengths: 1. OSX Lion is a great performer..extremely fast and reliable. I have it installed on my iMac desktop computer as well and love it. Not to mention this comes with a free upgrade to Mountain Lion, which is very nice. 2. Screen looks great. Even though it is not the Retina display you can get on the 15.4 inch model, the screen is fantastic. Very bright and crystal clear with excellent color. 3. Quietest laptop I have ever owned. Keeps quiet even when the computer is under a heavy load. 4. First computer I have owned with USB 3.0. I bought an external hard drive when I purchased this laptop as well so I could utilize the USB 3.0. I got the hard drive yesterday and transferred all of my files from my old laptop to the new hard drive so I could put them on my MacBook. It took about 1/5th of the time it did with USB 2.0. 5. My Lenovo laptop does not have an illuminated keyboard, so the keyboard on this laptop is a big plus in my opinion. Excellent for people that like to work or surf the web while their significant other is sleeping. 6. The trackpad - can't even compare it to any trackpad I have seen on any other laptop computer. 7. Excellent battery life while being a very fast performer. It definitely has the best of both worlds. I average about 6 hours on a charge. My Lenovo (with similar graphics, processor, etc. and same use) only lasts about 4 or 5 hours on a full charge. 8. Typical Apple simplistic styling. I love the look of the Apple products. Simple and clean. 9. Many, many more...but those are the most notable ones to me. Now, for the weaknesses. 1. The only thing I dislike about this laptop are the rubber pads found on the bottom of the computer for grip. They may get softer and more sticky as time goes by, but right now they are far from that. The pads on the bottom of my Lenovo are definitely much better and don't allow the computer to slide around while I am using the computer on a glass topped desk. 2. Price - it's a bit pricey for the performance you get, but the added perks of Mac OSX and the durability and support of Apple products makes up for it. For the same price, you can get a PC with more memory, larger hard drive, better graphics, and a faster processor, but then you remember you're running Windows 7, which isn't nearly as well built as Mac OSX. In conclusion - this is a great laptop. Although it is a little pricey, it is well worth the extra money. So far, the only issue I have with it (rubber pads) is a very small problem that does not change how this laptop performs in any way. If you are thinking about getting a MacBook Pro laptop but do not want to spend a huge amount of money for one, this is definitely the way to go. It may be considered the "base model" MacBook Pro, but it still an excellent computer. The size and battery life of this computer makes it excellent for people that need a laptop that is very mobile. Between work and college classes, I needed a lightweight yet durable computer and this definitely fits that criteria. 10/10

I have always been a Windows user until this recent purchase. As I am about to attend college full time in Fall, I knew I needed a more portable laptop compared to the three year old, 17 inch HP laptop I had that would get so hot just watching a youtube video or short battery life of 2 hours if that I had to be by an outlet all the time. I was able to use my cousins laptop and fiddle around with the whole new Windows 8, the touch screen never appealed to me. I understand that for a phone but computer, not so much. That and it was so frustrating just to get to the start menu or anywhere for that matter, that I actually considered buying a Mac which I never thought would happen. This Macbook Pro is amazing, mind you all I do is surf the web, do college work such as writing papers, which you get iWork for free that you can type papers up, bye bye paying for Microsoft Word! Though you can get it for Mac if you want. This computer stays so quiet it is Crazy, my old laptops used to always be making noise even when I was doing something like surfing the web! The MacBooks are made with aluminum and the feel is impeccable. I am not an Apple Fan and honestly never thought I would ever buy a mac as I was always a PC fan. After the new Windows however I had to look elsewhere. Apple has done a fine job the switch is so easy, and the programs are so fluid to switch between and get work done. No more lag from Windows while it's thinking and thinking even in simplest tasks. The switch to Mac is super easy, this keyboard is amazing and I have used so many others in the past. No one comes close to this keyboard, and did I mention the Trackpad! I am blown away how quickly you can get from point A to B. Two fingers to scroll up and down a page with no lag! No more clicking on the sidebar to scroll. Even emails and notifications can appear in the right top corner, so convenient! This Macbook feels very sturdy, but not heavy enough to carry in a backpack for a long period of time either. I need to travel and 4.5 lbs is definitely light enough to do the trick. COLLEGE STUDENTS: Best Buy has $150 coupons you can use! I saved big time on this, $200 sale already for Easter and $15extra off, if you wait for the right time do so and save yourself money. This computer is worth the extra money by far, as it will outlast. I know friends who have owned macs for years that have outlasted any laptop I have owned. Another great thing about this Mac is that you can upgrade it yourself the RAM and HD to SSD. Saves much more money compared to buying the new Retina's or Air's that you cannot take apart if something breaks or you just want more power etc. I strongly recommend to just check out a macbook pro and see if you like it. Best buy has a 15 day return policy so you can take it back if you change your mind too! Peace of mind :)

