Home » The PARIS Forums » PARIS: Main » MacBook Pro- advise needed.
| MacBook Pro- advise needed. [message #92837] |
Sun, 18 November 2007 06:40  |
emarenot
Messages: 345
Registered: June 2005
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Senior Member |
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I'm just askin', and I'd rather get the info from you guys than a
sales-person. Anyhow, this is a serious bunch of questions. Worlds hang in
the balance ;-) A firiend of mine is considering buying a Mac Book Pro with
the following specs
Apple MacBook Pro Notebook Computer Features:
15" widescreen display
..2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
667MHz frontside bus and main memory
2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
PCI Express architecture
120GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics controller
ExpressCard/34 slot
One FireWire 400 port, one FireWire 800 port, two USB 2.0 ports
Slot-loading SuperDrive
Mac OS X Tiger
He's got an MBox for an interface, FW output. 1999.00. He's pretty
committed to using a laptop -wants to be able to bring it to possible
(occasional) gigs, and to friend's house to do some lite duty recording.
He's really interested in Live. Any thoughts on the laptop? (One thing I
generally don't like about laptops is that I can't get in there and replace
or upgrade components like I can in some sort of tower configuration. Is
this true for macbooks, or are they more accessable?) Can this thing be
loaded with a second drive or do you have to use an external HD? If so,
what's fast enough to do audio production? I'm so used to setting up
internal drives and only using external drives for backups. I'm also
wondering if Live will be able to work with his Mbox. As I understand it
though he's probably going to buy a separate audio interface for the laptop,
so, if any of you kind folks have thoughts on other portable, laptop
compatable interfaces I'd be interested in hearing them. I'm guessing his
budget will probabaly be around 500.00 for the AI.
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I'm just askin', and I'd rather get the =
info from=20
you guys than a sales-person. Anyhow, this is a serious bunch of=20
questions. Worlds hang in the balance ;-) A firiend of mine =
is=20
considering buying a Mac Book Pro with the following specs</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Apple MacBook Pro Notebook =
Computer=20
Features:</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>15" widescreen display</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>667MHz frontside bus and main =
memory</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>PCI Express architecture</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>120GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard =
drive</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics =
controller=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>ExpressCard/34 slot</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>One FireWire 400 port, one FireWire 800 =
port, two=20
USB 2.0 ports</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Slot-loading SuperDrive</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Mac OS X Tiger </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>He's got an MBox for an interface, FW =
output. =20
1999.00. He's pretty committed to using a laptop -wants to be able =
to=20
bring it to possible (occasional) gigs, and to friend's house to do some =
lite=20
duty recording. He's really interested in Live. Any thoughts =
on the=20
laptop? (One thing I generally don't like about laptops is that I =
can't=20
get in there and replace or upgrade components like I can in some sort =
of tower=20
configuration. Is this true for macbooks, or are they more =
accessable?)=20
Can this thing be loaded with a second drive or do you have to use an =
external=20
HD? If so, what's fast enough to do audio production? I'm so =
used to=20
setting up internal drives and only using external drives for =
backups. I'm=20
also wondering if Live will be able to work with his Mbox. As I =
understand=20
it though he's probably going to buy a separate audio interface for the =
laptop,=20
so, if any of you kind folks have thoughts on other portable, =
laptop=20
compatable interfaces I'd be interested in hearing them. I'm =
guessing his=20
budget will probabaly be around 500.00 for the AI. =20
</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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| Re: MacBook Pro- advise needed. [message #92840 is a reply to message #92837] |
Sun, 18 November 2007 08:28  |
Jamie K
Messages: 1115
Registered: July 2006
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Senior Member |
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I decided to wait until Macworld Expo in early January to get a laptop
to see what is announced. But that's mostly because the 17" doesn't have
LED backlighting yet. The 15" already has LED backlighting.
I presume you mean the 2.2GHZ Core 2 Due. That should be plenty fast and
is the most affordable Macbook Pro. The 2.2 implies a 128MB graphics
card, the smallest currently offered. That's still plenty for almost all
uses including audio. I'd go for the 256 option myself (or larger if
available when I buy) only because I use Apple's Motion compositing/FX
software and some animation software which would benefit from more
graphics RAM.
