Macbook+24inch Dell LCD or Macbook Pro???

[eddx]

OK, I am a student starting university in September and will be buying a mac based laptop in the next 4 - 6 weeks.

I have a feeling that in the next 2 or 3 months the 15inch MacBook Pro will go to Rev. B (with FW 800 and a price drop) - but I dont want to wait that long.

Choice A...

15inch MacBook Pro 2.16Ghz - standard (I have a 19inch LCD that I could plug it into but it isnt widescreen and is quite old (VGA)

Choice B...

13inch MacBook 2.0Ghz (possibly the black one) upgraded to 2GB of RAM (none Apple) PLUS the new 24inch Dell widescreen monitor (selling my 19inch LCD)

I will be studing Design and Art Direction - so apps I will use will include Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark, Dreamweaver, Word, InDesign, Acrobat, iMovie, iPhoto, possibly Apperture and Final Cut but probably less of Apperture what with Lightroom being better in my opinion. (I know most of my apps arent universal but I have worked out most are faster than my current desktop windows pc).

Loving the idea of a MacBook with a 24inch monitor connected but worried about the performance lag of the intergrated graphics (will all the Mac OS X visual features) such as the cool effect when you add widgets for example. The extra memory that I would put in the MacBook might help balance out none Universal apps.

Anyone and everyone's opinions are welcomed, thank you in advance

 

[risc]

Over 50% of the apps you say you will be using wont be running natively, are you sure an Intel is the right machine for you?

I ordered a MacBook on Thursday night (.au time) and cancelled it in the morning and replaced it with a MacBook Pro it might cost a heap more but I'd prefer knowing I have the X1600 to fall back on. This might not be important to you, but imho the thing you need to think about most are the apps you intend running.

 

[MIDI_EVIL]

You are using 2D design apps, so don't worry about integrated graphics.

If you max it out to 2GB of RAM you might be fine with the PPC apps, and when Universal versions are released, you will be blown away.

BUT, why don't you consider a PowerBook?

I know i would feel like i'd be getting an outdated computer, but it sounds like you will be relying on these apps to get through Uni.

How long can you wait?

Rich.

 

[eddx]

I would expect that Adobe will realise its Creative Suite 3 in December or January.

I have a good (for windows anyway) desktop system that is less than two years old that runs apps fine. I am basically buying a mac because they are easier to use, work on and spotlight is something I have been needing on a system for years.

Intel is the right choice for me, my main app might be Photoshop and I know it will be slow, but from my extensive research and testing I have found it to be not much slower than my current windows box.

Please people, just tell me which you think would be better for me, A or B.

Thanks

 

[Demon Hunter]

Get a sweet deal on a PowerBook and upgrade to Intel later.

 

[eddx]

Get a sweet deal on a PowerBook and upgrade to Intel later.

PowerBook = no iSight, no Boot Camp, no FrontRow and second hand.

I wish my first Apple purchase to be from my local Apple Store and to be brand new out of the box.

I feel that I wont be creating anything major in Photoshop until way into 2007 because although I might know it like the back of my hand I think that very few other students on my course will have ever used it let alone know very much about it.

Again, choice A or choice B...please guys, I am pulling my hair out here!

 

[MIDI_EVIL]

I would expect that Adobe will realise its Creative Suite 3 in December or January.

I have a good (for windows anyway) desktop system that is less than two years old that runs apps fine. I am basically buying a mac because they are easier to use, work on and spotlight is something I have been needing on a system for years.

Intel is the right choice for me, my main app might be Photoshop and I know it will be slow, but from my extensive research and testing I have found it to be not much slower than my current windows box.

Please people, just tell me which you think would be better for me, A or B.

Thanks

Well you did ask for our opinions!!!

I would say B.

You will have the same processor, minus .160 mHz, and a lot more RAM. That's all you need to run your Apps at good speed. Maxed out RAM.

You'll have a massive monitor to work on also.

Go for a MacBook.

Paying that much more for dedicated graphics when you won't need it, doesn't make any sense.

Rich.

 

[eddx]

Go for a MacBook.

Thanks Rich, I am really swinging towards this choice. I haven't seen the screen on the MacBook yet but should get down to the Trafford Centre in the next week or so.

Anybody got any good arguements for me basically spending £750 on intergrated graphics (MacBook Pro)???

