Which MacBook?

[dmdigital]

I've decided it will be too painful to travel for 3 months without my Mac so I'm going to bite the bullet and replace the Sony laptop with a MacBook. But which one:confused:

Main use will be Photography (Aperture, Photoshop, Capture NX) and Web when I can.

The 13" MacBook does most of what I want but has 256MB of shared SDRAM for the video, but I can have 4GB of RAM so that shouldn't be a problem.

The MacBook Air is a fantastically slim machine but is very similar spec otherwise to the 13", needs an external DVD drive and can only have the 2GB of RAM it comes with. It's also a much slower processor.

The 15" MacBook can be had with 512MB of dedicated video RAM, better resolution display, 4GB of RAM and a 7200rpm HDD. But all this comes at a size and weight trade off.

They all offer solid state drive options. But at a cost.

Anyone using any of these? What would you recommend?

[p38arover]

My wife has a new 13" MacBook. She likes it - there's no accounting for taste! :D

One disadvantage - it doesn't have an in-built modem which was a hassle on our recent holiday where there was no 'Net connection and we wanted to use dial-up.

[drivesafe]

Hi dm, give Incisor a call, he’s an Apple agent and Dave’s pretty clued up on all things Mac.

Dave Blears Computing, 07 5499 3000 :D

[dmdigital]

My wife has a new 13" MacBook. She likes it - there's no accounting for taste! :D

One disadvantage - it doesn't have an in-built modem which was a hassle on our recent holiday where there was no 'Net connection and we wanted to use dial-up.
If I absolutely had to I can use the Internet via USB and the SatPhone. Don't think I'll get that desperate. I can use the NextG phone when in cell range by USB, so not a problem. Haven't used a modem for 4 years now.


Hi dm, give Incisor a call, he’s an Apple agent and Dave’s pretty clued up on all things Mac.

Dave Blears Computing, 07 5499 3000 :D
Thanks Tim, I knew that, didn't want to hassle Dave with unnecessary questions, thought it better to hassle the forum instead;)

[p38arover]

If I absolutely had to I can use the Internet via USB and the SatPhone. Don't think I'll get that desperate. I can use the NextG phone when in cell range by USB, so not a problem. Haven't used a modem for 4 years now.

I don't use a mobile for data - too damn expensive.

In fact, I use the mobile as little as possible - too damn expensive.

[dmdigital]

I don't use a mobile for data - too damn expensive.

In fact, I use the mobile as little as possible - too damn expensive.
Ron, you need to price a SatPhone then:eek:

[abaddonxi]

Just happened to be reading this yesterday.
Why I Didn’t Buy A Mac | Lifehacker Australia (http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2009/05/why-i-didnt-buy-a-mac/)

I know what it says, but he covers some good stuff on travelling.

I'm loathing my Toshiba U400, missing my P3 Thinkpad, 256Mb Ram, just as fast, better screen,

Maybe I should buy a mac.

[HangOver]

is THIS (http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop_latitude_atg_e6400?c=au&l=en&s=bsd&cs=aubsd1)what your after?

[dmdigital]

No, that's not what I'm after :p

[p38arover]

You need this - my first portable computer:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/06/1311.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/06/1312.jpg

[dmdigital]

Ron, I used of those as well. With single sided floppy drives, CP/M and WordStar. The storage bins were excellent as they held a packet of 10 disks in each one.

Did you know it was originally designed to fit under an aircraft seat? Now days you'd scare the security guys at the passenger screening if you turned up with something like that:eek:

[dmdigital]

Looks like there's a possibility of new models out with WWDC next week. So I'll hold off a few days.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

They all offer solid state drive options.




new models out with WWDC



Please explain?:D

[dmdigital]

WWDC = Worldwide Developers Conference 2009 (http://developer.apple.com/WWDC/). Nerd central, like MS TechEd I suspect.

Solid State Drive = No hard drive just lots of chips. Sony, Toshiba et al also offer this. The "Hard Drive" of the future, bloody expensive though. SSD - Solid State Drive (http://compreviews.about.com/od/storage/a/SSD.htm)

[Mick-Kelly]

For what its worth i have a 17 inch MacBook Pro and it goes everywhere with me. I travel all over the place with it and its never missed a beat. Internal wireless and very fast processor. Dont think i could cope with a smaller screen now. Very good graphics machine.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

pity you werent closer---
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/stolen-goods-alerts/80296-stolen-macbook-pro.html









yes its in very bad taste Inc.:(
:p

[rocket scientist]

Happy with my MACBokPRO, since I use it everyday for processing thousands of image files and for video editing.
A MACBook might be enough for what you want, and a lot cheaper.
My main reason for using the MAC is because the OS is much better for Photographic work. Just have to live with the cost.

[disco2hse]

On my third Apple Laptop. This one is a 15" MacBook Pro, the others were Powerbooks.

This one is the best of the bunch. Looked at the 17" but I'd have to either be built like an ox or end up looking like Quasimodo lugging it around.

Weight-wise the 15" is not a feather-weight and can get quite annoying having to drag it around the place. Roll on LEPs and OUIs :P

Alan

[wynnefraser]

I am using a MacBook Pro 17" Unibody with the solid state option. The battery is great! Lasts a long (long!) time.

Runs everything that I put at it - Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, etc

If your going to use it in a rough situation, the solid state is much better and will last a lot longer. Less chance of failure with important stuff.

ITS NOT THAT BIG! - I have an 15.4" Asus laptop, which is now out of date by about 2-3 years. The 17" of the MacBook Pro is not that much bigger by size and no thicker at all. The surrounding of the screen is only about 1cm whereas the Asus is a tad more. It doesnt seem that big to carry around.