MacOSX Tiger (10.4) is one version back, the current version of OSX is
Leopard (10.5). Tiger is fine, I still use it for now, but he should
make sure he gets update disks to leopard included with the purchase if
it's a new machine. Otherwise it's an extra $130 for Leopard (discounts
available at Amazon and elsewhere).
An external drive should work fine for audio. Choices are Firewire, USB
2 or a SATA interface card via the card slot. SATA would be fastest but
depending on his needs FW or USB may be fine.
I HAVE heard of someone pulling out the optical drive and replacing it
with a second internal hard drive. He might check into that. Probably
not easy though.
I don't think the HD is user-replacable on the Macbook Pro, although it
IS user-replacable on the Macbook. I hope they add that to the MBP in
January (I have no evidence they will, just a hope). Despite it not
being as easy as the Macbook, some people HAVE replaced their own HD in
the MBP - google it, there are probably instructions.
RAM is easily user-replacable on all Mac laptops. Apple's RAM is
overpriced. If he wants to max it out at 4GB he can buy a couple of 2GB
sticks from crucial or another reputable supplier and save hundreds.
The current laptops and those one generation back are often available as
refurbs at the online Apple store if he wants to save a couple of bucks,
or discounted at Amazon or a few other dealers. If he's a student or
teacher there are educational discounts.
For even more savings at the same CPU speed, the regular Macbook is
another option. Pros: more compact; the HD IS user replacable; and it
can take the same maximum 4GB of RAM. The MacBook was just updated
within the last month or so. Cons: no expansion card slot; I think the
firewire is 400 not 800 (note: I use FW400 on my G5 for my FW audio
interface and it's fine); slightly smaller screen; no LED backlighting
yet; slower integrated graphics system (which may not matter much for
most people, it's still pretty fast for general use).
I can't answer the MBox and Live questions, other than they ought to
work fine, as should other interfaces and Mac audio software. It will
probably come with Garage Band which can do light duty recording out of
the box.
FWIW the MOTU 828MII firewire interface has worked well on my G5, and my
wife has been liking the TC Konnekt 8 firewire interface on her G4 Macbook.
Cheers,
-Jamie
www.JamieKrutz.com
Mike R. wrote:
>
> I'm just askin', and I'd rather get the info from you guys than a
> sales-person. Anyhow, this is a serious bunch of questions. Worlds hang
> in the balance ;-) A firiend of mine is considering buying a Mac Book
> Pro with the following specs
>
> *Apple MacBook Pro Notebook Computer Features:*
> 15" widescreen display
> .2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
> 667MHz frontside bus and main memory
> 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
> PCI Express architecture
> 120GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive
> NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics controller
> ExpressCard/34 slot
> One FireWire 400 port, one FireWire 800 port, two USB 2.0 ports
> Slot-loading SuperDrive
> Mac OS X Tiger
>
> He's got an MBox for an interface, FW output. 1999.00. He's pretty
> committed to using a laptop -wants to be able to bring it to possible
> (occasional) gigs, and to friend's house to do some lite duty
> recording. He's really interested in Live. Any thoughts on the
> laptop? (One thing I generally don't like about laptops is that I can't
> get in there and replace or upgrade components like I can in some sort
> of tower configuration. Is this true for macbooks, or are they more
> accessable?) Can this thing be loaded with a second drive or do you have
> to use an external HD? If so, what's fast enough to do audio
> production? I'm so used to setting up internal drives and only using
> external drives for backups. I'm also wondering if Live will be able to
> work with his Mbox. As I understand it though he's probably going to buy
> a separate audio interface for the laptop, so, if any of you kind folks
> have thoughts on other portable, laptop compatable interfaces I'd be
> interested in hearing them. I'm guessing his budget will probabaly be
> around 500.00 for the AI.
