What mac to get?

I am debating between the 15" and the 17". I record audio and video and stuff. Logic/Final Cut, etc... Do I need the expresscard/34 thing so I can do SATA? Do I use that for an external HD or for the interface? Give me advice. peace.

I kinda like the big screen. I currently use firewire 400 for my audio interface and HD and have never had a problem. I was thinking if I ever wanted to record like 32 tracks at once it might be nice to have SATA.
On BestBuy.com they have a 15" model with the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M video card for $1699. It doesn't mention that it has a mini display port. Can this unit output 2500x1600 to drive my samsung 30" display?
Thanks for the info.

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    Me: Can you please  confirm for me whether upgrading from the Adobe Technical Communication  Suite version 2.0 to version 2.5 entitles me to 1 additional licence for ALL of the applications that constitute the Technical Communication  Suite (i.e. Robohelp, Acrobat, Framemaker, Captivate, Photoshop and  Presenter) OR does it merely entitle me to 1 licence to install  Photoshop CS5 and Captivate 5 in conjunction with my pre-existing TCS  2.0 installation?
    Morph: Give me a minute, I’m reading it.
    Me: sure
    Morph: When you place the order for upgrade, you will get new products.
    Me: I understand that I will get Photoshop CS5 and Captivate 5 BUT do I also get Framemaker, Acrobat and Robohelp?
    Morph: Adpbe eLearning  Suite  2 includes: Adobe Captivate 5, Flash Professional CS5,  Dreamweaver CS5, Photoshop CS5 Extended, Acrobat 9 Pro, Adobe Presenter 7  (Available only on Windows platform), Soundbooth CS5.
    Morph: No.
    Morph: Only Acrobat is Included.
    Me: I am not talking about the e-Learning Suite, I am referring to the Technical Communication Suite
    Morph: Oh okay, got you, first tell me, using which product you will be upgrading this from?
    Me: TCS 2.0
    Morph: Okay.
    Morph: Yes, if you do this  upgrade you will get Adobe FrameMaker 9, RoboHelp 8, Adobe Captivate 5,  Photoshop CS5, Acrobat 9 Pro Extended, and Adobe Presenter 7
    Me: so this will  entitle me to 1 additional licence for all of these applications, over  and above the licence I already own for the TCS version 2?
    Morph: Correct, however,  you may also be installing the software (Upgrade version) directly  without uninstalling the previous version of the software.
    Me: So just to  clarify, if I purchase the upgrade and decide that I want to install on a  completely different machine than the two computers that already have  TCS version 2.0 installed (as entitled by my licence) then I will be  able to, in effect, install the TCS 2.5 onto two completely different  computers (as per the Adobe licence) so that, at the end of the day, I  can actually have FOUR computers with TCS installed by virtue of the 2  licences that I should have - one from TCS version 2.0 and 1 licence  from TCS version 2.5É
    Morph: Purchasing the  “upgrade” version product is nothing but a “full” version, but if you do  not have the serial key for older version you can’t Install the  upgrade, but for full version you do no need previous version serial  number.
    Morph: Correct.
    Morph: You can simply purchase your upgrade and verify that you have the qualifying older product during the installation process.
    Morph: If it's installed on  your computer, the Adobe installer will either find it or prompt you to  help it find the software for verification.
    Morph: If it's not installed, you will be prompted to enter the qualifying serial number for the older version.
    Me: Is the download file one individual installer or an installer for each application
    Morph: It is one Indiviidual Installer.
    Morph: When you download it will automatically Install every program in the Suite one-by-one.
    Me: Okay, the reason I  have been asking is that yesterday I made this purchase yet my download  page had links only to Photoshop (a Chinese language only version of  Photoshop Extended which does not come with the Suite) and Captivate.  There was no link whatsoever for the other applications. I went through  customer service and technical support and no one, and I mean no one,  could answer the questions I`ve asked you. According to customer support  and the serialization team, the upgrade to v. 2.5 DOES NOT include  Framemaker, Robohelp and Acrobat. As a consumer I have absolutely no  idea what is right and what is wrong. How am I supposed to make an  informed purchase...
    Morph: did you check on the link and confirmed that it does not Include the upgrade to version 2.5?
    Me: Sorry - not clear what you mean, my receipt from the Adobe store was for TCS v 2.5
    Morph: Like I said  upgrade for the Technical communicate suite Includes Adobe FrameMaker 9,  RoboHelp 8, Adobe Captivate 5, Photoshop CS5, Acrobat 9 Pro Extended,  and Adobe Presenter 7, and you should be getting all as a single  download link, seems like you are not able to make it with the link to  Install Individual products altogether, so you need to contact our  Customer Service at 800-833-6687. for the
    Morph: precise Info.
    Me: I went through  that route yesterday and today and they told me that the upgrade DOES  NOT include the other applications. As well, I noticed that the download  file size for the upgrade is 1 half the size of the full version -  obviously something is missing
    Me: The information you are telling me is the precise opposite of what they told me. How do I, as a consumer, get the proper answer
    Morph: upgrade do Includes the product I have mentioned above.
    Me: I know you`re  trying to assist but I`m flummoxed - my case was escalated to Tier 2 and  they told me it doesn`t include the other applications
    Morph: up to some  extent i can help being a sales team member, ant only customer people  generate the links and have access to customer account to check what  really went wrong.
    Me: Is it possible to  have a senior sales rep contact me - this matter of a `simple` upgrade  has consumed a ridiculous amount of time. As far as my issue - Adobe  tells me nothing was wrong and that the upgrade is only a licence for  Photoshop and Captivate
    Morph: Okay,Just a minute.
    Morph: You can contact our Sales Team on 1-800-585-0774.
    So, at the end of the day, sales tells me that upgrading to v 2.5 grants me an additional licence for ALL applications in the suite whereas Adobe`s own technical support has told me this is not true. Again I ask, how does a consumer make an informed choice...
    I`ve been buying Adobe software for both Mac and PC since Creative Suite 2 came out and this has absolutely been the most frustrating experience I have ever had. I get great use out of the Techncial Communication Suite and thought it would be nice to have an additional licence but at the end of the day I have decided it certainly was not worth the hassle - particularly when Adobe itself can`t figure out what I am entitled to!!
    I am a fan of Adobe`s software but honestly, is business that good that you can treat your customers this way????

