The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    MBP 15" - A Couple of Questions

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by BradGT, Jul 14, 2010.

  1. BradGT

    BradGT Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I have a few questions as I am trying to decide what to buy for a laptop.

    1. Can I load my Windows XP and MS Office using Boot Camp and have them run without issues?

    2. The MBP 15" with the NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 256 MB, can I use CS5 without issues or should it have more dedicated memory?

    3. Is there a big difference between the i5 2.4 GHz and the 2.53GHz versions - enough to buy the 2.53?

    I will not be playing games on the computer, just working with CS5 and the internet and using MS Office the odd time. I would prefer to not have to buy the Mac version of MS Office since I have the PC version already. Not sure whether I will even put iTunes on it as we have a desktop that has it already, but I may at some point. I am trying to decide whether to get a Sony F-Series, the MBP or possibly a Lenovo W510, but I like to see what I buy and I don't know where to find a W510 to look at. I am in Canada.
     
  2. darkmage

    darkmage Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    130
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Based on my experience:
    1. Yes
    2. No, 256 mb dedicated is fine for CS5
    3. No, the difference between 2.4 and 2.53 is minimal.
     
  3. crazycanuk

    crazycanuk Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,354
    Messages:
    2,705
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    56
    1 yes
    2 it will actually depend on what all you are doing with CS5, there can be issues here

    3 not a chance,
     
  4. BradGT

    BradGT Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I have never used CS5 before, nor any of the Photoshop programs before, but I am taking a course that requires it. We will be working with mostly RAW files at this point. My camera is a 14 MP if that helps, but I may upgrade to the new Canon 7D which is 18 or so MP. Not sure if this is helpful.
     
  5. E30kid

    E30kid Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    38
    Messages:
    899
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    If you're going to be working with RAW files, I would reccommend looking into the 17" MBP. I'm guessing that those cameras use CompactFlash cards, so the ExpressCard slot that the 17" has could take a CF adapter for easy file transfer.

    If those cameras use SD cards, then the 15" will be fine for you.

    Also, the 17's screen might be helpful for photo editing.
     
  6. AznFlamer

    AznFlamer Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    290
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    1.Absolutely

    2.I don't see a problem

    3.You won't feel it.
     
  7. BradGT

    BradGT Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Thank you all for the informative replies. Anyone know approximately how much space I would need to "set aside" to install XP and MS Office 2007?