Can a Macbook handle what I want to do?

December 5, 2007 9:25 PM

Can a Macbook handle what I want to do?

My 5 year old desktop and laptop is crapping out on me and I need to find something that will replace both. I'm looking into getting a Macbook Black with 2g of RAM with a 20 inch monitor since I plan on doing alot of graphic work on it. I'm an average photoshop user that doesn't work with LARGE files and LARGE amounts of layers. I'm also looking into making music with my computer. Nothing too complicated but just something for me to play around with.

My question is, will a Macbook be able to handle what I want to do in an efficient manner? I can't really afford to go with a Macbook pro if I want to get a monitor along with my laptop.

posted by herbiehancock00 to computers & internet (21 comments total)

Lots of people photoshopped and made music on 1 GHz and slower TiBooks, so I doubt you will have any trouble on a Macbook.
posted by b1tr0t at 9:32 PM on December 5, 2007

Yes, it will.
posted by danb at 9:35 PM on December 5, 2007

Proud Macbook owner (original rev. black Macbook).Macbooks rule. For everything except 3D graphics.

New Macbooks support 4GB of RAM and as you're a Photoshop nut I'd suggest getting as much RAM as you can afford (don't forget Macbooks dont have dedicated video RAM so the vram for the secondary monitor will take a chunk out of main RAM too)

I've got a Macbook and a nicely specced Mac Pro and the Macbook is my primary machine. I do everything on it, including a lot of development work with some pretty intensive compiles, while the Mac Pro whoops it, the Macbook is respectable.

The prime reasons to go with MBP over MB are screen resolution/size and 3D graphics. If you're ok with that a MB should be fine for you.
posted by schwa at 9:45 PM on December 5, 2007

Yep, my Macbook handles Photoshop just fine.
One word of warning: if you get one that has the new Leopard (10.5) OS installed, you will need to have Adobe CS3.
posted by bink at 9:57 PM on December 5, 2007

Nope.
posted by jeffamaphone at 10:09 PM on December 5, 2007

Why will I need CS3? I'm sure the one I get will have Leopard.
posted by willy_dilly at 10:10 PM on December 5, 2007

my brand-new macbook with 2g ram handles photoshop, indesign & illustrator (CS3) beautifully.

no reason to get an enormous amt of ram unless you're dealing with 100 mb + files, I can work on 70 and 80mb CMYK files with multiple layers quite speedily, no complaints at all. It's faster than my dual core G5 at work with the same amt of ram.
posted by luriete at 10:33 PM on December 5, 2007

Ars Technica recently reviewed the new Santa Rosa based Macbooks (that's rev C). On the bottom of the third page there are some Photoshop CS3 benchmarks. Generally, the Macbook can hold its own although it's a bit slower compared to the Pro or iMac.

Whatever you do, don't buy ram from the Apple store, as they charge a ridiculous amount. Save some cash and get stock, then upgrade it yourself. You can pick up memory for a song.
posted by tracert at 10:36 PM on December 5, 2007

Why will I need CS3? I'm sure the one I get will have Leopard.

Because CS3 is the only version that Adobe is officially supporting under Leopard. Older versions are not officially supported.
posted by chrismear at 10:52 PM on December 5, 2007

But older versions of CS DO work. Albeit very slowly compared to CS3 on a Mac. So, yeah, basically: you will need CS3 (Intel-native).

I work on a 20" iMac at home (10.5), and a 24" Aluminum iMac at work (10.5). I use fairly large PSD files with many layers. CS3 on the bigger screen is so luxurious, but it can be used easily with a Macbook and a 20" flatscreen. Be sure to get a little mobile USB mouse, as a trackpad is a bitch to use with PS.

Get extra RAM, it'll get utilized. DON'T buy it through Apple. Get it through www.newegg.com or somesuch instead and save bill-fitty. At least...
posted by blastrid at 12:42 AM on December 6, 2007

I do exactly what you do, except I do work with big files in Photoshop. I also spend quite a bit of time in Ableton Live and Logic. The Macbook is excellent in all matters. Definitely upgrade to a minimum of 2GB. The performance difference that it made was far greater than I expected.

Just to note, when using my second monitor (a Samsung 2232BW), I find it a bit weird using the trackpad and keyboard on the Mac to drive a screen that they're not directly in front of. Try to get external ones if you can.

Also, the front of the laptop under your wrist may seem scratchy at first. Don't worry, it's normal, though very annoying. It'll wear down and after a month or so you won't notice it.

Enjoy!
posted by Magnakai at 7:31 AM on December 6, 2007

Slight derail if permitted: how difficult is it to add the extra RAM if bought separately?

(since I'm about to buy a Macbook for Mrs. arcticseal since her venerable Ti G4 Powerbook has just passed from this earth)
posted by arcticseal at 7:55 AM on December 6, 2007

Slight derail if permitted: how difficult is it to add the extra RAM if bought separately?

It's a piece of cake. They even walk you through it in the Macbook manual. Buy your RAM cheaper from crucial and install it yourself.
posted by mattbucher at 8:12 AM on December 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

I have CS2 on my Mac running Leopard and it's a little pokey, but acceptable.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:34 AM on December 6, 2007

Make sure you get an external monitor... but the power is fine.
posted by tomw at 9:39 AM on December 6, 2007

Visual guide to installing RAM in a Macbook.
posted by SemiSophos at 9:47 AM on December 6, 2007

Voting for "yep."
posted by electric_counterpoint at 9:54 AM on December 6, 2007

Yes
posted by kdern at 10:28 AM on December 6, 2007

My 12" iBook is more than capable.
posted by popcassady at 11:31 AM on December 6, 2007

Your proposed setup will be more than adequate for what you want to do.
posted by ikkyu2 at 12:37 PM on December 6, 2007

I still use my Powerbook G4 for all my Photoshop work.

As long as you fill it up with RAM it's all good.
posted by Sukiari at 8:23 PM on December 6, 2007