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Help: Macbook Pro for Graphic Design

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MadSteezin
Posts: 4572 - Karma: 936
Hey all of you Mac user out there! So I am headed to an art college this coming fall for graphic design. Anyways, I have to purchase a Macbook Pro along with the Adobe CS4 or 5 Suite. My question is what Macbook Pro should I get?

Processor speed?

Screen size, 13" or 15"? I already have a 20" LCD monitor right in front of me for home use.

RAM/Memory?

I would assume a 500GB harddrive?

Let me know if I need to tell you more. Thanks!







May 13 2010 12:15AM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
Honestly, anything they have will do. My high schools graphics lab ran the full adobe suite on old see through G3/4 imacs
May 13 2010 12:17AM
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SteezyOhio
Posts: 6044 - Karma: 60
your college should have a guideline for this, just tryin to help. the one i'm going to has a standard at which you need to buy your mac book and what features to get.
May 13 2010 12:17AM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
the best, biggest one you can afford. (17s are sick, but get hard to transport, but definitely no 13") yeah, you can get by on a shitty, slow computer, but trust me, when final projects are due in a few hours, the last thing you wanna do is be waiting for illustrator to save out PDFs or photoshop to render something. you are going to be LIVING at that thing, so dont skimp. CS5 is also about to be released, get that? Also, find out if your gonna have access to a GOOD print lab. if not, invest in a large format inkjet. you will save yourself hundreds of dollars. i kick myself in the ass for not buying one off the bat. all the $$ i spent printing shit through college, I could have had a dope printer.
May 13 2010 12:23AM
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MadSteezin
Posts: 4572 - Karma: 936
Model 15-inch: 2.4 ghz 15-inch: 2.66 ghz 17-inch: 2.66 ghz
RAM 4GB 4GB 4GB
Processor 2.53GHz Intel Core i5 2.66GHz Intel Core i7 2.66GHz Intel Core i5
Hard drive 500GB 500GB 500GB
Graphics card NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 256MB GDDR3 NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 512 GDDR3 NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 512 GDDR3 Ports
Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, SD card slot, Mini DisplayPort Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, SD card slot, Mini DisplayPort Three USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, one ExpressCard/34 slot, Mini DisplayPort
Cost 1,799.00 (1,899.00 edu) 2,499.00 (2,299.00 edu) 2,799.00 (2,599.00 edu)
May 13 2010 12:23AM
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MadSteezin
Posts: 4572 - Karma: 936
damn that didn't work

May 13 2010 12:25AM
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clandemush
Posts: 589 - Karma: 53
this is what it comes down to. the best you can afford is the best to get. shits so expensive though
May 13 2010 12:26AM
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MadSteezin
Posts: 4572 - Karma: 936
so what your saying is that i shoud probably be running the 15" with a 2.66GHz Intel Core i7?
May 13 2010 12:28AM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
I have a Macbook pro from 2006 its intel core duo and only has 1gb ram and a 160gb hard drive.

I make websites and do graphic design. I run adobe cs4. Illustrator runs like a dream. Sometimes it takes a minute to open up the 600mb files... but whatever, I don't mind.

It still runs like a dream 4 years later. The only thing I sometimes wish for is the new airport card. Faster internet would be cool.


So what I'm getting at here is that if you can find a refurbished one from apple, id get that, the 3 year warranty, and an external 500gb hard drive to run time machine every time you are home so that you have everything backed up all the time. You can probably get all that for the price of a new one and you will be much better protected.

And this may sound redundant, but make sure you buy cs4 from your school and make sure it is the design suite. If you don't you could end up paying more for it. I don't recommend using one of the available hacks to have it for free. You dont want to be caught by your department head using illegal programs.
May 13 2010 12:29AM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
yeah prolly. and to anyone saying a cheap old computer will do just fine, i really beg to differ. I went from my old laptop, which was a BEAST when i started school, to a pretty tricked out desktop workstation my senior year, and while thats a hell of a comparison, the amount of work im able to get done in the same amount of time is mind blowing, its just such a joy to work on a good computer that can keep up with you. like i said, that thing is going to be your baby for at least 4 years. spend the $$ now, and itll last you, dont bother dicking around with computers that are already outdated, ESPECIALLY if your going to be running CS5. As the general bar of computer performance goes up, software designers up the capabilities to match, and an outdated machine will really show its age with new software. plus, a good computer now will stay good for that much longer, and changing computers, especially when they are packed full of files is a huge pain. The idea is to buy just below top of the line, to where the prices are fairly reasonable, and the performance is ALMOST what you get for the stupid big bucks. Also, nother tip, if you can spec a solidstate drive, i would look into that. they dont have the capacity of a HDD, but you can install all your programs and keep your working files on that, and will never have to worry about it crashing, frying your stuff, and you'r boot up times are like 1/3 of a HDD. just keep an external for backing stuff up. 60-100 gigs will be more than enough.
May 13 2010 12:47AM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
good advice to an extent. If you are going to spend the money, spend the money.

