I generally buy one computer a year. I got my 17″ PowerBook back in April 2004 and my Quad in October 20051. This year I plan to get a laptop, and there is no doubt it will either be a MacBook (MB) or a MacBook Pro (MBP).
The ability of either machine to run Mac OS X and Windows will accomplish one very nice feat – I won’t have to travel with two laptops when I do consulting work. In fact, I hope this machine will functionally replace both my 17″ PowerBook and my 12″ Dell, becoming my main/only portable while I continue to use the Quad as my main development machine.
As I plan to have this be my road warrior machine, and I’ve had numerous issues with the bulk of my 17″ PowerBook on airplanes, I’m only considering the 15″ MBP at this time.
The main differences between the MB and the 15″ MBP for my consideration are as follows:
- Battery life – the reports I hear are that the MBP has decent battery life, but nothing great. I’m hoping that the MB will have improved battery life, if only because of the smaller screen.
- Hard drive speed – the MB doesn’t seem to have a 7200rpm drive option like the MBP. A fast drive is a must for any real development on a laptop.
- Screen/pixel size – remember, pixel size matters. The MBP has a 15.4″ 1440 by 900 screen (110.25 pixels / diagonal inch) while the MB packs 1280 x 800 into a 13.3″ screen (113.5 pixels / diagonal inch). It will be easier to read and work on the MBP.
- Size and weight – Though the MB is 2 diagonal inches shorter in the screen2, it isn’t that much
smaller 
- Ability to drive a 30″ display – the MBP can, the MB can’t.
- Price – a $1000 difference when each has 2 GB of RAM and a 100GB HD.
I’m thinking that the MB is probably the right machine to buy now – to replace the PowerBook and Dell as my travel machine and primary mobile kit. Then next year, when the MBP has had another full rev and a nice speed bump, I can pick one up to use as my main development machine.
It’s always fun to think about buying new toys. 🙂
Side note: I find it interesting that “black” is a $150 feature on the MacBooks.
why do you buy one computer a year?
alex, yesterday i just picked up a 1.83 macbook from the soho/nyc store.
out of the box, it’s pretty peppy with only 512mb ram and a 60g/5400 HD. i can edit photos with iphoto i can rip a dvd very quickly, etc. i don’t think i’ll be doing any heavy after effects/aperture/fcp work though.
i’ve done the bootcamp thing with windows xp pro to test a few things (not graphics/video heavy stuff) and it seems fine.
for an everyday computer, it seems fine. i’m not sure what development work you’d be doing but this is a solid and fast laptop albeit bigger than my PB G4 12″.
I”m sure when you add the ram, it makes a difference.
just babbling…
With Windows (I’ve not seen any Mac benchmarking), the speed increase with real applications going from a 5400rpm to 7200rpm hard disc is very insignificant, under 5%. Of course, synthetic benchmarks will tell you otherwise, but how many applications are really that hard drive heavy?
Oddly enough Black was a $400.00 option for my Land Rover LR3.
Can I forestall all the whining/whinging/envious comments for a sec? Remember, Alex can do things like buying a new computer a year and having two cell phones and everything because these are all business expenses for him. This is his job, and these are the tools he needs to do what he does. It’s no different than when my company buys new machine tools or software packages or any of the rest of it.
Quite correct Geof. Running a one man business out of my house means I have very little overhead. The annual computer purchase is by far my largest espense every year.
If I like the MacBook, I may actually sell my 17″ and my 12″ laptops. Also, being able to boot into Windows on the MB means I can tether the BlackBerry as a modem and cancel my Sprint “phone as a modem” account.
I’ve been asking myself the same questions…. do you have an ADC membership? If so, do you have any developer discounts left? If so, the MBP gets a much nicer discount (CAD$450 vs $250 or so)…
Right now all I have is a PowerBook G4 12″. It’s slow. Really slow – but that might just be the hard drive having rather little space left.
