SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

My Dell dimension 8300 desktop, that I have had for almost 4 years (brought for Uni) is on its last legs and on sunday, the Hdd went. I called a computer guy out to see if he can sort it out for me and to get some stuff (music) that I forgot to back up transfered onto the other hdd that i have in the tower. Fingers crossed. The guy is going to put a new hdd in and rebuild it for me - install windows xp and get it all back up and running for me.

So I think this is a good time to think about getting a new PC or in this case a apple mac which I have wanted one for about 3-4 years now.

Basicially, I use the PC for web surfing - checking emails and forums, I write letters and I do a quite a bit of photoshop, nothing major, just the od wallpaper and image editing for pictures I have taken on my 30D DSLR.

I really like the white mac book, not sure why, when it is the least powerful of the whole range, excluding the mini. I don't like the iMac's. I don't like the idea of everything in the screen.

So that just leaves me with a mac book pro and a mac pro which, the later I orignally wanted, but I have kinda got my line of throught on a white mac book.

Any suggestions or recommendations?

cheers

Darren

P.S. I am using my dads PC (my old one) which is also on it last legs also.

Markus

There are a few people on here with oth MacBooks and MacBook Pros so I'm sure they will post up with their thoughts.

From the level of use I'd say that a MacBook should be adequate for what you want to do. The intel native version of Photoshop has been released, so that means no more running in emulation, thus it'll be quicker (certainly launch time is a lot faster in CS3 than in the CS2 version)

As it's intel based you can also dual-boot the machine with windows XP, so you'll have Mac OS X and Windows XP on the same machine and can reboot into whichever one you wish. This to me gives great flexibility as if there is something you need to run in XP that cannot be run on the mac, simply boot into XP.
You can also add in a Virtual Machine application such as Parallels Desktop which will allow you to run XP at the same time as OS X and you can drag and drop between the systems at that point.
You can even combine both BootCamp and Parallels and set it to use the BootCamp partition on your hard drive as the "virtual disk" for your Virtual Machine, This is exactly my setup on my iMac.

You say you don't like iMacs as you don't like the idea of everything in the screen, the same could be said about the MacBooks, all of the components are integrated into the single unit, it's just you have the base and screen being in a separate enclosure. Portability is one advantage the laptops have, but if this is going to be your primary machine, a desktop model might be better, if only for the ability to get a larger screen.

It would be very worth while going down to your local Apple Dealer, take your camera along with you, and ask them if you can try out the various machines they have. Try a bit of photo editing, surfing and other things you do and see which machine "feels" the best for what you want to do.

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

Thanks for that little insight

I don't really plan, or have no intention to run Windows XP on the Mac...thats what I am trying to get away from.

So from what you have said, the mac book can run photoshop cs3, but I guess slowly?

My nearest 'Apple' store is Regent Street but John Lewis in MK is the only other place in Milton Keynes that I know that sells them. Each time I have been down to London, I have gone into the Apple store to try the Mac's out.

KiwiGTI

There is also an Apple store in Brent Cross.

Markus

Good to see you want to move away from XP and just use OS X.

As for CS3 on the MacBook. The system requirements for Photoshop are stated as:

PowerPC® G4 or G5 or multicore Intel processor
Mac OS X v.10.4.8
512MB of RAM
64MB of video RAM
2GB of available hard-disk space (additional free space required during installation)
1,024x768 monitor resolution with 16-bit video card
DVD-ROM drive
QuickTime 7 software required for multimedia features
Internet or phone connection required for product activation
Broadband Internet connection required for Adobe Stock Photos* and other services

Having said that, I think the whole CS3 Package (Design Premium edition) has a min RAM Requirement of 1GB, am sure I saw that somewhere, maybe in the installer.

PS3 Extended seems ok on my iMac, which is an Early 2006 17" 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo with 1.5GB RAM and 120GB Hard Drive.

The low end Macbook is a 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, so it'll be at least the same speed as my iMac, and the next one up is the 2.0GHZ Core 2 Duo, and to be honest, that's the one I'd go for if it has to be a MacBook.

Regardless, I'd make sure you have at least 1GB RAM if not 2GB, the more the merrier.

CS3 will be quicker than CS2 as it'll be running natively, whereas CS2 has to run via Rosetta (PowerPC emulation mode), so that would have an impact on a lower spec machine, but again, my iMac seems happy enough with CS2, but I'm not doing anything overly taxing in PS.

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

Don't worry if I was to get the mac book I would get it ordered with the 2gb of ram upgrade and a 120gb hdd.

You see what I thought was buy this mac book with Tiger and when Leopard is finially released (in October?), get a mac pro. In this time I can get used to using a mac.

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

What do all macs come with for CD/DVD burning software ?

Swen6

Darren why didn't you just ask Chris?, swears by Macs, i've got the iMac and it's a good bit of kit.

