What would you do? Macbook or current pc. PLEASE HELP!

[T0Mlol]

Well, with christmas coming up and everything, here is my story. Please take the time to read and help me out!

 

Currently, I have a HP Pavilion a1440n Desktop PC. There is nothing wrong with it at all really. I have a 17'' LCD monitor and I have upgraded the RAM to be 4GB DDR2 RAM. 2.7 Intel Pentium D Core 2 Duo Processor with 200? GB HD with a GeForce 7600GT video card.

 

I installed hackintosh (Macintosh basically, just on a windows PC) on it last year and I made it dual boot between Vista and Leopard so it works great. Well, in January I am starting school and going to do something with Graphic Design & MAYBE Video editing. Although I do like to video edit on my desktop, I don't do heavy editing, just a few videos and clips here and there. Anyway, I fell in love with mac so much that I don't want another windows computer. For christmas, my parents are getting everyone laptops and asked if I wanted one. So I mentioned I would like to have a Macbook. I have been checking them out and they are all sharp but I would want the $1599 one, with 2.4 and 2GB DDR3. Now, Is this a bad idea for me? Am I downgrading in anyway? I basically want to be able to do the same stuff on the Macbook as I can on the desktop, maybe just a little faster and sleeker which I know it defiantly will be sleeker, ha. I was also worried about the screen size since I would be going from a 17'' to a 13". I do have a 42" plasma TV though I could hook the macbook up to incase I was looking for a bigger screen for projects for school and such.

 

I basically want to be able to use Photoshop no problem, Dreamweaver, etc. Stuff with graphic designing. For Video, I want to be able to use iMovie, Adobe After Effects, and Final Cut. Now with the last two, I don't expect it to run GREAT but I would like to be able to use it here and there since I was able to use it with the desktop I installed mac on it so I don't want to lose anything. I think a laptop would be great so I can bring it to class or other places and everything. Seems really cool to lay around the house with it and not just have to be stuck sitting at a desk, idk. Please everyone, tell me what you would do if you were in my situation. Keep it mind, I wouldn't have to buy it or anything, I might help my parents and through a few hundred since it is a lot but I think it might be worth, it....it's a mac!

 

I understand this is a mac forum and you guys all love mac and stuff but please be honest. Is it a waste of money or are the macbooks totally awesome and the way to go?

[Stylez]

a friend of mine does videoediting also, and he sold his 13" macbook (white) to get an 24" imac, alltough he was editing with an external 22" monitor before.

now he has his 24" imac AND his 22" both together and says its still too small for videoediting. i own the 13" macbook and for MY usage the 'small' display is ok. but you mentioned photoshop, dreamweaver, final cut ...

i guess then the 13" would be too small for you. if you want to use your 42" tv as an external monitor, make sure BEFORE you buy a macbook that your components will work.

and you said that you want the 2,4ghz model. are you sure you want to pay 300$ more for an illuminated keyboard an 0,4ghz more power? then better get an 2.0ghz and invest the rest of your budget into more ram. 2gb isnt that much for editing.

another friend of mine owns a macbook pro 17" with 2gb ram. he is a graphic designer and is yellin' every day that he needs more ram for photoshop..

 

i'd suggest to step into an apple store and take a look how small those 13" are. if you've been working with an 17" you'll find it real small for working, but great for surfing and stuff like that and if you really want to work with it, better get more ram than the standard 2gb.

 

 

edit: if your pc is running that good on osx86, why just dont get a bigger display for editing stuff and get an macbook just4fun?

[Synaesthesia]

Hey, what's up. Macbooks are the way to go. The Macbook actually is just as fast as your current computer and is an awesome laptop. The OpenGL scores it gets on the 9400M are as fast is my 7600GT on a 2.4ghz chip. So it's completely capable of running all those applications.

 

2.4ghz is, well 20% faster and the illuminated keyboard is nice, so it's up to you if you wanna pay $1600 for the upgraded one. The $1299 one is quite a good deal. Otherwise try to get a Macbook Pro 15", previous generation for about $1600.

 

These machines are just a few months old and have awesome features.