Macbook Pro or Mac Pro

[Lars Bunch]

Hi,

This isn’t exactly a similar comparison, but I have a G5 dual 2 GigHz tower at work and a MacBook (non-pro). I recently ran the same render on both the notebook and the tower and found the notebook rendered it about twice as fast. Obviously a MacPro tower can run faster with more memory, but if you don’t need a lot of memory for high powered rendering, the MacBook Pro offers a lot of great features such as FW800, full DVI output plus you can get an e-sata expansion card for the MB-Pros.

I guess my point is, the MacBook non-pro is pretty good for a lot things so I’m guessing the Pro version is even better. If portability is important, then the notebook is an ideal system. And if you run software that only allows installs on one system, (such as Maya) then you aren’t limited to only working on it at one location.

My one dislike about working on a notebook is the limited screen size. I use two monitors on both my systems, but I still want more space.

I guess the real question is do you need a huge load of memory and will you want to use expansion cards (such as a Kona or a Fibre channel card?) or is portability more valuable to you. At any rate, the MacBook Pro can do a lot of pretty robust AE work.

Hope this helps,

Lars

[Nico Jones]

Yep, I agree. AE CS3 is pretty good on the MBP for most things.

You’ll definitely see a massive performance leap on a new octo-power-thingy, but the portability factor of the MBP is a massive boon in general usage, and it’s super-sexy as well.

Nico J BB

[Patricio Veloso]

OK. All that is true but if you are looking for power and muscles, fast renders and expandability, the Mac Pro tower is the best choice.

If you work only with photos and with SD video buy the macbook pro, but if you plan to do HD videos. you’ll be in trouble.

Patricio Veloso
Broadcast Editor / Postproducer / HD Addict!
Greetings from Chile.

[Reynolds Strother]

A few months ago I made the upgrade from notebook to tower. Granted I didn’t have the latest MBP, I can only assure you that a Pro tower is the best option if you plan on doing these two things:
1. Use AE as a means to make a living.
2. Keep your sanity.
Making money with the aid of computers and software has always proven that speed and reliability correlates to profit margin. I can’t begin to tell you how much green a “spinning, rainbow-colored, beach ball” has stolen from me.

Before I expanded my skills of PS, AI, and Flash into using AE, I knew I needed to protect my hours more than ever. AE doesn’t have a beach ball, it has a render progress bar. It pigs out on time worse than the beach ball.

I can’t tell you how happy I’ve been with my upgrade. I would’ve never be able to do great things with a notebook because AE gets good in the deep end. Besides, one jobs earnings should cover the difference between the notebook and the tower. You’ll have it longer, and do more with it. The notebooks benefit is only portability. Price is negligible when you look at the value over the first few jobs you use it on.

I suggest you configure it with the minimum RAM when you order it because 3rd party ram is dirt cheap. I added 4 gigs for just $130. IMPORTANT! AE can only use 3gigs per processor so don’t put more in than necessary.

Remember the more time you save the more money you make, or the more free nights and weekends you have.