For the people above, thanks for all your opinions, sorry to whine at you

 

[MIDI_EVIL]

Thanks Rich, I am really swinging towards this choice. I haven't seen the screen on the MacBook yet but should get down to the Trafford Centre in the next week or so.

Anybody got any good arguements for me basically spending £750 on intergrated graphics (MacBook Pro)???

For the people above, thanks for all your opinions, sorry to whine at you

All comes down to your applications right? They're all 2D design apps.

Buddy, dedicated graphics is a waste of your money.

Unless you want to play games, but just get a Wii for £150 or whatever stupidly low price they will come out at!!!

No worries by the way!

Rich.

 

[ArkabaS]

I say go for the MacBook Pro.

I had the same problem two years ago (when I was entering college, Fall 2K4). I decided to be cheap and buy an iBook G4 instead of the roughly 1000 dollar more expensive PowerBook G4. Big mistake. My iBook is nice, but it is slow and the lack of decent video card hurts (especially after Tiger launched, Spring 2K5). You might think MacBook sounds like a good deal now, but you might regret it when Leopard comes out. With the MacBook Pro you are guaranteed sufficient power into Leopard, nice graphics card if you ever need it, superior design, greater level of sexiness, and no indication that you are a cheap bastard. Battery life is also a HUGE consideration, if you are planning to be mobile a lot, MacBook is probably better.

Sorry to swing you the other way dude, but I say go for either new MacBook Pro OR old PowerBook G4 and wait until Rev. B MacBook Pro. I myself am waiting for Leopard until I upgrade any hardware.

Good luck with the purchase.

 

[eddx]

I say go for the MacBook Pro.

Thanks for your reply, I am pretty set on a MacBook (not pro). I understand what you are saying about the lack of graphics but I think that the price is just too much, I really want a nice big monitor so for me its like paying the price of a 24 inch Dell LCD just for intergrated graphics. Laptops can get stolen and / or broken a lot more easily than a 24 inch monitor.

Secondly, I am pretty sure that we will see Rev. B macbook Pros out in the next 1 - 3 months, certainly before September. I have been playing the waiting game since August 2003...thats a long time and I want a mac as soon as I can. I can always sell the macbook in a year or two and upgrade. But I have never properly owned a mac (use them every day at college and family have them but I am typing this on a PC).

Leopard is a worry graphically but I think the MacBook's battery and compactness swings it for me.

Unless of course anyone else might have more arguements for the Pros of a MacBook Pro (no pun intended) and the cons of a macbook.

 

[fblack]

Go Pro

I would say pro..

1- You have to look towards the future. Unless you have the resources to replace your laptop every 2-3 years, you want a machine that will last as long as possible.

2-This includes greater demands on your system by future upgrades of app and OS software.

3- You cant add a graphics card later on if you decide you want to try more 3D apps like lightwave. Having dedicated graphics will give you more flexibility and more resale value imho.

4-In my experience with integrated graphics, on the PC side, they really bite. It puts more demands on your processor and takes away ram.

5- Everyone is correct most of your apps are 2D and the graphic cards in mac are better suited for 3D. The last good 2D graphics card in my memory was the formac proformance-not so good in 3D but blew everyone away in 2D-no longer made unfortunately. How good this integrated chip is and how much ram it can use may effect your screen redraws. This may be different in the newest versions of PS, but in older versions a weak graphics card affected scrolling of large documents and screen redraws.

6- Final Cut I think requires quartz enabled graphics card.

7- whenever I use laptops on the go i just prefer 15 inch sz because of my bad eyes, its worth the trade-off in weight. You may prefer the 13.3.

8-You may want to consider a refurbished Macbook pro on apple the 2.16 runs about $300 US cheaper than new.

9-If you're going to school ask your department what they recommend.

-Good Luck

 

[eddx]

I think I will go for the Pro, that way if and when I got to do any freelance work or work experience I look much more professional in an agency enviroment. I can use my 19inch LCD display with the macbook Pro on my desk for a year or two and maybe if I can save up the money buy one of those rumored new 30inch displays with iSights, that way everything would look nice and metal rather than plastic, I dont like white plastic very much (apart from on iPods) and I feel that the black finish on the Macbook could easily scratch off.

Currently looking at 16th June for the big day (thats the day I have the have my exhibition up - so its the unoffical end of college).