Which Mac Laptop for Photoshop / School

[JaGWiRE]

I am gaining some interest in buying a new notebook to replace my old Sony (which I plan to give to my mom as she's become an IM freak, lol.)

I might not buy right away (may wait for next generation of models as I'm not in too big of a rush), but I was curious what would be recommended for Photoshop for the photos I capture on the road or whatever.

Originally I wanted a macbook because of it's size, but then I saw the gpu in it. Is this a problem? Is the Macbook Pro a better choice if I can squeeze the extra 2 inches in with me?

I'll mostly be doing surfing, photoshopping, maybe some instant messaging, a lot of office work (school), and maybe some music (with some headphones and a dac probably.)

[MHP]

I think you'll have to go to an apple store and have a play. whichever one you get you'll want to up the RAM. theyre all good and fast( and look nice;-) ) its just whether you think the book is up to your needs. I'm sure it would be, but then it aint a pro;-)

[Billginthekeys]

the macbook should work fine for you. but you should wait till the next generation of photoshop comes out that supports the new intel processors. But you definitly want to get ram.

[JaGWiRE]

the macbook should work fine for you. but you should wait till the next generation of photoshop comes out that supports the new intel processors. But you definitly want to get ram.


I would just guess that by the time new Macbook's or macbook pro's come out, a new generation of photoshop will too?

[Statement]

Macs are fine, but they're also ridiculously overpriced. You can get a pc that's better/just as a good for wayyyyy less. If you like the interface and simplicity of macs, just use linux.

[Billginthekeys]

i would think. adobe has to be working on something. Apple seems to replace/improve everything at least once a year, so theres a good chance you are right.

[JaGWiRE]

Macs are fine, but they're also ridiculously overpriced. You can get a pc that's better/just as a good for wayyyyy less. If you like the interface and simplicity of macs, just use linux.


Hey bro, nothing against you, but keep the format wars to yourself. You think they are overpriced, but so is buying a dell, or any brand name for that matter. I build my own PC'S like a lot of people, but that doesn't mean that I won't justify spending money to get the ability to use a MAC OS, and nicely built machine.

Also, what the hell does better/ just as good for wayyy less mean? Shrug. Okay, here, find me a laptop that has the exact same (or better specs) as the Apple's (and when I say better, I don't mean different brand cpu or something), and run's MAC OS X smoothly.

Please, keep this to yourself. This is a photography forum. If you want to argue about OS formats and companies, go on a computer forum where these things are argued about year in and year out.

PS, that Linux comment made me laugh. I have used Linux for a fact several times, and I find it funny you bring that up. Lack of photoshop is one thing you should had thought about before typing that, considering in this thread I am asking specifically about preformanec on a laptop and photoshop. Sorry, I like photoshop, not GIMP.

[Mark_Cohran]

Photoshop works just fine on the Macbooks and on the Mac Pro. It's not as fast as it will be when Adobe updates the software core, but it's running great on my machines.

In my opinion, Mac's are not ridiculously overpriced. Outfit a similar PC machine with what comes standard with a Powerbook or a Mac Book and you'll see what I mean.

Mark

[JaGWiRE]

Photoshop works just fine on the Macbooks and on the Mac Pro. It's not as fast as it will be when Adobe updates the software core, but it's running great on my machines.

In my opinion, Mac's are not ridiculously overpriced. Outfit a similar PC machine with what comes standard with a Powerbook or a Mac Book and you'll see what I mean.

Mark

Ignore him. I want to enter the realm of mac, and their laptops seem designed so well compared to PC companies (in my opinion of course.)

[Mark_Cohran]

Well, the MacBook Pro will do everything you're asking of it and more.

Mark

[Rubi Jane]

I have a MacBook with 1gb ram and it runs CS2 without any issue. It's not as fast as my G5 or a Pro would be but it's not nearly as painstakingly slow as PE2 was on my Sony Vaio so I survive just fine when mobile editing. Only thing I'd prefer is high speed USBs - that's a little annoying but I find something else to do when transmitting.

[Statement]

Hey bro, nothing against you, but keep the format wars to yourself. You think they are overpriced, but so is buying a dell, or any brand name for that matter. I build my own PC'S like a lot of people, but that doesn't mean that I won't justify spending money to get the ability to use a MAC OS, and nicely built machine.

Also, what the hell does better/ just as good for wayyy less mean? Shrug. Okay, here, find me a laptop that has the exact same (or better specs) as the Apple's (and when I say better, I don't mean different brand cpu or something), and run's MAC OS X smoothly.

Please, keep this to yourself. This is a photography forum. If you want to argue about OS formats and companies, go on a computer forum where these things are argued about year in and year out.

PS, that Linux comment made me laugh. I have used Linux for a fact several times, and I find it funny you bring that up. Lack of photoshop is one thing you should had thought about before typing that, considering in this thread I am asking specifically about preformanec on a laptop and photoshop. Sorry, I like photoshop, not GIMP.

I find you to be the one looking for a format war...I was simply making a recommendation. Sorry if you were offended, but you're the one being confrontational here. You asked the forum for their opinions, I gave you mine, I am a member of the forum, one of many. Don't take it too seriously.

[JaGWiRE]

I find you to be the one looking for a format war...I was simply making a recommendation. Sorry if you were offended, but you're the one being confrontational here. You asked the forum for their opinions, I gave you mine, I am a member of the forum, one of many. Don't take it too seriously.


Don't want to get into an arguement, but from how I see it, I asked the forum for their opinion on a specific subject (Macintosh Laptops.) As far as I saw it, you were looking to discuss operating systems, considering you mentioned 2 Operating Systems which were not "MAC", which this thread was directed at.

