New Computer thoughts

[benlehman]

So my computer is old and beginning to die. Since a small Apple laptop did well last time, I'm thinking about getting a similar machine. There's no more 12" lappies (sadly), so I'm thinking about getting the 13" MacBook w/ 2.4 GHz processor and extra RAM. But I'm flexible. Does anyone else have any suggestions / concerns / things I should know about? I'd be very obliged if you'd share.

Comments

[doublefeh.livejournal.com]

Depending on your actual needs, getting the $1000 base white MacBook +RAM might save you a few hundred dollars over the aluminum body. Now that even the white plastic MacBooks have real graphics cards inside (the only thing I wish my [nearly 2-year old] white plastic Macbook did better), if money is any sort of object, saving a bit and getting the plastic might be worthwhile.

[benlehman.livejournal.com]

I have two thoughts. Perhaps you could clear them up?

1) I drop my computers ... more than i ought to. My experience has been that the metal-shell computers handle this (denting) better than the plastic shells. But do you have experience to the contrary?

2) I use high-end layout software (InDesign and Illustrator, often both at once.) So processor power can be a serious issue. How does that sort of thing work out for you?

yrs--
--Ben

[doublefeh.livejournal.com]

1) No, but I don't particularly have experience corroborating, either.
2) A 2.0 Ghz dual-core Core Duo 2 chip is a pretty decent chip. I haven't done large layout, but for pushing around 10 megapixel images, it's not a constraint, even with the smaller graphics card.

I don't know what your monetary situation is. For me, the extra few hundred dollars is not all that significant, and I would probably just get the top-end MacBook. But if money is any sort of object, I think the plastic white macbook is at least as good value for money. (that is, not necessarily as much bang, but just as much bang for your buck. You're paying 60% more for 40% more clock speed on the processor, 50% faster RAM, a bigger hard drive, and the aluminum body)

(this is also me convincing myself that I don't need to get a new computer for at least another 6-8 months. Which is true.)