I budget a new computer every two years. I push them to the max, since I edit audio and video extensively. I figure the bump in CPU, GPU, memory, and coolness is worth it every 24 months.
I bought the first generation MacBook Pro in July 2006, so I was a little overdue for a new one. But, with decent knowledge that the new Macbook line would be introduced in the fall, I held off. I am sure glad I did.
Apple announced the new MacBook/MacBook Pro lineup one week ago today, and Friday night I went to the Birmingham Apple Store and picked up the new 15 inch MacBook Pro. Interesting that I bought the last one they had in stock; but they get new shipments on a daily basis.
MIGRATION FROM OLD MACBOOK PRO: I used the latest Time Machine backup from the old MBP for the “big move”. I seriously thought about a clean start, and installing everything, but I simply don’t have the time for that. The transfer was pretty much a one click operation, and within a couple of hours all of the programs and files were on the new machine. Quite frankly, I expected some pain with this, but there was very little. I did have to enter Final Cut serial numbers, and I did have to install Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks again (very old versions… I know, I need to upgrade), but the whole process was very painless. I used the Migration Assistant included with all Macs.
FIRST ISSUE: The new MacBook Pro only has one Firewire 800 port; this means the connector on the cable to my existing external Firewire drive is not compatible; I had to purchase a Firewire 800/400 cable to use the drive. These are hard to find, but they were in stock at the local Apple store. Got the new cable, and transferred all of those files on the external drive to the internal drive on the MBP. This thing has a 320 gb hard drive… no more external drive for now (at least one that needs to be available at all times). I am sure it will be back soon enough, however. I work with lots of video…
NOTE: Be aware that the MacBooks does NOT have a firewire port. They are available only on the MacBook Pro.
DISPLAY: Wow… the screen is brilliant. Be aware that the screen is glass (a bit glossy); some folks prefer the matte finish. The glass reflections have not been an issue for me, and the backlit LCD display is bright and crisp. Really looks good with the black bevel. The matte finish is still available on the 17 inch MacBook Pro, but those models don’t have the new design.
TRACKPAD: Much larger, and no button. You now have four finger swipes… swipe to the bottom with four fingers for expose, and four fingers to the left is the same as “command tab”… where you can tab through applications. There are three and two finger swipes as well… two fingers scrolls through open windows. And, the trackpad IS the button. Much improved and larger. I like it, although I mostly use a wireless mighty mouse.
KEYBOARD: Very familiar feel if you have one of the newer iMacs or external Apple keyboards. The keys are black (doesn’t bother me at all), and there is a very sturdy feel to the keys (I bang those things hard!). Remember, the MacBooks are built from an aluminum brick… the most sturdy laptop I have ever experienced.
PERFORMANCE: The big difference for me is rendering video and audio files. Producing WeatherBrains is a great example; I record the show using Audio Hijack Pro. Then, I mix it down in Garage Band, run the finished aac file through Levelator, and then render to MP3 using Amadeus Pro. The whole process used to take about 15 to 20 minutes during the old MBP; last night it took only five minutes. Wow.
Also, rendering the video files is lightning fast. The 4 GB of memory and new Intel CPU (2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo) makes a huge difference.
I don’t have time to play games, but the new NVIDIA GPU should provide excellent performance for those who like gaming. And, if you are going to use the new Adobe CS4, I would expect a major performance improvement with the new GPU.
DISPLAY PORT: Another issue is the new “Mini DisplayPort”… I need an adapter (from Mini DisplayPort to VGA) to use the new MBP with my projector for school programs (I use Keynote extensively)… the Apple Store did not have these in stock; I had to order one for about 30 dollars. I should have it tomorrow so I can use the new MBP for presentations.
FINAL THOUGHTS: You can’t beat the look and feel of this thing, along with the power. You really don’t need the MacBook Pro unless you are into serious applications (like video production)… the MacBooks should do just fine for most people. Same remarkable design, just a little less power, no Firewire port, and no ExpressCard slot. I strongly recommend a visit to the Apple Store and try them out.
I know the whole process seems a bit scary for Windows users, but once you make the switch, you will never look back. No more blue screens of death, spyware, malware, viruses, registry issues, etc. You will have a little part of your life back… and for me time is precious….
