Apple stores don't have CS3 on a single MB??

[munckee]

Neither of the NYC apple stores has a single MacBook (not pro) on the floor running CS3. Their claim? It's not a pro computer, so it's not made to run pro programs. When I asked why not, he claimed it was the lack of a graphics card. When I mentioned that most of CS3 doesn't require a graphics card and doesn't make much use of it, he went on to say that apple is doing its customers a favor by including it on any of their floor models because its a 3rd party app, and that the system requirements as stated by adobe demand a dedicated graphics card*.

So much for getting any hands-on experience with the computer that they want me to drop $1300 on. They'd rather push me to spend more on the pro. No offer of accommodation. No, "hey, it's a sunday morning and we're not too busy. come on in and we'll get you set up to try it out for a few minutes." Thanks apple.

*Not entirely true. From Adobe's site: "Some 3D features in Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended require an OpenGL 1.4 capable graphics card with at least 64MB of VRAM"

 

[portent]

...that apple is doing its customers a favor by including it on any of their floor models because its a 3rd party app ...

And he's perfectly right. Apple is under no obligation to buy an extra license of CS3 just so he can demo it for you on the particular hardware configuration that you're considering.

Apple Stores don't get CS3 for free. They buy it from Adobe (at wholesale, probably, but still.)

I would suggest that you buy a copy of CS3, since you're going to need it anyway, and ask Apple if you can install it temporarily to try it out.

 

[zioxide]

Apple Stores don't get CS3 for free. They buy it from Adobe (at wholesale, probably, but still.)

They probably do get it for free. They're going to showcase it for Adobe and it's the biggest non-apple software ran on macs. You can see how many pages Apple has about it on their site. They probably have an agreement that they can demo it on all store computers to showcase its power, etc. This way, it helps Apple sell more hardware and helps Adobe sell more software.

 

[kajitox]

He went on to say that apple is doing its customers a favor by including it on any of their floor models because its a 3rd party app, and that the system requirements as stated by adobe demand a dedicated graphics card.

You must be around some sassy people.

 

[munckee]

And he's perfectly right. Apple is under no obligation to buy an extra license of CS3 just so he can demo it for you on the particular hardware configuration that you're considering.

Apple Stores don't get CS3 for free. They buy it from Adobe (at wholesale, probably, but still.)

I would suggest that you buy a copy of CS3, since you're going to need it anyway, and ask Apple if you can install it temporarily to try it out.

I'm not arguing that he was wrong. I'm arguing that he was a jerk about it.

Apple isn't under any obligation to do anything, you're right. But they have the software readily available. Would it be so unheard of for them to offer a little service for a customer and help me out? I wouldn't expect it in the middle of a busy afternoon, but as I stated, this was 9:30 on a sunday morning.

At worst it's an opportunity for them to sell me a macbook. At best, it gives them a chance to demonstrate to me first hand why I need to spend more on a macbook pro. Either way, for a little bit of time spent, they win.

 

[puckhead193]

was it installed on any other computers? When I went they only had CS2 installed

 

[portent]

I very much doubt that they get free licenses from Adobe for all of their stores. Adobe doesn't care whether it sells CS3 on the Mac or on Windows, but Apple constantly needs to remind people that Macs can run serious software.

Even if they do, it's unlikely that each store gets unlimited installs.

 

[xfiftyfour]

I very much doubt that they get free licenses from Adobe for all of their stores. Adobe doesn't care whether it sells CS3 on the Mac or on Windows, but Apple constantly needs to remind people that Macs can run serious software.

Even if they do, it's unlikely that each store gets unlimited installs.

lol. No, they don't necessarily care one way or another, but I'm sure Adobe is well aware that the majority of their users are mac-based. As such, it would make sense for the two to partner up a bit, especially with as big of a release as CS3 (considering for many, their visit to an Apple store to buy a new computer might be the first hands-on experience with CS3.. and could very well lead to a sale). And even moreso, considering it's software rather than hardware and probably costs very little if anything at all to distribute a copy to all Apple stores, I highly doubt they would snub the opportunity for free advertising to their biggest market...

 

[alwaysaangel]

lol. No, they don't necessarily care one way or another, but I'm sure Adobe is well aware that the majority of their users are mac-based. As such, it would make sense for the two to partner up a bit, especially with as big of a release as CS3 (considering for many, their visit to an Apple store to buy a new computer might be the first hands-on experience with CS3.. and could very well lead to a sale). And even moreso, considering it's software rather than hardware and probably costs very little if anything at all to distribute a copy to all Apple stores, I highly doubt they would snub the opportunity for free advertising to their biggest market...

A copy to apple stores is one thing. But unlimited installations? Thats risky seeing as it would encourage apple employees to pirate. They probably get a certain number of installations - which they understandably put on the MBPs. They probably can't install it beyond that certain number.

 

[Igantius]

Neither of the NYC apple stores has a single MacBook (not pro) on the floor running CS3. Their claim? It's not a pro computer, so it's not made to run pro programs.

I've noticed on other forums' threads about Final Cut running on MBs, that this kind of attitude is common in Apple Stores. When people asked about if MBs could cope with FCP (note, they were asking for info, not a demo). The majority of people were told that that it couldn't, with the odd person being advised although you could use a MB, they recommended a pro machine for heavy editing usage.

