What's the best MacBook Pro for my daughter?

[StrangeGator]

She's leaving for film school in the fall. I knew all along she was going to need to replace her three year-old MBP, but I didn't anticipate the current upgrades and I'm not sure what is most important for filmmaking applications; speed, resolution or screen size. Top of the line, 15" screen, 2.6 (quad core) ghz and Retina Display is out of the question. Bottom of the line, 13" screen, 2.5 (dual core) ghz and conventional resolution is probably out of question too. I'm thinking processing speed is the most important thing since she's going to be working with HD video files in Final Cut. What is the real difference between dual core and quad core? There is no longer a 17" model. It makes sense for video production since those professionals utilize a second monitor most of the time they're working. I don't think the Retina Display is that important for a film student, unless they were becoming a colorist or a some kind of effects specialist. Price range is $1200 to $2800. We already own the latest version of the Final Cut Pro suite.

[irish2u2]

On the Apple store site there is a 15" MBP for $ 1800. It has a Intel Quad Core i7 processor clocked at 2.3 GHz and Turbo Charged to 3.3 GHz. It has 4GB of RAM and a 500 GB 5200 RPM HD. Upgrade the RAM and hard drive, add an external drive, Thunderbolt if you can afford it, and your daughter is set. BUY Apple Care. It's a little expensive but you won't regret it if something goes wrong. Apple is excellent at repairing/replacing their products under Apple Care quickly.

Tell your daughter to set up Time Machine and an iCloud account. Backups are essential especially when involved in computer related curriculum. Time Machine does all the backing up in the background and on it's own so your daughter will never forget to back up. I knew a young lady who lost her PhD dissertation because she had it on an old floppy disk with no backup anywhere else. It was not a pretty sight. You daughter will not be able to back up her video files to iCloud though.

A quad core processor has 2 more built-in processors than the Duo. Simply put quads are faster than duos because the quad has 2 more dedicated processors for applications usage, enhanced graphics speed and system level functions.

Save the Retina MBP for yourself. :joecool:

[Vindibudd]

Done in 2 posts. Irish2u2 speaks the truth and I'm in a definitive position to know.

[bakaduin]

I just got a Macbook pro a month or two ago. I wanted a 15" because I wanted the better graphics card. Bought a refurbished one for a great price, has the same warranty as a new, and I couldn't be happier.

[Jaggator]

She's leaving for film school in the fall. I knew all along she was going to need to replace her three year-old MBP, but I didn't anticipate the current upgrades and I'm not sure what is most important for filmmaking applications; speed, resolution or screen size. Top of the line, 15" screen, 2.6 (quad core) ghz and Retina Display is out of the question. Bottom of the line, 13" screen, 2.5 (dual core) ghz and conventional resolution is probably out of question too. I'm thinking processing speed is the most important thing since she's going to be working with HD video files in Final Cut. What is the real difference between dual core and quad core? There is no longer a 17" model. It makes sense for video production since those professionals utilize a second monitor most of the time they're working. I don't think the Retina Display is that important for a film student, unless they were becoming a colorist or a some kind of effects specialist. Price range is $1200 to $2800. We already own the latest version of the Final Cut Pro suite.


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[StrangeGator]

On the Apple store site there is a 15" MBP for $ 1800. It has a Intel Quad Core i7 processor clocked at 2.3 GHz and Turbo Charged to 3.3 GHz. It has 4GB of RAM and a 500 GB 5200 RPM HD. Upgrade the RAM and hard drive, add an external drive, Thunderbolt if you can afford it, and your daughter is set. BUY Apple Care. It's a little expensive but you won't regret it if something goes wrong. Apple is excellent at repairing/replacing their products under Apple Care quickly.

Tell your daughter to set up Time Machine and an iCloud account. Backups are essential especially when involved in computer related curriculum. Time Machine does all the backing up in the background and on it's own so your daughter will never forget to back up. I knew a young lady who lost her PhD dissertation because she had it on an old floppy disk with no backup anywhere else. It was not a pretty sight. You daughter will not be able to back up her video files to iCloud though.

A quad core processor has 2 more built-in processors than the Duo. Simply put quads are faster than duos because the quad has 2 more dedicated processors for applications usage, enhanced graphics speed and system level functions.

Save the Retina MBP for yourself. :joecool:

Thanks.

I always get Apple Care. The rest of your advice sounds good too. I figured Time Machine and iCloud were going to be a necessity for general class work, but she'll have some backup media in the film department she'll be able to use for her AV work.

Her own computer won't be her primary editing tool. She'll do classroom assignments on the Avid systems in the department. Her MBP will be for offline editing and for non classroom projects.

Glad she doesn't need the retina display. I won't be upgrading my computer for another year or two. I'll probably have an iPad by then. That might be all the retina display I need.

[jonesy]

Just curious. Why is the MBP with retina out of the question if it's well within your budget?

[PIMking]

What about the Airbook with the SSD?

[irish2u2]

What about the Airbook with the SSD?

I have a MacBook Air and I love it but typically they are underpowered (speed wise in comparison to a MacBook Pro) and have less ports than a MacBook Pro. Right now the fastest MBA is a 1.8 GHz i5 machine. The fastest MBP is a 2.6 GHz i7. Speed matters a lot when it comes to video and so does hard drive space. I love Solid State drives but you can only go up to 256 GB on the MBA while the MBP can either go up to a 512 GB SSD or a 1 TB standard hard drive. The MBP also has a better video card which again is essential with video editing.

Both do have Turbo Boost technology which makes them a bit quicker than their specs and they both have Thunderbolt ports so you can connect a very fast TB external hard drive.

I have friends who are professional video editors and they use MacBook Pros. They also use obscenely priced and powered Mac Pro towers but that is another subject entirely. :joecool:

[PIMking]

I'm not getting a pro because:

1) it's just too big, this is for school and I don't want to lug around a full size laptop

2) no retina display

3) still older CPU technology

4) Can care less about smaller HD, Scan disks for me..

5) HDD no SSD