But this kid is questioning between a 13 and a 15 in which leads me to believe he cant afford the 17 in.


A computer that is 6 months old and refurbished is still a great computer. Especially when it means you can also afford the 3 year warranty. It's hard to choke out another $300 when you are pulling 1700 out to begin with.

and 100gb is not enough for backup for a mac. Especially if your harddrive is bigger than that. Time machine essentially backs up your computer entirely and everytime it backs up, it doesnt rewrite over the old information until it runs out of space. This is important if you need to find something you didnt realize you deleted. I filled up my 500 gb hard drive after 2 months of using time machine and now its writing over old files. But I was lucky enough that when my hard drive crashed I was able to replace it free and restored it back to what it was the day before.



Anyway, just make sure what ever you do, you get the extended warranty.
May 13 2010 12:57AM
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wintersway
Posts: 5115 - Karma: 128
17" would be excessive. especially if you have another monitor. other than that, i know my school (for architecture) had minimum requirements of:
2.53ghz dual core
4gb ram
500gb harddrive
and recommended nvidia graphics card
May 13 2010 1:08AM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
oh yeah, 6months is fine, i thought you were talking about something a year or two old. my bad, its late and im diggin through backup files right now actually lol. not 100% on it.

and 100gb solidstate drive wouldnt be for backup, just for actually in the computer. its pretty much drop proof, way faster read/write, etc. its definitely something to look into, as its not for everyone, but ive seen a ton of people loose everything cause of a HDD crash, and in a laptop especially, SSDs make alot of sense. will help your bat. life a ton too. youd definitely need an external, and or a timecapsule. im not a mac person, so i have no clue about the details for how that works though.
May 13 2010 1:13AM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
Basically you need to decide if the difference of a few seconds is worth $1000 or not.  Look at what you use not, use that as a basis to find what you want and need.
May 13 2010 1:34AM
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MadSteezin
Posts: 4572 - Karma: 936
thanks for giving me some great advice! +K
May 13 2010 1:49AM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
Yeah, I've totally heard about that hdd crash bit. When I had a PC I was told to never transport it while it was hibernating cause I guess that can happen pretty easy.

As far as I know, when a mac goes into hibernation the harddrive stops entirely. so if you drop it while its in a bag its still fine. Given I had my harddrive crash just under the 3 year mark so it was still on warranty. but considering that is the only problem I have had, and everything was backed up, and they replaced it for free, I can't complain at all. And they even upgraded me from an 80 gig to a 160 gig since they quit making the 80 gig ones.

can the new macs come with ssd hard drives? some one look that up, im too sleepy, but it sounds interesting.
May 13 2010 1:55AM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
Get the largest screened, fastest processor, most ram you can get.

DO NOT go smaller than 15" screen. After that, try and max out your RAM with at least 4Gigs.

Honestly, for most everything you do, any of them will WORK, but the faster, bigger you get is going to make your life SO much easier. Faster you go saves so so so much more time after a while, and you will find that if you are in any sort of an intense program (and serious about it at all), every minute your computer doesn't slow you down is going to be very very valuable.

I'm trying to crank out files that end up exceeding 1.5 and 2 gigs on a macbook pro, older version, with 4gigs of RAM. It's not fun. Even with smaller files - multiple page InDesign or photo processing workflow my computer can't keep up with me, and I waste sooo much damn time on it. Your workflow and how you set up files can help, but only so much.


So sparknotes - go big or go home.
May 13 2010 2:52AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
save the money you would use to buy cs4/5 and torrent it like the other 90% of the world, and upgrade the graphics card or buy an external or something
May 13 2010 2:54AM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
Other ways to speed up workflow -

Find an old monitor that still works, hook it up. keep your pallettes on your laptop screen (more color correct) and your workspace on your other screen, that will help a lot if you can't get a bigger screen.

Get externals, keep your hard drive on your computer free and it will work faster.

