OK, I really don't know anything about computers, and absolutely nothing about Apple computers.
I am thinking of putting a wireless network in my house and getting a notebook computer. I like Apple machines, and well, they are supposed to be the best home computers right?
OK, I do Internet, photo editing, not hard core, I could get away with Photoshop Elements, and some word processing, spreadsheets.....
It seems, other than the small 13 inch monitor the Mac Book would work fine for me and is comparable with most Windows machines in the price range equally equipped.
I can't figure out the tangible benefit for me to spend additional $$ for a Mac Book Pro.
Any assistance or opinions are welcomed.
Thank you.
I am thinking of putting a wireless network in my house and getting a notebook computer. I like Apple machines, and well, they are supposed to be the best home computers right?
OK, I do Internet, photo editing, not hard core, I could get away with Photoshop Elements, and some word processing, spreadsheets.....
It seems, other than the small 13 inch monitor the Mac Book would work fine for me and is comparable with most Windows machines in the price range equally equipped.
I can't figure out the tangible benefit for me to spend additional $$ for a Mac Book Pro.
Any assistance or opinions are welcomed.
Thank you.
Ken F.
Established
Rover,
I agree, the macbooks's are excellent value! I am currently using an older powerbook and am waiting for the new operating system to be released in September, October. I will then upgrade to the black macbook and pass this one down to my daughter.
I have the 12" powerbook and I do not find the screen size to be a problem, at all.
Cheers,
KF
I agree, the macbooks's are excellent value! I am currently using an older powerbook and am waiting for the new operating system to be released in September, October. I will then upgrade to the black macbook and pass this one down to my daughter.
I have the 12" powerbook and I do not find the screen size to be a problem, at all.
Cheers,
KF
harmsr
M5 Nut
Rover,
The real differences are in the screen size, larger hard drives, more ports, Firewire 800 vs. 400 port, longer battery life due to larger battery, and the Express card slot.
If you are using it as a desktop replacement, you may want the MacBook Pro.
If you travel a lot, grab the MacBook.
A note of caution if you use Aperture, it will not run on the 13" MacBook without an external monitor because it requires more vertical screen resolution.
Best,
Ray
The real differences are in the screen size, larger hard drives, more ports, Firewire 800 vs. 400 port, longer battery life due to larger battery, and the Express card slot.
If you are using it as a desktop replacement, you may want the MacBook Pro.
If you travel a lot, grab the MacBook.
A note of caution if you use Aperture, it will not run on the 13" MacBook without an external monitor because it requires more vertical screen resolution.
Best,
Ray
photogdave
Shops local
Macbook has shared graphics memory, Pro has separate memory from the RAM and better graphics card. Only necessary if you are doing intensive graphic design/editing, like rendering special FX in Final Cut Pro.
The regular Macbook will be more than enough for your needs. My girlfriend has the first version of it and it blows away my G5 tower. The current version is even faster for the same price!
BTW, get a laptop if you truly need the portability. If you are looking for soemthing that doesn't take up too much space but you don't intend to take it places with you, consider the Mac Mini. Also a great machine!
The regular Macbook will be more than enough for your needs. My girlfriend has the first version of it and it blows away my G5 tower. The current version is even faster for the same price!
BTW, get a laptop if you truly need the portability. If you are looking for soemthing that doesn't take up too much space but you don't intend to take it places with you, consider the Mac Mini. Also a great machine!
MikeL
Go Fish
Hi Rover,
Like others said, if you are not going to be lugging it around, I'd recommend the larger screen size for viewing photos and dealing with palettes. If you don't need the real estate, the Macbooks are plenty powerful enough. Either one, I'd get plenty of RAM.
Like others said, if you are not going to be lugging it around, I'd recommend the larger screen size for viewing photos and dealing with palettes. If you don't need the real estate, the Macbooks are plenty powerful enough. Either one, I'd get plenty of RAM.
JoeFriday
Agent Provacateur
you are going to LOVE the portability of a notebook and wifi.. I've had that setup for a couple years now and it's awesome.. you can work/surf/play from your couch.. then get up and go into the kitchen and look up recipes while you cook.. after that, go out on the patio or check RFF from your bedroom, all without having even a moment's interruption online
I've got a slightly older Powerbook with 15" screen and I find it to be perfect for my use.. I'd have to go with a MacBook Pro when I upgrade to stay with the same screen size.. but then, I do a lot of graphic design on my notebook.. you probably won't have the same needs
and yes, a Mac is far and away the best computer.. especially now that you can run OSX and Windoze XP on the same hardware.. it's a no brainer!
I've got a slightly older Powerbook with 15" screen and I find it to be perfect for my use.. I'd have to go with a MacBook Pro when I upgrade to stay with the same screen size.. but then, I do a lot of graphic design on my notebook.. you probably won't have the same needs
and yes, a Mac is far and away the best computer.. especially now that you can run OSX and Windoze XP on the same hardware.. it's a no brainer!
colyn
ישו משיח
Go with the Mac Book Pro with 17 inch matte screen.
If you are a registered PhotoShop user contact Adobe and they will send you the Mac version and then get Aperture..
If you are a registered PhotoShop user contact Adobe and they will send you the Mac version and then get Aperture..
MikeL
Go Fish
Colyn has a good point. I don't know if you can get a matte screen on the MacBook. Some like the glossy screen, some don't.
