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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Do I need a Macbook?
Matt Stanley, Photographer
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Philadelphia | PA | USA | Posted: 11:59 AM on 07.20.06 |
->> I need to get a laptop but don't have tons of money to spend. I also know little to nothing about macs. Laptop will be used for basic purposes, image processing(light volume), occasional remote transmitting, soundslides, Internet and a dvd every now and then.
So my question is would I be happy with an ibook G4? What kind of specs should I be looking for? Or would I really be better off spending the extra money(which there's not a lot of!) for a macbook. Any and all advice would be appreciated. Thanks! |
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Kyle Edwards, Photographer
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Orinda | Ca | USA | Posted: 12:20 PM on 07.20.06 |
->> I've had a 12 inch iBook for over two years now and it has handled everything. If you're not a power user, don't care about external displays (only can mirror), and are on a bugdet the iBook would be a good choice.
However, if you are already a PC user you can always get a cheap laptop that has a faster processor and such.
My only complaint with the iBook is the screen resolution. I wish I could crank it up higher, but it will only go to 1024X768. I believe the 14 inch model only does 1024X768 as well. It's bigger, but that's it.
I used my iBook in Tonga for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer. I was doing a lot of systems administration and it never had a problem in the humidity, dust, or heat. I solid little Apple.
I've played with the new macbooks and they are pretty nice. I'm not in the market to buy another laptop (right now), but if I had my choice I'd spend the extra money and get a mackbook over the iBook. You'll be investing into the newest Apple is producing and have a great little computer.
Just drop some RAM in the MacBook. I'd say at least 1GB.
I know they have heat issues, so if I was going to buy one, I'd get apple care just in case (I get it on everything). |
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Chris McGathey, Photographer
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Mesquite | TX | USA | Posted: 12:23 PM on 07.20.06 |
->> Matt: I just got one with the new Intel processor it cost right at $1,000. It's got a 12 inch screen, fast and really nice with the glossy screen. I use it very little, about as much as you have said in your thread. I may use it alot more come football season.We have wirelsess internet here at the office and sometimes I bring it up here to doodle around. I am very pleased. I don't know what your budget is but it is alot cheaper than the Mac Book pro and I just can't use a pc.
Chris |
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Andrew Wilz, Photographer
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Aspen | CO | usa | Posted: 12:36 PM on 07.20.06 |
| ->> Why Mac? You said you know "little to nothing about macs".... |
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Jon Gardiner, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 12:57 PM on 07.20.06 |
->> no
-J |
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Jon Gardiner, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 12:58 PM on 07.20.06 |
->> Get a refurbished ibook or powerbook.
-J |
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Melissa Miller, Photographer, Assistant
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 1:27 PM on 07.20.06 |
->> Hey Matt! How have you been? Good call on going mac.
Unless you get a *really* good deal on a refurb or used ibook, I would just go for a new macboook for about $1000. It will last longer.
I have an older 12" powerbook G4, which I love, and does fine for everything I need it for. But I've also had it for 3.5 years. I bought it new when it first came out. I'll probably keep it for a few more months and get a macbook myself. My powerbook G3 before that lasted me almost 4 years before it was no longer useful to me.
So I guess my point is that if you can buy it new for only a few hundred more it will last twice as long as a machine that's already been out and used for a few years.
But on the other hand, if you can find a good used one in the $400-500 range it may be worth considering. |
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Vasha Hunt, Photographer
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Opelika | AL | USA | Posted: 1:37 PM on 07.20.06 |
->> With an Intel chip in the newer Macbook, you'll be investing for the future. Fewr programs will be written for the Power PD chips in the comming years, allthough that probably won't happen for the next year or two.
If you get a job that requires a lot of photo processing and editing, the new chip will make a big difference, esp. once Photoshop goes universal (PS is currently written for the older chips and runs a bit slower on Intel - that will change in a few months when CS3 comes out). Photo Mechanic and a number of standalone RAW converters are already universal, and Photo Mechanic screams on the Intel chip.
You can also run Windows from time-to-time on the new Macbook.
Vasha |
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Allen Murabayashi, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 1:42 PM on 07.20.06 |
->> Intel is announcing a new mobile chip (merom) in august. It is supposed to be much faster, use less power, generate less heat, etc. In other words, right now is a bad time to buy a computer. The desktop version, conroe, will be announced later this month -- and undoubtedly is the reason why you haven't seen intel towers yet.
