The results speak volumes. Mobile graphic cards and recent games do not go hand in hand. The performances, without being completely catastrophic, are weak. Even if the MacBook Pro is a laptop which performs relatively well with regards to games it is still a laptop. Fans of recent video games should really lean towards buying a dedicated desktop.

Let’s talk a little of another aspect, apart the pure technique, and see if Macs are suitable to play.

Laborious installations

Two points which are going to bother potential gamers lie with the DVD player and Boot Camp. The majority of Macs are equipped with optical drives which are not great which aren’t renowned for their speed. The iMac and the Mac Mini are equipped with DVD players but they’re slow, much slower than a 5.25” dedicated DVD player. On the MacBook and the 15” MacBook Pros Apple uses ultra slim drives, only 9.5mm in height (the classic model measures 12mm), but are even slower (some do not go faster than 4x). There’s no trouble in reading DVD’s but to install a game is a different story. The installs are laborious in both Windows and Mac OS X.

Mouse, keyboard and USB ports

Another problem is the handling devices. The Apple keyboard, while classy and pleasing to the eye, is not really adapted to games. The stroke of the keys is too weak and uncomfortable because they are too flat. In additions to this, certain keys are absent in the Apple layout, which can be bothersome. The ² button is not present in Apple keyboards, while certain Windows games require it. Another problem lies the Apple mouse. It’s not exact because the ball used to replace the scroll wheel is a little off. True also, although this only applies to the iMac, is the complaint that the cable is much too short. In practice, if you are required to perform large movements then you risk hitting the right corner of your keyboard. Finally the Apple Laptops (MacBook and MacBook Pro) only offer two USB ports. This means that if you are using an external keyboard and mouse that that’s your lot.

The quality of the monitors

Finally we come to the monitors. As mentioned several times before in our tests, the LCD screens must be used in their native resolution to avoid redimensioning and the blurriness that comes in tow. The problem comes from the fact that the redimensioning of Apple screens is poorly handled by the electronics and badly done. In Windows, we can ask the graphic card to do it for us and the results are always better. The 24” iMac has an IPS screen. Its reactivity is nothing to write home about but it is usable. The laptops tested had TN screens which have the same issue. They are correct but nothing more. A good TN 2ms screen is of course much better.