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Yvettealice

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 25, 2011
6
0
Australia
I have to commute next year and wanted to do my course work on the train. It's a 2 1/2 hr journey each way, and I need to run cs5 on it.

I have had so many people making recommendations to me about what laptop I should get, and I am so confused :confused: but I am drawn to the macbook because it is so light and I have to carry it around campus with me all day.

Following steps such as turning off unnecessary programs, only running one program at a time, dimming the screen... will a mbp last the journey, or at least a significant portion of the journey (and then charging it again for the journey back...)?
I don't even know if the answer is out there, but I don't know what computer to get as I don't want to waste all this money on a laptop, to only have it die half an hour into the trip. Only reason I want to get a laptop is to do work instead of sitting around staring out the window on the train, wasting time. (I don't have days off so its important I'm not wasting time.)

Also, if I want to get one, what would be the best configuration? Like, 13 or 15, 4gb or 8gb ram? I read a lot about how sometimes the extra ram is worth it because though it's more power to run it, its even less power needed for the hdd.

Anyone in a similiar position to me who can give me answer on battery times, and what sort of mbp you have?
 
Nov 28, 2010
22,670
30
located
It will last at least 2.5 hours using CS5, unless you render all the time and use the CPU at maximum capacity (CS5 "includes" a lot of applications, therefore I don't know for sure what you are doing).

I can get 4 to 5 hours with my 2009 17" MBP and C4D with various renderings in between.

The bets config would be a 15" MBP with the Anti Glare High Resolution screen and at least 4GB, you can always upgrade to 8GB after the purchase for 90 USD.

This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions: Apple Notebook Battery FAQ




Helpful Information for Any Mac User by GGJstudios
 

Yvettealice

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 25, 2011
6
0
Australia
Thanks for the reply!
Photoshop, illustrator, and indesign mainly, maybe after affects and premier but I could save that till I am plugged into a power source...

I was looking at the online store, and now I'm confused about processors.... would i5 or i7 be best in terms of battery life?

90 US... >_< thats not at apple though right? I haven't heard of any other store here that upgrades macs cheaper than what apple do. More likely to tack on a bit and hope that people will come to them anyway rather than make the journey to the apple store.
 
Nov 28, 2010
22,670
30
located
As both i5 and i7 have the same TDP of 35W, it wouldn't really matter. Maybe you save some minutes with one or the other, but there will be around 2.5 hours of usage with both of them.
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=43560
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=43544
via http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/index-macbookpro.html

As to the RAM, you can buy it via a reputed online reseller in Australia and put it in yourself.
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Installing-MacBook-Pro-15-Inch-Unibody-Mid-2010-RAM/3032/1

It costs 400 USD in the Apple Store and they even take the 4GB RAM which you would still have if you would do it yourself.

Using http://www.macsales.com will get your 8GB RAM for 108 USD and a shipping cost from 15 to 94 USD.
 
Last edited:

Blu101

macrumors 6502a
Sep 10, 2010
562
0
As both i5 and i7 have the same TDP of 35W, it wouldn't really matter.

Even though they have the same TDP, the i5 runs at a few watts less than the i7, task for task (even in idle). Thus, the i5 will give you the longest battery life - but will also take longer to process certain cpu intensive tasks - it's up to you to weigh the pros and cons of power vs battery life, for your usage.
 

thetruth1985

macrumors 6502
Sep 17, 2010
371
4
Considering that I was complaining earlier this week how my 15 inch would not last longer than 6 hours, I am sure you will have no problem with the battery on your train ride. My config is the i5 2.4 with 8gb ram, 15 inch 2010 model.
 

Yvettealice

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 25, 2011
6
0
Australia
So I think I have defiantly decided I want a mbp, but now between the three, I dunno if I need NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 512 MB, or just 256 MB...:confused:
 
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