So if you can wait a few months, I think you'll be much happier.
Also, you can run "bootcamp" on the intel macs and run OSX and Windows. In the future, they are talking about "virtualization" that will allow you to run both OSs simultaneously (i.e. you won't have to reboot).
The future is awesome, dude. |
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Tom Fluegge, Photographer, Assistant
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Chicago | IL | USA | Posted: 2:45 PM on 07.20.06 |
->> You probably don't. I was faced with the same question myself a few months ago (stick with iBook G4 or upgrade), and I opted to upgrade. However, my primary needs were a computer with speed that could adequately handle multi-tasking and remote transmission each time out. My iBook was just too slow, and I felt I wouldn't be able to meet deadlines if I stuck with it. I now run bootcamp and use CS2 and PM in Windows XP when I'm transmitting on deadline until Adobe releases a Photoshop universal binary.
If time isn't of the essence for you, an iBook may be all you need. But if you do want something new, it would be worthwhile to wait until these new Intel chips drop and see what happens. They're still working out the quirks with the MacBook/Pro. I've had the "Mooing" problems discussed on MacBook forums elsewhere on the web. But overall, I'm satisfied with my MacBook. |
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Jon Gardiner, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 3:12 PM on 07.20.06 |
->> This sentence and the multiple references to monies was at the heart of my response.
"Laptop will be used for basic purposes, image processing(light volume), occasional remote transmitting, soundslides, Internet and a dvd every now and then."
I know plenty of folks that are doing just this work on 5-year-old ibooks which you could probably find for around $200-$300. Sometimes you just need to reign in the "I need to have the latest and greatest" feeling and look at your REAL needs vs. fiscal issues more closely. IMHO.
-J |
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Steevens Alconcel, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Ian L. Sitren, Photographer
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Palm Springs | CA | USA | Posted: 4:20 PM on 07.20.06 |
| ->> You probably don't need the MacBook today. But you will probably need it within 6 months to a year from now. For that reason the MacBook is your less expensive choice. |
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Jon Thorpe, Photographer
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Mississauga(Toronto Area) | On | Canada | Posted: 5:34 PM on 07.20.06 |
->> Put into one line.
"Cool features but slow for a photographers workflow"
I own one, and its vrey pretty - but it's no workhorse. I use it for client presentation (mainly) and as a portable solution for storage and review while on site. It meets my needs - but my needs are also very very relaxed.
For my editing needs, my desktop PC still wins in the speed for dollar catagory.
Until CS3 comes out (a native binary for the duocore processor) it wont be used for anything heavy... hurry up Adobe! |
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Gil Batzri, Photographer, Assistant
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Oakland | CA | USA | Posted: 7:31 PM on 07.25.06 |
->> Get a MacBook and run XP with CS2 on it..
Full Speed ahead!
I don't understand the fascination with these Intel based Macs, they run Adobe apps at the same speed or slower then a G4 1.5ghz powerbooks (from my initial read of reviews and comparisons). and there has been no announcement from Adobe about a timeline for CS3 (that I am aware of)
It staggers me that Apple has released a platform that doesn't run the most popular graphic applications properly, and has no date when they will.
From what I understand (from the Ad Agency that I work at's purchasing) they are discontinuing the Moto-based Macs... with no native software from Adobe! What is that?
heh, be a real masocist and get a Duo-Core PC and load OSX on it! and save a couple bucks also.. |
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Ron Scheffler, Photographer
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Hamilton (Toronto area) | Ontario | Canada | Posted: 8:56 PM on 07.25.06 |
->> I disagree with the MacBook put-downs. I have had one now since late May and am generally very happy with it. It is not perfect (runs hot, processor hum/squeal at times, stains on palm rest - in short, all the popular complaints), but for the price, it is as fast as my G5 2.3 DP at many processor intensive tasks, assuming a Universal app is being used. For some things, like converting DVDs to H.264 video, it is considerably faster than the G5 and totally eclipses the iBook. For me, the key app is Photomechanic. It is Universal and is very fast on the MB. Editing games is a joy, finally!
