also, the imac has tons of movies

Your lucky your work doesn’t require huge amounts of power… I have to have a tower with lots of Ram to get my work done…

#39 Frank
Ruman (#37) said: “When buying the MBP, max out the HD size, and put in as little RAM as possible (512MB i think).”

It isn’t possible to get the $2499 MBP with less than 2GB of RAM installed. I don’t think you have looked at the MBP’s in a while. Apple has been steadily increasing the minimum RAM of their machines to very nice levels and also not charging crazy prices for extra RAM like they used to do. Granted, you can still get RAM cheaper for some of their machines but the MBP comes with 2GB standard and can only be upgraded to 3GB by removing one of the 1GB cards and replacing it with a 2GB card.

#40 Frank
Ruwan (#37) said: “When buying the MBP, max out the HD size, and put in as little RAM as possible (512MB i think).”

It isn’t possible to get the $2499 MBP with less than 2GB of RAM installed. I don’t think you have looked at the MBP’s in a while. Apple has been steadily increasing the minimum RAM of their machines to very nice levels and also not charging crazy prices for extra RAM like they used to do. Granted, you can still get RAM cheaper for some of their machines but the MBP comes with 2GB standard and can only be upgraded to 3GB by removing one of the 1GB cards and replacing it with a 2GB card.

#41 Dave Gitlin
Save money……I always buy from Amazon.com. Amazon = no tax + free shipping + rebates

#42 John
I’m wondering if Parallels Desktop for Mac does anything to facilitate the native intel software limitations described by JERRY #32 by enabling use of Windows intel software applications. I’m hoping it does because I’m considering purchase of a new Apple computer on which I can also use my old Windows applications.

#43 dan
Unless you’ve got a specific need for the macbook pro, you’re paying a steep price for the upgrade. I’m running a macbook core duo with 2gb and couldn’t be happier. As for the core duo vs. core 2 duo in the mini - obviously it appears to be a downer. But, a little google research suggests that the difference in performance is in the 10-15% range. I think you’re best bet is to go with the macbook - order 2gb of memory online (OWC is good) - and wait until apple upgrades the mini. It’s gotta be coming sooner or later. The mac buyer’s guide at mac rumors shows that the mini is late in the product cycle. That way you get the core 2 duo in both machines and save money.

#44 Joseph
Well, I haven’t read all the comments, but my situation is this:
I have a first generation white Macbook Core Duo 2.0. I live in Brazil, and bought my MB from Amazon, and this was a very lucky shot. Buying an Apple here is something pretty uncommon.
Hearing about Leopard, and it’s new features like Time Machine really make me impressed and also, sad. How can I use it’s full power, if I only have 60 GB of hard drive?
Saying this, makes me reach the point I wanted to. The thing I’ve been thinking lately is to go for a Macbook + Mac mini config. And I’ll tell why.
I want to get rid of my P4 Prescott machine, because it uses to much energy and is very noise. I’m not looking for gaming anymore, either. I don’t have a wireless router, neither a DVD player. (I’ll just graduated at the University and starting my own home).
Buying extra harddrive, RAM, router, DVD and everything else, at least for me, would be almost as expensive as buying a new Mac Mini.
But, there is a catch. Buying it on Spring, with the release of Leopard, would also garantee that I don’t have to spend extra money with Leopard, iLife 07 and other stuff.
Bringing everything together, I think buying a customized Mac Mini, with extra RAM and HD (that I could exchange with the MB), and maybe even the CPU (the reason I googled and came here), is the best choice of all.
A Mac Mini in the living room would be my wireless router, DVD player, Apple TV, iPod sync station, and Leopard provider.

Thanks

#45 Tian
You should either go High-end or low end on Macs. Here’s my suggestion:

1. MacBook+23inch Cinema Display ($2500, which is the price of a single 17inch MBP)

2. MacBook Pro 17″+30inch Cinema Display (go with this and you’ll be amazed.)

Forget iMac and Mac mini. Apple is at its best when building laptops.

#46 sam
hey - I’m sick of lugging my 15″ G4 around. Can anyone recommend a smaller size laptop?

#47 gabriel
I am a Mac soon-to-be new-by. I am getting into high-end video editting and would like to get some feedback about which Mac to purchase. I am trying to decide between an IMac and MacPro. Both more than I’d like to spend. But PC is not an option.

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1. MacBook+23inch Cinema Display ($2500, which is the price of a single 17inch MBP)

2. MacBook Pro 17″+30inch Cinema Display (go with this and you’ll be amazed.)

Forget iMac and Mac mini. Apple is at its best when building laptops.