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| Re: MacBook Pro- advise needed. [message #92841 is a reply to message #92837] |
Sun, 18 November 2007 08:51 |
Chris Ludwig
Messages: 868
Registered: May 2006
|
Senior Member |
|
|
HI Mike,
> I'm just askin', and I'd rather get the info from you guys than a
> sales-person. Anyhow, this is a serious bunch of questions. Worlds
> hang in the balance ;-) A firiend of mine is considering buying a Mac
> Book Pro with the following specs
>
> *Apple MacBook Pro Notebook Computer Features:*
> 15" widescreen display
> .2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Is it a refurb or used? Apple has only offered 2.2ghz as the smallest
CPU choice for a few months now.
> 667MHz frontside bus and main memory
> 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
> PCI Express architecture
> 120GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive
I would get the 160 gig 7200 gig drive. Depending on how large is
projects are it may keep him from dragging around an external drive.
> NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics controller
> ExpressCard/34 slot
> One FireWire 400 port, one FireWire 800 port, two USB 2.0 ports
> Slot-loading SuperDrive
> Mac OS X Tiger
The current models are coming with Tiger installed and separate Leopard
disks. Not sure how much longer they will be doing that before just
installing Leopard.
>
> He's got an MBox for an interface, FW output. 1999.00. He's pretty
> committed to using a laptop -wants to be able to bring it to possible
> (occasional) gigs, and to friend's house to do some lite duty
> recording. He's really interested in Live. Any thoughts on the
> laptop? (One thing I generally don't like about laptops is that I
> can't get in there and replace or upgrade components like I can in
> some sort of tower configuration.
He will have too much stuff to bring around if he is just going back and
forth to friends houses. Laptops are allot faster now. The hard drive is
the only thing now that is slower than the the equivalent desktop.
> Is this true for macbooks, or are they more accessable?)
Mac Book Pros are no different than PC laptops at this point. Made at
the same factory.
Here is a list of stuff that has to be repaired at an authorized Repair
center or at Apple.
Monitor
Motherboard, this includes usb,firewire, nic, express slot, video out
and video card.
keyboard
touch pad
Here are the field replaceable/upgradeable internal parts-
hard drive
ram
dvd drive
> Can this thing be loaded with a second drive or do you have to use an
> external HD?If so, what's fast enough to do audio production? I'm so
> used to setting up internal drives and only using external drives for
> backups.
External only but the internal drives are gonna be fast enough for most
things as long as it is a 7200 rpm one.
> I'm also wondering if Live will be able to work with his Mbox.
Haven't tried the fire wire Mbox with Core Audio apps. Not sure all the
I/O and if the performance is as good as other audio devices.
> As I understand it though he's probably going to buy a separate audio
> interface for the laptop, so, if any of you kind folks have thoughts
> on other portable, laptop compatable interfaces I'd be interested in
> hearing them. I'm guessing his budget will probabaly be around 500.00
> for the AI.
$500.00 range I would go for a MOTU Ultralite. Most all of the cheaper
units from Presonus, Focusrite don't have very good low latency performance.
I would test the MBox with the laptop and if it works just bring that
around instead of buying a 2nd one.
Oh and get the Apple Care Plan. You barely have any warranty otherwise..
The above configuration can have 4 gigs of ram for only $100 extra when
you get it from us. :)
http://www.adkproaudio.com/apple.cfm
Chris
--
Chris Ludwig
ADK
chrisl@adkproaudio.com <mailto:chrisl@adkproaudio.com>
www.adkproaudio.com <http://www.adkproaudio.com/>
(859) 635-5762
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| Re: MacBook Pro- advise needed. [message #92844 is a reply to message #92840] |
Sun, 18 November 2007 10:09 |
emarenot
Messages: 345
Registered: June 2005
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Thanks for the feedback Jamie. Whichever way this guy goes, he's going to
be a very happy camper. Old guitar hound just getting into digital
recording and his eyes are popping out of his head!
MR
"Jamie K" <Meta@Dimensional.com> wrote in message news:47406951@linux...
>
> I decided to wait until Macworld Expo in early January to get a laptop
> to see what is announced. But that's mostly because the 17" doesn't have
> LED backlighting yet. The 15" already has LED backlighting.
