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macbook vs macbook pro for graphic design

A

agnespie

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 16, 2008
17
0
would a new macbook with 2.4 ghz and 2 GB ram be sufficient to load all sorts of graphic programs like photoshop, corel painter, and illustrator, without any slowness? or would one recommend getting a macbook pro?

I understand macbook only comes with a 13" inch screen, so we'll still decide whether a 13" would be good enough, based on my boyfriend's own opinion.

but right now I just want to focus on internal specs.
 
Some people are still using 1.5GHz PowerPC Powerbooks for graphic design. As long as you don't try to recreate the Earth, you'll be fine, from a CPU/speed perspective.

Graphics cards may provide some trouble, but as long as you don't game or anything, you should be fine.
 
The MacBook Pro's display will help things a lot.

The MacBook should run it plenty fast enough though, but if you can afford the MacBook Pro - go for it, without hesitation...

Oh and don't double post, it's against the forum rules...
 
I'm not too familiar with areas like that: chips and integrated graphics. I just know basics like speeds and RAM and that kind of stuff. I heard about the chip thing and was wondering if it really makes a difference.

he's just doing graphic design/drawing with a pen tablet. not any video editing or games.
 
as stated before, the only issue that will arise is screen size, 13 inch is quite small (even on my 15" macbook pro, working with photoshop, etc gets tough, all the tools, windows, etc take up a lot of screen real estate) I would recommend (ideally) a macbook pro + external display. but you should be fine even with a Macbook + external display.
 
The MacBook has an integrated graphics chip that shares 144MB from the main memory, and its quite bad, but good for everyday use, not gaming.


The MacBook Pro has a dedicated graphics chip, with up to 512MB dedicated memory, and its a very fast chip.


So the MacBook Pro wins by miles, and right now, thats one of the only things that differentiates the macbook and macbook pro.
 
On the other hand, for what the OP says she's doing, graphics muscle probably doesn't matter that much.
 
I work with InDesignCS...

PhotoshopCS, IllustratorCS (more InDesignCS now), iDVD, iMovie, FCP-HD, and have no problem whatsoever with the size of the screen. In fact, it's nice to be able to work on a project in between classes or during the BART Train commute to and from campus. Not sure why anyone would spend the extra money on 2" of screen, when 13.3" is just fine for some of us. Save your money and check out the MB 2.4 Penryn 250GB, it just might be what you're looking for. :cool:
 
The MB will work just fine, like the others have mentioned.

But you may prefer the larger screen of the MBP. Or, like Cave Man and Thetics suggested, going with the MB + a larger external screen may fit your needs even better [for less].
 
The Macbook Pro's dedicated graphics helps mainly with 3D graphics acceleration in applications which support it (3D modeling, games, etc.). If your applications do not require 3D acceleration, you will see virtually no difference between the Macbook Pro's dedicated and the Macbook's integrated graphics.

Your graphics design applications are 2D applications. You will see a larger performance boost by spending your money on more RAM and a faster Hard Drive.

If you buy upgrades aftermarket, you can boost your ram to 4GB for $100. You can pick up a 200GB 7200rpm drive (better performance) or a 320GB 5400rpm drive (more storage space) for $150-200. Both components can be changed without too much hassle.

If you are concerned about screen size, spend some of the left over $$ on a nice external monitor for when you are at your desk.
 
agnespie said:
would a new macbook with 2.4 ghz and 2 GB ram be sufficient to load all sorts of graphic programs like photoshop, corel painter (with a pen tablet), and illustrator, without any slowness? or would one recommend getting a macbook pro?

I understand macbook only comes with a 13" inch screen, so we'll still decide whether a 13" would be good enough, based on my boyfriend's own opinion.

but right now I just want to focus on internal specs.


sorry this is a duplicate thread, I also posted this in the macbook forum.
Click to expand...

For loading the applications, that configured computer that you mentioned would be more than adequate. The visual quality would be substantially better via Macbook Pro, but if that's not the issue, the Macbook would be more than sufficient.
 
I have used a pen tablet and have owned both a MB and MBP. I say go for a MBP. The screen on the MB in my opinion is pretty bad (viewing angle, brightness, seems washed out). The nice screen on the MBP and the extra screen space make it all the worth while using a pen tablet. Go for a refurb model also to save money
 
Also: the latest MBPs are much cooler and won't be running their fans all the time the way the macbook does. And as others say: if you get a good LCD (there seem to be quite a few lemons), the MBP LCD is better quality than the macbook's screen: better viewing angles and brighter.
 
