[travolta]

I've got a 13" MacBook pro with Retina display. I can honestly say that it was the best purchase I've ever made. I upgraded to 8gb of RAM and 128GB flash hard drive. I paid $1600 from Amazon. I am usually running a LOT of programs at once... I can run 3 Virtual machines at once, photoshop, dreamweaver, Bit Torrent, and a bunch of other programs, and my computer will still run efficiently. My computer doesn't weigh very much at all either. I used to use an 11" MacBook Air. That computer was too slow for my needs.

If you're running a full time business from your computer then you shouldn't compromise, and the cost should not be a big concern. You shouldn't care about spending an extra few hundred dollars on something like this.. you can write off your computer as a business expense anyway, so it doesn't matter.

[BoneDaddy]

It's been mentioned before in this thread, but I'll cosign - whatever you buy, make sure it has SSD storage.

I have an old 2008 Macbook 13" Unibody (non-pro) that I was about to trash because it was so slow. I bought a 256 GB SSD and cloned the old HD onto the new SSD.

I couldn't believe the difference. Night and day.

Now its totally snappy, feels like a new computer and I'm happy. For routine tasks like email, web browsing, creating text documents, its perfect.

Its still somewhat slow for CPU intensive stuff (like Camtasia, Photoshop, Lightroom, etc)

You might even consider picking up something used and stuffing an SSD in it, depending of course on your intended usage.

[pants]

I've been drooling over a macbook pro 13" retina since even before it was launched.

Today I got a nice job offer, so I might get when the next update launches.

The hashwell chipset graphic unit is supposed to be significantly faster. June can't come fast enough.

I will buy it with the bookbook case. Will it make me a hipster?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztf1fJtCE90

[el mechanico]

Why 13's? Aren't they kind of small?

[BoneDaddy]

(05-09-2013 04:54 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  

Why 13's? Aren't they kind of small?

I guess it depends on what you're doing and what your needs are. In my case, all the heavy lifting gets done on my desktop computers with big monitors.

I use my 13" Macbook primarily for email, web browsing, Craigslist, RVF, etc. I find the size to be perfect for that. Its light and slips perfectly into my bag and I carry it everywhere. We have some old 15" macbooks that don't get used much anymore. Whenever I pick one up, I always notice how big and awkward it feels and how glad I am not to have to haul it around.

If you use your Macbook more as a desktop substitute and don't carry it around much, I"d probably go with the bigger screen.

[presidentcarter]

I've been using a 12" netbook and it's a good size screen once you get used to it. I think the 13.3" mac book would be the perfect size, especially for travel.

[tiggaling]

If you are travelling the MBA is the one to go for, unless that any high end video editing apps do not work well on the MBA. It would be worth doing a comparison with the loaded software to find out how they work on a Macbook Air. Chances are there is no major difference.

[Menace]

(05-09-2013 04:54 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  

Why 13's? Aren't they kind of small?

em get an alpha laptop, Macbook Pro 15" retina.

[el mechanico]

(05-09-2013 08:46 PM)Menace Wrote:  

(05-09-2013 04:54 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  

Why 13's? Aren't they kind of small?

em get an alpha laptop, Macbook Pro 15" retina.

That's the alpha one? Sold!!!! Serious it's 2200. Murphys law dictates my kid will spill apple juice on it day one then it will get stolen the day after I get it fixed.

I'm going to troll craigslist to get one on some sort of trade or something unless I become obsessed then will buy it. I bought a 4k scan tool for work this week and it doesn't phase me but that hurts a bit because I really have no legit reason to justify it??

[Menace]

(05-09-2013 08:52 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  

em get an alpha laptop, Macbook Pro 15" retina.

That's the alpha one? Sold!!!! Serious it's 2200. Murphys law dictates my kid will spill apple juice on it day one then it will get stolen the day after I get it fixed.

It's what I use. When I message POF sluts from the 15" I get nude pics, when I use my old white 2008 Macbook I get crickets. Shit gets it wet.

[travolta]

(05-09-2013 04:54 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  

Why 13's? Aren't they kind of small?