Shut down your computer after working hard on it. It clears the digital memory and will make it zippy again if it's feeling slow.
May 13 2010 2:55AM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
lol at the people sggesting solid state, and the girl in this thread. dont worry about your hd. dont buy anything but the basics from apple, upgrade the HD and ram yourself. 15". 13 is too small, 17 is a tank.
May 13 2010 3:02AM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
you could, like, save over a $1000 and get a non mac? and still get cs5 and a whole range of other things with i7 badassery and ram to span for years?

but... regardless of what you do, get a separate monitor and set that up wherever you'll be doing the most work. Even a 17" monitor isn't as large as you'd like. I can run dual 23" monitors (but usually just a single 23) in studio and still desire more screen (albeit seldom). Oh and get external mice pronto; it's amazing how many people try to slave away the first couple of weeks of school without one.
May 13 2010 3:03AM
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andrew.ski
Posts: 368 - Karma: 69
Okay so heres my input on the matter since i have a mac, am in college and do a lot of graphic design work on CS4.

Just get the 13 inch screen, in the long run you'll be fine with the smaller screen and its so compact its amazingly easy to carry around. On top of that you will save like 500 dollars or so, which you will very importantly spend on upgrading the ram. Its easiest if you do it through apple, believe me and its not too bad, like 50 bucks a gig. max that crap out and spend the remaining money on a good tablet, and just find CS4 however you can ( I dont condone hacking ). Anyways yeah do that and you'll be rocking (especially with the free ipod and printer they give to you with a new macbook.  Also get an external hard drive or FTP or something and move all your projects off that you dont need. In a matter of six months I have filled 300 out of my 320 gig hard drive and i have a lot of work cut out for me.

Theres my advice, take it or leave, (but since this is my post) It is the best advice there. do exactly as i say.
May 13 2010 3:36AM
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andrew.ski
Posts: 368 - Karma: 69
and p.s. this screen size advice is coming from someone who had 4-20" monitors in one panel, hooked up to two machines like less than a year ago. You only think you need the space. you can learn to live without it.
May 13 2010 3:38AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
The highest spec 13". The screens on Macbooks are terrible and you've got a decent monitor anyway. Portability is a plus and the 13s have plenty power unless you're doing lots of batch stuff in which case you can go and make some coffee or take a shit while it does it's thing, no big deal. I do all my photo work on the higher spec 13" and a good 20" monitor and wouldn't have it any other way.

Spend the money you save on lift passes.
May 13 2010 7:42AM
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teleTay
Posts: 2320 - Karma: 186
the only thing that i would have agianst the 13inch is that you can olny the the Core2Duo which isnt a bad processor by any means but i really think the i5 at least would be better for graphic intensive programs
May 13 2010 9:38AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Yeah I really just run photography stuff on mine, I'm not totally sure how intensive graphics programs are but Illustrator is fine on my 13 when I do use it. A friend of mine is a designer and when his old G4 broke I think he was going to get the new 13 if his insurance had just paid cash, but they just sent a 15 instead. The best thing to do would be to find out from professional designers, not kids on a ski website. Call up some design companies and stuff.
May 13 2010 10:04AM
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SASS-Global
Posts: 101 - Karma: 101
It is entirely up to you. Any MBP will do what you need. It's just a matter of what you can afford. Look around. I found an unopened 15" MBP on Craigslist for $1300 that a dude bought 2 days before they announced the i5's and he wanted the new one. Took it home, bought the Applecare, and it's minty now.

So just look around. Decide what you can afford then look in your price range. Dont get hung up on particulars. You wont notice groundbreaking speed differences between a 2.33ghz and a 2.53ghz machine.
May 13 2010 10:38AM
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pmw
Posts: 5760 - Karma: 831
PM Dutchmasters. All i know is he is big on graphic design and bought a new MBP 17" and know he loves it. im sure he would be more then happy to help you out
May 13 2010 10:46AM
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gfanuckaa
Posts: 538 - Karma: 292
i had this problem when i was going to school for design- you can easliy get by your first two years without one and unless your saving to an external for a personal computer your just wasting space. Real design schools used to make you do 2 semesters of ink/guache work before you play in photoshop or indesign and with all the other preliminary classes ex) 2d, 3d, drawing, color theory type courses you'll be using this computer very rarely in the first yrs but thats what ive seen at least from art schools in ny/ the northeast junior and senior yr thats anotherr story

i got one just cuz i needed a comp. for school and i said if im gonna blow mad money regardless why not get the best
May 13 2010 10:47AM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
um, i do believe most of the responses in this thread are from professional designers, not "just kids on a ski site".

