hello all. choices, choices. i have narrowed it down to 3:
1. 2.53 machine with 6gb ram (+4gb aftermarket chip), 250gb stock drive. (~$1750)
2. 2.53 machine with 4gb ram and 128gb SSD. ($1850)
3. 2.26 machine with 6gb ram, 128gb SSD. (~$2000)
now, i have a 2.0ghz core 2 duo macbook, 2gb, 80gb drive. i bought it for home, but now use it for work as i quit my job and am freelancing. it just isnt cutting it. i am a graphic designer. my consistent job is a small magazine, using indesign photoshop and illustrator all at once. i also do motion graphics sometimes, with after effects mainly (sometimes a bit of cinema 4d, but just for "fx," no serious modeling or anything). and, i keep firefox and mail open, as well as calender and other random stuff.
when i am in a mad rush, i cant wait for a spinning wheel for a minute while cutting and pasting between photoshop an indesign. or, when i jump out of bed to finish up before the deadline, i cant wait 3-4 minutes for my machine to un-swap itself and become usable. switching to firefox, it takes literally 2 minutes sometimes for the swap to go back to ram. etc, etc, etc. it just is too slow for serious work. ANYWAY... i just need a quick and responsive machine. which of the 3 above is best for me? any expert opinions? i am all ears!
1. 2.53 machine with 6gb ram (+4gb aftermarket chip), 250gb stock drive. (~$1750)
2. 2.53 machine with 4gb ram and 128gb SSD. ($1850)
3. 2.26 machine with 6gb ram, 128gb SSD. (~$2000)
now, i have a 2.0ghz core 2 duo macbook, 2gb, 80gb drive. i bought it for home, but now use it for work as i quit my job and am freelancing. it just isnt cutting it. i am a graphic designer. my consistent job is a small magazine, using indesign photoshop and illustrator all at once. i also do motion graphics sometimes, with after effects mainly (sometimes a bit of cinema 4d, but just for "fx," no serious modeling or anything). and, i keep firefox and mail open, as well as calender and other random stuff.
when i am in a mad rush, i cant wait for a spinning wheel for a minute while cutting and pasting between photoshop an indesign. or, when i jump out of bed to finish up before the deadline, i cant wait 3-4 minutes for my machine to un-swap itself and become usable. switching to firefox, it takes literally 2 minutes sometimes for the swap to go back to ram. etc, etc, etc. it just is too slow for serious work. ANYWAY... i just need a quick and responsive machine. which of the 3 above is best for me? any expert opinions? i am all ears!