Ok this is the thread of all threads for me. Let me explain my situation. I have $2000 cash saved up, and a $5000 dollar loan already approved. That gives me $7000 to work with for my new equipment. This is the basic layout:
Canon XL2 (used) - $2900
Basic Accessories - $163
Light Kit - $817
Thats about $4000 if you add it all up just about so that leaves $3000 for my new system, whatever that may be. These are my uses for whatever computer I get.
Video Editing (Premiere Pro right now)
Image Editing (Photoshop right now)
Graphics Work (After Effects right now)
Gaming (Cod 1, not that intensive)
Those are my basic uses in the order of importance. Now I have been debating getting a MacBook Pro or a MacPro. The basic problem is I have 3000 to spend on a new system.
Both come around to about 2800-2900 w/tax included so its really about priority. I have never owned a laptop and would be using it between Media work at Home and Media work at my job. I do media work as a job so I have a PC there for now, ugh. I was looking forward to using the laptop and the PC at work to get even more done but thats beside the point, disgard that as a reason to get one or the other. Basically what I want to know is what would I be sacrificing if I got the laptop and not the desktop? I know they are both fast but how much speed do I really loose with the MBP? I have to use my CRT for now with the MacPro which isn't that big of a deal since I have a great CRT.
Another thing I worry about is if I get the laptop I will need and external HD which is more $$$. Also the heat issue, if I get the laptop I will be on it ALOT. I'm afraid it can't handle the type of work im going to be doing on it for that amount of time everyday without causing damage to it after extended periods.
Upgradability and Lifetime? Seems like the MacPro would be a much more worthy investment in the future compared to the MBP. Seems like it would be much longer before I would need another Mac.
Portability, the big catch. I thought I would need the portability but then realized I survived 18years without a laptop I think I would be fine without it now. I'm in my room 6+ hours a day working on the computer so the only benefit would be working somewhere that isnt my room. The only place I would be using the laptop in terms of having time to work on it would be at work (which I have a MacPro on the list for our new equipment for the upcoming year, but keep in mind I wont OWN that one, just work on it), and at home where odds are im in my room. So why get the laptop when the portability only stretches between 2 places really? I dont travel and I dont have time to use the thing in school anyways.
Specs that I can afford:
MacBook Pro, 17-inch, 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
Part Number: Z0CP
1GB 667 DDR2 - 1 SO-DIMM
SuperDrive 8x (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Accessory Kit
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
iWork '06 preinstalled
MacBook Pro 17-inch Glossy Widescreen Display
100GB Serial ATA drive @ 7200 rpm
Total w/tax: $2859
OR
Mac Pro
One 16x SuperDrive
Apple Keyboard and Mighty Mouse - U.S. English
iWork '06 preinstalled
Accessory kit
Two 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon
Mac OS X - U.S. English
2GB (4 x 512MB)
250GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256MB (single-link DVI/dual-link DVI)
Total w/tax: $2827
So what do you guys think? Don't worry about the FCS problem because I already got that from my school, I got lucky on that. Whats your take on this mess of a post? Please give me an honest opinion. After looking at the facts I almost am leaning towards the desktop now more than the laptop because I never realized just how little ide be using the laptops Portability availability. Ide have to use a 19in CRT with my MacPro for now which isn't really a big deal to me. I have a 2nd one that I brought to work that I could always bring back. So any thoughts, comments, suggestions?
-Kyle, phew what a post.
Canon XL2 (used) - $2900
Basic Accessories - $163
Light Kit - $817
Thats about $4000 if you add it all up just about so that leaves $3000 for my new system, whatever that may be. These are my uses for whatever computer I get.
Video Editing (Premiere Pro right now)
Image Editing (Photoshop right now)
Graphics Work (After Effects right now)
Gaming (Cod 1, not that intensive)
Those are my basic uses in the order of importance. Now I have been debating getting a MacBook Pro or a MacPro. The basic problem is I have 3000 to spend on a new system.
Both come around to about 2800-2900 w/tax included so its really about priority. I have never owned a laptop and would be using it between Media work at Home and Media work at my job. I do media work as a job so I have a PC there for now, ugh. I was looking forward to using the laptop and the PC at work to get even more done but thats beside the point, disgard that as a reason to get one or the other. Basically what I want to know is what would I be sacrificing if I got the laptop and not the desktop? I know they are both fast but how much speed do I really loose with the MBP? I have to use my CRT for now with the MacPro which isn't that big of a deal since I have a great CRT.
Another thing I worry about is if I get the laptop I will need and external HD which is more $$$. Also the heat issue, if I get the laptop I will be on it ALOT. I'm afraid it can't handle the type of work im going to be doing on it for that amount of time everyday without causing damage to it after extended periods.
Upgradability and Lifetime? Seems like the MacPro would be a much more worthy investment in the future compared to the MBP. Seems like it would be much longer before I would need another Mac.
Portability, the big catch. I thought I would need the portability but then realized I survived 18years without a laptop I think I would be fine without it now. I'm in my room 6+ hours a day working on the computer so the only benefit would be working somewhere that isnt my room. The only place I would be using the laptop in terms of having time to work on it would be at work (which I have a MacPro on the list for our new equipment for the upcoming year, but keep in mind I wont OWN that one, just work on it), and at home where odds are im in my room. So why get the laptop when the portability only stretches between 2 places really? I dont travel and I dont have time to use the thing in school anyways.
Specs that I can afford:
MacBook Pro, 17-inch, 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
Part Number: Z0CP
1GB 667 DDR2 - 1 SO-DIMM
SuperDrive 8x (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Accessory Kit
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
iWork '06 preinstalled
MacBook Pro 17-inch Glossy Widescreen Display
100GB Serial ATA drive @ 7200 rpm
Total w/tax: $2859
OR
Mac Pro
One 16x SuperDrive
Apple Keyboard and Mighty Mouse - U.S. English
iWork '06 preinstalled
Accessory kit
Two 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon
Mac OS X - U.S. English
2GB (4 x 512MB)
250GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256MB (single-link DVI/dual-link DVI)
Total w/tax: $2827
So what do you guys think? Don't worry about the FCS problem because I already got that from my school, I got lucky on that. Whats your take on this mess of a post? Please give me an honest opinion. After looking at the facts I almost am leaning towards the desktop now more than the laptop because I never realized just how little ide be using the laptops Portability availability. Ide have to use a 19in CRT with my MacPro for now which isn't really a big deal to me. I have a 2nd one that I brought to work that I could always bring back. So any thoughts, comments, suggestions?
-Kyle, phew what a post.