[Scallops]

Why I Didn’t Buy A Mac | Lifehacker Australia (http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2009/05/why-i-didnt-buy-a-mac/)


What a load of rot :D I was fully functional on my new iMac in 1 week - within 12 hours of owning it I had transferred everything from my PC and set up email and the internet. I have found it to be a superior product - PC's would still have amber dos prompts if it were not for Apple. :p

Anyway - Derek - there are new notebook Macs about to come out - check out this link - it is good for deciding when to buy Apple products.... :)

Mac Buyer's Guide: Know When to Buy Your Mac, iPod or iPhone (http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/)

[dmdigital]

Anyway - Derek - there are new notebook Macs about to come out - check out this link - it is good for deciding when to buy Apple products.... :)
They're here!!!!!!

Guess where I'll be browsing tonight... :angel:

Faster processors, the Air has come down in price...

Oh and a new iPhone in 2 weeks time too.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

When I saw this I thought "oh no... I hope he didn't buy"... :)

The new ones are great and huge price drops. Go the entry level 15" model and save $600! Or go for the entry unibody MBP and save heaps - now with firewire (I was always uncomfortable with that being missing).

Everyone is a winner! Apple has one of the most capable line ups I've seen since I've been following them (last 4 years). I reckon imacs will drop in price soon as they now look pricey next to the laptops.

Also, if you buy now you'll get Snow Leopard when it comes out for $14.

Apparently to upgrade your existing Leopard to Snow Leopard it will be less than $50. Let's see MS offer you an upgrade from Vista Disaster to Vista 7 (I mean fixed) for less than $50...

[solmanic]

Not necessarily a big price drop as far as the Macbook pros go. The 15" Macbook pro has got only the 256MB graphics cards up most of the range and you pay slightly more for the 512MB graphics model. I got one of the remaining mid-range 512MB graphics ones at a heavily discounted price. Only the old battery and slightly slower processor and slightly smaller HDD but everything else is the same so I'm happy. 4GB RAM in a laptop - amazing!

[dmdigital]

Bought the 13" MBP 2.53GHz, 4GB RAM and 320GB HDD. It also has FW800 now so my FW800 CF reader will work nicely. 8GB of Apple RAM is only $1600 extra:eek:

Should be here by the 18-Jun so I'll have a week to configure it and leave on holidays:)

I'll be running BootCamp on this so I can still access my LR stuff that needs Windoze.

[Scallops]

Bought the 13" MBP 2.53GHz, 4GB RAM and 320GB HDD. It also has FW800 now so my FW800 CF reader will work nicely. 8GB of Apple RAM is only $1600 extra:eek:

Should be here by the 18-Jun so I'll have a week to configure it and leave on holidays:)

I'll be running BootCamp on this so I can still access my LR stuff that needs Windoze.

Blast - I'm not the latest AULROvian to buy a Mac! :p Nice work mate - I love my iMac (in case it isn't widely known) I'm doing stuff I just didn't bother trying on my old PC - the Mac kind of eggs me on! :cool:

[dmdigital]

Blast - I'm not the latest AULROvian to buy a Mac! :p Nice work mate - I love my iMac (in case it isn't widely known) I'm doing stuff I just didn't bother trying on my old PC - the Mac kind of eggs me on! :cool:
Now I own 2 Mac's and 2 Defenders:cool:

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Bought the 13" MBP 2.53GHz, 4GB RAM and 320GB HDD. It also has FW800 now so my FW800 CF reader will work nicely. 8GB of Apple RAM is only $1600 extra:eek:

Should be here by the 18-Jun so I'll have a week to configure it and leave on holidays:)

I'll be running BootCamp on this so I can still access my LR stuff that needs Windoze.

Honking machine. :)

Out of interest I to run parallels for XP as you then have a seamless transition between the two OS's for the once every few months when I fire up xp. You can then also carry your VM with you easily when you change machines with the migration assistant, and it is also backed up by timemachine.

If I wanted to play PC games would be the only reason I'd use boot camp.

[dmdigital]

Boot camp is all I'll need as I will hopefully not even need to use Windows. I'm still trying to let my wife allow me to put LR stuff on her Toshiba running XP instead. Might do it when she's not looking:angel:

[dmdigital]

Ordered on the 9th, shipped on the 11th... Might have it by Monday:cool:

[dmdigital]

Well it arrived today:):):):):) WOW!

Its spending the night synchronizing applications with the iMac. If I'm correct this means I don't have to go installing everything on the MacBookPro:cool:

Let's see Windows do that straight out of the box:p

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Congrats. Keep us posted.

[350RRC]

Well it arrived today:):):):):) WOW!

Its spending the night synchronizing applications with the iMac. If I'm correct this means I don't have to go installing everything on the MacBookPro:cool:

Let's see Windows do that straight out of the box:p

Different world it must be for you!

I have only ever used Mac and have a 160 gig black MacBook that serves me well professionally.

All the pc people who have seen how simple and honest the OS is on mine are now queuing up to get the 320 gig aly model and get the 50% depreciation before June 30.

You look forward to turning the things on because they are an asset to your life and you feel encouraged to push your skills.

Mac certainly takes me 'places' efficiently and with a confidence that I know I would not get from a pc notebook.

cheers, DL

[dmdigital]

Well everything is just about where I want it. I found I had to re-register CS3, Aperture and a few other apps. iPod touch works and synch's fine, Time Machine is set up now to the WD Passport drive for travelling, screen calibrated with the Spyder and the Mighty Mouse from the iMac will come for the trip.

Still have to test the performance with CS3 but it is definitely going to be faster than the Vista notebook ever was.