My MacBook Pro Sucks
September 10th, 2006 Filed in: Reviews, Mac Jump to commentsI recently bought a new MacBook Pro (my first Apple computer). Yes, I am one of the switchers. I have been a PC user for a while until Apple introduced Intel-based Mac notebook. I was tempted by the MacBook Pro and brought a 15.4-inch display, 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo, with 2GB of RAM (upgraded from 1GB). After couple hours of fun playing around with the Mac OS X, I installed Adobe CS2 and did couple test runs. I was so disappointed on its performance. It even runs slower than my old PC laptop (1.5GHz Centrino with 1GB RAM). That is impossible since the new MacBook has 2.16GHz CPU with 2GB of RAM. I thought it could be my Adobe software issue. So I went to install Macromedia Studio 8 to see how it perform. Same result - slow.
I got frustrated and did a quick search on Google. I found this review from MacWorld. Apparently, neither Adobe CS2 nor Macromedia Studio 8 supports Intel-based Macs (running on Rosetta) yet. Fortunately, Adobe has announced that they will fix this issue to support Intel-based Mac computers in the next versions. So, if you are planning to get a MacBook Pro as your work computer, you’ll be better off waiting until Adobe release the next version of Creative Suite.
Note: Universal application like Safari, iLife and Mail are running fine and smoothy on my MacBook.
Update
June 6, 2007
I’m now using Adobe CS3 on my MacBook and they run very nice. However, I still have problem with the heat issues (extremely hot when charging). I heard the second generation released in Oct 2006 is faster than my first generation and the heat issue is resolved.
June 26th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
My display went up in flames which is something I have never experienced or had ever heard of, luckily i was home and nothing else including the hard drive was damaged. I went to the apple store with the intension of buying a new monitor and soon wanting to upgrading to a Mac Pro G5. I first found that my Power Mac G4 is not compatible with a new Mac displays, due to the fact that the new displays are digital and as a Graphic designer i would not be getting the full graphic potential of a digital display on a analog hard drive. Being a brand loyalist, I would never consider anything other then Mac, sad enough I found that my Mac is more compatible with a PC monitor, then with its own brand… The Mac genius, barer of bad news, didn’t stop there, I really was not prepared for what i was about to hear, but then heard it in slow motion coming out of his mouth “Mac pro G5 is not compatible with CS 2 Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, After Effects, nor with older versions of Macromedia Flash, Director and so on and so on…”
A $12,000 upgrade is a great down payment on a S class Benz not a computer thats for personal use.
A very disappointed fan…
June 26th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
I came here trying to find tips on heat issues, after I found my machine running at 180+ F!!!! CoreDuo and the first Intel 17″ MBP… I had some “airport” process running my CPU. which I killed and now I’m running at a cool 136F………… >.>
My Net connection is still working, but that process has not popped back up. I’m thinking it’s something for configuring my airport
On a side note and in response to others’ comments…..
I wouldn’t really say macs are better for “creative developments,” especially after the way Adobe abandoned Mac users with CS2 and the lack of Intel support for…. how long was that? Seemed like a decade. In my opinion, this is old-school thinking. Just because Apple made a market this way doesn’t mean it’s still true. I used to do all my “creative stuffs” on Windows, and kind of wish I had kept it that way after running CS2 for a year. Thank God CS3 is here.
@ Houssam
LOL @ windows machine being better for dev. You’re crazy. Probably 95% of my dev is for Linux/UNIX platform, so having a UNIX based file system is INFINITELY SUPERIOR to crappy cygwin junk I had to put up with on Winblows. I’m sorry, but I got sick of developing on the DOS filesystem ages ago, and switched to Linux until OS X came about. Mac sucked my nipples pre version 10, but since has blown away just about everything IMO (you won’t catch me running a Linux desktop anymore).
@ AdamF
“ive never had this problem with a windows laptop”
I run windows on my mac and get heat issues (is that a “windows laptop?”). It’s fundamentally a hardware issue, I’m thinking, so let’s all blame Intel =P
June 25th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
You guys are hilarious. The author (Nick?) even says that it’s not an issue with the MacBook Pro, unless you want to hold its being Intel against it. The issue is that its doing the rosetta emulation thinger, as CS2 is a PPC app, and was not Universally compiled. It’s not a detrimental post towards Apple at all.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:01 am
‘What does mama say Stuart?’
‘Cigarettes are for the french and white trash’
heh heh
June 20th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
choice mad wrote: “but you have some deep-seated hate issues if you feel anything at all when you insult random people by calling them ‘retarded’ stuart.”
I am SO sick of hearing all the “great” reasons why macs “suck” for the past 16 years or so.
If you are an artist using computers, like me, you will be using an Apple computer.
One look at the OS, and simply doing your daily tasks prove that this is a superior computer. The service records alone should tell you that. If this were a car, they’d have reliability reports, and guess what, Apples win hands down, every time.
And yes, choice mad- I hate you like I hate Windoze….jk you punk, chill mofo
June 19th, 2007 at 3:44 am
Why do people get so intense and so offended when someone gives a good/bad feedback about Apple / PC.
Apple / PC will stay there and just go with whatever suits you. Both are different in many ways.
I think PC’s have more support and better suited for the web design / development and games. MAC’s are more oriented for home users, multimedia, publishing.
June 18th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
It is true that apple desktop computers are well known for their audio/video editing capabilities. However, this site is moreso focused on addressing faults and concerns with apple LAPTOPS.
The author of this article displayed the intention of simply pointing out that his (particular) macbook pro sucks.
Yes, some people that have posted here may dislike the apple company or apple products due to conflict they may have had with apple but you have some deep-seated hate issues if you feel anything at all when you insult random people by calling them ‘retarded’ stuart.
June 18th, 2007 at 12:52 am
you mac haters are retarded.
Ive been running macs since 1987.
Ive NEVER had a virus.
I’ve NEVER needed any tech help EVER.
The only thing I ever repaired on ANY of my macs has been a dvd/cdr upgrade and one clock battery.
Ive had macs run 36 consecutive hours crunching tremendous files in Photoshop, I am a top retoucher in nyc for almost 20 years, the worst problems I had were insignificant at worst, things that can be avoided by saving files often.
You show me ANY retouching studio or high end HD editing studio that isnt over run by macs.
You wanna play with the big boys?
Ditch the pc’s, they suck, their parts are inferior, ergonomics, design, and most importantly THE OS.
OSX rules. Unix rules, windoze is a dead OS, suitable for your dad, grandma, the guy who works the security booth at the bank.
June 17th, 2007 at 2:20 am
heat issues!!! i agree my leg is on fire right now, i have to open a window when im using my macbook, ive never had this problem with a windows laptop
June 14th, 2007 at 12:26 am
I actually thought of buying a Mac. I know it is better in creative stuffs. And I’m really into photo developments and flash animations.
Thanks for sharing nick! :)