Macbook?

Ukwildlifeo · #1 (**permalink**) 16-01-2008, 05:10 PM

I thinking of getting a Macbook. does anyone use one on here. Ive been told to get for my course, but personally I quite fancy one for photo editing etc. Ive be told they run Photoshop better than PCs. Also is it worth forking out an extra £70 for 2gb of ram rather than 1gb, considering Ill be photo editing on it?

thanks in advance

RichBrew · #2 (**permalink**) 16-01-2008, 05:23 PM

I don't use the MacBook, but do use an iMac. Apple computers are excellent for image editing, and run with less hassel. I'd strongly recommend getting as much RAM as possible if using Photoshop, as it guzzles memory; so yes, the extra £70 is money well spent,

RichBrew

LoveT · #3 (**permalink**) 16-01-2008, 05:31 PM

I use an iMac myself, but my other half has a Mac Book. He uses Photoshop 7 on it (I use CS3) - it runs just fine (and he's using the latest OS - Leopard). I'd say get the best spec. you can afford to and you should be just fine. It would pay you to do your homework first though, and check what the software you intend to use needs. Hope that helps.

Mumby · #4 (**permalink**) 16-01-2008, 05:52 PM

I have a MacBook and love it, I wish I had got one sooner. It is the 2.16GHz version and I upgraded to 2GB of RAM, I'm running Mac OS X 10.4.11.

The wide 1280x800 screen is very good and it really does run very quickly.

I use Canon DPP and The GIMP to edit pictures and have never had a problem.

If you have the money, I really can't recommend it enough

If you want any more info just let me know.

Paul

Ukwildlifeo · #5 (**permalink**) 16-01-2008, 07:49 PM

Thanks everyone for there answers so far

I have one more question thou? has anyone encountered problems with external hard/flash drives when plugging them both into macs and pcs? Ive been told there prone to corruption when this is done?

thanks in advance

NickCantle · #6 (**permalink**) 16-01-2008, 07:58 PM

Woo! A Mac thread

I am too running a 1.83gHz Macbook

Whacked up with 2Gb Ram so it's fairly speedy and does all of my image processing adequately. After all, they're built for such tasks. As for your question on the External flash drives, in my experience they are formatted for either Mac OS or Windows. If you put a Mac formatted one in Windows, you'll get a 'reformat' message. Same goes for the other way round. I'm not sure about leeway on this but I'm thinking that there might be a capable device.

Nick

P.s- I promise you that you'll not regret purchasing one of the finest machines around today

LoveT · #7 (**permalink**) 16-01-2008, 08:09 PM

I've got two hard drives constantly plugged into my iMac (firewire and USB 2.0), plus a firewire compact flash card reader, and I also plug in a USB 2.0 xd card reader when needed and never had any problem plugging them in to the Mac. As long as you are careful when disconnecting any drive (by ejecting them, rather than just unplugging them) you shouldn't have problems with corruption.

You'll always come across somebody who claims they've had a problem (or know someone who has - friend of a friend etc

) and nothing is ever guaranteed of course, but I've been using Macs since approx 2002 and have never had a problem with corrupted discs etc.

If you're interested, have a look at the Apple UK site and go into the online store - you'll find customer reviews (good and bad) of Mac compatible accessories such as storage. Then you can make your own mind up.

I'd say that Macs are far more reliable, robust and forgiving than PCs - but then I'm biased

!

Hope this helps.
Thea

Mumby · #8 (**permalink**) 16-01-2008, 08:47 PM

I concur with the above. I have used various external hard drives with no problems whatsoever. Of course, no manufacturer can get away from the fact that the user has to be careful to unmount the device before unplugging it from the computer, but even this is easier in OS X, it only takes one button click, compared with windows slightly more long winded way

But I don't want to turn this into an OS X vs. Windows thread, there are plenty of those on the net already!

You could be the first WABer to get a MacBook Air, if you are willing to stump up the cash

Regards,

Paul

Ukwildlifeo · #9 (**permalink**) 16-01-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mumby

I concur with the above. I have used various external hard drives with no problems whatsoever. Of course, no manufacturer can get away from the fact that the user has to be careful to unmount the device before unplugging it from the computer, but even this is easier in OS X, it only takes one button click, compared with windows slightly more long winded way

But I don't want to turn this into an OS X vs. Windows thread, there are plenty of those on the net already!

You could be the first WABer to get a MacBook Air, if you are willing to stump up the cash

Regards,

Paul

The Air looks lovely but im going with the 2.0Ghz or 2.2Ghz macbook. Now just which.

thanks for the help everybody

NickCantle · #10 (**permalink**) 16-01-2008, 10:21 PM

Always a pleasure to help a potential Mac user

beckiscott · #11 (**permalink**) 16-01-2008, 10:42 PM

my one tip.... don't get your RAM from apple... get it from here
it will only be £30ish ... and really worth it!

