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Hi end MB or lo end MBP

M

Mus

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 21, 2007
6
0
Hi guys,

Considering getting one of the above for my gf who does website and graphic design. She has done some Flash programming so that kind of capability and maybe some video editing might be useful.

Portability is a must too. All software is currently Windows, so a running XP (Home or Pro) is required initially before porting over to Photoshop etc.

So, does the 128MB dedicated graphics make a huge difference?

If we want more memory, do the Apple-supplied sticks get added to or completely replaced by Crucial or whatever?

Which Windows solution is best? I've been recommended VMWare Fusion.

Is the Apple Cinema 20" a good choice or are there more cost-effective options.


The costs are rapidly mounting. I'm in the UK btw

Cheers

M
 
I have the Black MacBook with the 950 graphics and it does ok.It really depends on how graphic intensive it's going to be used.If you are going to use it for large projects I'd say go with the low-end MBP.

But I'm happy with my MacBook because I use my Mac Pro for heavy duty work.

Dell makes a pretty good 20" wide-screen LCD.But it's not as good as the ACD imho.
 
if you dont mind spending the extra money on the MBP get that, it comes with 2gig ram standard which is great for the kinda stuff you're talking about doing, and its so thin and light it hardly adds any weight to my backpack
 
If you purchase the Macbook, the stock configurations come with 1GB(1dimm) of ram with a maximum, depending who you talk to, of 2-3GB. That being said, the 1GB(1dimm) will stay in your computer and you could simply purchase another 1GB stick from a third party vendor.
If you were to purchase the Macbook Pro, which has 2GB of ram standard(1GB+1GB), both ram slots are occupied so if you wanted to upgrade your ram, one or both of the sticks would have to be replaced. Other World Computing will buy your ram sticks, or you could keep them should anything go wrong with the 3rd party ram.
 
Don't get me wrong, I love my MB. But right now I am thinking that maybe buying a MBP would have been better for me.

I have been deciding to buy either Final Cut Express or Final Cut Studio 2, but the problem with the latter, is that the MB can't run some apps that come included.

My point is, if your gf is planning on using programs that require a dedicated GPU in the future, or she think she may need it eventually, go Pro. The bigger screen size is also a plus when using these applications, so consider that to.
 
A low end MBP will always beat out the high end MB. Now if portability was the main concern the 13 inch form factor might apply but the 15 inch MBP is awesome.
 
"low end" MacBook Pro...but seeing how its still 2 grand, its not very "low".


You can always add more to it later, the MacBook is more limited(slower CPU, GPU, etc)
 
Don't waste your money on an ACD, if you want a good 20" monitor look at dell, or (my favourite) the Samsung SM206BW, which imo is prettier than the ACD too.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys,

Apple Store UK shows the memory as 2x1Gb

The Samsung monitor looks a much more cost effective solution - will the MBP work with an old school CRT monitor for the time being?

I think I read on this forum that you can add AppleCare at the end of the 1 year warranty?

If I need Wndows in a vrtual environment what's the most cost-effective way?

Why is the mid range MBP so much more expensive? Is 128Mb more dedicated graphics worth that because if I wanted more HD storage I'd just buy a fast external USB or FW drive for the lo-end model.

Thanks for all the help
 
failsafe1 said:
A low end MBP will always beat out the high end MB. Now if portability was the main concern the 13 inch form factor might apply but the 15 inch MBP is awesome.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. Its like upgrading a honda civic and comparing it to a ferrari.
 
I was recently in this predicament. I decided to go with the mbp because It's necessary for most video editing. Also I wanted to plug it in to a external display and heard that the macbooks were laggy when duel screening. I ended up with a dell 22" monitor for like 300 bucks and I love it. The value of the dell absolutely crushes the ACD's. Hope this helps!
 
techlover828 said:
I was recently in this predicament. I decided to go with the mbp because It's necessary for most video editing. Also I wanted to plug it in to a external display and heard that the macbooks were laggy when duel screening. I ended up with a dell 22" monitor for like 300 bucks and I love it. The value of the dell absolutely crushes the ACD's. Hope this helps!
Click to expand...


I dual screen with my Blackbook and there is no lag.
I prefer MB over MBP for the following reasons:

1) Black MB looks much better

2) MB is definitely smaller, lighter and has a longer battery life. People say it is not much smaller- but it really is. Pick both up, carry both in a bag, try placing the 15" on a airplane tray.

3) MB doesn't get super hot

4) The extra 1.9 inches of screen on the MBP isn't really that useful. I came from life on a 15" laptop and was VERY nervous about going to a 13" screen.
I have seen no difference. The extra space on the 15" isn't enough to get you 2 full windows side by side. That is what my external display is for. Expose lets you shuffle through windows easily.

5) I do not game or do heavy video editing- so I don't need the MBP.

6) I like the magnetic close latch on the MB.
 
if you are going to get a monitor get the MB.

I do graphic Design and Web Development myself and I think that the best way to go is a Black MB with a 24" apple Cinema Display (which you get really good deals on at the Refurb store)

Dont try to tell me that a Dell screen is anywere near as good, I have tried both, and I think one of the things that might be the reason the ACD works so well is that the colors are perfectly calibrated to take signals from a mac. The colors on other displays including the ones mentioned here, does not compare to the ACD.

I'm running a first revision MB by the way.
 
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