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New Macbook Pro vs. Refurb Mac Pro
Looking to upgrade and wanted your opinion between the new Macbook Pro 17″ Quad 2.2GHz w/ esata port for $2349 vs. a refurb Mac Pro Quad(or 8 core) previous generation Nehalem $2039-2700?
This new Thunderbolt is quite fascinating and looking forward to RAID drives with this connection. Figure, I will still need an esata port for devices such as the MXO2 mini(unless a Thunderbolt version maybe possible?).
These new Macbook Pro narrows the speed gap between with the Quad Core processor and Thunderbolt connector over a Mac Pro. Exciting times with FCP in the horizon.
FYI: I mainly edit in Pro Res, DV, DVCPROHD, AVCHD, AVC-Intra and output to the web, DVD, and Blu-Ray.
Thanks for your input!
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14 Replies
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[Jay Soriano] “Looking to upgrade and wanted your opinion between the new Macbook Pro 17″ Quad 2.2GHz w/ esata port for $2349 vs. a refurb Mac Pro Quad(or 8 core) previous generation Nehalem $2039-270”
Jay;
Is to you to see what are your editing needs.
The only reason to go to laptop is portability (I work only on laptop since 4 years and I hope to get me a tower some time).
Except portability, desktop will gives you much more of everything (performance, connectivity, monitoring,..) for less money.
rafael -
I would think you could by a thunderbolt port after they became available and put it in your Mac Pro. Though it might be a year before you have that option. The Mac Pro just seems like the ultimate machine to me. If you want power, it will put any laptop in the rearview mirror regardless of the processor in the laptop.
– Adam Cook
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[Adam Cook] “I would think you could by a thunderbolt port after they became available and put it in your Mac Pro.”
Sadly as of now Intel is saying you need a new Mac Pro to use it. Hopefully that will change:
From CNET : “no plans to offer Thunderbolt PCIe cards. In fact, Intel says that you will need a new computer/motherboard to get Thunderbolt. That means Mac Pro owners won’t be able to add it on to their systems.”
tony
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I’d go with the MacBook Pro. Thunderbolt is a really big deal. With both AJA and Blackmagic on board with development, I expect cool announcements at NAB! (though they might not ship for several months) So maybe go with the tower:)
Russ
Russell Lasson
Colorist/Digital Cinema Specialist
Color Mill
Salt Lake City, UT
http://www.colormill.net -
Hi Russ,
I’m already thinking on selling my MBP17 (six months old) and get a new one.
However, on my experience (TiBook, G5), I think is wise, when possible, not to jump to the first generation on any device or system.
rafael -
[Jay Soriano] “Looking to upgrade and wanted your opinion between the new Macbook Pro 17″ Quad 2.2GHz w/ esata port for $2349 vs. a refurb Mac Pro Quad(or 8 core) previous generation Nehalem $2039-2700?”
According to the benchmarks currently being published, the new 17″ MBP (Quad 2.2GHz w/ ExpressCard slot) is scoring extremely well … outperforming any of the recent Quad Core MacPros and even besting many of the early Octo Core Mac Pros too. Something you may want to bear in mind. Some other points already well made tho … as Rafa noted, it’s the first gen of what seems a major new revision, can be wise to avoid. Also bear in mind that it uses an AMD graphics card … if you use or intend to use Adobe’s CUDA accelerated products like Premiere Pro, or perhaps BMD’s Resolve then this machine might not be your best buy right now.
[Jay Soriano] “This new Thunderbolt is quite fascinating and looking forward to RAID drives with this connection. Figure, I will still need an esata port for devices such as the MXO2 mini(unless a Thunderbolt version maybe possible?).”
I chatted to the MXO2 product manager yesterday and was happy to hear that Thunderbolt had not come as any surprise to them. As with other manufacturers, NAB is likely the best bet for further details … in the meantime we already know from published information that any PCIe based device can be quite easily adapted to Thunderbolt connectivity, so for existing I/O boxes like the Matrox MXO2, AJA IoExpress, Motu HDX-SDI etc that use a PCIe based ExpressCard host adaptor, I think we can expect to see Thunderbolt becoming a viable new connectivity option in short order … and for future devices from our favorite manufacturers, I’d expect to see such an important new connectivity option being quickly and widely embraced. Look at BMD’s USB3 based offerings … thats got to be coming to Thunderbolt soon :-).
[Jay Soriano] “These new Macbook Pro narrows the speed gap between with the Quad Core processor and Thunderbolt connector over a Mac Pro. Exciting times with FCP in the horizon.”
Agreed. Should be an interesting NAB this year …
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Seeing the new Macbook Pros benchmarks from Primate Labs and Barefeats is quite impressive! Maybe there wil be some refresh of Mac Pros and/or imacs with Thunderbolt built in as well. This Thunderbolt technology may end myself from being limited to using firewire 800 RAIDS. I would be able to use an MXO 2 mini through the expresscard slot out to my monitor and have a Thunderbolt RAID connected. Or the MXO2 mini connected through Thunderbolt to my monitor and the expresscard slot being used with an esata RAID.
2011 looks to be an exciting year for video/editing enthusiasts/pros. I will simply wait until NAB to see any further announcements of cameras, editing supported devices, and something awesome!(hopefully).
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don’t stop there Jay .. you could have the MXO2, a Thunderbolt RAID and your monitor etc all connected via the MBP’s Thunderbolt port … and then use the ExpressCard slot to store cotton buds for polishing the finer details of all that fancy Thunderbolt stuff 🙂
https://www.takaso.com/babyproducts/Accessories/BCottonBuds.php -
It’s funny. I have the new Thunderbolt laptop. Thunderbolt is incredibly fast… I’m guessing. I won’t know for months from now how fast it is because you can’t buy anything right now. True adoption of won’t happen for at least another 6 months to a year.
Russ
Russell Lasson
Colorist/Digital Cinema Specialist
Color Mill
Salt Lake City, UT
http://www.colormill.net -
[Russell Lasson] “I have the new Thunderbolt laptop”
Braggart! I have a brand new laptop case I bought at the Goodwill for $7.99. (Now I just need the $3,500 Macbook Pro to go in it…)
Jason Jenkins
Flowmotion Media
Video production… with style!
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