Before the speed bump I was seriously considering the MBP 17″ – once I weighed up the options it really wasn’t that much more, and would give me a really good machine for using Aperture on.
So for me… well, it looks like it’ll be the 15″ MBP – Aperture official support is a must. Then it’s just a case of saving up for the 30″ display…
I can sort of see why Apple is charging extra for the black MacBook, and it’s because that’s really what is replacing the 12″ PowerBook, and the whites are replacing the iBook’s.
Material-wise, the black Macbook does not feel like plastic at all. In fact, I’m not sure what it is (just got mine today, but I type this on my iBook), though it does feel like some kind of metal.
Keep up the great work Alex.
Arstechnica has an article on the new MacBook that also explains why the black version costs $150 more than the white.
Hey, Great blog here. Love the layout and the ability to change colors, innovative!
The Macbook simply rocks, I’ve not bought one but have checked it out and some reviews too and it sounds spectacular.
One computer a year – LOL!
Apparently the black MacBook has better grip and will retain it’s looks better over time. I’ve been thinking about getting a MB a lot lately and probably will. As I have no experience with Macs period, does the white casing really smudge/deteriorate in appearance significantly overtime as to look unprofessional or sloppy? I always thought one of the asthetical appeals of a Macintosh laptop was it’s white casing. Any thoughts?
[…] I did pick up a MacBook on Friday, though I barely had time to unpack it and start setting it up before all hell broke loose. […]
I noticed that you hadn’t mentioned the memory issue with the standard vs. Pro. The Pro has more video card memory, while the standard uses far less, and it is shared with the main memory. I mention this because it is the biggest reason I am torn between the two lines.
Oh, and the only other difference between the white and black versions is 20 Gb of hard drive space. $150 for 20 Gb.
I did touch on the video differences above in the ability to drive a larger monitor.
Sorry, this isn’t correct. If you configure the 2 machines with the same specs a tthe Apple Store, you still pay an extra $150 for black.
[…] Alex King’s ponderings […]
I’m also torn between the two.
What do you all reccommend for a student who is planning to go into professional Graphic Design?
Because a Mac Laptop would be a really big investment for me, given my typical student budget.
It’s an investment with very appealing financing options for students though. Apple Education pricing options are pretty nice.
someone should really answer minas question. i too am attending art school for graphic design- College for Creative Studies in Detroit- and earlier today i was ready to ditch my plan of getting a MBP because i raised enough money from my graduation to buy a black MB and then some (maybe some RAM) but then my grandma gives me five hundred dollars. so im a few hundred away from the better 15″.
sooooo
how much better does the MBP run the Creative Suite?
can the MB even run final cut well? (integrated graphics chip)
thanks
im a graphic design student as well at univ of delaware.. and ive been having trouble choosing too. i mean the mbp is obviously the better choice graphics wise, having its own graphics chip of up to 256mb memory, but my question, which cannot be answered very well by apple technicians in the stores is… if i max out the mb ram to the 2 gigs, would it help with graphics (since the graphics shares from system memory) and if it does help, would it even compare to the base mbp which has a 128mb ATI graphics chip? i personally like the look and feel of the mb along with its size.. i really wanted a 12″ powerbook, and now the smallest machine is the mb. i just want to know whats best for a graphic designer…. a mb with maxed out RAM, or a mbp with independent graphics cards…
I think that it basically comes down to screen real estate vs. portability. It’s a choice folks, there isn’t a right answer. 🙂
I’m also thinking about the macbook or macbook pro, although a PC is still not completely out for me budget-wise (yeah yeah, to all mac lovers out there, I would prefer a mac too…) anyway, I travel a lot so battery life is a pretty essential for me. Also, I’ve heard that the MBP has some heating issues… how bad does it get and is that a problem with the MB as well? And the other thing that I’ve been wondering about is whether the mac software such as office, adobe pro. and so on, have been optimized to run with the Intel processor? any info would be most appreciated!!! 😀
also wondering what people think of the new keyboard on the MB? I haven’t had a chance to try it in person yet but have seen pics all over… definitely different!