As the forgotten child in the Macbook Pro line-up, this model has not been updated by Apple since 2012, as they are moving on to the Retina models that have no user upgrade capability. However, the i5 processor in this laptop is still modern enough and fast enough to run just about any task you will use in a mobile/desk situation. Mine came with OSX El Capitan loaded (the latest version) as the standard OS, but you can use an earlier version OS if you wish (I ran a Mavericks version from an external boot drive without issue). I chose this model to replace a 2009 Macbook Pro which was wearing out after years of daily use, and it is almost identical in appearance and function, but that is a good thing! It's good in that it is the last model of Macbook for which you can upgrade the memory and hard drive, and this machine benefits greatly with a memory expansion, and becomes much quicker if you add a SSD (Solid State Drive) to replace the pokey 5400 rpm standard 500 GB hard drive. I noticed a BIG increase in speed and responsiveness when I upped the memory to 16 GB, however, that may be overkill, as 8 GB is definitely sufficient to support a lot of multitasking, and is not that expensive or difficult to add by yourself. Do an internet search for a video demo on how easy this is to do. The standard 4 GB memory is just adequate for single tasking, and if you open a lot of web pages or try to run multiple applications simultaneously, the system slows down as it needs to swap data to and from the hard drive as a memory cache, and the hard drive is slow. The results are "beach balls" as you wait for the swap to finish. With the memory addition and the SSD, everything just zips along nicely! There is something about the Macbook Pro that makes using it both easy, reliable, durable and pleasant, The display quality is superb either face-on, or off to an angle, so you really don't need the Retina display to do what you need done (in my opinion), which is another reason I chose to replace the 2009 model with this almost the same model. Plus, it has a DVD drive to either conveniently read/write data, or watch a movie on the go if you want without having to carry a separate plug in device. It has very fast internet connection speeds. Using built-in Disk Migration, all programs and settings were easily transferred from my 2009 Macbook Pro to the new computer without issue, so I had everything I used or saved before available from the start. I am very happy with this purchase, and can enthusiastically recommend this computer for purchase consideration. I really wish Apple would abandon their "no upgrades by the user allowed" designs that seem to be engineered into every new product coming out now, as Apple installed upgrade prices are wildly expensive compared to market value priced similar items. But, I guess that also explains why they are doing it, too!

I purchased this MacBook Pro back in 2012 (when it was actually "new"). I didn't use it a lot before going to college a few years later, but it served as a great laptop. However, I'm not sure why Apple is still selling these laptops - they're still the mid-2012 version and it's 2016. Now that I've used this laptop a lot over the past few years, I've figured out what I like and don't like about this particular model. First, it's old for a computer. Apple is still selling these as "new," but when you unload the box you can see it's the mid-2012 version. Personally, I would save my money and I'd purchase a more current laptop (like the MacBook Pro 13.3" with Retina display). Try running 2016 programs on a 2012 hard drive & software. It's not always easy and my laptop often freezes if I open up too many (more than 4 usually) newer programs at a time. The battery life leaves something to be desired. It is supposed to last 7 hours (according to Apple's website), but it really doesn't. I've used my laptop in long classes taking notes and doing homework and my battery will go from 100% to 40% in about 3 hours (depending on what programs I'm running; sometimes it lasts longer). It's a pain to charge your laptop every single time you want to do homework or take notes in class so it doesn't die. And if you watch Netflix, the battery drains ridiculously fast. The CD port. I've used it to burn CDs and watch DVDs, but with Netflix, I really have no use for it. It also adds to the weight of the laptop, but it's not really heavy unless you're carrying it around with you for several hours each day. I've found that the programs on my Mac are really easy to use. I've owned several Apple products before, but this is my first computer from the company. For a 2012 laptop, it seems to run fast until you open several programs at once, or try to update software. I updated to the El Capitan software and it took several hours (probably due to my wifi speed). I haven't had any trouble with the current software as other previous reviewers have mentioned, but I did have a lot of trouble with OS X Yosemite. I couldn't log into programs like FaceTime or Messages on my laptop, which wasn't really a big deal, but it was annoying. Honestly, if you're looking for a laptop to surf the internet or type up papers, this is a good laptop for that. However, if you're looking for a laptop to take to college or work (or run some new programs on), please consider purchasing a newer laptop. The latest models of the MacBook Pro (no CD drive) have a battery life that can last up to 10 hours, and it's built with a current hard drive and software. You'll appreciate that in the long run when you start to install 2016 programs (try using Microsoft 2016 on a 2012 laptop...it's a pain).