13" MBA or 15" MBP for a musician, amateur photographer, and college student?

Now, if I had it my way I'd wait for the next MBP release, but alas my mother says I must buy a laptop now.
I've heard that the MBA is great for just about every average user's needs, but I do use my computer for more than the average user does.
Right now I'm using an HP desktop which I'll be bringing with me to college: 6 GB RAM,  an i5 2.67GHz processor, and a 512 GB HDD at 7200 rpm.
It has a sucky monitor, but I'm going to replace it very soon.
I'm excited to get my Mac and use Aperture with it, because I tried Lightroom and found that it is not good enough in terms of workflow, so I did not purchase it (pricey) and am just using the Nikon software included with my camera.
I work with RAW files and often import 8 GB of them at a time and edit them, convert them to jpegs. The processes are all just a little slow, with the conversion to jpegs being the worst by far. That could be because I'm using the Nikon software, though. I recall that Lightroom was lightyears faster at that.
My point it, I WANT to use the Macbook I get as my primary photo editing machine. Is this realistic? Can either of the machines I'm looking at really handle that?
The 13" MBA would be too small, wouldn't it?
If I got the 15" MBP, I'd get the hi-res screen as well.
But the MBA is just so beautiful and portable. I'm worried that the MBP will feel like a burden. Then again, 6 pounds isn't that heavy still. And I know that if I buy the MBP, they will release a new one and I will feel remorseful, but, hey, a new model will always be around the corner.
And I couldn't afford a SSD if I got the MBP. :/
If I get the MBA, it will be maxed out.
I will also probably be purchasing an external hard drive for photos in the next 6 months, so I'm not concerned about 256 GB on the MBA being too little.
As far as other uses of the computer, I do some audio recording and editing. How good are the two machines at Garageband?
I'll do a lot of word processing for school. I like to stream video, listen to music.
Also, I love the HD cam on the MBP and hate the one of the MBA. I will be Skyping a lot this year.
Oh my GOSH. Sorry for writing so much and being disorganized. Thanks for reading! Haha.

From what I see on Twitter and blogs, a lot of photography pros are picking up the new MacBook Airs as their road machines because with the new Core iX processors they are quite acceptable for performance. I've mostly read about them using Lightroom, though, and not as a primary machine, so you should take some of your raw photos to an Apple store and run some Aperture tests to see how it feels. Do you think there is enough room to see everything, or does it feel cramped?
The main problem with the MacBook Air is not being able to put more than 4GB RAM in it, but with the SSD you might not notice the lag as much. For most people the Air is a fantastic computer. I use the 15" MacBook Pro, because I use other graphics apps where I need room to display documents, filmstrips, palettes, etc. so I need mor pixels, and also because I need to be able to have more RAM.
I would guess that GarageBand wouldn't be a problem on any new Mac, assuming you're not piling on heaps of effects.

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    From what I see on Twitter and blogs, a lot of photography pros are picking up the new MacBook Airs as their road machines because with the new Core iX processors they are quite acceptable for performance. I've mostly read about them using Lightroom, though, and not as a primary machine, so you should take some of your raw photos to an Apple store and run some Aperture tests to see how it feels. Do you think there is enough room to see everything, or does it feel cramped?
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    CyberFinch wrote:
    FCP Version:  Which is most stable given my model?  And which is best for non-HD needs?  What about FCExpress?  I want to explore more possibilities than what's available in iMovie and would appreciate the simpler interface found in FCE and FCPX, especially since I haven't used any Final Cut since FCP 3 but will gladly embrace what's best.  I want to relearn the program and hope to continue using it for other projects.
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    As for partitioning, some people advise against editing from drives that have been partitioned. I use a partition on one machine and I've not had any problems, so I think it is an option.
    As you can see from the replies you've received so far, you have  reasonable choices. Good luck.
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      2X Size: 4 GB
      Type: DDR3
      Speed: 1067 MHz
      Status: OK
    Graphics  NVIDIA GeForce 9400M 256 MB
    Serial Number  WQ9240Y466D
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    1TB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
    SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
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    Current iMac:
    -Mid-2007 iMac - 24"
    -2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
    -4 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
    -ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro 256 MB
    -500 GB SATA Disk
    Potential MBP:
    -2.8GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 4.0GHz
    -16GB 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
    -512GB PCIe-based Flash Storage
    -Intel Iris Pro Graphics and NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M with 2GB of GDDR5 memory

    Hi Bee!
    Thanks very much for your advice!
    However, why do you suggest the 21.5" over the 27"? Do you think it is worth the extra screen size, because I can afford either?
    It seemed to me that the iMac was the best option also - I'm in need of the power, but I'm still deliberating over size.
    Also, on a side note, do you know of any iPhone apps that can help me with transferring files from home to college I'm getting an iPod Touch as part of the new deal Apple are running and I just wondered if there were any apps that I would find handy for transporting files etc.?
    Thanks again!

