Putting The New MacBook Pro To The Test
Linked List March 15th, 2008I wanted to do my own personal, “real-life” benchmarks to see how the three current Macs in my office compare to one another. Also, I was secretly hoping to discover an excuse to sell the Mac Pro, keep the laptop, and move to a one-computer work-flow. (Let’s face it, syncing sucks.)
Shawn is at it once again, today putting his new MacBook Pro up to the test against an aging 12″ PowerBook, and a powerful 2.66Ghz Mac Pro. His tests reaffirmed him of the decision to sell the Mac Pro, and go for a fully portable workstation.
March 15th, 2008 at 1:45 am
I just bought a new 15.4″ MBP, 2.4Ghz and 2GB Ram. Does this mean that I dont need a Mac Pro??? I mean, I always wanted a real fast machine and yet I dont do any special tasks. I am just a normal user. So is my new MBP good enough?
March 15th, 2008 at 2:06 am
I just purchased a Macpro 2 weeks ago. I was in the market to buy a Macbook Pro, but as the latest upgrade was minor, i’ll wait until they release one with a redesign of the case. Early indications say this June/July at the next event.
Once they release a new MBP with Bluray etc, i’ll sell the Macpro and join the portable market.
March 15th, 2008 at 5:53 am
Thanks Glenn for your series on your decision to go with the MBP of the Mac Pro. You’ve convinced me to get a MBP next time that I need to get a new Mac. It will also be my first laptop too. :)
March 15th, 2008 at 9:28 am
With all due respect, finding out what Shawn’s written is the job of his RSS feed, not your blog. Then again, it’s your blog and you can do what you want. Any full articles coming our way now your back from your holidays?
Sorry about being picky ;-)
March 15th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
So is Shawn your new idol or is Gruber still #1?
And on a sidenote, why is everyone hanging out for bluray on a mac??
Does any software even support it yet? give me HD downloads, TV and upscaled DVD over putting money in Sony’s pockets anyday.
March 16th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Will we see a review of your macbook pro?
March 16th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Agree with others. RSS shows me what others write and I come to see what you write. You not write so much on your own but take words of others? Why?
March 17th, 2008 at 4:50 am
Again, you are trying to justify selling such a spectacular machine for one that is not as powerful. I don’t care about benchmarks, 8-core @ 3.2GHz beats Dual-Core @ 2.5GHz any day of the week. I have both machines, my MacBook Pro is only used when I am away from my desk. It is not a desktop replacement. There is no other way to do 3D compositing and animation.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:15 am
I bought a MacBook Pro yesterday (2.5GHz, 2GB RAM, 200GB 7200RPM HD), and I’m totally excited! I currently have a fully loaded iMac 24″ (last model before Aluminum models)that does a great job as a desktop for all my needs, and now the MBP would do an even better job!
This is my first notebook computer and I’m stoked! I can’t wait till I can start doing things outside of my room, and possibly get into video blogging, etc. Overall, I’ll be using this as my portable work machine for clients’ houses when I’m doing design work.
I did notice that a lot of Glenn’s content was linking back to somebody else’s writing, but I guess it’s what interests him and would like to share with others without having to pointless rewrite every word. I’d do the same too on my blog, but I wouldn’t stop coming up with my own content either!
March 20th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Glenn do you have photoshop? do a photoshop speed test. Open a new document 8 inches wide by 10 inches high -> open add noise set to uniform and check monochromatic, amount - 400% then hit ok -> now open radial blur set amount to 100%, zoom and best quality but do not hit ok! grab a stop watch and hit start as you push ok.
I should expect the macbook to be in under the 1min mark.
March 21st, 2008 at 4:11 am
@Nathan:
My Mac Pro 8-core with 4GB ram: 12 seconds
My Macbook Pro (1.2 years old) with 4GB ram: 47 seconds
March 22nd, 2008 at 12:02 am
Hmm, I’m deciding between either a Black MacBook or a 15.4″ MacBook Pro to replace my aging PowerBook G4.
I’m more inclined towards the MacBook Pro since the cost difference isn’t that much.
However, I’ve read (from many forums) that the wifi card on the MacBook Pros are very weak and problematic, especially when compared side by side with a MacBook. Anyone had similar problems?
March 22nd, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Thanks Michael!
my computer cost me $400 new. 3.0ghz dual core with only 2gb ram atm, more to come soon and I did it in 25sec.
March 23rd, 2008 at 3:21 am
yeah, but Nathan, your computer is probably about as much fun to use as drinking water from someone elses colonic irrigation…
March 26th, 2008 at 5:55 am
Nice review Shawn, must have taken some time conducting the speed tests. It’s really interesting o see how fast in reality they are when compared to each other…
Good job!
March 26th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Adrian, I like macs, just not at that price! this does everything I need to do and more at a fraction of the price