I'm on a 13" 2008 Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz / 2GB / 160GB MacBook currently, running 10.6, iLife 08 and iWork 09.
After waiting so long for these new MBPs, at first I just slammed an i7 15" into the shopping cart and thought be done with it.
However I definitely prefer the form factor of the 13", so if I could live with it I'd prefer to soup a 13" up. I like the idea of having a slimmer, lighter, and more powerful machine than what I've used the past few years, which is why the 13" appeals.
For about the same price as the stock 15" 2.66 i7, I can get a 13" 2.66 with 256GB SSD.
I get a discount with Apple, so I would spec a SSD from the start.
I use a 500GB MyBook Pro external.
Coupled with a Wacom Cintiq 21UX I use Photoshop and Flash CS3 for 2D work / animation, so built-in resolution is not a factor either. It's simply performance. I'd like to move to CS5 too, seems like a decent upgrade this time.
I'd like to use Steam OSX when it arrives, but only for Geometry Wars and Left 4 Dead 2. I'm not a big sit-at-desk gamer, I have a PS3 and a Wii for that. I've never tried BootCamp, I have 5GB remaining on this HD as it is, and I'm guessing my GMA X3100 wouldn't hack it anyway. This is pretty much the only thing that has me considering a 15", as I imagine an SSD will be more use for the Adobe CS than the GPU bump (correct me if I'm wrong there)
I'd also get a fw800 1TB drive for backup then chain to my existing external.
So, will a 2.66GHz 13" 256GB SSD be enough? I don't want to buy a 15" just so I can play two games! Unless the GPU provides a MASSIVE difference for my other tasks too.
Thanks for any suggestions or hands on experience you can share.
After waiting so long for these new MBPs, at first I just slammed an i7 15" into the shopping cart and thought be done with it.
However I definitely prefer the form factor of the 13", so if I could live with it I'd prefer to soup a 13" up. I like the idea of having a slimmer, lighter, and more powerful machine than what I've used the past few years, which is why the 13" appeals.
For about the same price as the stock 15" 2.66 i7, I can get a 13" 2.66 with 256GB SSD.
I get a discount with Apple, so I would spec a SSD from the start.
I use a 500GB MyBook Pro external.
Coupled with a Wacom Cintiq 21UX I use Photoshop and Flash CS3 for 2D work / animation, so built-in resolution is not a factor either. It's simply performance. I'd like to move to CS5 too, seems like a decent upgrade this time.
I'd like to use Steam OSX when it arrives, but only for Geometry Wars and Left 4 Dead 2. I'm not a big sit-at-desk gamer, I have a PS3 and a Wii for that. I've never tried BootCamp, I have 5GB remaining on this HD as it is, and I'm guessing my GMA X3100 wouldn't hack it anyway. This is pretty much the only thing that has me considering a 15", as I imagine an SSD will be more use for the Adobe CS than the GPU bump (correct me if I'm wrong there)
I'd also get a fw800 1TB drive for backup then chain to my existing external.
So, will a 2.66GHz 13" 256GB SSD be enough? I don't want to buy a 15" just so I can play two games! Unless the GPU provides a MASSIVE difference for my other tasks too.
Thanks for any suggestions or hands on experience you can share.