MacBook (6-bit) display OK for Photoshop?

Question

I currently have a 1.67GHz PowerBook G4, but will most likely get myself a MacBook within a year to replace it, running Photoshop CS3 (or more likely CS4 when it arrives) as a student of photography.
A few weeks ago I came across some disturbing reading on the web: while Apple says that their laptops can all display "millions" (24 bits) of colors it has been revealed that this is not so and they can in reality only display 262 144 colors (18 bits) because their displays are of the cheap 6-bit type instead of 8-bit. Here's a site that describes the problem in more detail: http://peewaiweb.free.fr/
This might not pose a problem for most people, but how does it affect professional use, such as with Photoshop?
I've always had desktop computers in the past, but bought my first laptop 3 years ago and haven't looked back since. But paying a premium price for an Apple laptop which has a "cheap" display which isn't capable of delivering the goods seems pretty unfair to me.
The big question is: is it good *enough*? Good enough for photography use with Photoshop that is.
PS: as far as I know, MacBooks and MacBook Pro computers are fully able to display images with 16.7 million colors at once, but the built-in display isn't. If you attach an external display I believe you get a true 24-bit image, but then you're no longer looking at a "portable system", and you've forked out so much money already that you could just as well have bought a desktop computer to begin with!

Answer 1

I've never considered buying a MacBook. It's the MacBook Pro I've been looking at to replace my PowerBook G4 (just like I never considered buying an iBook but opted to a PowerBook).
Allen: you say that the MacBook display is better than 90% of displays in other branded laptops. How does the MacBook Pro display compare to other laptops?
PShock: It seems that there is no way past getting a separate display connected to a MacBook Pro, or buy a desktop Mac if I want really accurate color.
Actually my Powerbook is used mostly at home, with the AC adapter plugged in, but then there are those times I need to use it somewhere else and I've found a laptop to be invaluable! I don't think I could ever go back to a desktop computer again. I hate all those bulky boxes, wires, mouse, external keyboard etc.
Who knows what the future might bring, but for the next couple of years I'll be studying to become a photographer, so I won't be at the pro level just yet. But then again I like to invest in stuff I can really use well for a long time to come.
Would a 15" MacBook Pro along with an external high-quality monitor be a good choice if I want to get serious about photography?
I probably don't have to worry about that stuff just yet though, and according to the school it seems that a MacBook Pro and a Canon or Nikon SLR is what they recommend when studying there.
I mentioned having a Canon EOS-350D and someone there said it's OK to start out with, but I'll probably have to trade it in for something more professional soon.
Some additional concerns I have about trading in my Powerbook G4 for a top of the line MacBook Pro:
1) While my 15" display is set for 1440x960 pixels, the 15" MacBook Pro has 60 less vertical pixels (1440x900). Anyone know why this is, and if this makes much of a difference?
2) Unlike the PowerBook G4, the MacBook Pro doesn't have a built-in modem. I must admit that I haven't used it that much, but it has been critical for a few instances where I needed to fax something. Mind you, I know that a USB modem is available but one of the reasons I got rid of my desktop computer to go the laptop route was because I hated all those things dangling off the machine.
What are all of your experiences with the missing modem?
3) You can't run "Classic" on Intel based Macs as far as I know. Being able to run Classic applications was a big deal for me before getting my PowerBook because I wanted to run all the stuff I had used on my desktop Mac. But when I eventually got the Powerbook I used OSX software anyway, except a small handfull of apps. Truth be told I don't think I've used "Classic" for several months, so I can probably live without it.
4) The Powerbook has an S-video connector which the MacBook Pro is (as far as I know) missing. I don't know if this is a big issue or not, but I can think of a few instances where S-video might be useful. Perhaps there are adapters available to convert the video connector to S-video?
Other than that it looks like the MacBook Pro can replace all that I've grown accustomed to with my 15" Powerbook G4 (Firewire 800, PCMCIA card slot, USB, audio in/out, ethernet and wireless Internet :-)