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crazydrumma

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 31, 2006
190
0
Chicago
So, as far as a laptop goes, when I will be doing video editing, internet, photo editing, music recording, and movie watching, will a 12 inch screen be enough? I kind of think not, that's why I'm leaning towards the 15 inch Macbook Pro... thoughts? Anyone own a 12 inch PB that does all that I listed and it works perfectly? Any 15 inch powerbook owners want to give some insight? Thanks.
 

Chundles

macrumors G5
Jul 4, 2005
12,037
493
15" MacBook Pro would be the best option.

I have a 12" iBook and I find the screen, whilst generally adequate for my meagre needs, to be waay too small when I want to do some PhotoShop/iPhoto/iMovie work.

The MacBook Pro will handle all those things with aplomb (well Photoshop will be emulated for a while) and the extra real estate never goes astray.

There's never really a toss up when you're buying computers, you buy the absolute best one you can afford and if you can afford the MacBook Pro then buy it. The 12" PowerBook would feel slow and cramped and dark compared to the new MacBook Pro. Yes, it is smaller and could have a better battery life but for the stuff you do I'm guessing you're never too far from a power point anyway.

I'd rather get in on the ground floor of a rocket ship than the top deck of a sinking ship. The G4 is dead, Intel is the way to go now. Buying a 12" PowerBook now when you can afford and can justify the purchase of a MacBook Pro is just not a wise move. The pro video apps will be universal soon (most likely before you get your laptop reading the stories about huge MacBook Pro demand) and once that happens you'll be all set.
 

kretzy

macrumors 604
Sep 11, 2004
7,921
2
Canberra, Australia
I totally agree with Chundles and Abstract. For the purposes you have stated, 15'' is the way to go. I can use mine for just about anything - from photoshop to watching dvds. The 12'' is better suited to more basic things such as browsing, word processing, etc...

If you are concerned about the size, perhaps you should wait to see what Apple offers over the coming months. It seems that a 13'' laptop is in the works, so maybe that could be a compromise.
 

shrimpdesign

macrumors 6502a
Dec 9, 2005
609
2
If you want portability get the 12" MacBook (when it comes out) you can always get an extra monitor for your desk, and you'll have a really great portable Mac too. I have a 12" iBook and it's perfect for lugging around, I used the 14" for about a week and it got really heavy.

If you plan on taking it everywhere for minimal stuff (like web, email, chat, movie playing, music) and then use it for powerful apps (like iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD ... music recording) at your desk, then get a 12" with an extra 19" LCD or something. Dealmac.com has some great deals on LCDs.

If you want power and screen space everywhere you go, get the 15".
 

Seasought

macrumors 65816
Nov 3, 2005
1,093
0
Unless you'll be carrying your laptop around in a bag with you for extended periods of time (such as across airports on foot) the 12" isn't worth it imo. I have a 15" Powerbook and I find it to be the perfect balance of size and weight, is tolerable for photo editing, email and gaming (if you're so inclined). 15" all the way.
 

mduser63

macrumors 68040
Nov 9, 2004
3,042
31
Salt Lake City, UT
I have a 12" PowerBook and love it. It's my primary iLife and web design machine, as well as being my main machine for standard stuff like web browsing, email, Office, school stuff, etc. However, I say go for the 15" MacBook Pro. For one thing, the speed difference is going to be significant. Also, you'll appreciate the extra screen space when doing media stuff.
 

Jschultz

macrumors 6502a
Mar 14, 2005
880
13
Chicago, IL
I have to say 15". Although I only have a 15" Powerbook, it is much better, and suitable for me compared to the 2 12" iBooks, and 12" powerbook I had. Word processing was ok on the 12" models, but browsing the web, or working with a word processor AND excel was a pain. With the 15" widescreen, I can have a Word window, Excel Worksheet side by side without too much pain. Expose is much better on a 15" widescreen in my opinion too.

You may not need all the power of the MBP, but the screen size and nice stuff will really be worth it.
 
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