Is this Spec good for the software I'm going to be using?

Hello there

I have been coming to these forums for some time now and I've finally decided to join.

I am going to invest in a macbook pro 17" for university due to the high specification demands and other reasons.

The software I will be using on my course are:
Pro tools 8
Cubase
Adobe CS master collection
Avid media composer
Adobe audition
Reason
NI Komplete
There are some more but not sure what at the moment.

I was wondering what specification I should use for my mbp 17". Should I just add the antiglare screen and keep the rest of the spec the same?

I was thinking of increasing the RAM from 4GB to 8GB
and the processor from the i5 2.53Ghz to the i7 2.66Ghz

Opinions and help would be appreciated .

Thanks

I see you're in for a lot of audio/video training/work. All these programs LOVE RAM...get as much as you can afford! As far as processors, I cannot advise...Heck, I just bought my first Mac (a MINI) 2 weeks ago and I couldn't even tell you if I have i5 or i7. I do know the processors speed, though. Sorry to hijack your thread...but can anyone tell me how to determine which ones (dual) I have?

Again...so sorry to hijack . . . Dogbreath

Thanks for you help dogbreath .

If anyone else could also advise me i would be grateful.
if you click on the apple logo and click "about this mac" it will tell you the spec... as i haven't got a mac but have used one... i may be wrong.

can anyone advise me if they have any ideas . thanks

Buy the machine with the best graphics processor and CPU. You can always add memory later on and up the hard drive to a larger one if needed. No sense paying Apple a premium price for memory or a larger hard drive when you can do both yourself without voiding the warranty. As for the anti-glare screen, that's a personal choice and decision which you will have to make.

Personally, I like the glossy screen and find no problem using it under bright lighting or outside. But everyone is different so you will need to make that choice.

As I said, these recording programs need bunches of RAM.....but chscag is right, the additional RAM doesn't have to come from Apple. It can be bought much cheaper RAM from places like OWC later as you learn the software and need the RAM.

Thanks for telling me how to see what I had...I assumed since it said it was an Intel Core 2 Duo that it had 2 processors...it only has one. I thought I was getting 2. Still couldn't find if it is i5 or i7 . . . Dogbreath

Dogbreath said:

As I said, these recording programs need bunches of RAM.....but chscag is right, the additional RAM doesn't have to come from Apple. It can be bought much cheaper RAM from places like OWC later as you learn the software and need the RAM.

Thanks for telling me how to see what I had...I assumed since it said it was an Intel Core 2 Duo that it had 2 processors...it only has one. I thought I was getting 2. Still couldn't find if it is i5 or i7 . . . Dogbreath

Click to expand...

Hi there,
The Core2Duo and i-series processors are totally different processors. Basically, C2Ds are currently used in Mac Minis and were also used in the previous generations of Apple's laptops, which have now been upgraded to i-series CPUs.

Hope this info helps.

Thank you, Rottie for the information I was looking for. I apologize to 03birdik, chscap, and Rottie for hi-jacking this thread...I have been reprimanded and I do apologize . . . Dogbreath