In terms of capabilities currently, there isn't too much that differentiates MBPs from MBs - and there seems to be plenty of folk happily using FC and CS2 on the latter. Possibly, Apple Stores may be taking this attitude on people who are looking to use pro apps and save some bucks when buying a machine. Or possibly, they may take the approach of, if you want to use pro apps then you need to buy a pro machine, regardless of anything else.

 

[Policar]

I've noticed on other forums' threads about Final Cut running on MBs, that this kind of attitude is common in Apple Stores. When people asked about if MBs could cope with FCP (note, they were asking for info, not a demo). The majority of people were told that that it couldn't, with the odd person being advised although you could use a MB, they recommended a pro machine for heavy editing usage.

In terms of capabilities currently, there isn't too much that differentiates MBPs from MBs - and there seems to be plenty of folk happily using FC and CS2 on the latter. Possibly, Apple Stores may be taking this attitude on people who are looking to use pro apps and save some bucks when buying a machine. Or possibly, they may take the approach of, if you want to use pro apps then you need to buy a pro machine, regardless of anything else.

According to Apple's site, FCP requires a pro machine and a decent graphics card...even if it doesn't really need it to run.

Also, Apple doesn't just install stuff onto their store computers; their computers are reimaged frequently based on disk images that they're sent and those disk images are designed to make each computer appeal to a specific demographic. You can probably download a demo of Photoshop CS3 and try it out and no one will bother you, but no one at the Apple store is under any obligation to install it for you. The "graphics card" line is something of a cover for "if you can afford Photoshop, you can afford a pro machine" but the truth is that the MBP is more appropriate for photoshop: it has a larger, more accurate display, can drive a larger display, and its better OpenGL acceleration will help with some tasks in Creative Studio.

Typically, the kind of people going into an Apple store and buying a non-pro machine for pro applications are either students who already know what they need, or people with a very specific purpose who already know what they want to get--and neither is the type of customer for whom a Mac specialist is going to do a ton of favors. This type of customer already knows what he wants (and more importantly, doesn't want) so why mess with store computers to sell him on something he's basically already decided on or can decide on himself?

 

[skubish]

lol. No, they don't necessarily care one way or another, but I'm sure Adobe is well aware that the majority of their users are mac-based...

Do you have a source for this? Because I highly doubt Adobe's largest market is Mac. If it was, they would have made CS2 universal.

To the OP:
Just download the demo of CS3 at the apple store and try it out.
Apple isn't going to help you with 3rd-party apps, only their own apps.

 

[jaw04005]

Do you have a source for this? Because I highly doubt Adobe's largest market is Mac. If it was, they would have made CS2 universal.

According to most reports I've read, Adobe as a whole is roughly 70 percent Windows and 30 percent Mac. However, in some creative markets such as InDesign/Photoshop it's roughly 50/50.

According to Mr. Brady, Adobe’s sales in its last financial year (2006) “were 77% Windows and 23% Mac. In some markets, such as the creative professional space, the Macintosh percentage is even higher. The Macintosh market is huge for Adobe and, by most estimates, we’re the largest supplier of Mac software on the planet.”

http://theappleblog.com/2007/04/09/why-do-software-companies-support-the-mac/

http://www.macobserver.com/article/2004/04/22.12.shtml

 

[danny_w]

Sorry for the brush-off at the Apple store, but this is exactly the kind of non-service I would expect from either of the ones in the Austin area. The employees in general are snobbish and unhelpful. I only use the physical Apple store as a last resort.

 

[Turkish]

My store has it on most of the MBs.

 

[valdore]

I've been to my Apple Store a few times recently, and all their desktops were still running CS2. I didn't think to check if they put the package on the macbooks, but it was on the desktops.

 

[Igantius]

According to Apple's site, FCP requires a pro machine and a decent graphics card...even if it doesn't really need it to run.

Certainly Final Cut Studio doesn't support MacBooks officially - Apple's main word of caution is: "The integrated graphics processor in the MacBook does not permit float processing in Motion and will result in degraded performance and other issues in Motion and other Final Cut Studio applications."

But there are plenty of MB users who have reported no problems running FCP - such as users on this fourm - in fact I don't think I've seen any posters bemoaning MB performance in this area. As I'm looking to buy a laptop in the near future as a secondary machine and to do editing on, I've been investigating this quite a bit recently!

Last year, Creative Mac benchmarked MBs against MBPs and PM G5s running FCP and Motion, which showed impressive results for the consumer laptop and the site concluded that MBs were a viable choice for FC Studio users.

Of course, things may change in the future...

 

[Vidd]

I can see how negative it would look for someone to try out CS3 and wonder why certain features won't work but I've heard a quite few people saying they want a MB for light Photoshop work.
Of course, the MacBook handles most of CS3 well and the Apple Stores should reflect this.

It is definitely different from store to store. Maybe it's just lack of enthusiasm from the employees?

 

[munckee]

To the OP:
Just download the demo of CS3 at the apple store and try it out.

Tried to do this the other day. Got the dmg downloaded only to find that the application folder was password protected and the demo wouldn't run off the disk image.