JoeFriday
Agent Provacateur
I am firmly in the "hates glossy screen" camp.. I think it was a 'feature' that computer makers added just to make dvds played on the computer look more like HDTV.. it has no value for anything else.. but again, that's just my opinion
more objectively, glossy screens are clearly more prone to glare from less than ideal room lighting.. that in itself makes them unsuitable for serious graphics work
more objectively, glossy screens are clearly more prone to glare from less than ideal room lighting.. that in itself makes them unsuitable for serious graphics work
Rhodie
Established
I use a12" Powerbook whilst on the road.
I have a 17" PBB which I started off with - only I find it just too big packing with cameras etc when on assignment.
I am awaiting the new system before getting a new MacBookPro - and it will probably
be a 15" or maybe another 12" - size is gt for travelling even if a little constricted with Photoshop.
Does anybody know if CS3 can utilise more than 2GB RAM?
CS2 can only use 2GB.
My G5 has the max of 8 but is not noticebly faster than my laptop with 2GB.
I have a 17" PBB which I started off with - only I find it just too big packing with cameras etc when on assignment.
I am awaiting the new system before getting a new MacBookPro - and it will probably
be a 15" or maybe another 12" - size is gt for travelling even if a little constricted with Photoshop.
Does anybody know if CS3 can utilise more than 2GB RAM?
CS2 can only use 2GB.
My G5 has the max of 8 but is not noticebly faster than my laptop with 2GB.
Rhoyle
Well-known
If you're going to say that the Macs are better, the PC users will flame you and vice-versa. Despite that, I'm a Mac user and have at least some experience here. They are wonderful machines and are quite stable. The very nice thing about either a Macbook or Macbook Pro is that you can do wireless very easily. The configuration is a real breeze. I have a G4 Ibook and and a G4 Mac mini. There isn't anything on the desktop computer that I can't do on the Ibook except I don't do any serious photo manipulation on it because you have to be looking exactly perpendicular to the screen to get proper contrast. I don't know if it's the same thing with the Macbook Pro, but you'll want to check it out before you put a lot of money into it. I do my manipulation on the MacMini with a 22" screen that I've balanced simply using the OSX calibration tool. It's not perfect, but it's pretty darned close, printing with Color Sync. The monitor I have isn't a particularly expensive one, but it's good enough to get good results for me. If I were running a custom color lab, I'd have something else. Look carefully at them and make your choice, you'll do well.
BH
BH
Pablito
coco frío
Sadly, the MacBookPro does not come in 12". I have an older 12" powerbook but when I upgrade it will be a hard decision because I prefer the 12" size. The metal case is a huge asset, I think. When my computer fell from the table to the ground, it kept right on working despite a dented corner. Who knows if this would happen with a plastic case. But if you want the smaller size, then you have to settle for the plastic case MacBook.
Joe Mondello
Resu Deretsiger
harmsr said:
Actually Aperture will run on a current MacBook since Apple was demo-ing Aperture on MacBooks at that big Photo Expo at the Javits Center in NYC last November.
MacBooks have just been refreshed with larger drives and faster chips etc. A BIG difference for Aperture users will be in the graphics cards which are integral to the motherboard in the MacBooks and rely on system RAM, whereas they are separate in the MacBook Pros and the upper end 15" and the 17" have 256MB dedicated video RAM.
I also would love a 12" MacBook Pro to replace my aging 12" PowerBook G4.
mwooten
light user
I'm writing this on an older Mac Powerbook with a 15" screen, and intend on it being useful for several more years. It does what I need, and runs the CS2 suite quite well. If I bought any newer software, then I would upgrade to a newer machine. As to the current crop of Apple laptops, my first thoughts would be toward the MacBook because it is cheaper. However, my brother has one, and his main complaint has been the too small screen size. He adds an external desktop monitor to his machine when he does any work in Protools -- there just isn't enough screen real-estate. It does has enough horsepower.
Because of the screen size, my recommendation (if cost were not a concern) would be to get the Macbook Pro model. Then get a good wireless connection (I've used both the Apple Airport Express and a wireless router from Buffalo with good result).
Take care,
Michael
Because of the screen size, my recommendation (if cost were not a concern) would be to get the Macbook Pro model. Then get a good wireless connection (I've used both the Apple Airport Express and a wireless router from Buffalo with good result).
Take care,
Michael
JoeFriday
Agent Provacateur
Michael brings up another great benefit of the Mac and wireless.. like him, I have my Powerbook set up with an Airport Express, which in turn is connected to my stereo.. my entire music collection (about 7000 songs) are available to listen to through my living room system at any moment via iTunes, regardless of where I am in the house.. and if I had the need, I could get more Airport hubs and choose between various stereos.. living room, den, bedroom, backyard, garage.. wherever you want
Thank you, not a fact that is part of the Apple sales team's pitch.
Reading my mind.
Interesting, I do have a student version of CS2 on my machine now.
MikeL said:
Pro comes with the Glossy option, but I didn't like it. It seems that it would get fingerprints (and being the owner of a 7 yo that is a concern) and the Matte did look very nice.
So my thought is this. I have a 4ish year old Dell PC which is running well, is updated and fine for my use in general. I bought a 19 inch flat panel screen for it when the big tube went so the monitor is fine. I will keep this machine to run what it does now and to be a workhorse, at least I know how to run it. I am looking for something to be small, portable, and easy to use, so I think the Macbook sounds like a good option. I was looking at the desktop machines too. In a year or so, maybeeeee, I will move this machine to my son's room/playroom and let it be his "surfer" and buy an Apple desktop to take over the heavy application needs I may have. Since I can run the WiFi and network with Apple and Windows machines, I have no conflict, and perhaps the best of both worlds.