I want to upgrade from my current 15" MacBook pro to the new 17" MacBook Pro, but cannot decide on the specs I will need as a photographer. Any comments on the glossy display, or should I opt for the antiglare display?
I just had a look at the specs and there is not much to change, basically only processor speed and memory. The additional 300 MHz probably only make a small difference, the 8GB memory might help in PS but the price tag for that is quite steep. I have 4GB and PS runs fast enough for me on my unibody MacBook Pro. I chose the 5400 rpm hard drive since I like quiet notebooks. The 7200 is a bit faster. I am happy with the glossy screen, the colors look much better.
Fully agree with Axel on the specs The two biggest choices to make are the HD and the 5400 (is quieter), the other glossy or not !!! I happen to like the glossy since images just look better but its all subjective.
One interesting note, I have had two 17 inch and currently have one .... sure wish I was back to a 15 !! The one I have enjoyed the most was the old 12.. if they made one i would buy it !!!
I've had both the previous 15" MBP in anti-glare and the unibody 15" in glossy. I've not had any problems with the glossy screen; photos do look really good on the new monitor. The new 17" has an upgraded display if I'm not mistaken.
Are you using this computer as your primary image editing machine or do you have a desktop system? If this laptop is for travel, you might consider the 15" because it's much easier to carry on an airplane.
Are you using the laptop screen or just the processor. I have a 2.53 GHz unibody MBP with 4 GB of RAM. I can process large files with ease. My desktop machine is considerably more powerful. I use the MBP at work and when I travel. If you are only using the processor in the laptop, you should be able to do most things with a 15". If you need the larger monitor, then the 17" is a no brainer.
My rule of thumb with laptops is to get the fastest CPU and best graphics "card" I can afford. The RAM and hard drive can generally be upgraded over the life of the computer if necessary--often for much less than the manufacturer want's for them when you configure the computer--but the CPU and video card are almost always soldered* to the board and therefore impossible to upgrade.
I also avoid glossy screens like the plague, I've yet to see one that was usable in anything other than the most controlled conditions.
* NVidia and ATI have modular mobile graphics cards using MXM and AXIOM modules restively, but they are hard to find, expensive and not technically designed to be user upgradeable. And the whole point appears moot given that the MacBooks don't seem to use MXM for the graphics card anyway. I also seem to recall there were some laptops that used socketed processors but I don't think that's the case for the macbooks either.
Personal preference... I am an avid Mac guy and won't buy one with the glossy screen. For photo work, I find the matte so much better. Of course, the only Mac that has the matte option right now is the new 17-inch MBP, so if I need to upgrade my iMac or 15-inch MBP, I would be pretty limited.
New MacBook Pro
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