Mac For A Student

Here's a question that has arisen, and I think that you guys are the perfect people to answer it!
I'm leaning towards graphic design as a possible major in college next year (I graduate from high school this year), and I was just curious which Mac could get the job done.
The Apple employee I talked to through the Apple website suggested a Macbook Pro, but I wasn't sure if that was just because he wanted me to spend more money, or if that's truly the way to go.
Would a regular Macbook (any level, preferably the cheaper the better) produce the same quality and be able to run the same programs as the Macbook Pro? Please help me out!

 

Yes, it can.

I'd say that Apple dominates the graphic arts sector. A PC can easily do the work just the same, since your primary software (Adobe CS3) will work on either system.

It's kind of down to how much you want to spend, if you want to use OS X or Windows and if you like the look of the MBP

 

Well... what are you using the thing for? If you're doing word processing stuff, then stick with the Macbook, but if you're gaming or doing gnarly 3D stuff, then get the MBP

 

As Hollownail said though if youre getting the Macbook and expecting a whole new world of performance with graphics arts programs youll be surprised. If budget is your concern consider just getting a PC.

 

A MacBook is actually a very good value, it is hard to not suggest a Mac simply for the fact that if you do continue with this as a career, and are working for a company, studio, whatever, you can almost guarantee you will be using a Mac.

it isn't for any performance related issues or anything like that, it is just that Apple did a good job of getting there products out there for studios when desktop publishing went to the digital side of things.

if you can afford a MBP get it, as a larger screen can definitely make a nice difference for a lot of things when it comes to design,

but there is absolutely no reason why a MacBook shouldn't suit your needs just fine. I actually know many graphic designers who use a MacBook as their only machine.

 

I do absolutely NO gaming. I don't get it, and I never will!

I'm glad to hear that a regular Macbook will suit my needs.
I'm trying to find the most bang for my buck, and I don't want to spend any extra money for things that aren't needed.

And Circa, thanks for that tip! I never really thought about that! A lot of firms and studios are converting to Macs, and it would obviously do me some good to know the Mac ropes and get the OS down!

Now here's a good question!
Will the baseline, simple, lowest level white Macbook suit my needs? OR do you think a splurge on the higher levels (or possibly a refurb) help?

 

In your case, the simple lowest level white Macbook would suit them fine, however, you may want to get extra RAM (be sure to get them from third party sellers, and not directly from Apple) to help things speed up slightly.

 

Do you need to burn DVDs often? If so, then that would be the drawback of the base model MacBook, as it does not have a DVD burner.

 

having a DVD burner would be a good idea, I would recommend trying to pick up a refurb model actually, just make sure to get a Santa Rosa Based model, one that uses a Core 2 Duo as you will be able to upgrade it to 4gb of RAM very very easily, and you can always put a larger Hard Drive in it later on as well, which you cannot upgrade on a MacBook Pro (easily), the HDD that is.

let us know if you have any more questions

 

dvd burner should be the main criteria when selecting between macbook models.

if u think u have to burn ur data on dvd or copy dvds, then u opt the macbook with superdrive, else go for the lowest model.

but in my opinion extra 200 bucks between the first 2 models of macbook is worth it coz u get extra DVD writer, 1 GB ram, more HDD & a faster processor

 

Im actually a graphic design student myself and I have the mid-level MacBook, mostly because I couldn't afford anything else, BUT it's got everything I really need.
If you REALLY need something bigger if you end up doing 3D, you can always use the computer labs for rendering...which are probably going to be all macs.
Oh, and I bought it refurbished, saved a lot more $$$

 

get a refurbed santa rosa with a dvd burner and low ram / low hard drive

then go to newegg.com and buy 4 GB of ram and as large of a hdd as you need...

thats what I would do.

 

You're absolutely right! About the labs, I mean.

Has anyone ever had any problems with a refurb? I've heard a few different opinions, but mostly good reports.

 

The only reason you will need a MBP is for the larger screen size. Its a common misconception that photoshop is graphically intensively, its actually more cpu intensive and theres not a big difference between MP and MBP in that area.

 

Oh really? The Apple people were just ranting about a "dedicated graphics card" and "Adobe recommends the Macbook Pro"! But I think they were trying to get me to spend more money...