MacBook Pro 17 inch - Specs suggestion?

Ok, for those who has a mac or thinking of purchasing/upgrading their MacBook Pro, I'm thinking of purchasing one in the next few days, specifically the new unibody ones, and was wondering if anyone have any suggestions as to what configuration I should go with...

Here is what I'm thinking...

- 17 inch
- 2.93 Ghz
- 4 gig ram (Can upgrade on my own to 8 gigs later)
- 320 Gig 7200 RPM (Here is where I'm not sure if I should go SSD)
- Gloss or Matte (I'm not sure here, in terms of, calibration etc.)

I know it's easy to just say go with everything upgraded but I'd like to save some cash and also choose what's best for my needs, what I'm stuck on is...

1. SSD HD or 7200 Rpm
2. Gloss or Matte?

The primary reason I'm purchasing a MacBook pro is specifically for video and photography editing needs. So for those who has had experience with the new unibody ones or why they chose one over the other or too definitely go with SSD HD because it's fast, etc. please say so with justification!

Thanks in advance.

I'd go with a larger capacity 7200 rpm drive and the matte display.

Make sure you take a peek at 3d party memory and Hard Drives. You usually pay a lot more through Apple. Memory is a very quick (and painless) upgrade. Hard drive replacement is supposed to be a lot easier on the new MBP's (mine required major surgery but was well worth it).

I have to admit that SSD is very, very, very enticing. I imagine Lightroom & Photoshop will scream!!! You can augment your storage with an external FW-800 (or e-Sata) drive (a 1TB is about $250 or less now).

The Gloss/Matte question is one of those traditional polarized issues, you'll have to make up your own mind on that one (I say Matte though).

I'm envious. . .

nutsnbolts wrote in post #7325833
- 4 gig ram (Can upgrade on my own to 8 gigs later)

I just caught this, Apple says max of 4GB. I know with my chipset, I can go to 6GB (thanks to Macrumours) where did you hear you could go to 8GB on the new MBPs?

Never mind, I was looking at the 15" specs. . .

If it wasn't for the fact that the 17" is just a behemoth, I'd look to upgrade. . .

GSansoucie wrote in post #7326328
Make sure you take a peek at 3d party memory and Hard Drives. You usually pay a lot more through Apple.

Apple's prices on DDR3 memory are actually pretty competitive. The stock amount now is 4 gb, with the 8 gb option at $1200. Buying 4 gb sticks is about in that area, too.

i wish they'd give the matte screen options to 15" mbp...

matte screens are better in terms of colour accuracy as well as they offer little or no glare.

I'm looking at buying a Macbook pro, and coming from PC desktops, I know nothing. Don't you just choose a package and that's it? I didn't know you could choose all these upgrade options.

The options are limited, and after-purchase upgrades are apparently limited to RAM on the new 17" MBP (since it's essentially a closed system). Check out the Apple Store online to see what is available.

GSansoucie wrote in post #7326328
Make sure you take a peek at 3d party memory and Hard Drives. You usually pay a lot more through Apple. Memory is a very quick (and painless) upgrade. Hard drive replacement is supposed to be a lot easier on the new MBP's (mine required major surgery but was well worth it).

I have to admit that SSD is very, very, very enticing. I imagine Lightroom & Photoshop will scream!!! You can augment your storage with an external FW-800 (or e-Sata) drive (a 1TB is about $250 or less now).

The Gloss/Matte question is one of those traditional polarized issues, you'll have to make up your own mind on that one (I say Matte though).

I'm envious. . .

I consider myself computer literate. In other words, I know I can choose 4 gigs now which would suffice and if the price ever goes down, I would then hop on upgrading to 8gigs.

The SSD drive is definitely very enticing! I don't know though if it's worth it ...but I'm willing to bet it is. SSD drives are just starting to show up but would like to get opinions from people too who actually bought it and had experience with it.

keitaro wrote in post #7327001
i wish they'd give the matte screen options to 15" mbp...

matte screens are better in terms of colour accuracy as well as they offer little or no glare.

