"Differentiating the physical characteristics of the 15" MacBook Pro from the 15" PowerBook involves noticing subtle differences. Apple removed the less popular Firewire 800 port, however there are still two USB 2.0 ports and one Firewire 400 port on the 15" MacBook Pro. The dial-up modem port has been given a 21st century adieu. (Reactionaries can pick up a USB dial-up modem from Apple if they must use old school connectivity.) On the MacBook Pro, the screen is much, much brighter. Gone is the PCMCIA (PC Card) slot. In its place is the newer, slimmer, faster ExpressCard/34. To date, very few ExpressCard/34 options are available to Mac users. Flash memory card readers were the first to appear. Of course, the quickest way to tell if you're looking at a MacBook Pro and not just a clean PowerBook is the tiny iSight camera built into the top frame of the MacBook Pro screen.

Apple gave the MacBook Pro a newer, slimmer 4X SuperDrive, whereas the recent PowerBook line came with 8X SuperDrives. Apple reported that the 4X SuperDrive was necessary due to space limitations, however the newest 17" MacBook Pro comes standard with an 8X SuperDrive. Unless the 8X SuperDrive takes up significantly more horizontal space, it should be offered in the 15" MacBook Pro. That said, the use of the slower 4X SuperDrive has created no negative effect on my work flow or my overall satisfaction with the MacBook Pro."

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