>
> I presume you mean the 2.2GHZ Core 2 Due. That should be plenty fast and
> is the most affordable Macbook Pro. The 2.2 implies a 128MB graphics
> card, the smallest currently offered. That's still plenty for almost all
> uses including audio. I'd go for the 256 option myself (or larger if
> available when I buy) only because I use Apple's Motion compositing/FX
> software and some animation software which would benefit from more
> graphics RAM.
>
> MacOSX Tiger (10.4) is one version back, the current version of OSX is
> Leopard (10.5). Tiger is fine, I still use it for now, but he should
> make sure he gets update disks to leopard included with the purchase if
> it's a new machine. Otherwise it's an extra $130 for Leopard (discounts
> available at Amazon and elsewhere).
>
> An external drive should work fine for audio. Choices are Firewire, USB
> 2 or a SATA interface card via the card slot. SATA would be fastest but
> depending on his needs FW or USB may be fine.
>
> I HAVE heard of someone pulling out the optical drive and replacing it
> with a second internal hard drive. He might check into that. Probably
> not easy though.
>
> I don't think the HD is user-replacable on the Macbook Pro, although it
> IS user-replacable on the Macbook. I hope they add that to the MBP in
> January (I have no evidence they will, just a hope). Despite it not
> being as easy as the Macbook, some people HAVE replaced their own HD in
> the MBP - google it, there are probably instructions.
>
> RAM is easily user-replacable on all Mac laptops. Apple's RAM is
> overpriced. If he wants to max it out at 4GB he can buy a couple of 2GB
> sticks from crucial or another reputable supplier and save hundreds.
>
> The current laptops and those one generation back are often available as
> refurbs at the online Apple store if he wants to save a couple of bucks,
> or discounted at Amazon or a few other dealers. If he's a student or
> teacher there are educational discounts.
>
> For even more savings at the same CPU speed, the regular Macbook is
> another option. Pros: more compact; the HD IS user replacable; and it
> can take the same maximum 4GB of RAM. The MacBook was just updated
> within the last month or so. Cons: no expansion card slot; I think the
> firewire is 400 not 800 (note: I use FW400 on my G5 for my FW audio
> interface and it's fine); slightly smaller screen; no LED backlighting
> yet; slower integrated graphics system (which may not matter much for
> most people, it's still pretty fast for general use).
>
> I can't answer the MBox and Live questions, other than they ought to
> work fine, as should other interfaces and Mac audio software. It will
> probably come with Garage Band which can do light duty recording out of
> the box.
>
> FWIW the MOTU 828MII firewire interface has worked well on my G5, and my
> wife has been liking the TC Konnekt 8 firewire interface on her G4
Macbook.
>
> Cheers,
> -Jamie
> www.JamieKrutz.com
>
>
>
>
> Mike R. wrote:
> >
> > I'm just askin', and I'd rather get the info from you guys than a
> > sales-person. Anyhow, this is a serious bunch of questions. Worlds hang
> > in the balance ;-) A firiend of mine is considering buying a Mac Book
> > Pro with the following specs
> >
> > *Apple MacBook Pro Notebook Computer Features:*
> > 15" widescreen display
> > .2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
> > 667MHz frontside bus and main memory
> > 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
> > PCI Express architecture
> > 120GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive
> > NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics controller
> > ExpressCard/34 slot
> > One FireWire 400 port, one FireWire 800 port, two USB 2.0 ports
> > Slot-loading SuperDrive
> > Mac OS X Tiger
> >
> > He's got an MBox for an interface, FW output. 1999.00. He's pretty
> > committed to using a laptop -wants to be able to bring it to possible
> > (occasional) gigs, and to friend's house to do some lite duty
> > recording. He's really interested in Live. Any thoughts on the
> > laptop? (One thing I generally don't like about laptops is that I can't
> > get in there and replace or upgrade components like I can in some sort
> > of tower configuration. Is this true for macbooks, or are they more
> > accessable?) Can this thing be loaded with a second drive or do you have
> > to use an external HD? If so, what's fast enough to do audio
> > production? I'm so used to setting up internal drives and only using
> > external drives for backups. I'm also wondering if Live will be able to
> > work with his Mbox. As I understand it though he's probably going to buy
> > a separate audio interface for the laptop, so, if any of you kind folks
> > have thoughts on other portable, laptop compatable interfaces I'd be
> > interested in hearing them. I'm guessing his budget will probabaly be
> > around 500.00 for the AI.
