Which 15" Macbook Pro?

Hi All,
I wanting to get myself a 15 inch Macbook Pro but am a little confused about which one I should get that'll best suit my needs...

Now they have just updated these babies so the 15-inch: 2.4GHz and 15-inch: 2.53GHz are rockin an intel i5 processor and the 15-inch: 2.66GHz has the i7... They all have 4gb ram standard and NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M video card but the 2.66Ghz has it with 512mb ram as opposed to 256mb in the others.

Basically I won't be doing any video editing or gaming on it, just want to run Logic, Ableton etc. and evetually get a nice firewire auidio interface for portable recording..

So, considering the price differences, could I easily get by with a 15-inch: 2.4GHz i5 or should I spend a bit more and cop the 15-inch: 2.66GHz i7?

http://store.apple.com/au_edu_94417/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro?mco=MTAyNTQzMzk

Thanks,
Surlismo.

I say spend that extra 300 AUD.

spend the extra cash to get the top model.

i had the same issue a few months back. just running logic/tools on it and it's dope.

Thanks for the replys fellas. Yeah thats what I was thinking, going with the top model.

any of those macs is more than enough to run your audio apps...if you got it like that go for top of the line, otherwise you paying top premium for only about 5-10 performance increase

If you are spending that much might as well spend a few more chips on more power. There is no such thing as a computer that is too fast or too powerful

poundaproblem wrote:If you are spending that much might as well spend a few more chips on more power. There is no such thing as a computer that is too fast or too powerful

+1 , and now is a perfect time to get it.

anyone now much about the difference between the i5 & i7 processors? I was reading on the mac forums that it may not be worth spending the extra to go up to i7...

Maybe getting a 15-inch: 2.4GHz i5 with 8gb ram could be a better option?

I'd say get the cheaper modell and add the better screen! you get 30% more pixels which will help you a lot in logic or ableton.
and try not to buy extra RAM from apple, it's waaaaay overpriced!

I am working with the late 2008 unibody MacBook Pro - 2,4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB DDR3, 500 GB 5400 HD.

and try not to buy extra RAM from apple, it's waaaaay overpriced!

A got store for the US and Canadian market is http://www.macsales.com/
You can get Ram and HDD a lot more affordable.


The ONLY thing that bothers me is:
When I have lots of Audio Tracks in my Logic Express Project (let´s say 8 stereo channels) and I add some software instruments - the harddrive is not fast enough. Sometimes i have to sit in front of the laptop and watch the beachball spin for 3 minutes only to get the message "hardrive too slow, blabla".

So, my advice:
4 GB Ram is good enough

Get a 7200 HD!!!

There are some newer models out right now... 250, 320, 500, 640GB.

^ You shouldnt be recording to the system drive anyways. If you had an external FW hard drive youd be able to get away with as little as 1GB of ram.

poundaproblem wrote:^ You shouldnt be recording to the system drive anyways. If you had an external FW hard drive youd be able to get away with as little as 1GB of ram.

Can you elaborate on that? I have an external HDD, how do I use it as the recording HDD?

in every daw you can choose the recording destination folder. create an folder on your external hd.

Floating Fluids wrote:I am working with the late 2008 unibody MacBook Pro - 2,4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB DDR3, 500 GB 5400 HD.

and try not to buy extra RAM from apple, it's waaaaay overpriced!

A got store for the US and Canadian market is http://www.macsales.com/
You can get Ram and HDD a lot more affordable.


The ONLY thing that bothers me is:
When I have lots of Audio Tracks in my Logic Express Project (let´s say 8 stereo channels) and I add some software instruments - the harddrive is not fast enough. Sometimes i have to sit in front of the laptop and watch the beachball spin for 3 minutes only to get the message "hardrive too slow, blabla".

So, my advice:
4 GB Ram is good enough

Get a 7200 HD!!!

There are some newer models out right now... 250, 320, 500, 640GB.

take out cd-rom drive and drop in another hard disk...another option get a Express Card to firewire or esata converter and hook up external firewire or sata hard disk for recording. installing ssd boot drive wouldnt hurt either.

saint_surly wrote:anyone now much about the difference between the i5 & i7 processors? I was reading on the mac forums that it may not be worth spending the extra to go up to i7...

Maybe getting a 15-inch: 2.4GHz i5 with 8gb ram could be a better option?

I really think you stressing too hard over this, just pick one up already and be happy with it...I highly doubt you'll be able to drive any of those macs to its full capacity