I am in the midst of replacing my G4 15″ PB with the new 15.4″ MBP.
I have been trying to decide whether to get the 5400 rpm or 7200 drive. I have read literally tons of reviews and comments – some people saying 7200 is the only choice for any graphics work and others saying their MBP rocks with the 5400 rpm too.
I will be doing primarily everyday stuff like e-mail and websurfing but also some very minor personal video editing to send family video to relatives and some DVD authoring for a small business.
Any suggestions ?
I will be adding at least 1 Gig of RAM to the stock 512 MB after receiving this unit.
I guess the major question for fellow graphic designers is how much of a difference the separate video memory makes wen running the creative suite and photoshop.
Has anyone found comparison tests posted? Or are people guessing in favor of the machine they wish to buy?
Seems a difficult question to answer w/out direct comparison. Since Photoshop is primarily a 2D program, will the extra video memory make that much difference?
Why hasn’t Apple answered this question on their site….is it perhaps that the cheaper model will do just fine? I’m recommending the Macbook until I learn otherwise….
aha! I figured it out ::
http://www.macworld.[...]ch/index.php
this chart has the key — if photoshop performance is the key determinant, it looks like the old Powerbooks run it faster. this is because the Adobe Creative Suite (including photoshop) has yet to be released in “universal binary form” — meaning it’s not optimized for the new architecture found in the macbook/macbook pro line.
what does this mean to you? should you get an older G4 that runs photoshop faster? i wouldn’t — because the new macbooks will be current for much longer…
get the macbook 2.0 model — then spend the $700 you save on RAM/a trip to hawaii….got to test the macbook on the beach, right?
Ok, imho for the students who are thinking of using their laptop for intensive graphic design….don’t! Or if you must then invest in a large screen. Laptops are for travelling and working on the move. If you want to move into the design business you’ll need a heavy duty machine in your office/grotty student bedroom. If you can’t afford one, then get a nice big screen and plug your laptop into it for any serious work. Read the original post for ideas on how to set up your operation. If you can’t afford two computers think about getting a G5 at home and a PSP to present your work to clients. They’ll think you’re cool!
From what I’ve read, MBPs have major issues with overheating. And it’s true, 20 minutes of video playback on my gf’s MBP left my legs sweating.
As far as video memory is concerned, I don’t think most users will notice the 64Mb difference between the MB and MBP unless used on, say, a 30″ display. My Sony Vaio notebook has only 32Mb and the display is still gorgeous.
Take the money you’d save buying a MB and upgrade the memory and hard drive. Those will be differences you’ll really notice.
I think the biggest thing you’d notice about running a 30″ display from a MacBook is that there is no place to plug it in. 😉
Hey Alex….I also have a MacBook and am wondering if you’ve had any of the random shutdown issues as described here:
http://discussions.a[...]038;tstart=0
My 14 day return window is over tomorrow and you being a power user could shed some light on how your machine is holding up. I’ll be pretty ticked if I get this problem. The only problem I’ve had is with 3rd party ram installation. It caused all kinds of weird behaviors (video artifacts, boot problems). Got it from macsales.com.
Great article, I want a macbook so bad and you’ve succeeded in making me want one even more than I already did. I hope I can save enough money to get one soon. I think the black one is so slick.
[…] Haub asks: Hey Alex….I also have a MacBook and am wondering if you’ve had any of the random shutdown issues as described here. […]
….Just my $.10:
Check out anandtech.com’s
review on the MacBook Pro’s benchmarks running XP Pro via Bootcamp, as well as Parallel’s Virtual Machine. Anandtech is a good place to go for benchmarking data, and I’ve written them a couple times asking for a head to head analysis of the MB and MBP. **crosses fingers** 🙂 I wondered if the shared video RAM will have any impact on performance myself, and haven’t seen any conclusive test results one way or the other (then again I haven’t checked anywhere for any benchmarks recently). Interestingly, Anandtech’s tests indicate that the dual-channel RAM mode available on the MBP actually doesn’t improve performance any.