  • Which would you choose MBP for FCP7

    Ok here is my question. 
    I am looking to invest in a refurbished 15in MBP.  I cannot afford a new one at thist time.  Below is what I am planning to use it for and I will give you the two models I am looking at, I would really be thankful if any of you experts out there can give me a had in the selection.  Ok here it goes.
    Uses
    FCP7 (I will be shooting in AVCCAM(Both 1080 and 720p) and transfering it to Pro-Res 422(LT)
    Photoshop CS5 or CS6 (Using smaller images taken with an 8MP Camera, not looking to edit images over 12MP at this time.)
    Adobe Lightroom
    Some small use of After Effects.
    Surf The Web
    Watch a movie or two.
    Here are the two machines I am looking at.
    the October 2011 15inch MBP with 2.2Ghz Quar Core...I am planning to upgrade the memory to 8GB
    OR
    the April 2010 15inch MBP with 2.8 Intel Core i7....This model will have the matte Hi-Res screen not the glossy one I will get on the one above.  I am also planning to upgrade the memory to 8GB.
    I know these are not the AWSOME new machines that Apple is making, I cant afford them and cannot see ever being able to drop more then 1400 on a machine at this time.  I am not a real power user either.  I guess I am curious with these two processors and the two different displays what you all think is more important.
    Thanks everyone

    yv,
    Have you actually seen this "graininess" issue for yourself? I only ask because I was very hesitant about buying a MBP for that reason. I went into the Apple Store, compared screens between MacBook, MacBook Pro and iMac. The MacBook screen was clearly inferior. The MacBook Pro (15") and the iMac screen looked comparable in quality. I saw no graininess.
    I went to CompUSA the following week. I brought my wife with me. She's a graphic designer, works on very good quality monitors all day--in fact she makes the purchasing decisions for the graphics department of a Fortune 500 company. We compared the same three sets of monitors. She came to the same conclusion as me: the MacBook monitor is inferior. The MacBook Pro and iMac monitors are not noticeably different in quality. In fact, she even thought the MacBook Pro was every bit as good as the Apple Cinema Display they had. I bought a MacBook Pro right there.
    I've been using it for about 6 weeks now. Its the best laptop screen I've ever used-better than my daughter's PowerBook G4 (last generation), better than my wife's high-end PC laptop (I think its a Toshiba), better than my son's PowerBook G4 (second to last generation). I also compare it to my higher end 22" external monitor (more expensive Gateway version). Sure, the external is better, but it isn't designed for a laptop.
    So, maybe I got lucky, and all the MacBook Pros at the Apple Store, and the ones at CompUSA and the one I purchased all happened to be the few that don't have this problem (mine was manufactured during the last week of November or the first week of December). Or, this is a relatively rare problem with one of the earlier batches. Or it is exaggerated to begin with. Take a look for yourself.

  • Thinking of getting a 15" MBP for FCPX... few questions...

    Hey everyone,
    I am thinking of getting a MBP for FCPX.
    I am new to Mac's and have always used PC's but with all of the trouble I have had with my PC's lately, and the fact that I have an iPhone, iPod, and everything seems to be moving to the "cloud" I think it is time to go with what seems like the superior product, an Apple Laptop
    So my question to you:
    I am on a budget, but don't want to be regretting not spending enough in the long run.
    I want to do some video editing and I have always used Sony Vegas in the past. With FCPX only being $300 now, that seems much more reasonable than the way FCP7 was previously priced.
    What sort of system spec's should I shoot for?
    I am reading that the minimums are as follows:
    Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor or better.
    2GB of RAM (4GB of RAM recommended).
    OpenCL-capable graphics card or
    Intel HD Graphics 3000 or later.
    256MB of VRAM (512MB of VRAM recommended).
    Display with 1280-by-768 resolution or higher.
    OS X v10.6.8 or OS X v10.7.5 or OS X v10.8.2 or later.
    2.4GB of disk space.
    So if I got a 15" Macbook Pro (without Retina display... do I really need the Retina?) here are the specs and my questions:
    2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz Or should I go for the 2.6GHz Quad-core Intel Core?
    8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GBI figured this would be a good upgrade from the 4GB of RAM
    500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpmATA versus SSD? What size do you think?
    MacBook Pro 15-inch Glossy Widescreen DisplayAre the high-res glossy or anti-glare any better? Is the regular screen pretty easy on the eyes?
    Any other tips or suggestions for what to get? I want this to run as smoothly as possible, and I want this to be a computer that will last me a few years. I am currently on year 5 of my laptop PC, so I hope that the Apple's are as good of a product.
    Thanks!

