Macbook Pro 13" for photography

[rickp1]

Hey guys and gals,
I have a question that I'm not sure if it goes here or not but I'mcrossing my fingers you can help.

I'm looking at getting a new macbook pro 13" laptop and I'm hoping someone here has experience with one and can share.
My biggest concern is performane when using CS4 or dealing with pictures taken with my Canon SLR.

Thanks for any help in advance.

R.

[ddr]

I have 4gb ram with my MBP 13" and to be honest, it's not that much of a monster. It runs it fine, and I have it plugged into a 24" monitor via displayport/hdmi adapter.

you'll need the highest clock speed you can afford (new i7's) with the greatest amount of ram you can afford (4gb+); the much-awaited and controversial CS5 will definitely need the number crunching power

I got the 13" for portability sakes. if you can settle for a PC, there are various i7 models for around $1000US (+1 Asus), which leave much $$ left for upgrading to a SSD or even 8gb ram if you need it (compared to a 15" MBP). otherwise, you had better wait for the i5's or i7's to be put into the MBP's (probably summer).

[rickp1]

Hey ddr,
Yeah I was thinking of the 13" MBP 2.2ghz w/ 4gb RAM and the 500gb drive. The 15" is too big fo my taste and since I travel the 13" is just how I like my laptops.

This will be my first mac. I really dont know much about them at all. Let me ask you, how is the performance overall? All the internet research I've done and all the comments and reviews are very positive. Except for the glare on the screen. That seems to be the general negative comment.

Also, my CS4 work is light. I only use it for family pictures and pictuers I take as a general interest, I'm not a pro by any means.

Again, thank you for the reply.

R.

[ddr]

i got a matte screen (it's a very removable sticker-around-the-sides type of attachment) to combat the glare. to be honest, i miss the glossy screen.

unless you're getting a deal with the ram or harddrive, you might want to swap the stuff yourself. to give you an idea, 2x2gb ddr3 sodimm is under 100, and a 500gb hd is under 100 as well. i got a 2.5ghz refurb to cut down the cost.

if you can wait, i'd wait till near the end of summer. at least you can chime in on the yearly free ipod deal, and probably new processors.

[Joseph S]

PC > Macs
Get a PC laptop, they are MUCH MUCH cheaper for a BETTER spec that will actually run applications! You can't even get Photoshop 64bit version on Macs, as they don't have full 64bit capability!

Just as a comparison between prices of Macs vs PCs:
I built my system for around £600-700. For a lower spec Mac system, it would cost £2500+, and it couldn't even do everything a PC can do, but a PC can do all what a Mac can do, only better!

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by Joseph S

PC > Macs

Except that it's infected with Windows.

[Joseph S]

Originally Posted by jdepould

Except that it's infected with Windows.

Which runs better than Mac OS.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Joseph S

PC > Macs
Get a PC laptop, they are MUCH MUCH cheaper for a BETTER spec that will actually run applications! You can't even get Photoshop 64bit version on Macs, as they don't have full 64bit capability!

Just as a comparison between prices of Macs vs PCs:
I built my system for around £600-700. For a lower spec Mac system, it would cost £2500+, and it couldn't even do everything a PC can do, but a PC can do all what a Mac can do, only better!

This smacks of fanboyism.

[Joseph S]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

This smacks of fanboyism.

It's not so much fanboyism, more like, hatemacboyism

[AlphaGeek]

Wow... a windows fanboy?! What a funny thing... I've had windows forever and recently got a 13" MBP.

PC... Cheaper sure... Better - no way!! I love my new Macbook pro. If you compare hardware alone, sure the windows box may be cheaper.. when you look at what the mac can do (with things like automator, and countless other things that just WORK)...

The answer to your question.. Yes I'd recommend one for this in a moment. In all honestly you can get the base one and it will work fine. Upgrade ram when you feel you need it (at this point, I'm at the 2 gig and there is a few times I need more, so I'll probably up it soon.)

All I have to say when you get it is DON'T expect it to work like a PC. There is so many more good things to do when you learn (like my folder where I can drop pictures into and they automatically get sized for the web thanks to automator).

If you get one, have fun!