and actually, someone a post or two up had a very good point. you really wont be doing much comp stuff your first year or so, so you could definitely get by with something super cheap, and then once your program starts getting intense spring for the new badass comp like your sophmore year. that way it will be fast and up to date when you really need it to be. and when you graduate, and are poor as all hell, youll still have a respectable comp to do freelance and stuff on when your looking for a job.

also, even though they "require" a mac, there really is no difference in the programs youll be using. they wont kick you out for owning a PC, and in my opinion, the workspace on the PC versions of Adobe programs is nicer. if your totally straped for cash, id look at a PC potentially. you can get the same computer for a fraction of the cost. but thats just my opinion. might be an option for your first 2 year computer or something ya know? youll prolly want the mac though, just its cause what everyone in GD uses. just a potential suggestion.
May 13 2010 11:57AM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Haha you really think design companies want high school kids calling them up asking what computer should I get..really?

Dont get a 13". Most of these people are saying go 13, because they can go home and work on an external monitor, but in school, there will be plenty of classes where you have to just work from your laptop. Id really suggest a 15.
May 13 2010 2:14PM
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andrew.ski
Posts: 368 - Karma: 69
I definitely dont go home and work on a monitor and work on my 13 at all times, like way too many hours per day. haha

but yeah if youve got the money get a 15 inch.
May 13 2010 4:05PM
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Squid.
Posts: 1904 - Karma: 23
nooooooo unless you want your laptop to double as a stove. just get the cheapest i5 and a portable external hard drive. you can use it for time machine keeping copies of your image files, so if your comp breaks (not likely), you won't be fucked
May 13 2010 4:18PM
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Kornn101
Posts: 3534 - Karma: 25
coming from an web designer/developer who works at a big agency in nyc, i work on a 27 inch imac thats about a year or two old and i just bought a 15 inch core 17 mbp and it fucking SCREAMS. running cs5 for about a week and its unbelievable how fast it runs. do it now.
May 13 2010 4:35PM
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MadSteezin
Posts: 4572 - Karma: 936
So you guys think that the AppleCare Protection Plan is worth the extra money, right? Again, I would like to thank all you guys for your recommendations and such.

What might be some great accessories for it as well? Like the Magic Mouse
May 13 2010 6:45PM
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andrew.ski
Posts: 368 - Karma: 69
yes!!! get the applecare! i just got my macbook back two weeks ago because the logic board (sound card) blew on it (dont ask)

anyways it cost 783 dollars for parts + labor and i got to pay.... 0

it was one of the best feelings ive ever had.
May 13 2010 6:51PM
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Squid.
Posts: 1904 - Karma: 23
no the magic mouse is kinda lame. it's uncomfortable to hold

buy an incase neoprene sleeve, or an incase hardshell case, they are awesome, especially if you are gonna be hauling it around in a backpack
May 13 2010 7:07PM
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lahnabonny
Posts: 1260 - Karma: 35
the 13" are sooo small. I have a 15" and love it, but i'd go with a 17 if you can afford it
May 13 2010 7:12PM
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Squid.
Posts: 1904 - Karma: 23
he has a 20" monitor so a 17" is a waste. I'm really enjoying my 13", the battery life is crazy and the laptop is the perfect size for lugging around all day.
May 13 2010 7:27PM
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hundreds
Posts: 775 - Karma: 341
whats this macbook talk? get a pc you god damn hipster
May 13 2010 7:33PM
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MadSteezin
Posts: 4572 - Karma: 936
Haha most graphic designers and most professionals in the creative industry in general use Macs. And it's required to have one for school anyways.
May 13 2010 8:06PM
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.jon
Posts: 2121 - Karma: 345
BUY A REFURB!!

you won't even know it's refurbished once you get it because apple does a killer job getting them into perfect condition

and you'll save a few hundred bucks most likely which you can reinvest in more upgrades if you want

check it...
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=OTY2ODY2NQ
May 13 2010 9:10PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
I've met very few designers who would be rude enough to not answer an email of an aspiring designer.

But seriously, don't get a 13. I would be miserable trying to work on one. Everyone I know who has had one HAS been miserable working on one.

Graphics programs are going to put your computer through it's paces. Like I said before, My computer can't keep up with me. If you want any life out of your computer, get a fast one.
May 13 2010 10:08PM
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