I've been working fulltime on a 12" Powerbook G4 (and I've written and released an entire album on the same machine, for that matter). And the G4 Powerbook wasn't especially fast when it came out! Computers have been by and large fast enough for most things for years.
I'll be going for the 13" MBP for my next machine, I suspect.
Re:Apple rolls out new MacBooks, drops prices
by dgallagher on Monday June 08, 2009 @05:09PM
(#648004)
"At this point, the ONLY reason I've been buying macbook pros rather than low-end macbooks is the screen size."
Some of the higher-end Pro models have better video cards, which yields better 3D performance, and sometimes better output on larger displays (e.g., running 1080p video on a 1920x1200 monitor). I'd imagine Photoshop CS4 runs quicker with a better video card (assuming Open GL is enabled in PS).
A few extra USB ports on the big guys too, and semi-faster CPU's (which doesn't make a heck of a difference unless you're doing something intense).
Other than a few people who care about the above, you're right. You're mostly picking for screen-size/native-resolution, and weight/form-factor.
Honestly, I find it incredibly strange that people still make the pro/consumer distinction. It's been a while now that even low end computers have been more than enough for most people, even most "pro" users. There are plenty of people out there working full time on low-end macbooks (though, in that case, often hooked up to a larger display). At this point, the ONLY reason I've been buying macbook pros rather than low-end macbooks is the screen size.