Well hope this helps people contemplating the switch the way I am currently.
To get back to the design students’ question about laptops; I’m a freelance designer myself, and for goodness sakes, buy a desktop! You get WAY more performance bang for the buck (not to mention that all-important bigger, better monitor), that way you’ll have a solid system to work with for a few years. Later you can consider upgrading when your means allow you to do so!
Good luck all and aloha!
-a
FYI to those who ask about the macbook plastic.
the macbook is made of “polycarbonate” aka “PC” aka lexan. Most commonly known as the invention of the usa nalgene water bottle company. Its a virtually indestructable material, my nalgene took 6 axe hits before splitting open. the mb may be more durable then the mbp just becasue the mpb is alluminum which could bend. lexan doesn not bend
i need to pick out a mb or mbp today for graphic design. the two tools i will be using 24/7 are adobe photoshop and 3dmax. i was going to go for mb but you are saying there is no big screen output? i guess i will have to go check it out myself.
If price were no object, what would be the absolute best solution for a designer using CS2 for mac? G5 at home and MB for transporting and presenting work? What specs? There are too many opinions out there and I am completely confused as to what to get. As a student I can get discount and loans, so I can handle the minor modifications to adjust to my budget, but idealy, what would be the optimum choice? If price were no object what would you buy? Heeeeeeeelp!
Removing price as a factor is kind of a silly supposition. When you do that, the choices are obvious, top of the line everything.
[…] Originally Posted by Lana Smith ChrisN..I have a copy of Aperture coming for my G5 and I am also going to be adding a Macbook Pro in the coming months…my question is..knowing that Aperture likes a beefy video card, what has been your experience with the video card/Aperture combination? I know they say it can run with even the standard one that ships in the macbook but I am willing to spend extra IF it means significantly faster workflow. Aperture runs great on both my MacBook Pro 17″ (2.16 GHz) and PowerMac G5 2.7. (In terms of the graphics card, I have an ATI Radeon X800 XT installed in the latter.) I have not performed any in-depth performance comparisons, but I generally cannot distinguish between my laptop and desktop in terms of Aperture performance. As to your question re: MacBook Pro graphics…while the “base” 15″ model has 128 MB of video memory, vs. 256 MB in the “upgraded” model, both use the same graphics processor (the ATI Radeon X1600). Given that the graphics processor is the same, my expectation is that Aperture will perform similarly. But if you can afford the upgraded model, I would recommend going for it. (Anyone else have an opinion?) On a related note, I performed a quick Google search, and found a few discussions relative to this topic. The first two are specifically related to Aperture and video memory. The second two are more general, but — assuming you disregard the superfluous material — may help your decision as well. MBP graphic card 128 vs. 256 – ??? [Archive] – AppleInsider Re: iMac 24″ specs – some questions: Mac Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review 128mb Vs 256mb for Intel iMac [Archive] – Mac Forums alexking.org: Blog > MacBook vs. MacBook Pro Does anyone else have any experience/thoughts/opinions? Cheers, -Chris __________________ Chris Nielsen […]
[…] When I decided to get the MacBook instead of the MacBook Pro back in May, I figured I’d upgrade to a MacBook Pro eventually. However, when Adam asked me this I was a little surprised by my reaction. […]
The black Macbook has a harddrive with more storage.
Soo…. I just bought a macbook, and I was checking reviews when I happened upon your site…
Something you should look into when you are buying your yearly computer, maybe to rethink the whole purchase: eWaste
Computers are dumped in third word countries at alarming rates by companies claiming to safely dispose of old useless computers. Just seems like you might have a lot of those from your review, and…. well… think of your yearly computer degrading next to a river in Asia or Mexico, leaking hazardous materials into the ground and water supply.
