<p>My daughter has finally decided on an Apple to bring to bring to school next year (she will be a freshman) but she’s not sure whether she wants the MacBook or the MacBook Pro. She might use programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe InDesign, or Quark XPress. However, she’s looking to major in the sciences. It’s my understanding that the Pro has a larger screen (which carries with it more bulk), the capability for a slightly faster processor, a superior graphics card that doesn’t leech off the processor, a backlit keyboard, and a versatile port. However, the MacBook is smaller - easier to carry around from class to class, fit on a small desk, use on a bus or train? She’s not concerned with the cost. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>I’d go with the MacBook Pro, especially if she’s interested in the sciences. I’m a math guy and use software like Mathematica, and the extra horsepower really helps.</p>
<p>I would also go with the MacBook Pro. I recently purchased one and I can honestly say that, especially for someone interested in the sciences, it’s the best way to go. As for the bulk, you really get used to it after awhile. Besides, I’ve carried my sister’s MacBook, and there is not much difference in weight between her laptop and mine.</p>
<p>A lot of students don’t really carry their laptop to class since it’s generally not needed and often a distraction. Many of the ones who do take them to class are just cruising the internet or doing something else not related to the particular class. Given this, the added bulk and weight of a somewhat larger laptop wouldn’t be much of an impact and they’d still be able to carry it with them back and forth to home and could use it on their bed, at the library, etc.</p>
<p>Go with the Pro, especially since she’s interested in the graphics programs.</p>
<p>I must have missed the latest innovation in Apple laptops *she said, happily tapping away on her little white ibook…! :)</p>
<p>Very cute, anxiousmom :)</p>
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<p>Not true. If your daughter’s campus has a good wireless system where she can work virtually any where, she’ll be carrying the laptop. I know my D and most of the students at the school are joined at the hip to their laptops, because most of their class stuff is posted on black board. My D doesn’t even carry a notebook anymore as she types all of her notes in class. In addition depending on how far your classes are from your dorm, it is not unusual for students to take what they need for the day when they leave out for class and work wherever they are.</p>
<p>Sybbie - what size laptop does your daughter use?</p>
<p>If she uses those big design programs I would definitely go with the Macbook Pro.</p>
<p>She has an Apple 12 in G-4 powerbook. She purchased it through the school, picked it up at freshman orientation, came out hte box fully configured to the school’s sytem and ready to go. </p>
<p>In addition there are authorized apple and dell service centers right on campus. so if there is a problem, she is under warranty she can take it to tech support get a loaner until the problem is solved (so far she has had no problems with it).</p>
<p>It’s very light weight. She just sticks it in her bag and goes.</p>
<p>my daughter just graduated in teh sciences at Reed with a 12" powerbook
I have a 14" ibook & personally I think the 15.4 inch macbook pros would seem huge
I always recommend adding ram- even though my laptop is about a year old and i don’t use any graphic intensive programs I have a gb
For a new purchase I would add even more & also would suggest that you look online for Apples education discount ( even though money isn’t a problem- computers are going to change before she graduates, and she may not want to feel stuck )</p>
<p>The thing is, she knows that the Pro is the better machine (she’s saved for some time now, which is why money is not a problem in this area) but is just torn because the MacBook seems so much easier to tuck away into a bag and go. The weight difference between the two machines is only about half a pound … it’s the overall size.</p>
<p>Also, I forgot to ask before - glossy screen or not? Both are available - opinions???</p>
<p>I’ll be the first to admit, I am not a technlogically savvy person. In fact when it came time for D to make a decision, she came into work to talk to our IT people to discuss what she would be using her computer for and if it would meet her needs.</p>
<p>I think overall, your daughter needs to think about how she is going to use her computer. Just because something is the latest and greatest model, if it has features that she does not need or intend to use can you really say that it is a good bang for the buck.</p>
<p>definitely look at getting the educational discount which can save her a few hundred $$</p>
<p>im on a 17" power book right now hehe my parents have that one and i have the 17" desktop version of it…but right now its in my room which is being painted a pretty shade of blue my sister has the 12" ibook…and so does my friends sister(also a friend) they both seem to small and ugly so i think i might just get a 12 inch power book(just smaller but w/ the same design as this one…i like this design its sleeker and prettyy!(jk)</p>
<p>For what’s it worth - my daughter who builds websites & does a lot of photoshop work – just got the black 13-inch MacBook – and thinks it’s fine. (Actually, she’s thrilled with it.)</p>
<p>sybbie:</p>
<p>Well, my D’s a fourth year CS major at UCSD which is one of the best large campuses for wireless but again, most students don’t take their laptops to class. I’ve heard the same thing at UCLA. But, maybe other campuses have a different culture (especially if they’re not as big).</p>
<p>So the conclusion is that some take it and some don’t. If the student really thinks they’ll lug it to class, then they should seriously consider a smaller, lighter laptop since an extra couple of pounds and bulk seems to multiply the more one carries it. They should stay away from anything larger than around 14-15.4 inches. This is of course, subjective but I’ve been using laptops and have been in a business where everyone uses laptops since their inception and believe this point should be considered. Again, it’s not as much of an issue if lugging is a bit more occasional (the library, the eateries, the lawn, etc.).</p>
<p>My daughter will be getting the macbook. I asked her if she wanted the macbook pro for art/design purposes. Her response was that she would the school’s G5 computers with their programs as actually buying the programs and installing them on her computer was money she did not want to spend.</p>
<p>I just saw that the macbook doesn’t have a modem-
as we still live in the dark ages with dialup!
I guess I will stick to the powerbook or ibook for now
( she can also get a seperate screen for layout purposes- or use the one in the computer lab)
<B bluetooth</p>
<p>My dh has used mac notebooks for years. He has a Pro that he carries everywhere. He feels the larger size screen isn’t a very big problem. Here is his recommendation. </p>
<p>Go with the Macbook Pro. Upgrad to a minimum of 1ghz of memory. If she is in science she can more readily run Windows XP at a faster speed for any specialized science programs on the Pro. If she is going to do video editing, go with the 7200 RPM 100gb hardrive. If she is only going to be using the graphics programs, stay with the 5200 RPM but upgrade to the 120gb hardrive. </p>
<p>He uses his in a Windows centric environment with no problem. He loves his Kensington backpack for this computer and says it makes transport super easy. He really does carry his everywhere.</p>