Yet another MBP v MB Question!

[rtb111]

Hello All,

I have been reviewing these forums for a little while and finally decided to ask a question. A long time PC user (But not nessesarily an advocate) and professional photographer, I have decided to convert!

I am upgrading my notebook and was originaly going to go with the MBP but it seems that the MacBook has some good points as well. Here are the constraints;

Want to run CS2 and Photo Mechanic, Possibly Aperture but undecided on that. Machine will mostly be used for photo editing and transmission and traveling is a concern. I am currently running a VIAO with a 15" screen but it is just a LUG and would like to downsize a little.

The macbook looks nice for the smaller size but will it slow me down too much for the apps I need to run. Of course the price difference is nice but not a major factor. I guess the question is, Is the size difference that major, and for what I am doing will the extra expense for the MBP be worth it?

Any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

If you're photo editing why not get a screensize that complements that? Go big, go MBP 17"!

 

[rtb111]

I would if I wasn't on the road so much, I am trying to go smaller than what I have for traveling purposes.

 

[kevin.rivers]

Since you plan on running CS2, get the MB and load it up with RAM. CS2 is going to have to run under Rosetta, which will make it slower.

Size is up to you, go to the Apple and try them both out. That is the only way to really know if you can deal with the smaller screen on the MB. I for one, can't edit on screens under 17", my workflow goes down the tube. You said you wanted to downsize, so stick with that. Just come up with a package that will suit your needs. Here are some suggestions.

LCD, with the saving from getting a Macbook you could hook up a nice big LCD, those Dell ones are nice and cheap, except for the new 2007WFP it has banding issues, so stay away until they fix it. Do some research on screens. This would allow you to work on the go, and when you bring it home you could do more serious editing and have much for real estate. It makes a difference. The max Res on the MB is 1920x1200. So that limits you to a 24" Display. This is also good because the glossy display on th MB makes everything more lively, so editing would be a hit or miss when looking at the images on a non glossy display.

RAM, again you are going to want to Max it out on the MB. You would have to do the same for both really, but that would make the MBP very very expensive. Extra RAM will make you editing experience much better, and even better when Universal binaries of your applications are out.

Aperture, I can't say this is a fact but as far as I know, the Macbook will NOT run Aperture. This is due to the intel intergrated graphics i think. They may have fixed it, but I am not sure.

So. In closing, You could use the saving from buying the MB, and turn into a more viable solution for you. You would have better worflow when connecting to the larger display, and stil be able to harness the same amount of power that is in the MBP. I would go MB and work out some of the things I have mentioned.

The only deal breaker for me, would the non support of Aperture on the MB. I can neither confirm nor deny, this is just what I have read a few times in passing. Good luck to you.

 

[atari1356]

If you're photo editing why not get a screensize that complements that? Go big, go MBP 17"!

or just get the MacBook for when you need the portability, and buy a 20" monitor to use with it when you're at your desk.

I'm not sure about the MacBooks/MacBook Pros, but typically the screens used in notebook computers are not as good as the ones in regular LCD monitors - and as a professional photographer you want to make sure you're getting the best picture quality.

In other words, try before you buy.

 

[kevin.rivers]

or just get the MacBook for when you need the portability, and buy a 20" monitor to use with it when you're at your desk.

I'm not sure about the MacBooks/MacBook Pros, but typically the screens used in notebook computers are not as good as the ones in regular LCD monitors - and as a professional photographer you want to make sure you're getting the best picture quality.

In other words, try before you buy.

I would say the opposite. At least in Apple notebooks. It depends on what you buy though. If you get the cheapest screen you can find, the Notebook screen wil be light years ahead of it as far as quality. However, if you spend a good amount for a nice display the external monitor might be better.

 

[dav]

The MacBook DOES run Aperture, it is simply unsupported.

 

[Capt Underpants]

I would say the opposite. At least in Apple notebooks. It depends on what you buy though. If you get the cheapest screen you can find, the Notebook screen wil be light years ahead of it as far as quality. However, if you spend a good amount for a nice display the external monitor might be better.

I can't say much about the intel laptop screens, but last gen Apple laptop screens were horrible. Low brightness, crap viewing angle, etc. Sitting next to my 2005FPW made my Powerbook screen look like a POS.

I second the Macbook + External monitor, though. I use a similar setup (only with a 12" PB), and it suits me wells

 

[Abulia]

The macbook looks nice for the smaller size but will it slow me down too much for the apps I need to run. Of course the price difference is nice but not a major factor. I guess the question is, Is the size difference that major, and for what I am doing will the extra expense for the MBP be worth it?

Performance-wise, both machines will pretty much be identical. None of what you plan to do will leverage the GPU of the MBP, so a 2.0 Ghz MB and a 2.0 Ghz MBP will perform pretty much the same.

It looks like the big advantage (to me) for the MBP is the screen size; you'll find editing on a 15" screen probably easier than on the 13" of the MB. The higher resolution will help too.

It sounds like size is your main concern. I'd go with a fully-loaded (2GB) MB w/ a nice 100 GB 7200rpm drive for performance. Nice and small, portable, and powerful. Plus cheaper than the MBP.