Advice: Macbook vs Macbook Pro?

[bugzy]

for my sisters high school graduation, we are looking to get her a new Macbook

but she wants to get into graphic arts

i heard the standard Macbook use integrated video cards with shared memory

to get upgraded video cards with dedicated video memory, you have to step up to the Macbook Pro, which is a big price jump

any comments?

[Streamline]

I have the higher end Macbook (the black one) and I can easily run photoshop with many other applications.

However if you are talking about 3d animation and/or rendering then I would highly suggest the Pro because it will become very nerve wrecking very fast for her to try and render 3d continuously with the integrated video of the Macbook.

[Damon]

Get the Pro... So many better/faster/cooler features, the price is justified (wife has one).

[Anonymous]

for my sisters high school graduation, we are looking to get her a new Macbook

but she wants to get into graphic arts

i heard the standard Macbook use integrated video cards with shared memory

to get upgraded video cards with dedicated video memory, you have to step up to the Macbook Pro, which is a big price jump

any comments?

If possible, I'd hold off on buying one. The Macbooks and Macbook Pros are due for an update. The rumor is that a LED-backlit model will be arriving in the second quarter with a processor bump.
Mac Buyer's guide

That said, I think a Macbook would be fine for "getting into" graphic arts. By the time she's more involved(if she chooses to be) she'll probably be looking at something new anyways(say after college).

[creanium]

If possible, I'd hold off on buying one. The Macbooks and Macbook Pros are due for an update. The rumor is that a LED-backlit model will be arriving in the second quarter with a processor bump.
Mac Buyer's guide

That said, I think a Macbook would be fine for "getting into" graphic arts. By the time she's more involved(if she chooses to be) she'll probably be looking at something new anyways(say after college).

QFT.

A black MacBook should suit her nicely and easily get her through college. If she's mostly doing 2D stuff (Photoshop, etc) and not trying to play games or anything, then there's no reason to care about the integrated graphics card in the MacBook as she wouldn't see much (if any) improvement in 2D performance.

Also, an integrated card will consume less power than a dedicated card so it'll run cooler.

[FunkTron]

Qft = Wtf?

[Anonymous]

Qft = Wtf?

quantum field theory

[creanium]

Qft = Wtf?

Quoted for Truth

sigh ... fuckin n00bs

[bugzy]

"gee gee man ... gee gee"
"ouch! you camping n00b"
"camping is a legitamite strategy"

man !! i need to go see if Red vs Blue is still around

[gest24]

Black Macbook... But I second the hold on to buy one idea. The Macbook is "older" by apple standards and a re-fresh is due soon.

[3THREE7]

lon, i'm in the same field. itll depend on what type of graphic arts she's getting into. basic print/web/graphic design the macbook will work just fine. if getting into motion graphics and/or animation like I am even the macbook pro is a requirement. graphics card will make a world of difference when working w/ cinema 4d, maya, after effects, etc. even w/ a 256mb vid card itll run a little slow w/ those programs.

also remember with cs3 programs that are coming out soon 3gigs of ram is absolute minimal you want to run because of the new smart filters in photoshop and other features throughout the rest of the cs3 line. macbooks only have up to 2 gigs of ram, which you can probably run with, but performance will decrease.

[cynicalgeek]

Quoted for Truth

sigh ... fuckin n00bs

/signed

l2google

[idrivea2002golf]

Mac book pro. it's worth the size b/c of the faster processor and higher amounts of ram. the larger screen is also a plus when doing graphic design. i would only recommend the macbook for chatting, internet, taking notes in class. but if this is her 'only' college computer i would get the pro.

[TopNach]

i work for apple and sell and repair them all day... and id deff have u get the macbookpro... it will also last u longer... it will be better for the long run... i think that the 2.0 will be ehhh after a while... and the 2.33 should last u a long time... now that cs3 is out ( which is designed for the intel based macs ) its going to fly,... and if ur thinking about video u can run FCP HD

MBP FTW!

[idrivea2002golf]

i work for apple and sell and repair them all day... and id deff have u get the macbookpro... it will also last u longer... it will be better for the long run... i think that the 2.0 will be ehhh after a while... and the 2.33 should last u a long time... now that cs3 is out ( which is designed for the intel based macs ) its going to fly,... and if ur thinking about video u can run FCP HD

MBP FTW!

can you get me a discount on the iPhone when it comes out???

[GTi_01]

go with pro. im into graphics and have used both. otherwise get a G5 series desktop (moe powa!). ^.^

[creanium]

go with pro. im into graphics and have used both. otherwise get a G5 series desktop (moe powa!). ^.^

Why not get an Intel-based desktop? It's even more power ...

[Anonymous]

Why not get an Intel-based desktop? It's even more power ...

For realz. 8 cores FTMFW

I just configured mine for only $15,025

[paultakeda]

Laptops will always be more expensive than they are worth. Accept this and move on.

MacBooks are in mid-cycle. Don't expect a refresh until next year. Need one now go and get one now. Again, laptops are more expensive than they are worth. You get them because you need them when you need them.

MacBooks have no expansion port except FireWire 400 and USB 2. Bear this in mind.
MacBook Pros are probably due for a refresh but I doubt it'll be anything substantial. They are far too pricy to justify (same processor as MacBook, and in all honesty the Core2 is the Core2, it rocks period -- just get more RAM). The only reason you will get a MacBook Pro is:
1. You want the ExpressCard expansion slot
2. You want a 15"+ screen
3. You plan to bootcamp to Windows and play games in 3D and so want the still not that great ATI X1600 GPU.

Those are the only true reasons to get a Pro over a MacBook. You want speed? Get more RAM. Hell, get the cheaper 1.83MHz core -- you won't be able to tell the difference between it and 2.00GHz.

Personally, I prefer the MacBook's plastic body. The "speed gain" in a cooler inner temp is minimal compared to how frickin' hot to the touch a Pro gets with its metal case.

And $200 just to have a black body over a white body is ridiculous.

For your sister, get the 1.83MHz white MacBook and up the RAM to 2GB. This will be sufficient to run any arts software in either OSX, bootcamped XP/Vista, or even Parallels Linux/XP/Vista/DOS/whatever. She doesn't need 3D acceleration (if she is doing 3D animation, which doesn't sound likely since you said "graphic arts", then she needs a desktop, a MacBook Pro is just not worth it for a college student unless your family can splurge).

Spend the extra money on a big fat 24"or bigger widescreen monitor for her home and a tablet from Wacom (and if she wants a full size keyboard and mouse).

She'll enjoy both the monitor and the portability of a 13" laptop (though it's still ridiculously heavy).

[GTi_01]

Why not get an Intel-based desktop? It's even more power ...

oh crap. good point john. i forgot about those.


for the intel based.