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Advice needed on MacBook Purchase

josh.thomas said:
The .17Ghz isn't really that noticeable I've found.

Rosetta uses a lot of RAM, and Macs love RAM anyway - 512 wouldn't be enough to run Photoshop and do 50+MB files if it was running nativley (ie: on a PowerPC Mac).

The fact Photoshop loves RAM, the Mac does, and Rosetta does, means 512 wouldn't be enough.

A 1.83Ghz with 2GB of RAM will run fine. Remember, I'm going from a G5 to an Intel, not a G4 - which is slower, in comparison.

Also, just because CS3 will be Intel compatible doesn't mean my computer will gain .34Ghz. It would still be a 1.83Ghz/2Ghz machine - its just CS3 would be running nativley, and would be smoother, and less of a RAM hog as it wouldn't be using Rosetta (so it would run faster) but the computers speed itself does not alter.
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I ealize this, but i will say that i had my macbook, 2 ghz and with photoshp cs it took about 20 seconds to open and kept up with everything i did, now with 1 gig it takes about 15 to open. if you want me to test anything thing i will, but i can only test with a gig. and according to what i have read cs3 will have much better support for dual cores so you will notice a slihht difference. Id get the 2 ghz, and slowly up that ram to 2 gig and than when cs3 comes out itss fly. You cant upgrade the macbooks cpu since it is saudered on, the 2 ghz will prepare you a little more. but, that 1.83 sure is nice, and if you dont need a dvd burner its hard to justify the cost difference. I dont worl with 50 mb files though i work with about 10 mb.
 
josh.thomas said:
We're VAT registered.

How did you qualify for HE if your doing A-Levels? ;)
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As by now you should have your University acceptance letter you can order on HE discount (which also gets you free 3 year warrenty) there also does seem to be a RAM shortage crucial now are charging £200 for 2GB whereas a month ago it was £125... If you can wait for the new models (it's gonna be tight as my Uni term starts on the 2nd October) Apple's RAM and HD upgrade prices should be inline with the Mac Mini/iMac which will make buying RAM and HD space from Apple worthwhile.
 
Eraserhead said:
As by now you should have your University acceptance letter you can order on HE discount (which also gets you free 3 year warrenty)
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But I'm not in University, and neither was the other poster. :eek:

We've just started our final year of A-Levels, which means we're either in a 6th Form College, 6th Form in Secondary School, or standard College.

Its next September people my year start University - which I why I was confused as to how he got HE discount. :confused:
 
I always recommend buying the fastest processor you can afford.

Even so, it's better to see you getting into a MacBook at a reasonable price
with everything you need for the immediate future, than it would be to
spend too much and regret it later once the Penryn notebooks debut.

Hey, at least you're not buying a P Of C ! ;)

I just thought you would be happier in the long run spending $50.00 more for
the faster refurb.

Yes they move fast on the refurb store pages, because you get the best bang for your buck buying that way.
 
fivetoadsloth said:
according to what i have read cs3 will have much better support for dual cores so you will notice a slihht difference.
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Its not that it doesn't ''support'' the 2 cores now. The reason you experience a degrade in speed is because Photoshop is designed to run on PowerPC, and its being used on Intel - its being ''converted'' (the easiest way to say it).

Its like a Petrol car running on Diesel - its being forced to work on a different 'fuel'.

CS3 will be whats known as ''native'' - its written for Intel, therefore it will run without being ''converted'' from PowerPC using Rosetta.
 
FFTT said:
I just thought you would be happier in the long run spending $50.00 more for
the faster refurb.

Yes they move fast on the refurb store pages, because you get the best bang for your buck buying that way.
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The UK prices are a lot higher than the US.

It would be more than a £30(ish) difference to get the top of the range White refurb MB.

I would save a bit, but not a lot. Plus, I've only seen them on there once - and I'm not in a position to wait, well not for .17Ghz. :)

Decided: the 1.83Ghz option :p
 
josh.thomas said:
Its not that it doesn't ''support'' the 2 cores now. The reason you experience a degrade in speed is because Photoshop is designed to run on PowerPC, and its being used on Intel - its being ''converted'' (the easiest way to say it).

Its like a Petrol car running on Diesel - its being forced to work on a different 'fuel'.

CS3 will be whats known as ''native'' - its written for Intel, therefore it will run without being ''converted'' from PowerPC using Rosetta.
Click to expand...
i know, i run cs and cs isnt optamized for dual cores, as cs2 is
 
fivetoadsloth said:
i know, i run cs and cs isnt optamized for dual cores, as cs2 is
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I'm sorry - you don't seem to have any idea what I'm talking about.

CS and CS2 are not designed to work on Intel. Intel Macs: Mac Mini, MacBook Pro, iMac and MacBook, and now, the Mac Pro.

CS and CS2 are for PowerPC - G3, G4 and G5 (iBook, PowerBook and PowerMac, eMac etc, and older gen iMacs, and Mac Minis)

When you use CS and CS2 on an Intel machine, it has to be ''converted'' by an app. called Rosetta. This allows you to run non-native (meaning apps not designed for Intel Macs) on an Intel Mac. Because of this, they run slower.

CS2 is not supposed to be used on an Intel Mac, its not what it was designed for, so it does not have the capability to harnice both cores.

CS3 however will be written for Intel, and will work without Rosetta - as it will be native (meaning its written specifically for Intel - its supposed to work on it!)
 
josh.thomas said:
But I'm not in University, and neither was the other poster. :eek:

We've just started our final year of A-Levels, which means we're either in a 6th Form College, 6th Form in Secondary School, or standard College.

Its next September people my year start University - which I why I was confused as to how he got HE discount. :confused:
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Sorry thought you'd just finished your A-Levels :eek:
 
Hey just out of interest, what is the HE pricing for the MacBook range? (UK) is it much more of a discount than the education store?
Thanks
 
MisterEd said:
Hey just out of interest, what is the HE pricing for the MacBook range? (UK) is it much more of a discount than the education store?
Thanks
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Without sounding rude.. how would I know?

As you've just seen in my last few posts, I'm in 6th form.

You need to be a University student and access the store from your Unis special network.
 
josh.thomas said:
Without sounding rude.. how would I know?

As you've just seen in my last few posts, I'm in 6th form.

You need to be a University student and access the store from your Unis special network.
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Yes I realise that. I was hoping somebody else in the thread would be able to tell me, I wasn't just addressing you.
 
MisterEd said:
Yes I realise that. I was hoping somebody else in the thread would be able to tell me, I wasn't just addressing you.
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To get a price you will have to access the HE Store from your HE network, as stated. :)
 
josh.thomas said:
To get a price you will have to access the HE Store from your HE network, as stated. :)
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I'm on a gap year this year, so I can't access the HE store at the moment, but I'm interested in what the prices are because if the discount is significant, it may be worth waiting to buy.
Surely there is nothing wrong with just asking to see if anyone knows the pricing? Chances are that someone in this thread is in HE and knows...
 
MisterEd said:
Hey just out of interest, what is the HE pricing for the MacBook range? (UK) is it much more of a discount than the education store?
Thanks
Click to expand...

The discount is doubled, e.g. if a Macbook cost (say) £1000 on the Normal UK store and then cost £900 on the Education Store, it would cost about £800 on the HE store.

You also get a free 3 year warranty on the HE store.

For example a Midrange Macbook currently costs £744 on the UK HE store.
 
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