Talk me out of buying a MacBook!
Hi,
I've got my heart set on a MacBook C2D, but I keep doubting, wondering if it'll fulfill my needs. I can afford the 15" MacBook Pro, but I really like the MacBook's form factor, and Black Friday's hundred bucks off sweetens the deal. But!:
* Will it be sluggish driving a 1920x1200 external CRT (2D, no games)?
* How's video playback on such higher resolutions, on an external display?
I do Unix-based development, photography stuff, and typical web-browsing. Nothing the MacBook C2D should have a hard time handling, but I really need it to gracefully handle a 1920x1200 external display.
I tried out a newer-model Mac mini on the 23" cinema display, figuring same GMA950+64MB = similar performance, and it seemed OK. But then I noticed that the mini clocks the GMA950 at 400MHz, vs. the MacBook at 250MHz. Ouch. Hence my doubt.
Games, not really worried about. Core Animation stuff next year in Leopard, maybe.
So, do you think I'll end up regretting a MacBook buy, wishing for the 15" Pro? I could go either way if it weren't for the video, though I really dig the feel of the MacBook. Why oh why doesn't Apple make a slick 13" MacBook Pro (in black, bitte?)?
I've got my heart set on a MacBook C2D, but I keep doubting, wondering if it'll fulfill my needs. I can afford the 15" MacBook Pro, but I really like the MacBook's form factor, and Black Friday's hundred bucks off sweetens the deal. But!:
* Will it be sluggish driving a 1920x1200 external CRT (2D, no games)?
* How's video playback on such higher resolutions, on an external display?
I do Unix-based development, photography stuff, and typical web-browsing. Nothing the MacBook C2D should have a hard time handling, but I really need it to gracefully handle a 1920x1200 external display.
I tried out a newer-model Mac mini on the 23" cinema display, figuring same GMA950+64MB = similar performance, and it seemed OK. But then I noticed that the mini clocks the GMA950 at 400MHz, vs. the MacBook at 250MHz. Ouch. Hence my doubt.
Games, not really worried about. Core Animation stuff next year in Leopard, maybe.
So, do you think I'll end up regretting a MacBook buy, wishing for the 15" Pro? I could go either way if it weren't for the video, though I really dig the feel of the MacBook. Why oh why doesn't Apple make a slick 13" MacBook Pro (in black, bitte?)?
Comments
Hi,
I've got my heart set on a MacBook C2D, but I keep doubting, wondering if it'll fulfill my needs. I can afford the 15" MacBook Pro, but I really like the MacBook's form factor, and Black Friday's hundred bucks off sweetens the deal. But!:
* Will it be sluggish driving a 1920x1200 external CRT (2D, no games)?
* How's video playback on such higher resolutions, on an external display?
I do Unix-based development, photography stuff, and typical web-browsing. Nothing the MacBook C2D should have a hard time handling, but I really need it to gracefully handle a 1920x1200 external display.
I want a MacBook, too, but keep considering the Pro. My main concern, as well, is driving an external display (likely a 20" ACD or 24" Dell). It would be running both displays about 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. I mainly run the basic apps (Mail, Safari, etc.) as well as FileMaker and Excel during that time, mixed with a little Illustrator/Photoshop & InDesign.
I will get a MacBook if I know it can handle these things, while running that display. I'd love it if it could. If not, I'll have to go Pro. So, I'm interested in more opinions as well!
The graphics memory isn't fixed at 64 MB. The OS can increase video memory if needs be.
Don't forget that there are other considerations for MacBook Vs. MacBook Pro. The pro has:
The integrated graphics will pose no problem whatsoever if you aren't going to be playing games, or doing any core-image heavy lifting (e.g. lots of Aperture) ...
Hmm, that gets my attention. Something like Aperture running at high res on an external display with loads of images would be pretty typical for me (though I don't use Aperture yet, I'm migrating from Unix/Windows). I wonder if CS3 will be using Core Image heavily?
As much as I like the idea of the MacBook, I'm gradually getting the idea that I'll be better off with a Pro. Bummer. Sorta.
Something like Aperture running at high res on an external display with loads of images would be pretty typical for me
Yep, it's a MacBook Pro for you!
I wonder if CS3 will be using Core Image heavily?
Only if Apple buy Adobe.
The integrated graphics will pose no problem whatsoever if you aren't going to be playing games, or doing any core-image heavy lifting (e.g. lots of Aperture) or OpenGL-accelerated 3D stuff.
The graphics memory isn't fixed at 64 MB. The OS can increase video memory if needs be.
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It more like 64+16=80 in OSX
and 128+16?=144? in XP
Thanks everyone for your comments. I'll probably be picking up a MBP soon.
Congrats!
I still can't decide. Care if I mooch off your thread? I guess my primary concern is running an external 20-24" display 90% of the time (extended desktop)...
Does anyone know how the brightness between the current displays compares? It seems to me that between the 1st revisions, the MacBook was brighter.
I might try to hold out until MWSF, to see if there are any decision altering products announced. Not sure if I can, though!
I was planning to pick it up with 2GB RAM, but they have a "RAM shortage" so I left with the standard 1GB, and an offer to have it installed later for the upgrade price. Since there's an open slot I'll probably just order a gig elsewhere.
This might give you guys the icky face, but the one thing I miss from my ThinkPads is the middle-of-the-keyboard pointer-stick. The MBP's touchpad is probably the best I've used, and the two-finger scrolling/right-click thing is cool, but the accuracy seems low for things like copy/paste of specific text in the middle of a sentence. I'll probably get used to it.
We all have to find our own system, I guess, but in the last seven years, this has worked really well for me. I use the trackpad and the keyboard in sync. Makes things very quick.
Congrats on your purchase. Play around with it and ask around for tips. It may be a new way for you, but it's going to be second nature soon.