    Hi. I suspect that may indeed be the case. If so, that's fine but nowhere is it clearly articulated what a user gains by purchasing the upgrade (and I am specifically referring to an upgrade from TCS version 2 to v 2.5) and certainly sales (as evidenced by my chat transcripts where I believe I asked quite specific questions) are advising customers that you will, in fact, gain an additional licence to ALL components of the TCS by upgrading.
    If it had been clearly articulated on the Adobe TCS 2.5 website that an upgrade from TCS version 2 only entitles users to install Photoshop CS5 and Captivate 5 in conjunction with the existing installation of the other components of TCS 2 - or - better yet, stated clearly that the upgrade from version 2 to 2.5 does not entitle the end-user to an additional licence for Acrobat Pro Extended, Framemaker, Robohelp and Presenter 7 then that would allow me, as a consumer, to make an informed decision whether to make the purchase. Since that is not the case, and Adobe's sales representatives are clearly advising customers otherwise, I felt compelled to post this so others don't waste their time as I did trying to sort it out. At one point I was advised that I should use my existing TCS version 2 installer to install Acrobat etc but received contradictory answers as to whether I was entitled to an additional licence for these products. At no time during my first hour and forty-five minute conversation, my second ninety minute conversation nor my third, and last, twenty minute conversation was anyone able to clearly articulate what you have stated - and - that still leaves the fact that the text on Adobe's website is misleading.
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    At the end of the day, I think the TCS (while not perfect) is a very useful tool and I will, in all probability, upgrade to the full version of TCS 3 which will, no doubt, constitute a full licence for all components of the suite. I am not attributing malicious intent to the Adobe employees, but I am saying that they themselves seem confused about what is included in the upgrade and provided contradictory statements. If Adobe employees can't provide a straight, cut-to-the-chase answer about what seems a straightforward question then that certainly creates unnecessary confusion for the customer.

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