Advice needed: MacBook Pro 15" or 17"

[Martin Weiss]

Which MacBook Pro would you recommend - the new 15" version or the elder 17" one?

The price is about the same.

The 2.8 15" has the advantage of faster graphics, faster bus speed and a more rigid housing. Drawback is the shiny screen.

The 2.6 17" has 1920x1200 resolution - which might be nice for judging 2k on set?

Apple says that the 9600 graphics card is 5x faster than in the older MacBook Pros - does this have an effect on RedAlert and RedCine?

Or should I get a Macbook 13" and then a 17" whenever that comes out - though it seems that there will not be an option for matte screens anymore.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

While I would normally recommend the 17" because of the extra screen real estate and option to get the matte screen. At this point I have to say the 15" is the better option. Assuming you're looking at the newly released 15". It has a much faster bus speed, much better GPU and you can easily upgrade the HDD. On the 17" and prior models you have to disassemble the whole system to upgrade the HDD, which in turn voided your warranty, although Apple kinda ignored that since they realized their design flaw.

 

[Noah Kadner]

Take a good look at it in the store though. The glossy screen is either a love or a hate.

Noah

 

[Mark Phelan]

I've always been a 15" fan myself. The 17" is too cumbersome for traveling for me. I have the new 15" and do prefer it to my old powerbook. It's thinner, yet the screen is larger, 15.6". Still fits in my old backpack. The glossy screen gives better color and makes for a great mirror when turned off. I would have preferred the matte screen, but I can deal with a glossy one to get the other features. Really do like the new trackpad also.

 

[Martin Weiss]

Thanks, that was helpful. 15" it'll be

What sort of speed can I expect when rendering 1080p prores out?

 

[Martin Weiss]

Yep, ordered the 15" 2.8. But every time I am surprized again just how bad the Norwegian Apple store is. In the past 8 years I think I ordered about as many macs from them, and not a single time without trouble.

Well, also this time again. After an hour of fighting with their Vista-like ordering system I got the order through. Now it will "only" take 3 weeks !!!! till the laptop arrives (in the US I could just go to a store and pick it up). I sometimes wonder if they use Birger engineering when it comes to calculating shipping times...

Anyway, I'll be happier in 3 weeks... (Actually, I am pretty happy now, with Obama healing the world, business going fine, all stock markets recuperating, RED One in the same room as me, cat purring, better Nikon lens just arrived today while still hoping for a solution to my Contax love.)

Not really sure what I am trying to say, lol

 

[Mark Phelan]

A follow up comment, the speakers on the new MacBook Pro are the best I've ever heard on any laptop. Much stronger and louder volume.

 

[A. Clint Litton]

three weeks and you'll be VERY happy. was just playing around with the new 15" MBP yesterday in a store (yes, there are many things we take for granted living in america), so much simple, subtle but great design went into it. really fast too.

if you haven't already loaded it up with ram, go to a 3rd party vendor...this is the kind of thing that apple charges you another arm and a leg for (on top of the arm and a leg you already paid for the computer). be careful, or you may wind up looking something like this guy...the black knight always triumphs!

enjoy, martin!

 

[Joseph Hutson]

A follow up comment, the speakers on the new MacBook Pro are the best I've ever heard on any laptop. Much stronger and louder volume.

Have you heard the 17" MacBook Pro's speakers? I love them. Very strong and powerful.

 

[Martin Weiss]

Love Monty Python.

As to memory, this is actually the first time that all Ram does come from Apple, but only because the standard config of the 2.8ghz model is the maxed out 4gb. Usually I get the basic setup, and order the max. memory from Kingston, at a fraction of the price and with lifetime guarantee. Afterwards I sell the Apple memory on eBay.

Does anyone have some real-life experience with using the new MBP with RedAlert/RedCine? What sort of framerate can I expect when doing conversions to say prores 1080p?

 

[JoshBertrand]

Apple has really cut costs on memory with this last round of updates. Unless you are getting a tower, I've been recommending that people just buy the RAM from Apple. The cost difference is pretty minimal currently. We'll see if they stay competitive once the new RAM comes down in price some more from 3rd party vendors (my preference is OWC - MacSales.com).

Oh and I don't mind the glossy screen since the LEDs in them get really bright! I haven't had much trouble with reflections unless there is a strong light right behind me.