Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

dshootist

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 4, 2005
78
0
At work, I'm trying to convince our IT staff to purchase 17" MBP's to replace our G5 towers. We do a lot of production/prepress work in our department, but a lot of design/layout as well. With processor speeds at the level they are now, and the 17" being able to go to 3GB of RAM, the laptops are becoming closer and closer the desktop's equal. IT is looking at the Mac Pro towers and need a gentle push in the laptop direction. As the Creative department, we are the only ones without laptops (everyone else has Dulls). There is no wireless network (yet), but we're working on that as well. All of the conference rooms are wired, so we can access the network that way. The costs are quite similar for the boxes I've spec'd out, so financing isn't the issue. The other AD has voiced his support of the switch to laptops, but I need more info/ammo to support my argument when I show up to present my case to IT. Any help?
 

greenmeanie

macrumors 65816
Jan 22, 2005
1,422
615
AmigaWarez
I assume because you want to be able to take them home and walk around with them? LOL Get macpro replacements not books. My wife works in IT and people hound for laptops all the time just so they can take them home and play with them. She has to chase down the laptops everytime someone gets fired or quits and by then they actually think they own them.
 

swwack91

macrumors 6502a
Jan 28, 2007
736
23
New Jersey
I agree with greenmeanie...

as awesome as the MBP's are and that laptops in general are for travelling business people... if you're just working in layout and design and have delt with towers for years- it may be better to just stick with Mac Pros

Also, they'll be easier to upgrade later on
 

dshootist

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 4, 2005
78
0
I assume because you want to be able to take them home and walk around with them? LOL Get macpro replacements not books. My wife works in IT and people hound for laptops all the time just so they can take them home and play with them. She has to chase down the laptops everytime someone gets fired or quits and by then they actually think they own them.

If she works at a place that fires people over the phone (how else would they manage to keep the laptops at their house?) there's more at issue there than people mistaking company property as their own. Sounds like HR is slackin on the job. I was a network administrator for three years and supported over 50 laptops and towers (both Mac and PC) without ever having to track them down. Don't really need to use the company's laptop to mess with, my G4 PB works just fine. The interest in mobile workstations goes a bit beyond the "neat-o" factor: when I have to revise copy and layouts with a client directly at a face-to-face this allows both of us to see the results without having to run back and forth to a printer. Plus, during creative meetings I can access the our main asset server to pull up previous versions of a file or past examples. The last company I worked at actually approved most of the Creative staff to use laptops for these very same reasons.

I wouldn't say that laptops are just for travelling business people. I've been using my PB for years to run my photography business. It keeps me connected at shoots and allows for internet access anywhere I can get a wireless connection (or CAT 5 hookup for that matter). Now how about some arguments FOR laptops?
 

pianoman

macrumors 68000
May 31, 2006
1,963
0
notebooks are cool. :cool:

it's amazing how much power can fit inside a machine that's only 1" thick.

i would reinforce the necessity/desirability of portability. being able to take your computer from your desk to the conference room to a meeting with a client to your home (if you need to) is a big bonus.
 

iW00t

macrumors 68040
Nov 7, 2006
3,286
0
Defenders of Apple Guild
notebooks are cool. :cool:

it's amazing how much power can fit inside a machine that's only 1" thick.

i would reinforce the necessity/desirability of portability. being able to take your computer from your desk to the conference room to a meeting with a client to your home (if you need to) is a big bonus.

Yes, it is amazing how the current MBPs are more powerful than the PowerMac G5s, but if raw power is what you are after the Mac Pro can't be beat.
 

pianoman

macrumors 68000
May 31, 2006
1,963
0
Yes, it is amazing how the current MBPs are more powerful than the PowerMac G5s, but if raw power is what you are after the Mac Pro can't be beat.

true. but the Mac Pro definitely isn't portable :p
 

chatster18

macrumors regular
Jan 14, 2007
132
0
umm... get both? :cool: :D

I agree, get them both! Mobility and Processing power...


For portability I agree I have a MBP and I use it between school, work, and home. I have wireless networks at all three locations so I can grab email and work on current projects for work, while doing homework...It is a great investment to say the least:)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.