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| Re: MacBook Pro- advise needed. [message #92845 is a reply to message #92841] |
Sun, 18 November 2007 10:10 |
emarenot
Messages: 345
Registered: June 2005
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Thanks Chris. Just sent an email via your website. ADK has grown, wow!
MR
"Chris Ludwig" <chrisl@adkproaudio.com> wrote in message
news:47406e92$1@linux...
> HI Mike,
> > I'm just askin', and I'd rather get the info from you guys than a
> > sales-person. Anyhow, this is a serious bunch of questions. Worlds
> > hang in the balance ;-) A firiend of mine is considering buying a Mac
> > Book Pro with the following specs
> >
> > *Apple MacBook Pro Notebook Computer Features:*
> > 15" widescreen display
> > .2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
>
> Is it a refurb or used? Apple has only offered 2.2ghz as the smallest
> CPU choice for a few months now.
> > 667MHz frontside bus and main memory
> > 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
> > PCI Express architecture
> > 120GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive
>
> I would get the 160 gig 7200 gig drive. Depending on how large is
> projects are it may keep him from dragging around an external drive.
> > NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics controller
> > ExpressCard/34 slot
> > One FireWire 400 port, one FireWire 800 port, two USB 2.0 ports
> > Slot-loading SuperDrive
> > Mac OS X Tiger
> The current models are coming with Tiger installed and separate Leopard
> disks. Not sure how much longer they will be doing that before just
> installing Leopard.
>
> >
> > He's got an MBox for an interface, FW output. 1999.00. He's pretty
> > committed to using a laptop -wants to be able to bring it to possible
> > (occasional) gigs, and to friend's house to do some lite duty
> > recording. He's really interested in Live. Any thoughts on the
> > laptop? (One thing I generally don't like about laptops is that I
> > can't get in there and replace or upgrade components like I can in
> > some sort of tower configuration.
> He will have too much stuff to bring around if he is just going back and
> forth to friends houses. Laptops are allot faster now. The hard drive is
> the only thing now that is slower than the the equivalent desktop.
> > Is this true for macbooks, or are they more accessable?)
> Mac Book Pros are no different than PC laptops at this point. Made at
> the same factory.
> Here is a list of stuff that has to be repaired at an authorized Repair
> center or at Apple.
> Monitor
> Motherboard, this includes usb,firewire, nic, express slot, video out
> and video card.
> keyboard
> touch pad
>
> Here are the field replaceable/upgradeable internal parts-
> hard drive
> ram
> dvd drive
> > Can this thing be loaded with a second drive or do you have to use an
> > external HD?If so, what's fast enough to do audio production? I'm so
> > used to setting up internal drives and only using external drives for
> > backups.
> External only but the internal drives are gonna be fast enough for most
> things as long as it is a 7200 rpm one.
> > I'm also wondering if Live will be able to work with his Mbox.
> Haven't tried the fire wire Mbox with Core Audio apps. Not sure all the
> I/O and if the performance is as good as other audio devices.
>
> > As I understand it though he's probably going to buy a separate audio
> > interface for the laptop, so, if any of you kind folks have thoughts
> > on other portable, laptop compatable interfaces I'd be interested in
> > hearing them. I'm guessing his budget will probabaly be around 500.00
> > for the AI.
> $500.00 range I would go for a MOTU Ultralite. Most all of the cheaper
> units from Presonus, Focusrite don't have very good low latency
performance.
> I would test the MBox with the laptop and if it works just bring that
> around instead of buying a 2nd one.
>
> Oh and get the Apple Care Plan. You barely have any warranty otherwise..
>
> The above configuration can have 4 gigs of ram for only $100 extra when
> you get it from us. :)
> http://www.adkproaudio.com/apple.cfm
>
>
> Chris
>
>
>
>
> --
> Chris Ludwig
> ADK
> chrisl@adkproaudio.com <mailto:chrisl@adkproaudio.com>
> www.adkproaudio.com <http://www.adkproaudio.com/>
> (859) 635-5762
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