    As Tony writes, try to get the faster machine if you can afford. fcpx needs: a fast hard drive, a fast processor and lots of memory (ram).
    Just a bit of my own experience: I am presently working with fcpx 1005 on a retina macbook pro (15", 2.7GHz, 16GB ram, the faster video card, and 500GB SSD internal drive). I was waiting for a mac pro so I settled for this machine and it lives up to all my expectations. I am editing material in ProRes 1080p30 with a lot of processing (effects) and usually 4-5 layers. The machine performs better than I would have imagined.
    - Internal hard drive: of course the internal SSD hard drive helps but you can skip that if money is tight. Try and put a 7200 rpm drive, the price difference should not be so great and there still will be a difference.
    - RAM is vital: on a regular project, as soon as you use color correction and plugins fcpx eats all the ram it can get. I used to work on a 6GB ram macbook pro until last summer and needed to quit and relaunch fcpx constantly. Now I have 16GB in the new macbook pro and the memory-hungry situation is just slightly better. The performance of course is much better in the sense that fcpx tends less to forget things, to show the beach ball or to act erratically. All this is due to lack of RAM. So do not spare on that and put in the maximum your machine can take.
    - The speed of the processor will make a difference between smooth and less smooth performance, and render times of course.
    - fcpx, also, is now GPU optimized and a faster video card in the macbook pro will make a definite difference. Same as for CPU.
    - external hard drives: don't even think of editing on your internal drive. Think that all your system and apps are installed there, so you want to keep this drive from running hot and die prematurely.
    Use USB3 or eSATA drive enclosures. With an adaptor expresscard (like sonnet) you will get a decent performance and be able to read several ProRes 422 layers and a lot of ProRes Proxy layers and not despair in front of a sluggish machine. (I just upgraded from eSATA to TBolt RAID. This also helps with hi-res material and when you load an event with a lot of video files - much faster display). But both usb3 and eSATA are quite fine. If you can try and use a dual-drive enclosure you will get a real measurable performance boost.
    - Screen: the retina is showing the images with a LOT better definition than the regular monitor. It is not too relfective. In studio, with a normal lighting arrangement it is fine. My other machines were all non-reflective and of course that's perfect. Stil the retina without question is better.
    What else… well good luck.

  • Advice on used mbp for photo/ video tasks.

    Good afternoon everyone. I'd just like to pick the brains of some of the experts here regarding purchasing a used mbp for photo/ video. for about $1300 (preferably less) which models would you look at? I'm open to 15 and 17 inch variants. The 13 is just too small. I've been trying to find a 15" with 2.4ghz and 16gb ram but they are very hard to come by in my price range. Is there going to be a huge difference in speed between a 2.2, 2.3, or 2.4 i7 quad core processor? I'm also aware that some models came with superior graphics cards although I can't remember exactly which ones.
    one more question, regarding the high res matte screens, are these going to make my guis look weird? I actually had a 2014 13" mbp retina and was hugely disappointed in its performance and took it back. The retina display was not compatible with photoshop And made it look awful. This happened with some web pages as well. Is this going to happen with the high res screens available previous to the retina technology?
    Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions.
    One last thing. Am I better off waiting/ spending a few hundred more and looking at more recent units such as a 15" retina? I don't like that the ram can't be upgraded and that they can't be repaired by the user as easily but the lighter weight is certainly a nice feature.

    I suppose what I'm asking is whether there are particular configurations that were better than others that I should look out for. you illustrated my point when you mentioned your friend's older but faster mbp. I believe sometimes there are configurations that seem to work better than others despite one being newer or having 'faster' or 'superior' hardware. I'm aware of the advantages of ssd's and had one in my last mbp along with maxed out ram.
    Regarding the newer mbp 13 retina model my solution was to take it back. I simply was not happy paying more for a computer that was more expensive but didn't perform as well as my older model I had just sold. Also the size was not going to work.
    Out of interest can anyone explain these anomolies in speed between newer and older models. Logic suggests that a newer model with faster processor and more ram should be faster but why is this not always the case?
    Here's my predicament: 15" mpb with 2.4ghz i7 quad core and 16gb ram and ssd are running around $1400 used. This is more than I would expect to pay for a mid to late 2011 laptop but they seem to hold their value very well. There is a significant price jump between say a 2.2ghz model and a 2.4. Am I going to notice more performance on the 2.4 or is it not a big deal to save a few hundred bucks? Or do I just spend a few hundred more for a newer retina model? I just don't want to end up with a computer I cannot upgrade or work on myself and that is not a significant performance upgrade from my last model And doesn't even have a SuperDrive or additional HDD. I hope that makes sense.
    So with all that said and considering that I use my laptop for photography and small amounts of video are there any particular models anyone would recommend Around the $1300 mark? Or other suggestions?

  • When I try to use FT on my MBP, connected to a 24" display, and close the shell, the display camera says it is not turned on. I have looked and looked for a solution. Can someone help? Thanks

    When I try to use FT on my MBP, connected to a 24" display, and close the shell, the display camera says it is not turned on. With the MBP open, FT works fine. I have looked and looked for a solution. Can someone help? Thanks

    Hello BassoonPlayer,
    Since you are using one of the the school's Macbooks, it is quite possible that the time and date are not properly set on the computer that you are using.  FaceTime will not work if you do not have the proper time zone set up for the location that you are in.  This past week, there were a two other Macbook users I've helped by simply telling them to set the Date/Time properly.  By the way, you described your problem very well, which makes it easier for us to help you.  Hope this solves your problem -- if not, post back and I can suggest other remedies.
    Wuz

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