You can get 4gigs for the Macbook from crucial.com for only $100, so I would recommend upping to that for design work. I've come close to 2 gigs of use with just photoshop on a number of occasions.
 
chrisbeebops said:
The Macbook Pro's dedicated graphics helps mainly with 3D graphics acceleration in applications which support it (3D modeling, games, etc.). If your applications do not require 3D acceleration, you will see virtually no difference between the Macbook Pro's dedicated and the Macbook's integrated graphics.

Your graphics design applications are 2D applications. You will see a larger performance boost by spending your money on more RAM and a faster Hard Drive.

If you buy upgrades aftermarket, you can boost your ram to 4GB for $100. You can pick up a 200GB 7200rpm drive (better performance) or a 320GB 5400rpm drive (more storage space) for $150-200. Both components can be changed without too much hassle.

If you are concerned about screen size, spend some of the left over $$ on a nice external monitor for when you are at your desk.
Click to expand...


Is the White Macbook the same configuration? Seems the only dif between it and the Black book is an overpriced Hard Drive....am I missing something else? Meaning the access to the HDD
 
Jcoz said:
Is the White Macbook the same configuration? Seems the only dif between it and the Black book is an overpriced Hard Drive....am I missing something else? Meaning the access to the HDD
Click to expand...

nothing overpriced, just the 2.1ghz macbooks, apple lowered BTO prices a lot, but RAM is still expensive, but better than before.
 
bluedoggiant said:
nothing overpriced, just the 2.1ghz macbooks, apple lowered BTO prices a lot, but RAM is still expensive, but better than before.
Click to expand...

The white Macbook that isnt the bottom level.....it's 200$ cheaper and has all the exact same specs...you can add the Blackbook HDD for 100$ (Hence my overpriced statement) Basically, you can have exactly the same machine in a white case for 100 dollars less.

I think the white looks better anyways, I was just wondering if all the easy access comments about the Black hold true for all new Macbooks...and also was wondering if I just missed something in the specs that justifies spending an extra hundy...
 
Jcoz said:
I think the white looks better anyways, I was just wondering if all the easy access comments about the Black hold true for all new Macbooks...and also was wondering if I just missed something in the specs that justifies spending an extra hundy...
Click to expand...

Yes, all the comments will translate over as long as they're about the performance of the machine. The guts of a white MacBook and a black one are the same if you choose the same configurations.

You could do a search on the topic and come up with a million results, but it boils down to this: the white scratches easier and dirt spots eventually show up, while the black shows fingerprints and oil marks (from your hands, and this has been substantially improved with the latest MB update). Whichever looks better to you is the better choice.
 
Jcoz said:
Is the White Macbook the same configuration? Seems the only dif between it and the Black book is an overpriced Hard Drive....am I missing something else? Meaning the access to the HDD
Click to expand...

That is HD size is the only difference, you're paying extra for the colour. The black macbook is the only overpriced macbook.
 
lazydesi said:
Graphic Design

go for MBP
Click to expand...

Definitely, the glossy display isn't suitable on the MacBook as it won't display colours as naturally, which is essential. Also the display is probably too small, but as you've said you can decide that yourself ;).

The lack of graphics card shouldn't be an issue though. And you could just use an external display if you needed the colours to be accurate.
 
illidian said:
Yes, all the comments will translate over as long as they're about the performance of the machine. The guts of a white MacBook and a black one are the same if you choose the same configurations.

You could do a search on the topic and come up with a million results, but it boils down to this: the white scratches easier and dirt spots eventually show up, while the black shows fingerprints and oil marks (from your hands, and this has been substantially improved with the latest MB update). Whichever looks better to you is the better choice.
Click to expand...

Yah, I did search, right after I posted the last one. Read a ton of threads and watched you tube videos on how to change the hard drive and ram...forgot about the thread till now.

As for my overpriced comment, I think its silly to charge more for the black book, but thats JMO.

Finally came to a decision, (I need a desktop and laptop) I'm going to pick up the white 2.4 somewhere I dont have to pay tax, swap the HDD for a 200 GB 7200 rpm and switch to 4 gigs of ram. Will end up costing about 1550.00 USD total. Then I'll just drive the 17" Lcd I already have when I need a desktop, and I can wait patiently for a Montevina iMac with DDR3.

Thanks, hadnt even thought of replacing the HD until I found this thread.
 
The black is almost a different plastic - it offers a completely different feel than the white. It may not be a big deal for some, but when you're already paying $1550, I'm not sure cutting what could be an important corner by saving $100 is not worth it.

Try them both out before making a decision - you may find the different feel is worth it (or assure yourself that it's not).
 
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