AND...
if you know any students (or teachers) you can make use of their educational status to get upto 14% discount

Ukwildlifeo · #12 (**permalink**) 17-01-2008, 02:47 PM

I took the plunge... got a 2ghz with 2gb of ram and 80gb hard drive. And all with nice student discount. now have to wait over a week to get it. Its gona kill me lol

NickCantle · #13 (**permalink**) 17-01-2008, 04:04 PM

I guarantee you'll not have any regrets

Mumby · #14 (**permalink**) 17-01-2008, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

I took the plunge... got a 2ghz with 2gb of ram and 80gb hard drive. And all with nice student discount. now have to wait over a week to get it. Its gona kill me lol

Congratulations, you'll love it.

Paul

LoveT · #15 (**permalink**) 17-01-2008, 04:42 PM

Good news! Once you get used to a very slightly different way of working with a Mac you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner!! Welcome aboard!
Thea

Meta menardi · #16 (**permalink**) 17-01-2008, 05:44 PM

I have to say this WAB site is amazing. No silly Mac V Pc rant! Just sensible advice and good encouragment. You guys are saints and saintesses (if there is such a thing as a saintess)

Ukwildlifeo · #17 (**permalink**) 17-01-2008, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

I have to say this WAB site is amazing. No silly Mac V Pc rant! Just sensible advice and good encouragment. You guys are saints and saintesses (if there is such a thing as a saintess)

A couple of years ago I would have argued for the PC (cheaper, better value + compatibility etc) but since vista came out, unless you build your own Pc (as I did) or if you want to a laptop/notebook you have to have the evil, crappy, compability troubled, crash prone, doesn't play many of my old games, needs 2gb of memory to run, Vista. No wonder mac sales have soared!

NickCantle · #18 (**permalink**) 17-01-2008, 06:48 PM

Mac sales have always soared

, but I stop there for fear ruining the essence of Meta menardi's lovely post

JonSadler · #19 (**permalink**) 17-01-2008, 10:08 PM

I also am a recent convert to mac - after years of working with Windows. I have a 2.4 dual core Macbook with 2 gig of memory. It is absolutely terrific, stable, fast and joy to use. I have two different makes of external disks and I have not had any problems. iPhoto is shipped with Leopard (OS X.5) and this finds both my cameras a 30D and 400D without trouble. Canon's software runs well enough on it and I have recently installed C3.

I cannot find fault with it. So good choice! I am sure you'll love it. Had I seen the mail sooner I would have suggested you buy a bigger disk. Mine is 160 gig and is getting pretty full, but I have a lot of videocam downloaded to on it. Upgrade disks are not too horribly expensive though.

All the best

Jon

Ukwildlifeo · #20 (**permalink**) 17-01-2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonSadler

I also am a recent convert to mac - after years of working with Windows. I have a 2.4 dual core Macbook with 2 gig of memory. It is absolutely terrific, stable, fast and joy to use. I have two different makes of external disks and I have not had any problems. iPhoto is shipped with Leopard (OS X.5) and this finds both my cameras a 30D and 400D without trouble. Canon's software runs well enough on it and I have recently installed C3.

I cannot find fault with it. So good choice! I am sure you'll love it. Had I seen the mail sooner I would have suggested you buy a bigger disk. Mine is 160 gig and is getting pretty full, but I have a lot of videocam downloaded to on it. Upgrade disks are not too horribly expensive though.

All the best

Jon

No worries, i dont plan to fill it up with too much and have a 500gb hard drive in my pc to store all the stuff i need and a dvd burn on it to for further storage. If I may ask, what external hard drives to you have? Just so I can look them up, since I can be sure they work on macs

NickCantle · #21 (**permalink**) 17-01-2008, 11:25 PM

Obviously search around, but reputation-wise, both Formac and Lacie are excellent.

Nick

peterjclarke · #22 (**permalink**) 17-01-2008, 11:43 PM

I love my Mac and a Mac Book Pro is next on my wish list.

LoveT · #23 (**permalink**) 18-01-2008, 08:24 AM

I've got two (greedy I know!) LaCie hard drives plugged in to mine - a 320gb one for backup which I got last year, and a 500gb one for storing all my photos etc. on, which my husband bought me for Christmas.

I've had no problems so far with either.
Thea

JonSadler · #24 (**permalink**) 18-01-2008, 06:14 PM

Hi UKwildlifeo

The drives I have are a 500gb Iomega and a 250 Western Digital Drive (passport drive). Got the former via the Apple store (online) and the latter from Amazon.

All the best

jon

Ukwildlifeo · #25 (**permalink**) 23-01-2008, 11:11 PM

Thanks everyone for there help once again. I type to you now on my macbooks key board