Hey guys,

Finally, finally upgrading to an Intel Mac.

I find I cannot make a decision between the Macbook Pro and the Mac Pro. So I am hoping some of my design peers can give me some advice. It's a huge purchase, so I need to make sure I am getting all the advice I can get.

Few things unique to my situation.

1. I own a 24" display that I use as a TV and a secondary computer display. It is 1920x1200, and the cool thing is that the inputs maintain the aspect ratio of the source, so there is no sick over scan when I use my 1080p OPPO DVD player with it. It has HDMI and component on it, it's pretty slick.

2. I am moving soon, probably in December.

3. This machine would primarily be used for freelance and personal stuff at home, I have a PowerPC G5 at my office.

Macbook Pro
2.4Ghz dual core
17" 1920x1200 display
160GB 7200RPM HDD
4 GB RAM (maxed out)
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics 256MB SDRAM
8x Superdrive DL
Bluetooth, Airport

$3,084

Mac Pro
2X 2.66Ghz dual core
4 GB RAM (2x 2GB modules, possible to upgrade to 16GB)
250GB 7200 RPM drive, plus two extra 320 GB hard drives, plus 1 more free bay
ATI x1900 512MB with 2 dual link DVI ports
1 16x Superdrive DL, with a free expansion bay for a second drive
Bluetooth, airport

$3,026

For me this is a tough call, the portability of the Macbook Pro is amazing, and the 1920x1200 resolution is incredible. The Pro has so much power and expandability.

Help!

if you are dropping 3 g's on a computer, after having used a laptop for design i would have to recommend a desktop. i have had this machine for 3 years and it is shopwing it's age... and unfortunately there isnt much more i can do to it. at least with a desktop you can expand it much easier

the portability is nice, but you will want to use that large display you have already which automatically cuts your portability

when i do the computer purchase thing again, i am going mac desktop for design stuff and pc laptop for games and checking email and stuff

I have been using a 17" Powerbook for about 3 years now. It is an amazing computer. When it is time to buy a new computer I will be getting a desktop for sure. The portability is nice but honestly I hate carrying the thing around.

I would vote for a desktop as a designer...
Have you considered the new iMac then only strike against it is the glossy screen which is fine since I design in minimal light anyways...

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB memory (up to 4gb)
320GB hard drive1
8x double-layer SuperDrive
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory
$1799

OR

2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme
2GB memory (up to 4gb)
500GB hard drive1
8x double-layer SuperDrive
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory
$2299

and not to be a total tool but...
you listed the Mac Pro G5
There are no more G5s....

I got my eye on one of the new 24"ers

Thanks for the replies, I got some good advice from PMs too, you guys are great, thanks!

I am definitely leaning toward the Mac Pro. Being so indecisive I am going to take a trip to Syracuse to check out the MacBook Pro, apparently they do have a model with the high resolution screen. I am curious to see what a 17" 1920x1200 display looks like.

Either way, I am probably going to have to part with some toys to pay for the new machine. But it is my source of income, so...