Dual Display on the MacBook Pro

[focalplane]

Hi guys,

Im new to this forum, so apologies if this has already been discussed.

Im looking to make the switch from windows and buy a new MacBook Pro very soon, and am torn between the the 2.2 and the 2.4Ghz 15" versions,

I will be using it for processing wedding pictures etc, and i will be connecting it to a 20.1" 1680x1050 screen. I want to be able to run both this and the MacBook screens.

The speed difference doesn't concern me as ive been working with a 2Ghz Athlon with 1.5Gb ram for a long time now, same with the HD capacity difference as all images will be stored on a NAS box anyway.

My biggest concern is the difference in VRam, my current machine has 256mb but only the one 20.1" screen (mentioned above). I've done the math and it suggests that the 128mb VRam MacBook will be able to drive both screens without issues, but what if i upgrade to, say a 30" display, will it drive both screens then?

Gaming is not a concern, as i have a PS3 for that, and i have no intentions of Boot Camping (poss use parallels for the odd application)

The difference in cost could pay for Applecare

Any advice is appreciated. Sorry for rambling.

 

[technologist]

The specs for the MacBook Pro, regardless of whether you choose the 128MB or 256MB, explicitly say that the 30" Cinema display is supported.

Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors