Advice: Mac Pro or C2D MacBook Pro

[speekez]

Yeah, I went to the Apple Store and drove the Mac Pros again, this time with Aperture. Seems pretty responsive to me. They had the Pro's stuffed with 4GB. 4GB seems like a sweet spot.

I've been reading the Barefeats articles and they have been helpful. I've been getting mixed opinions regarding the video card, whether I should stick with the stock Geforce 7300 or upgrade to the ATI X1900 XT, for Aperture use. Some folks say it will have an effect on Aperture; others say not really.

I was surprised Barefeats put in a 10K drive. I thought the max was 7200?

Oh, and the 30" ACD is a damn tease

The Mighty Mouse was hard to use and not very responsive, probably due to a lack of a mouse pad.

The store also finally got their 17" MBP Core 2 Duos in stock. I don't think the screens are as bad as I imagined them to be. Still, my co-worker who is a high end special FX art director, says he hasn't been too happy with his (he had the core duo version). He says the screen isn't great and he says it gets tiring working long hours on the laptop screen because of the angle you need to crook your neck. Anyhow, he's moving on to the Mac Pro and an ACD.

 

[leekohler]

Being a professional in the ad industry, I would normally tell you to go with a Mac Pro. However, if you're going to be doing lots of photography (especially if you're doing location work) my advice is to go with the MBP. You may find that being able to take your computer anywhere is a huge plus. Viewing your photos immediately on a laptop, rather than relying on polaroids or your company's computer is really helpful, take it from me. You may also want to consider getting an iMac and a MacBook. That would be a great combination of power and portability. I personally have a dual-core G5 and an iBook. They work great together, but I will soon be getting a MacBook.

 

[FFTT]

Yeah, you can look at web sites for hours on end, but actually seeing the Mac Pro and the ACD's hands on is the best way to make your decision.

It's all about having the tools of the trade.

It sounds to me like you really do need a proper workstation and that eventually you'll end up with a portable too.