Hello all, I'm stuck on which Mac laptop to choose for my needs. I'm looking at the Macbook Black and the Macbook Pro 2.4 ghz. I want something that can handle recording software well and whatever updates may come around. I don't play computer games or do anything graphic intensive. I am in college and that is why I was considering the Macbook due to it's better portability. I have no problem maxing out the RAM on the Macbook or Macbook Pro. It's just the performance issue I'm worried about most. The software I'd most likely be using is Garageband, Logic express, and possibly Logic Pro and even pro tools (not likely though).
Bottom line is I don't want to pay an addition $1,000 if I really don't have to.
Thank you for your time and any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
i am also getting a computer right now, to do the same things. i'm going to be using pro tools and ableton live, and i've found that actually, the black macbook ISN'T enough. you really want to have at least a 2.4 ghz processor. and though the MINIMUM system requirements are clearly met, and even most of the RECOMMENDED requirements as well, it still isn't enough. garageband will run fine on a macbook, as well as logic express, most likely. however, logic pro and pro tools are absolute cpu and ram monsters and will push your computer to the limit constantly.
another thing you want to think about is that the macbook pro really isn't any less portable than a macbook. people freak out over tenths of inches and a pound or two, but let's be honest-- they're both laptops.
lastly, the real reason you need a MBP is that macbooks don't have a graphics card. why does that matter? no one considers the fact that pro tools and logic are huge graphics programs because they are obviously made to create audio. but the plugins and the interface itself are actually very graphics-heavy, and for that you certainly want the graphics card that the MBP ships with.
my solution to all this? a few parts to it:
first, keep in mind that pro tools does not yet run on leopard, nor do any of the m-audio plugins (i'm also using an axiom 61 midi controller). so, be ready to partition your internal hard drive and install a copy of tiger so that you can run pro tools, if that's what you choose to use. logic will obviously run through leopard.
secondly, i actually decided on an imac. i'm debating between the 2.4 ghz core 2 duo and the 2.8 ghz core 2 extreme, but i'm certain that i will be buying 4gb of ram from crucial and upgrading to a 500 gb hard drive, as well as purchasing time capsule. remember that you should always run your programs themselves directly from your internal drive, and save and recall all audio files to an external via firewire. that's why i'm getting time capsule. that, and the fact that i also need a wireless server.
i hope that helps. keep it in mind-- 2.2 vs 2.4 isn't a "big difference" as most people say when you're just running email, but if you're using logic or pro tools, that's when you actually need that extra bit of processing power. good luck.