The screen size isn't that bad actually. Especially with retina display, things are more clear. 13" is not too small and not too big, lightweight, and you don't have to compromise performance.. it's perfect for traveling

[Andy_B]

It's a fucking shame they don't have an air with a bigger screen because honestly that's the only thing holding me back from switching to Mac right now. Fuck windows man, just fuck it. But I'm not using an air with a tiny screen, and I'm not paying 2k for a pro.

[Vacancier Permanent]

Thank you for this awesome reply BoneDaddy! +1 from me!
I guess another option would be to keep the old Camtasia files on the old laptop and the new ones onto the the Mac without transferring them back and forth between the two, that would do the trick right?

Another thing that I noticed while browsing the Apple site:
specially on the MacPro, you guys mentioned about SSD being a game changer so I looked into it and on the Apple site, it says the Mac Pro comes with 500GB Serial ATA drive capacity but to upgrade it to SSD, the 128GB SSD it's an extra 200 bucks. Why would I lower the capacity of my machine from 500GB to 128GB and still pay an extra 200 bucks for that privilege? What I am missing in here guys? What's the scoop here guys?

Cheers!

(05-09-2013 03:52 PM)BoneDaddy Wrote:  

(05-09-2013 03:03 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  

Thanks a lot guys for all your valuable feedback! Much appreciated!

yb13, damn, you've made a very solid case about the Retina option! And I'm tempted, I mean for an extra 200 bucks, might go all in for a top of the line machine!

BoneDaddy,
Interesting you mention the differences and challenges of using Camtasia for Mac vs Windows. Care to shed more lights into your experience on this since this will be of high interest to me.

Another question specially to those who lead the location independent lifestyle and or travel constantly: do you feel safe taking your Mac with you in a cafe and working on it in SEA or LA? I'm particularly interested to hear your thoughts/experiences on that since that's where I'll be spending the bulk of my time.

VP,

If moving Camtasia projects from your portable platform (OSX) to your desktop system (Windows) is important, you might want to factor that into your buying decision.

The basic problem is that the file formats differ between the two platforms. If you create a project on Camtasia Mac, you can't just copy the project folder over to Camtasia PC, open it and pick up where you left off.

When I last looked at this, Techsmith's solution was to export the video out of Camtasia Mac into some sort of platform-neutral format such as AVI, and then import it into Camtasia PC.

Of course when you do that, you won't be able to see your previous edits on the timeline, access your markers, callouts or any of that.

The other problem is that if you're like me, I do a lot of heads-down editing on the timeline and I have all the keyboard shortcuts down to muscle memory. I just think about it and it happens. Many of the keyboard shortcuts differ between the two platforms.

And also, the design of the playback head is busted on the OSX version. I am totally hooked by the way the playhead on Camtasia 8 (Windows) works and the way it allows you to clip out selections, you can drag the green/red in-point and out-point independently and see exactly what you're doing. You can do all that on the Mac version, but the behavior is different, and in my opinion, clumsy.

My solution was that I just gave up because the process of moving back and forth between platforms was so infuriating. Not only are the file formats incompatible, but the editing experience is so vastly different between the two platforms, and in my opinion, is superior on the Windows platform.

All this to say, you might be happier with a Thinkpad running Windows if moving your Camtasia projects back and forth is an important part of your workflow.

If I left you with more questions than answers, please feel free to give me a shout and I'll try to provide more details.

Here's a thread from the Techsmith forum where a lot of unhappy users have been demanding answers for going on two years. It doesn't appear that the situation has gotten any better with the 2.3.1 update for Camtasia Mac.

Camtasia Forum Thread - Cross-Platform Issues

Bone

[BoneDaddy]

VP,

If you could keep your old Camtasia projects on your old computer which I assume is running Windows and make a clean break and produce your new work going forward on Camtasia Mac, that could work. As noted earlier, it is possible to move raw content between the two platforms, just not entire projects with edits intact. So if that fits your workflow, then yes, it could work. Do keep in mind that the editing keystrokes and general timeline behavior will be different on Camtasia Mac as well. If you are making a clean break to the Mac platform, you'll eventually grow accustomed to the Mac version, but keep in mind there is still a feature deficit on the Mac side. I'd have to open up both side-by-side to remind myself of exactly what's missing on the Mac version, but things like unlimited stacking of tracks on the timeline and other goodies haven't made it to the Mac version yet.