RichB

Mac with OSX have built in software for burning but I can't if its any good really, I've used Toast in the past which is fine.

2gb is worth gettings if you can although not through Apple. Crucial or the usual Dabs/ebuyer are way cheaper although I'm not sure about warranty issues, the old G4s were hard to upgrade and voided warranty, best to check first

mattbeef

Apple has always allowed you to upgrade the ram on their machines with out voiding the warrenty, there has only been a few exceptions to this.
G3 PowerBook for the old school people and recently the intel MacMini

As for it being hard there is always the instructions on how to do it in the user manual and the MacBook's have it under the battery bay

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

\

I know
It was me trying to fix his sodding dell last weekend
he will come around sooner or later

Markus

Typically you just pop in the CD/DVD recordable into the drive, then drag and drop the files to it, eject it and it'll ask you if you want to burn the contents (think you can probably also select "burn" from a menu before ejecting), that's it.

The other main software used for burning/duplicating cd/dvd is Toast.

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

I am here. PC is fixed, but the computer guy could not retrive the data that was on the hard drive. So unless I want to pay upward of £400 for specialisted equipment and someone to get the data off the harddrive, I aint going to bother. Its my fault for not backing up my music

Cheers guys.
------------------------

The reason why I like the macbook is that its white and if I was to get one I waould want a white one. Somthing about white. Perhaps its a white impreza sti thing

I know the imac's are great pieces of kit, but I don't like the addiational block under the screen. Im used to tft's with thin frames. Hence why I kinda liked the white mac book.

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

OK cool. Will probably buy Toast then.

ScoobyDoo555

Toast is a good package - have to admit that I haven't really used it in a while tbh (no need to)

I'm running a MacBookPro fully loaded, and I use CS2. Yes, the launch time isn't overly quick, but I don't use the package enough to justify the upgrade to CS3.

Mine works fine. I've got an external Firewire drive for storage, as the internal one I've, ummmmmm.... filled already!! (audio sample library )

The ONLY downside with I found (which was a major factor in my choosing the MacBook Pro) is the keyboard. I hated the MacBook one - felt like a "Speak and Spell" keyboard very disappointing. Yes, you can buy any usb keyboard and run it like that, but I use mine on the go, so not an option for me.

All in all, very happy with my MacBookPro - as stated, max it out as far as you can. It makes one hell of a difference And ditch Safari - use Firefox

Dan

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

You see theres another option, buy a macbook pro and then buy an decident widescreen monitor 23/24" and apple keyboard and mouse and run it as a desktop.

I have had dektops all my life and I just fancied a change and get a laptop.

I already have a Lacie 320gb external, which I love and I will prob buy another which I can put just my itunes back up on. leaving the one I have for all my work/images and the video's i have. leaving the hdd on the said computer for its software and work I am currently working on.

Just watched this guy unpacking his iMac 24 - YouTube - iMac 24 - and just thinking about it, it does not look that chunky.

I have a dicent size desk, well actually its more of a deli counter size - 242cm long and 27cm deep So i have plenty of room.

Markus

I've got a 17" iMac and also an HP 1702 LCD 17" monitor. They are both about the same thickness as each other. Width and height of the iMac is a little more than the LCD monitor.

The 24" isn't too bad a size and if you were going for an iMac then I'd suggest the 24" simply as it's the best you can get and so you've got a bit of future proofing there.

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

I think you might be right. The iMac looks a good bit of kit and should last me a good while.

Swen6

But Darren yours is DBM

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

Correct Mark. I shall now give you a gold star

I have a little hunger for a white GC8 STi

Swen6

Well let me know if you do, cause i'm staying off the roads, if you drive it like you do your sport your a dead man walking

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

tell you what mark, you dont post much but when you do, its funny

Swen6

I try

Swen6

And Darren yes, i am stalking your posts

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

Just to let you all know, my Dell PC has just given up the ghost again Its that bloody graphics card problem again, you know the one that took 3 atempts to get Dell to replace it, which they did with a refurnbed one. Its now done the same thing again.

So looks like I will be buying an iMac 24". Had enough of PC with windows and I don't want to even try to understand windows Vista.

Mark, funny ****** aren't you

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

Once I get the Mac, my dad will have to replace 'this' machine as this is 6-7 years old and its using more RAM that it has at times...not good.

any recomdations?

He will be using it for checking email etc and editing his DSLR pictures using a Photoshop.
I was thinking some spec like

Processor?
at least 1gb of RAM
120gb + hdd
128mb graphics
20" (perhaps bigger) TFT

What make?

Markus

Another iMac? or low end Mac Pro? Nothing to stop you putting bootcamp on there and setting it to boot into XP/Vista so he does not have to learn a new OS.

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

how about a mac mini with a big 20" TFT. load on photoshop, job done

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

Just twiged...see next post