MacBook vs MacBook Pro

[alorrigan]

I'll be getting a MacBook pretty soon and just wondering what the differences are between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro. I'll be starting my career as a graphic designer pretty soon, hopefully, so I will mainly use it for Adobe programs (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.). I know there is someone who is a graphic designer around here and maybe he can give me some input.

[brewers19]

I guess it comes down to what specs you're willing to settle for and at what price. The MacBook is simpler (13" screen, 2.1-2.4 GHz, 1-2 GB memory, 120-250 GB hard drive) and generally cheaper ($1,099-$1,499). Whereas the MacBook Pro is slightly larger and more powerful (15-17" screen, 2.4-2.5 GHz, 2 GB memory, 200-250 GB) and much more expensive ($1,999-$2,799). The performance gap between the two is much smaller than that of the iBook and PowerBook, so it more or less is a matter of personal preference and whether the slight upgrade in performance of the MacBook Pro is worth the extra money.

 

I'm not a graphic designer or anything close, but I use Illustrator and Photoshop fairly frequently on my old PowerBook G4 (1.5 GHz, 1.5 GB memory, 80 GB hard drive) and it manages to still chug along at a pretty decent clip. So the MacBook and MacBook Pro will have no trouble handling those programs.

[Teatoe993]

I did graphics for 10 years. If you are seriously gonna be doing graphics, get the biggest & most powerful mac you can. Screen size is crucial. Nothing is bigger pain than working in Illustrator/Photoshop and not having any space to work with because all the pallets are taking up the majority of the screen. And in graphics, you are only as fast as your equipment. I have spent countless hours waiting for enormous files to open/process/save.etc. For a laptop, anything other than a Macbook Pro would be out of the question. If you can afford the 17" get it. But I'd really recommend you not fool around and get yourself a Mac Pro tower with a big monitor. But if you must go with the laptop, MacBook Pro is the only option.

[Diskono]

The MacBook is prettier, but the MacBook Pro is cuter.

 

FWIW, all of those programs are exactly the same under Windows (except in windows, you can right-click too). As for real advice, I always lean toward the smaller, more portable laptop, I suppose this would be the regular MacBook. I can't stand monster laptops that are too big to fit on my lap and difficult to carry around - might as well just get a desktop at that point. Maybe the best compromise is to get a smaller laptop, and use the money you save to buy a desktop (which would likely be much more powerful)?

[1992casey]

I've been looking into these notebooks, and one thing the MacBook Pro offers is an LED screen. The reviewers really seem to like it. You also have a choice of matte or glossy (same price). The MacBook is glossy only.

 

Also, in regard to the advice two messages above, if one needs the portability of a notebook, but would also benefit from working from a standard monitor, I'd suggest buying the notebook and plugging it into a standard monitor at home.

[colbyjack]

If you have the money, get the better computer. One thing I have run to in the past (and I am a graphic designer) is regetting going with a cheaper model at the time of purchase only to wish I had bought the best available option since computers become outdated so quickly.

 

And regardless of which computer you get, buy a separate monitor that you can plug your laptop into at a desk/docking station, at least 20". As Teatoe mentioned, the screen size is crucial, and you don't want to have to work on projects staring at your laptop screen (get a good, portable mouse too, trying to design with the touch pad is painful if you haven't already figured that out). You should be able to get a good LCD in the 20-22" range for $300-500, if that.

 

(Just a tip, Mac monitors are made to work with Mac computers, as I have had some small Mac OS updater issues using a non-Mac monitor).

 

Getting an additional screen also doesn't make getting the 17" laptop as crucial, although I think that one is the most powerful.

[theavrock]

I am not a graphic designer, but my best buddy is and has been using Macs for years. I asked him and he said if you are going to be going into design that he would absolutely suggest the MacBook Pro.

[DSFastball55]

I have a Macbook and run Adobe CS3 (among other things) and have never had problems. I use a 22" external monitor when I'm at my desk, works great. I can't imagine the Macbook Pro would be worth the price difference.