Should I buy a basic Mac laptop or Mac Pro laptop for running the following apps (see extra note below)?
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I’m starting a graduate program in instructional design.
They will mainly use Adobe’s Studio Suite (Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks).
Money is an issue; but, if the Mac Pro is worth it, then perhaps the answer is yes for the Pro.
I do have a desktop PC with a pretty good graphics card, and memory. But, I was also considering buying a Mac laptop (even though I’ve only used the Mac a couple of times).
I would like to ask you if you think it would be necessary to buy a Mac Pro laptop to run the above applications (and perhaps pay extra for a faster hard drive 7200rpm and 17" screen or just the basic screen and hard drive? because I’ve read somewhere that a faster hard drive is better for running graphics, audio, and video); or would I do just as well with their basic Mac laptop and LCD screen?
Of course, the Mac Pro is much more than the basic Mac laptop, so this is why I need to find out if it’s necessary.
Thanks
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Tagged with: adobe • desktop pc • fireworks • good graphics • graduate program • graphics card • hard drive • instructional design • mac laptop • memory • money • necessary thanks
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I have been running Adobe Creative Suite on an old Mac iBook G4 for about four years now. I also run Final Cut Pro and several other pro-apps. It has 640 MB of RAM and a small, slow hard drive. If I could, I would switch to a Mac Book Pro.
Some of the 3D applications in the Adobe Studio Suite you mentioned require at least 64 mb of VRAM. The MacBook has just 64 megs of VRAM while the MacBook Pro ships with 256 megs on the video processor. It also has much higher CPU speeds and much larger screens available. When working with design, bigger really is better. It may not seem like much, but a 17" screen is a huge advantage over the MacBook’s 13" screen.
The MacBook Pro is probably the better way to go but, depending on the amount of high end work that you are going to do, the MacBook isn’t out of the question. Just max out the RAM at 2 GB and stay away from the larger but slower hard drive. If you are doing some 3D intensive work, the MacBook Pro is your only solution unless you want to go with an iMac.
I know that the extra $1200 for a MacBook Pro is a bit daunting but for professional design, it is the best solution. For strictly educational purposes and if you can stand some slower render times, the MacBook will work.
i Have an desktop imac, i have tons of that stuff like adobe’s studio suite, it works just fine, everyone at school has a macbook. i think any of the two would be fine, i just depends on how much you are going to be putting into your laptop, you should buy the laptop pro, even though its a little extra.
Actually either models will work very well for you as long as you are referring to the CS3 version of Adobe Software. CS3 is a Universal Application and runs natively on the Intel Chips in the new Macs. I’m a graphic designer (print emphasis), I personally use a G4 laptop and a Mac Pro Desktop. But I have several colleagues (internet emphasis) who use those programs you will be using. One of them uses a Macbook while the other uses a Macbook Pro. Their performance is actually fairly close.
Dreamweaver, Flash, and Fireworks are more reliant on the CPU especially in the CS3 version. If you were doing heavy Photoshop or Indesign work, then you’d definitely want the Macbook Pro. But if you’re working mainly Dreamweaver, and Flash you’ll be fine with either the Macbook or Macbook Pro.
When it comes to the HD and the Screen. If you’re lugging it around all day I’d definitely recommend a 15in. You can always plug in a 22in display when you’re at your desk. As for the HD, I’d save the money spent on a 7200rpm drive and put it towards more RAM. Since you’re not doing video, a 5400rpm drive will be adequate, and you can always ad an external firewire800 drive if necessary.