Regarding SSD storage, while they are blazing fast, the cost per GB for SSD is still about 4x the cost of traditional spinning hard drive storage. One way to go would be to to get a relatively small 128 GB or 256 GB SSD which would contain your OS, programs and small document files, etc., and get a big and relatively fast non-SSD external Thunderbolt drive to for media storage. That would give you the best of both worlds.

Bone

[Bolthouse]

VP,

In December I faced the exact same dilemma. I went to the Apple Store and had several back and forth debates with employees there. The Macbook Air is a bit cheaper and lighter, the Retina has the better screen and is upgradeable. I then compared the price of the Air upgraded to 8gb RAM with the Retina, and they came to about the same. After not being able to decide, I saw on Amazon that the Air was on sale in the "Used/Warehouse Deals" section for $900. Given that the Pro starts at $1600, I jumped on it. It only has 4gb of RAM, but it has been surprisingly fast, and there are few things that lag in comparison with my quad core iMac. The weight and battery life are absolutely amazing. Last I checked Amazon still had some in the $950 range, which is cheaper than you'll get a used one for on ebay or craigslist. Also, my Air arrived brand new.

[Chruznic]

You can always install windows on it if you need the extra functions of Camtasia.

The 500 GB HDD is a spinning disk based storing medium. an SSD uses flash based memory.

[villageindian]

Here's the advantage with SSD.

Startup times are much faster. Applications open with a pop. Everything will seem to take less time. And you will almost never hear the whirring sound of the SATA mechanical hard drives.

But here's the best part. If you have a SSD and SATA, make sure you move the OS files onto the SSD. Then your apps will be fast. Apple's Mountain Lion OS has the option to make this combo as a fusion drive. Basically, fusion drive is a special Mac driver that manages the movement of files between the SSD and the hard drive.

Fusion Drive automatically and dynamically moves frequently used files to Flash storage for quicker access, while infrequently used items move to the hard disk. As a result you'll have shorter startup times, and as the system learns how you work you'll see faster application launches and quicker file access. Fusion Drive manages all this automatically in the background.

Do you need it from Apple? No. You can buy and install an SSD on your own (from Other World Computing (OWC)) but realize that Apple is getting clever by making it hard to update on your own. Apple makes a killing on the margins of these drives so you are better off buying on your own.

Heck, I just got a Mac Mini to setup as a media server and the only things you can upgrade are RAM and HD. I am going to install a SSD and complement my 2010 Macbook Pro that is still going strong. I can get all my media work done on the mini while I use the portable to show off stuff and browse/email/edit docs.

Regarding fast non-SSD external Thunderbolt drive to for media storage, I would not recommend Thunderbolt drives as they are too expensive. Thunderbolt is just starting to come into the market and will take some time for traction. You are better off with a Seagate (I bought the Backup Plus) or the Western Digital HDD. Just plug it into the mac and Time Machine will automatically back it up.

(05-09-2013 11:56 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  

specially on the MacPro, it says the Mac Pro comes with 500GB Serial ATA drive capacity but to upgrade it to SSD, the 128GB SSD it's an extra 200 bucks. Why would I lower the capacity of my machine from 500GB to 128GB and still pay an extra 200 bucks for that privilege? What I am missing in here guys? What's the scoop here guys?

[Brosemite]

(05-10-2013 11:52 AM)villageindian Wrote:  

Regarding fast non-SSD external Thunderbolt drive to for media storage, I would not recommend Thunderbolt drives as they are too expensive. Thunderbolt is just starting to come into the market and will take some time for traction. You are better off with a Seagate (I bought the Backup Plus) or the Western Digital HDD. Just plug it into the mac and Time Machine will automatically back it up.

(05-09-2013 11:56 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  

specially on the MacPro, it says the Mac Pro comes with 500GB Serial ATA drive capacity but to upgrade it to SSD, the 128GB SSD it's an extra 200 bucks. Why would I lower the capacity of my machine from 500GB to 128GB and still pay an extra 200 bucks for that privilege? What I am missing in here guys? What's the scoop here guys?

