the PC Co mpetition?
Can Apple’s Best Top ple
M
acBooks have become the darlings of the
computer press. They’re capturing the at-
tention of fi rst-time notebook buyers and
even converting a growing number of long-time PC
owners who are looking for that elusive “perfect”
mobile computer. A report on recent notebook sales
fi gures refl ects the MacBook’s momentum. Findings
by market research fi rm the NDP Group show that
brick-and-mortar sales of Apple notebooks experi-
enced a 50 to 60 percent growth in the fi rst quarter of
2008, while Windows notebook sales remained fl at.
In the premium notebook category—encompassing
machines costing $1,000 or more—Apple now claims
a whopping 64 percent market share.
But are these slick hipster notebooks worth the
hype and their spendy price tags? What do you really
get for the money when you throw down for a Mac-
Book, and how do these Apple computers compare to
their PC counterparts in terms of performance, fea-
tures, overall usability, and price? Maximum PC tests
and reviews the MacBook Air, the standard MacBook,
and the MacBook Pro against fi ve PC models sporting
similar price points and formfactors. It’s time we set
the record straight.BY THE MAXIMUM PC STAFF
From the Air to the Pro, Apple’s MacBooks are winning the hearts
and minds of consumers everywhere—including PC enthusiasts.
Maximum PC investigates whether the hoopla is warranted
22 | MAXIMUMPC | AUG 08 | http://www.maximumpc.com