Even every day things are snappier, like launching apps, browsing the internet with Safari... boot up is super fast compared to my iBook G4 (the last version before the MB, with a non stock 5400 RPM drive). The extra screen real estate is nice, as is the much brighter display, which I can very easily read in direct sunlight.
Why should Apple release products based on the development timelines of another company? Sure, Apple forced the change, but personally I'm glad they did. Finally there are Apple computers at low prices that are actually fast! And seeing the performance reports for the new Intel Core 2 Duo chips that will be destined for future Macs, it will only get a lot better.
In the end it really depends on what you want to do. For me, I rarely do a lot of Photoshop work on any of my laptops, prefering to do so on the G5 with a good display. I rely on the MB for quickly editing and transmitting images with Photomechanic during games, etc... and here, for me, the MB shines. |
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Jack Kurtz, Photographer
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Phoenix | AZ | United States | Posted: 9:20 PM on 07.25.06 |
->> Six months ago I would have said get a refurbished iBook G4 and max and out the RAM. I did that last year and it has been a trooper. The iBooks have better battery life and Airport reception than the Powerbooks. (Although the Powerbooks have better graphics cards and faster front side bus.)
But now I would say buy a refurbished MacBook and max out the RAM. As has been pointed out, the intel powered MacBooks are the Macs of the future and they are much faster than the iBooks. When Photoshop is released in the Universal Binary form later this year (or early next year) they should rocket past the PPC iBook and Powerbooks (plus you can run windoze if you feel you must).
Whatever you get, you should max out the RAM. OS X and Photoshop both likes lots of RAM.
jack |
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Ron Erdrich, Photographer
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Abilene | TX | USA | Posted: 2:16 AM on 07.26.06 |
->> I'm using a Pismo with a G4 upgrade and 1 gig of RAM and it does fine for me. I run OSX 10.4, CS2, etc. on it with little hiccups, though it can slow down occasionally. I use it whenever I have an out of town assignment and I need to transmit.
If I were contemplating a new computer, I would probably go with a desktop system since that is where any real heavy lifting might be done and just keep the Powerbook that I have for general road warrior work until it fries. It's not good to have your main system be a portable machine that is subject to drops, bangs and splashes.
Even if you religiously back up your data, any debilitating damage to your laptop would still equal you without a computer if that were your only machine.
-Ron- |
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Oscar Sosa, Photographer
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Jacksonville | FL | USA | Posted: 11:12 AM on 07.26.06 |
->> You probably don't need a new MacBook. I have a 15in Powerbook G4 400 MHz I bought used. It had a blown out motherboard and I paid about $100 for it. I got a 500 Mhz motherboard off eBay for $125 and installed it myself. I've had it about 2 years and have had no problems with it. Total investment in the machine is about $350.00.
I also have a 12in iBook G3 500 mhz I bought new in 2001 for $1100. I've maxed out the ram and upgraded the CD drive on that machine and use it as a backup. I'm running OS 10.4 with no problems on both Macs.
Both machines do everything I need them to do. I use them for deadline file editing, transmitting, web surfing and e-mail. I don't need a laptop for really intense image-processing work. I transmit from the road about twice a week, the rest of the time I used my G5 desktop. If I didn't have a good desktop system I'd be hurting, because the older single-processor macines have a hard time with the huge files and processing-intensive work I do every day. But for transmitting, they do fine.
If I were you, given that you're not going to do alot of intensive image processing with your laptop, I'd get a used or refurbished Mac with a 14 or 15 inch screen. Get what you can afford that meets your current needs. If you just need to transmit images then a G4 400 MHz machine is enough. It won't be blazing fast, but it'll get the job done and hold you over until you can afford a newer Mac.
I use Mac because I like the OS better than the Windows OS. Macs are just easier to use. However, a Windows macine will do the job just fine and for less money in the short term. If you want to save money, you might consider a mid-level Windows laptop with a nice screen that you can get NEW and for a fraction of the price of a Mac.
But you will need a good desktop system if you get a laptop with a weak processor. |
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Michael Hickey, Photographer
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Kokomo | IN | United States | Posted: 12:38 PM on 07.26.06 |
->> I can't see why anyone would get anything OTHER than an Intel Mac. You get TWO computers for the price of one, you just have to buy a copy or Windows.
It's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned. |
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