Mac’s notebooks have a solid reputation, even amongst the legions of Microsoft users. The MacBook is undeniably user friendly and more intuitive than your average laptop. It’s just a matter of point, click and voila!—the MacBook does what you tell it to. Thanks to conscientious engineering and top-notch hardware, the MacBook Pro ranks as one of our must-have laptops.

Available in 13, 15 and 17-inch models, there’s sure to be a model of the MacBook Pro well suited to your needs. Hardware wise, all three models of the MacBook Pro are configured similarly. Deciding which laptop is for you will depend on whether you’re looking more for an ultraportable laptop or a desktop replacement class laptop.

TopTenREVIEWS recently looked at the 15-inch version of the MacBook Pro. With the exception of screen size, the 13, 15 and 17-inch MacBook Pro boast the same impressive tech specs with a few minor differences. You’ll find a brief summary of the 17-inch MacBook Pro here. Be sure to check out our review of the 15-inch MacBook Pro for a more in-depth analysis of its features and performance.

17-inch MacBook Pro

A laptop with 17-inch display usually equates to a powerful desktop replacement. The 17-inch MacBook Pro is no exception. With a new 17-inch MacBook Pro you’ll feel good unplugging the cable octopus under your desk and throwing out the buzzing, electricity-hungry tower that’s been exhibiting less than stellar performance.

Standout Features

• 17-inch LED backlit display
• 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• 4GB 667MHz RAM
• 320GB hard drive at 7200 RPMs
• Superior connectivity

Features

Mac’s laptops have always looked good. The minimalist philosophy behind the chassis design effectively informed the do-everything utility of the iBook and PowerBook series. The current lineup of PowerBooks conforms tastefully to the Apple aesthetic. The chassis of the 17-inch MacBook Pro look as if it were artfully crafted from a single piece of aluminum. Compared to Windows-based laptops, the MacBook Pro rejects unsightly, ports, buttons and logos in favor of a cohesiveness in form and color that creates an impression of professionalism and functionality.

The integrated webcam, full-size keyboard, and multi-touch track pad ensure that working on the 17-inch MacBook Pro will be comfortable without shelling out extra cash for peripherals. For graphic intensive work or work that requires two monitors, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is equipped with a DVI port. The 17-inch MacBook Pro is Bluetooth ready, so you’ll be able to access the internet with 802.11g wi-fi or gigabit Ethernet. Despite the regrettable absence of a flash card reader, versatility is the middle name of the 17-inch MacBook Pro.

In the hardware department, the 17-inch MacBook Pro stacks up to the Windows based competition easily. 4GB of RAM backs up the dual-core processing power of a 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. 320GB of hard drive space will adequately harbor all your multimedia files. If 320GB just doesn’t cut it for your oversized media library, you’ll need an external hard drive— the 17-inch MacBook Pro doesn’t offer larger hard drives.

The 17-inch LED backlit display is powered by GeForce’s 8400M video card. Images will look brighter, video will exhibit zero lag, and you can even do some gaming on the 17-inch MacBook Pro.

To see a full review of the MacBook Pro, take a look at our review of the 15-inch MacBook Pro.

Still not sure which laptop will match your needs? Explore our side-by-side rankings of other supercharged desktop replacement laptops and take a look at our article, How to Buy the Right Laptop. At TopTenREVIEWS, we do the research so you don’t have to.