When I’m done with a computer, I sell it or donate it. I don’t throw it away.
What did you go for in the end? I bought my Macbook Pro 1.83, upgraded 7200 100gb drive when they first started shipping, it’s been superb even though the battery did expand and die. Apple sent a new one straight away though. I’ve since got my hands on a Macbook (Black) 2.0 Core Duo 2. It’s far cooler in terms of temperature and is noticeably faster then the older MBP. I’m finding it pretty hard to decide which to keep, the lack of a dedicated graphics card with the Macbook is putting me off slightly. Any ideas?
I realize the last post to this thread was over six months ago; however, I am considering purchasing a Mac for my wife who is a beg. level pro. photograher (don’t ask, just accept that description). My understanding and research seems to indicate that a MB or MBP is the way to go, but I have heard rumors that Apple is going to release a major system upgrade or new system altogether in the Fall. Any thoughts or knowledge on this rumor?
I’m a high-school student who’s iBook G4 is starting to break down after 4 years of (pretty rough) use. I’d be using my computer for Outlook and other mostly simple media applications. I was wondering what you think i should go for. the Macbook or MBP.
should i just wait for the next edition of Mac laptops?
I would go for what you need most. What’s most importand is if you are using it for light work (like home videos, using iMovie) or heavy work, such as designing graphics and putting together Final Cut Pro. If you aren’ t going to do hard work just save some money and get the MacBook, but if you seriously need a dedicated graphics card for heavy graphics editing and playing games then the MBP would be the bet choice. I hear that a MBP 13″ will be coming out in January, if that interests you then you should wait for something like that, or something faster, because you know how it is, you buy a MB with 1.8GHZ and tomorrow you find out it is 2.0GHZ and $100 less than what you paid for.
For Mike I would recommend the MacBook for hat you will be doing, it’s fast enaugh for what you will be doing.
wow, you have so many comments…
so its normal, i thought i was the only one who thought its fun and a bit obsessive to think about what i’ll be buying next.
i only own pcs, thinking of switching to mac just to see what all this craze is about… i really liked the black macbook because of color.. but i was thinking of macbook pro just becuase of silver finish and perfect rectangle look when it sits closed on a desk.. i kno these are lame stupid reasons to buy MBP over MB.
and 150 extra just for black ??? thats crazy. i’m still not sure as to get macbook black or MBP… i looked into TOSHIBA porgete R 500.. nice silver finish really light… DELL XPX M 13 in… good design and light… macbook air with nothing but air filled inside.. and MBP or macbook black.
i will most likely get MBP and hope that $$ are well invested and the mouse pad wont play jokes on me.. i hate apple keyboards and mousepads… not too user friendly.
any comments ???
And the discussion goes on and on…
itz amazing that this same discussion is on at so many forums, but none of them end up to giving any useful conclusion.
The only conclusion for me is for apple to use similar discreet graphics in their MB lineup or allow a closer blurring between the products.
The problem is that they have a good set of features split accross a number of machines – rather than allowing one machine to be customised.
Thats my thoughts anyway.
I too can’t decide which is better.
MB or MBP… MB or MBP… MB or MBP… MB or MBP… MB or MBP… bleh… it’ll never end.
After having one of each, I think it’s pretty simple. If you want to drive a 30″ display or need super graphics performance go Pro. Otherwise, the MacBook is your choice because it’s cheaper, the battery lasts longer, etc. If you’re a road warrior, then get the Air.
my power supply died my macbook was runnin with a 60w psu.
now they only sell the 85w.
they said its ok to run the 85w psu onit.
but i have issue sometime the batteery is not charging.
and also there is no more charging wrote on top of the macbook when charging but it still charge the battery…
i want to know if i better send it back and try my best to get a 60w one or keep running it with the 80 w.
cheers