Mac owners come in!

sanae78

I really need a new computer (mine is going on 4 years old and I'm just over how slow it is) and I'm 99.9% sure I'm gonna get a Mac. But which one? I definitely want a laptop so that I'm not stuck at my desk all the time.

Is the MacBook sufficient for Photoshop and Lightroom?  Besides websurfing, that's the majority of what I'll be doing.  I'm not liking that the screen is only 13". But I can't seem to justify the cost difference between the MacBook and the 15" MacBook Pro. Can anyone give me any insight? Is it that much faster? I definitely would prefer a larger screen for more productivity, but the price difference seems steep.

TIA!

mie

I think for most people, the MacBook is perfect for their needs.  However, since you're going to be using Photoshop and Lightroom, I think you should consider the MacBook Pro (this is if you're planning to do a lot of editing/batches at one time).

SanHawaii08

i'm assuming you'll be leaving it at home, and won't have a reason to lug it around?  i use a mac for work and chose to get the 13".  the 15" is way too big for me to lug around all the time.  the keyboards are the same size, so the only difference really is the screen.  that said, the 13" screen, while very wide, is very...squat - not a lot of height, so i think 15" would be better for photos...

lelekay

I don't use photoshop or anything, but I LOVE my MacBook Pro.  I debated between the 13" and 15" inch a lot (agonized, actually!).  But in the end, I'm really glad I got the 13"  For me, the 15" would just be unnecessary, and would make it harder to lug around.

We use MacBooks in my classroom, and while they're great, I feel that my Pro is faster and more reliable.  Although, it's probably not a fair comparison at all, since I'm the only person who uses mine, and the MacBooks at school are used by second graders every day.

MiniWheats

I LOVE MY MAC!!!!!  I have a Mac book Pro and loves it.  It is super fast and I have never had an issue with it.  Do it!

vanilla15

I am a proud Mac owner too.  Both DH & I have a 13" MacBook and we love them!  When he first got it, he was concerned about the screen being smaller, but you really adjust.  I have a large screen at work & really don't notice a difference b/t the my screen here & at home.  But I only use iPhoto for my pictures.  I am sure a MacBook would work, but you could always ask a Genius at the Apple Store what they think.  Usually I find they are pretty honest...not just trying to upsell.

eacerna

I have a 13" Macbook and don't think the screen is too small. That's just for me though. I only use it mostly for internet and photos. I upgraded the hard drive capacity and memory when I bought it so it almost has the same specs as the Macbook Pro but still cost less. If you are planning to do some serious photo editing then yeah, you may need a bigger monitor.

sanae78

Update: I ordered a 21.5" iMac last night.  Eeek!  So excited!  I decided that for the price, you get so much more power with a desktop and it would actually be easy enough to move around the house being that there's only one cord.