Is this a fact? Matte screen are better in terms of colour accuracy? This is what I'm afraid of. Although I do need to take a deeper look into the difference between matte and gloss. Is there really a huge difference in colour variance to effectively matter?

Why have two different kinds? What is the use over one or over the other.

watchtherocks wrote in post #7328166
I'm looking at buying a Macbook pro, and coming from PC desktops, I know nothing. Don't you just choose a package and that's it? I didn't know you could choose all these upgrade options.

As tony stated, it's essentially less options available but overall easy enough to decide.

keitaro wrote in post #7327001
matte screens are better in terms of colour accuracy......

That's not true. Out of the box the glossy colors are going to be more saturated but you can calibrate a glossy screen easily. (for a TN screen) Also, the glossy screen on the unibody is what makes it so rigid so when you take that screen off for the matte you make it weaker.

If your laptop is going to be taken all over the place though where you can't control the light you may want to get the matte. If you can afford it, I would say get the highest speed processor, especially for video. Stick with the regular drive, you can easily swap it out later and those SSD drives will only go down in price this year.

Personally, I like the glossy but my laptop is primarily in my office where I can control the light. I also have a 2nd calibrated monitor.

If all goes well I should have mine next week!!

17" Unibody Macbook Pro, Glossy
2.66 GHz
4 GB RAM
320GB HD@5400 (Will probably replace this later)

hmmm...I have been researching Macs for a bit (can't wait to actually have my hands on one) and I thought (I guess I was wrong) that the glossy screen would be more accurate with color....Obviously I know you need calibration to ensure this but, as I see differing opinions on this, which is it? Is there a link anyone can send me to?
Also, very torn between the 15 and 17" - 17 sounds dreamy - and 90%+ of my PPing will be done in my house - but is 17 really that much of a "behemoth"? I'd appreciate any opinions or experiences...anyone REGRET the 17" and wish they had not opted for it?

I have a 15" Unibody and I'll likely be getting a 17" in the next few weeks. I'll probably go for 2.93 processor, 4 gigs, and 7200 rpm drive.

nutsnbolts wrote in post #7329179
I consider myself computer literate. In other words, I know I can choose 4 gigs now which would suffice and if the price ever goes down, I would then hop on upgrading to 8gigs.

The SSD drive is definitely very enticing! I don't know though if it's worth it ...but I'm willing to bet it is. SSD drives are just starting to show up but would like to get opinions from people too who actually bought it and had experience with it.

I'm also very tempted by the Apple SSD but I know that in a few months, many more models will be released and some of them will be 512GB. I'm wagering you'll be able to get 512GB in a few months for the same price as Apple's 256GB. So I'm going to wait that out. I was all set on the SSD upgrade but I've decided to wait since 256GB is too limiting if you have a large RAW catalog on the drive.

klbowden wrote in post #7367039
hmmm...I have been researching Macs for a bit (can't wait to actually have my hands on one) and I thought (I guess I was wrong) that the glossy screen would be more accurate with color....Obviously I know you need calibration to ensure this but, as I see differing opinions on this, which is it? Is there a link anyone can send me to?
Also, very torn between the 15 and 17" - 17 sounds dreamy - and 90%+ of my PPing will be done in my house - but is 17 really that much of a "behemoth"? I'd appreciate any opinions or experiences...anyone REGRET the 17" and wish they had not opted for it?

Both screens are exactly the same as far as accuracy and gamut. The Glossy simply has a glass panel in front instead of matte. The blacks look darker, deeper, and colours are more saturated. That isn't to say it is not accurate but really it is still a laptop TN panel, no matter how good, so it is not the best thing for photo editing. Since the new models with matte screens are just now being delivered for the first time I don't believe there is any good link comparing them yet.

The physical size of the 17" isn't that much different but you should see them both in store since the laptop being "too big" is such a personal measure. I want it for the screen real estate most importantly. I will probably get glossy again. The reflections are easily tilted away and the screen looks great.