Thanks

It isn’t possible to get the $2499 MBP with less than 2GB of RAM installed. I don’t think you have looked at the MBP’s in a while. Apple has been steadily increasing the minimum RAM of their machines to very nice levels and also not charging crazy prices for extra RAM like they used to do. Granted, you can still get RAM cheaper for some of their machines but the MBP comes with 2GB standard and can only be upgraded to 3GB by removing one of the 1GB cards and replacing it with a 2GB card.

It isn’t possible to get the $2499 MBP with less than 2GB of RAM installed. I don’t think you have looked at the MBP’s in a while. Apple has been steadily increasing the minimum RAM of their machines to very nice levels and also not charging crazy prices for extra RAM like they used to do. Granted, you can still get RAM cheaper for some of their machines but the MBP comes with 2GB standard and can only be upgraded to 3GB by removing one of the 1GB cards and replacing it with a 2GB card.

It really is a choice you have to make. The Only way i would say you should get two, is if you want to use the second for media, the Lady, or the kids.

Your lucky your work doesn’t require huge amounts of power… I have to have a tower with lots of Ram to get my work done…

A few things i’d recommend. When buying the MBP, max out the HD size, and put in as little RAM as possible (512MB i think). Then buy the ram from dealram.com for about 1/3 to 1/4 the price that apple will sell for and replace it yourself.

This will make the Macbook pro option by far the cheapest and the best for you. (and you can use that extra $500 towards a cinema display or something. and you should probably do the ram trick even if you get a regular macbook too.)

But the MacBook Pro is a big investment in power–that doesn’t really allow you to use that power because there’s very little native Intel software ready yet. In addition to Final Cut, I use many graphic intensive programs like InDesign, Photoshop, AfterEffects, etc. None of this is really ready for Intel Macs, so I’m really surprised I haven’t been reading about a huge slow down in high-end Mac sales (maybe the story is being suppressed as the media waits for January MacWorld).

Anyway, I really, really need a new Mac laptop, and I even have the money to buy all new Intel native software, I would just like to know if people think a power user is foolish for picking up a MacBook Pro at this point?

Get what you mostly need to have: If you need a desk machine - get a MacPro. If you need a laptop, get a MacBookPro. If you really want/need two machines, just keep the old PB along with your new mac.

If money is a problem, you could get the MacPro (since you already have a laptop), and get a refurb MBP C2D down the line.

The mini isn’t really useful if you’ve got any other mac, since it’s the weakest in the family.

With 2 or more computers, you’ll spend less downtime when one of them is booting, crashing or busy with something processor intensive, but, you’ll also waste more time doing data sync and running updates/installs/maintenance.

Option 4: Keep your PowerBook. It’s still useful for web browsing, MS Office, email, etc. Then buy a Mac Pro.

My wife still uses her 12″ PowerBook 867Mhz for email, invoicing, MS Office, etc. She then uses our PowerMac G5 DP for music and video production. We bought a MacBook Pro 2Ghz over the summer and use it for mobile audio/video production.

Purchased the 2.33 GHz MacBookPro and hook it up to my 21″ Dell monitor at the office about a month ago.

Worth every stinking penny. Faster than my desktop and it makes the old PowerBook look so slow. And when the UB’s come out…wow.

Cheers,
ken

I don’t need two computers so I think this is the best choice. I have portability and a big screen at home to see DVDs and other things!

I personally went from a 15″ PBG4 1.67GHz 1GB RAM and PowerMac G5 Quad with 2GB RAM and 23 inch display to

MBP 2.33 15″ 2GB RAM 160 GB HD and kept the 23 inch display. I found that the MBP was so fast that I didn’t need the tower anymore! I would either go for that or the iMac/MB …def. not the mac mini

I hung onto a 15″ 1Ghz with 768Mb Ram which gets used every day to work and back and syncs with a new Mini with 2 Gb Ram and a 20″ LCD at home. One advantage there is Office and Photoshop still launch and run a little bit faster on the old Pbook - another being some software, notably finance stuff in my case, still only runs on PPC.

So all bases are covered and my upgrade budget is good and ready for whatever comes up next year. Just a thought.

Anyway, You can find an almost-new iMac G5 2.13 Ghz on eBay for around $1000 with a 3-year Applecare (with 2.5 years left). I’m about to buy one for our family computer. It’s a great deal and is still screaming fast compared to my wife’s 1Ghz G4 Powerbook 12″.

I have a MacBook Pro 2Ghz (Core Duo) and it’s fast, but I don’t really use all it’s power. I like having the RAM, but don’t really need the graphics card. I think i I upgrade soon I might get a black MacBook unless I just can’t give up the screen resolution.

Anyway, if you *need* 2 computers, go with an iMac and MacBook. If you need a heavy duty workstation you might consider just getting the MacBook Pro.