Anyway, I think I will wait for the next generation as I need to upgrade my PC anyway.

[Statement]

It looks like in reading about the old sony and such, I made a dumb mistake and overlooked that you were asking specifically about macs. My mistake, sorry.

[JaGWiRE]

It looks like in reading about the old sony and such, I made a dumb mistake and overlooked that you were asking specifically about macs. My mistake, sorry.

Not a problem.

[samsen]

This is a photography forum. If you want to argue about OS formats and companies, go on a computer forum where these things are argued about year in and year out.

Computers and softwares are inseparable part of todays digital photography and very rightly to be discussed in this site.

95 percent of consumer use PC, 5 percent Apple. Does statistic mean anything. Surely yes; You are free to choose whichever suits you best.

Right result comes from a person equipped with right knowledge, tools are only ways not means...

Having said that, whichever plate form you choose, you can achieve your goals; general rule of thumb is graphically demanding challenges need faster CPU, larger ram, better monitor and large to be stored soon picture files need a way to find their way in achieve, i.e. DVD burner (Again faster x for more intensive job) or external storage devices apart from large internal hard drive that needs to be taken into consideration in first place. Laptops additionally should be verified in terms of their real battery running life time if you have to relay on that for bulk of your mobile work. With good technology available today its not easy to go wrong in what ever you chose but it finally comes to pay the right amount for what you want. That is where you want to do your homework well rather than leaving your wallet to the sale person to decide for you.

[JaGWiRE]

I'll probably usually be near a ethernet port and wall outlet anyway.

And I want to enter the realm of MAC'S, I have learned a lot about the WINDOW'S OS, but now I want to move over and try out the MAC.

[samsen]

I want to enter the realm of MAC'S, I have learned a lot about the WINDOW'S OS, but now I want to move over and try out the MAC.

More power to you and go for what you want. I had the exact same feeling as your several years back in addition of that advertisement picture of Cube over a fully glass table with everything in vicinity transparent including monitor that really impressed me. To share my experience with you, after paying 2400 $ for cube and enjoying spending good amount of time on learning the basis of new plate form, I learned that;

1) Mac crashes as often as PC especially when you try to change the configuration both soft and hardware-wise,

2) When crashed you don't get the uncle Bill's blue screen (Very refreshing when new...),

3) The only reason people think mac is more secure than PC is statistics as (With respect) those crazy guys who waste their otherwise precious time, writing viruses, worms, trojans go for majority otherwise no OS is immune or safer than the other,

4) Right from beginning Mac has been superior to PC equivalent OS especially on the DOS days but monopoly and bad management and marketing has essentially killed the ingenuity and in todays life the difference between Widows and OS X are very close for one that is clearly familiar with either one, and the gap (Marginally in favor of Mac) is even getting narrower if not disappear with the Windows new Vista OS (That you may find Mac OS fingerprints in there).

I personally go with the flow, most of the time...

[JaGWiRE]

Samsen, maybe newer Mac's are better, no Idea. I'm not saying I want to hop over due to advertisements or marketing, or any of the like, just that I want to learn another OS, and have the knowledge to work in a second OS (a very popular one at that if I may add.)


One day I may want to use Photoshop for example on vacation at a friend's place, and he own's a MAC. Won't do me much well if I can't get around the GUI. I realise Photoshop is more or less identical on a MAC compared to Windows (except ctrl in most cases is command :D. I've watched enough damn videos to hear the stupid, or on the mac, COMMAND, for the keyboard shortclicks, lol.)

[samsen]

You have your goals well set. Go for it. Only watch the invested money and as you know well, the latest, newest model in the market is that pitfall with 30-50 percent inflated price that tends to show a free fall the moment next model comes out.
I recently saw many mac notebook deals (Little older versions) for good deal starting at mid $400s at geeks.com check it if anything intrests your requirement (G3/G4s that though older, are good way to get to know OS for lower bodget, alternatively you may want to check Macmall.com or ebay. LINK (http://search.geeks.com/?SH=A%3dapple%7eB%3dapple%7eD%3d12%7eK%3d4%7eL%3d1 %7eM%3d5%7e&SI=fc905a30-83ab-4f1c-9f03-10efb53222f9&LAP=0&SRM=0&Action=2&AnswerID=570)

[Morgandy]

1) Mac crashes as often as PC especially when you try to change the configuration both soft and hardware-wise,

2) When crashed you don't get the uncle Bill's blue screen (Very refreshing when new...),

3) The only reason people think mac is more secure than PC is statistics as (With respect) those crazy guys who waste their otherwise precious time, writing viruses, worms, trojans go for majority otherwise no OS is immune or safer than the other,

4) Right from beginning Mac has been superior to PC equivalent OS especially on the DOS days but monopoly and bad management and marketing has essentially killed the ingenuity and in todays life the difference between Widows and OS X are very close for one that is clearly familiar with either one, and the gap (Marginally in favor of Mac) is even getting narrower if not disappear with the Windows new Vista OS (That you may find Mac OS fingerprints in there).

samsen, you're perpetuating some of the myths and fallacies of Mac vs. PC. You base your statements on having used the Cube, which came out in 2000-2001. Things have changed a lot since then; both the OS and the hardware.

[Mark_Cohran]

Not to continue the war, but to give some perspective:

I use both Mac and PC's. Macs at home and for my photography business and PCs at work. I have experience with both systems for more than 15 years. I'll choose the Mac OS system over Windows and the build of the Mac machiines any time. It is my experience (with both systems) that Mac still crash far less, last longer, and offer a far more intuitive user interface than the Wintel system. With the advent of the Intel based Mac systems, you can have the best of both worlds with regard to operating systems and hardware.

Mark