Adobe CS3: Macbook VS. Macbook Pro

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I hate to bring up this up but i'm ready to pull the trigger on a purchase. How would the two books compare using CS3? MB 2 GHz C2D w/ 2Gb ram VS MBP 2.16 C2D 2Gb ram.

The programs i use in the suite are Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Most of the time i have all these open plus the usual Mail, iTunes and Safari. You think the macbook can handel all these programs opened? Thanks!
 
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I hate to bring up this up but i'm ready to pull the trigger on a purchase. How would the two books compare using CS3? MB 2 GHz C2D w/ 2Gb ram VS MBP 2.16 C2D 2Gb ram.

The programs i use in the suite are Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Most of the time i have all these open plus the usual Mail, iTunes and Safari. You think the macbook can handel all these programs opened? Thanks!

Well the MBP has a larger screen for a start which for anything design oriented is always going to help. The slightly faster CPU won't make a huge difference, but if precious seconds matter to you, you may appreciate it, and I don't think the GPU is used extensively for any of these apps.

The MBP is a better machine overall, so all else being equal, get this. Having said that, a MacBook could handle all of those programmes, it'd just get crowded on the screen.
 
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If these apps don’t require the GPU that much I think I will go with the macbook cause of the portability. I do have desktops at work and home so the screen size shouldn’t really matter. I was just worried about the intergraded video versus the ATI chip in the MBP. Thanks!
 
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Black Macbook 2ghz C2D, 2gig Ram, 120gig HD / 60gig Black Ipod Video / 2nd Gen Ipod Shuffle
Yeah the intregrated chip only really effects 3d rendering and the new Final Cut won't run on integrated chips but for what you've listed it should be fine. I purchased a macbook with 2gigs of ram mainly for use with photoshop so I could have a good portable to edit pictures while away from home.
 
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With 2GB of ram you should be able to run CS3 fine on a MacBook.
 
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Here's what I recommend:

2GHz Core 2 Duo w/ 2GB RAM + the Cinema Display of your choice! :D
 
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I think either would work well as long as you have at least 2 Gig of RAM installed.

I have CS2 running on the MB Pro and it is works well, cannot wait to pick up the CS3 to run natively and see what improvements in speed there are.
 
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Here's what I recommend:

2GHz Core 2 Duo w/ 2GB RAM + the Cinema Display of your choice! :D

i read that the MBP can power a 30"+ display. what's the max screen size the macbook can output? i do have a 32" LCD TV with a rez of 1366x768 that i would love to use with it.
 
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I was running CS2 with 1GB RAM on a Macbook and it was crap. I was editing a file 100-150MB and it would lag. I blamed it on the integrated graphics chip. I also ran the iTunes little visualizer at full screen w/o anything else running and it maxed at 30fps. I sold it and got the iMac 20". Not that comparing the two is very equal but w/ 2GB RAM and the 128MB vid card, photoshop is a breeze and iTunes visualizer tops out at 62ish FPS.
Go with the MBP. You will be so glad you did, trust me. It's worth every penny!
Bryan
 
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I was running CS2 with 1GB RAM on a Macbook and it was crap. I was editing a file 100-150MB and it would lag. I blamed it on the integrated graphics chip. I also ran the iTunes little visualizer at full screen w/o anything else running and it maxed at 30fps. I sold it and got the iMac 20". Not that comparing the two is very equal but w/ 2GB RAM and the 128MB vid card, photoshop is a breeze and iTunes visualizer tops out at 62ish FPS.
Go with the MBP. You will be so glad you did, trust me. It's worth every penny!
Bryan

Bryan,

CS2 runs in emulation which is very memory-intensive. Add to that a large file, and it's a recipe for lag. However, I wouldn't put that down to a video chip at all. If you had added a 2nd gig of RAM you'd likely have had a better time. Alternatively, you might have had better luck with CS3 (even the beta that was available for the past 6 months or so, assuming it worked for you).

The iTunes visualizer, though, is definitely a test of 3D hardware. So of course you got lower speed out of the integrated solution.

Anyway, glad you're happy with the iMac.

-Chris
 
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I think its best to go for the macbook as thats what i went for and i do the same work as you using photoshop i also do 3d work and the macbook runs everything fine with no problems my friend had a pro the same one you are looking at and is planing to sell it as he wants the smaller screen of a macbook and as you can go to 3gb of ram in mb or mbp there is not much of a diffrence in performance.

so the main thing is what feels right i love my macbook glossy screen for photoshop work it just looks grate when you show a client also i use a 32" hdtv for a monitor if i want some thing big to look at.

also the basic size of the macbook is grate its nice and small and light to carry about all day.
 
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thanks for all the input guys. i just placed an order for the macbook and at newegg i got 2 gigs of ram ($117 shipped + $40 rebate!). Now the waiting game -_-
 
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I was running CS2 with 1GB RAM on a Macbook and it was crap. I was editing a file 100-150MB and it would lag. I blamed it on the integrated graphics chip. I also ran the iTunes little visualizer at full screen w/o anything else running and it maxed at 30fps.


okay, i just got my macbook 2ghz C2D w/2gig ram today (!!!!!) i ran the visualizer on itunes and got 60 to 63 FPS. so it seems like the video memory is not that much of a factor when it comes to itunes. my extra gig of ram has to be the big difference. anyways i am very satisfied with my purchase and cant wait till i install CS3 ;P
 

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