MacBook Pro for work and play?

Bad Panda

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a new laptop and torn between the Dell XPS 14" Ultrabook and a MacBook Pro (probably retina).

Down the road I'd like to use the machine for some DBA work which is where I think I'm heading career wise.

I'm just wondering if a MacBook would suffice for this kind of work? Has anyone any positive experiences using VMware fusion on a MBP? It doesn't seem the most feasible solution...

...but on the other hand, the MBP would also be a great media machine for me - photo editing, movies, music (maybe GarageBand).

So good people, has anyone any recommendations?

I'm looking for a machine that will last me with these kinds of tasks for the next 2-3 years.

Thanks.

Colonel Panic

When working from home, I use VMWare Fusion to run a WinXP, Win7 and Win Server 2008 R2 Core running a pretty full suite of Windows development tools including MSSQL and IIS on a 2011 MBP with 8GB RAM and an SSD.

Alternatively, you can just dual boot between Windows and OSX, but there's no point in doing that IMO.

If you go for a Retina MBP, you'll have a faster SSD than me, just make sure you max out the RAM to 16GB and it'll last you more than 2 - 3 years.

Bad Panda

Colonel Panic wrote: »

When working from home, I use VMWare Fusion to run a WinXP, Win7 and Win Server 2008 R2 Core running a pretty full suite of Windows development tools including MSSQL and IIS on a 2011 MBP with 8GB RAM and an SSD.

Alternatively, you can just dual boot between Windows and OSX, but there's no point in doing that IMO.

If you go for a Retina MBP, you'll have a faster SSD than me, just make sure you max out the RAM to 16GB and it'll last you more than 2 - 3 years.

Thanks, that's a big help.

Yeah I want to stay away from a dual boot to be honest. I'd rather not share the 256GB SSD that way.

I hear you about the RAM, but I'm trying to keep within the budget of 2350 (well actually I'm over by 50!)

Thanks again.

Colonel Panic

No problem.

If you can wait a bit longer afford to max out the RAM, I really would do that. Otherwise you'll end up kicking yourself in a couple of years.

Bad Panda

Colonel Panic wrote: »

No problem.

If you can wait a bit longer afford to max out the RAM, I really would do that. Otherwise you'll end up kicking yourself in a couple of years.

Or perhaps just go for the standard MBP and upgrade as I see fit? The retina one isn't upgradeable...

Colonel Panic

Yeah, that's an option too, and the machine would last you the same amount of time.

Although make sure you'd be happy with the screen real estate you get from a 1440*900 screen. On the Retina machines at least, you can adjust the scaling.

I ended up getting a 1650*1050 screen for mine, I don't think the default res is good enough on a 15" screen personally.

godtabh

would it not be cheaper to by the ram from some one other than apple?

Bad Panda

Colonel Panic wrote: »

Yeah, that's an option too, and the machine would last you the same amount of time.

Although make sure you'd be happy with the screen real estate you get from a 1440*900 screen. On the Retina machines at least, you can adjust the scaling.

I ended up getting a 1650*1050 screen for mine, I don't think the default res is good enough on a 15" screen personally.

On the online store there's an option of a hi-res display for 100€.

Is this what you're referring to?

Colonel Panic

godtabh wrote: »

would it not be cheaper to by the ram from some one other than apple?

You can't do that with the Retina MBPs.

Bad Panda wrote: »

On the online store there's an option of a hi-res display for 100€.

Is this what you're referring to?

Yep!

Bad Panda

godtabh wrote: »

would it not be cheaper to by the ram from some one other than apple?

I think so. I've seen people being referred to 'crucial' on here...?


However, I don't want to start messing around with it when it's brand new.

Bad Panda

Colonel Panic wrote: »

You can't do that with the Retina MBPs.



Yep!

Yeah I was going to go for the higher res

opinion guy

Bad Panda wrote: »

I think so. I've seen people being referred to 'crucial' on here...?


However, I don't want to start messing around with it when it's brand new.

Why not ?
Changing the RAM and the hard disk is covered under warranty. I rephrase - does not invalidate your warranty
I bought one a few months back and the first thing I did was stick in 16Gb of Ram. SSD winging its way to me currently

I also recommend the 'high-res' 1600 x 1050 option