I haven’t seen much feedback from designers using the MacBook, so I wanted to share a couple observations. I debated getting one after reading all the mediocre tech press reviews — my current setup being a 5k iMac and a 15” rMBP (2012 model). I fully expected to be returning the MacBook and just waiting on a 15” redesign — but I was curious so I had to try it out. After a week I have to say it’s my favorite laptop ever and I doubt I’ll ever use anything bigger or heavier again.
My biggest concerns were performance (Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator are resource hogs) and screen size (can I really design on a 12-inch screen?) Both concerns were alleviated pretty quickly.
This week I edited a huge 1 GB Photoshop file (poster) containing multiple layers. Interacting with the file changing type, color, masking, moving things around, etc. is just as responsive as my 5k iMac. The only time I felt the performance drop was changing the resolution of the entire file and saving it. With a file that big, I still have to wait on my iMac anyway. At the end of the day, I don’t think you lose much (any?) real-world efficiency using Adobe’s apps on the MacBook. As others have stated, there can be a little UI jerkiness, which I especially find in InDesign, but this is more of an annoyance than anything that really affects how quickly you can accomplish a task. The other issue is screen size — Adobe’s UI takes up a ton of space. But you’re going to feel this no matter which laptop size you use. Nothing beats a large monitor for design. My MacBook is a supplemental computer and I can easily accept its limitations. I’m not using its screen all day.
In the past week I’ve found myself using the MacBook everywhere — in the doctor waiting room, riding shotgun, out on the patio. I just carry it naked like a book and go. No messing with a bag. It doesn’t even feel like a machine. I never did all this with a 15” — it was a hassle to take places, even from room to room. It’s a pretty profound change.
I had always hoped the iPad would turn into something I could use for real work — to edit my files from anywhere. It’s great to have something JUST as portable as an iPad that can do EVERYTHING I need it to do. Maybe it's a little slow, and people will complain about the specs, but I think I understand why Apple made it. It's a different, better mobile experience than I've ever had before.
My biggest concerns were performance (Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator are resource hogs) and screen size (can I really design on a 12-inch screen?) Both concerns were alleviated pretty quickly.
This week I edited a huge 1 GB Photoshop file (poster) containing multiple layers. Interacting with the file changing type, color, masking, moving things around, etc. is just as responsive as my 5k iMac. The only time I felt the performance drop was changing the resolution of the entire file and saving it. With a file that big, I still have to wait on my iMac anyway. At the end of the day, I don’t think you lose much (any?) real-world efficiency using Adobe’s apps on the MacBook. As others have stated, there can be a little UI jerkiness, which I especially find in InDesign, but this is more of an annoyance than anything that really affects how quickly you can accomplish a task. The other issue is screen size — Adobe’s UI takes up a ton of space. But you’re going to feel this no matter which laptop size you use. Nothing beats a large monitor for design. My MacBook is a supplemental computer and I can easily accept its limitations. I’m not using its screen all day.
In the past week I’ve found myself using the MacBook everywhere — in the doctor waiting room, riding shotgun, out on the patio. I just carry it naked like a book and go. No messing with a bag. It doesn’t even feel like a machine. I never did all this with a 15” — it was a hassle to take places, even from room to room. It’s a pretty profound change.
I had always hoped the iPad would turn into something I could use for real work — to edit my files from anywhere. It’s great to have something JUST as portable as an iPad that can do EVERYTHING I need it to do. Maybe it's a little slow, and people will complain about the specs, but I think I understand why Apple made it. It's a different, better mobile experience than I've ever had before.