Well I'm glad VP came out starting this thread bc I have some different questions.

So VI, would you recommend perhaps investing in an External SSD Drive for backup or save money by getting an External ATA Hard Drive? So the Time Machine Application/Program if configured correctly could up all system files onto an ATA Hard Drive once plugged in each time?

Thx for the tips!

[Menace]

(05-10-2013 12:25 PM)yb13 Wrote:  

Well I'm glad VP came out starting this thread bc I have some different questions.

So VI, would you recommend perhaps investing in an External SSD Drive for backup or save money by getting an External ATA Hard Drive? So the Time Machine Application/Program if configured correctly could up all system files onto an ATA Hard Drive once plugged in each time?

Thx for the tips!

There is no point spending money on an external SSD for backup. Backups are intermittently done, and speed is not really an issue after the first backup since the subsequent backups are incremental. 2TB external drives are very cheap. USB is sufficient for this purpose.

[SicutDominus]

I have a Mac Book Pro and it's easily the best thing I've ever ever ever bought. Obviously you don't need convincing that either is better than Windows, they're just so far ahead in terms of design, ease of use, security, awesomeness. Only reason to get a PC is if you're a hardcore gamer.

I highly recommend getting the Hard Drive upgrades for more GB of space, as mine has filled up a lot faster than I thought with video files and music.

I never really considered a Mac Book Air because they're actually SO thin that I don't like them. Less ports and stuff on the side. They're just not as powerful or large (screen size) as the Pro and for something that I use ALL the time it's definitely worth the negligible extra weight/bulk.

[villageindian]

The Seagate or Western Digital drives I have mentioned are ATA hard drives (5400 rpm). They are enough for backups. Just make sure they are USB 3.0 compatible (newer Macbooks come with USB 3.0) This is faster than USB 2.0 and hence, backups will be quicker. SSD is an overkill for backup.

If you are buying an SSD, make it the main drive by cloning the disk using Carbon Copy Cloner. Don't have it for backup.

Time Machine can help you backup everytime you plug in an external drive. To continue taking future backups manually, simply click on the Time Machine icon in the task bar and select “Back Up Now” from the drop down list. This will take a incremental System backup from the point the last automatic or manual backup was run.

(05-10-2013 12:25 PM)yb13 Wrote:  

So VI, would you recommend perhaps investing in an External SSD Drive for backup or save money by getting an External ATA Hard Drive? So the Time Machine Application/Program if configured correctly could up all system files onto an ATA Hard Drive once plugged in each time?

[salmonfella]

I am getting the macbook pro with retina display when i get over to canada was gonna get it here in Ireland but works out 500 euro cheaper in canada some difference price wise:o i am going for the 13 inch model. i will be mostly using it for the same purposes as VP.

[void]

Apple stuff is overpriced and you are often stuck with a reduced portfolio of software. No thanks.

[Dulceácido]

I bought a top of the line (maxed out with memory and processor) macbook in 2007. I am still using it today. It has been in the shop 2 times, both times because I spilt a drink on it. Other than that, works like the day it came out of the box. It has been to Iraq, Afghanistan (x3), Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Ecuador---too many places to list. I've dropped it a few times, never had a problem. Just don't spill a drink on the keyboard. Costs about $130 to replace.

I think the biggest difference is that there is no built-in dvd drive on the Air. I was on a trip with a friend and he had an Air. He had to borrow my Macbook a couple times to run some software, copy a cd, etc. And if you don't have your external drive and your computer shits the bed, you can't re-install the OS from the recovery disk. (I could be wrong about this, and maybe that was just with my friend's Air, but that's the way it seemed to me) So, if you're on a trip, you're screwed, sort of.

I couldn't be happier with my Macbook. I was going through windows laptops about every 2 years, so this thing has been a wet dream.

[travolta]

(05-12-2013 10:57 AM)void Wrote:  

Apple stuff is overpriced and you are often stuck with a reduced portfolio of software. No thanks.

just as an FYI, you can run windows on a mac. Instal Parallels desktop, then instal Windows 7 on Parallels. Now you have a virtual machine, and can simultaneously run windows and OS software on your Mac.