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.
August 7th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Hello guys!!
since many years ago i work in both platforms, win and mac. Got a G4, G5, MacBook and plenty of PCs.
I don’t know the reason but news Mac certainly sucks on powerful. Maybe it’s caused by Intel processors, I don’t know, but my G4 (700MH & 768 MB RAM) it’s almost fast than news G5 with 2.4 GHz and 4 Gb RAM.
Don’t know the reason but it’s real.
’bout windows platforms they just better since win2k and new PCs are really fast and stable. Ops, with the exception on Vista: it’s horrible, programs crashes continuosly…
July 29th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Adobe is a windows native product. It runs slow because the mac has to use rosetta to translate everything. A large part of the performance issues that you speak of are a result of this translation and are not truely CPU or GPU oriented. Solution would be to install XP with bootcamp and use XP for adobe software.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I bought a macbook pro in January ‘08 and it also gets really hot, especially when its on charge. Ive never had a problem with photoshop or illustrator though. It all runs pretty quick on here
July 15th, 2008 at 7:20 am
The anwser to this OLD post it’s quite simple, the Adobe CS 2 for mac is for PowerPC. This does not mean you can’t run it on an Intel Based MAC, but in order to do so OSX brings up Rosetta, a hidden emulator, that’s why CS2 runs slow on Intel Based Mac’s.
Since the release of CS3 those problems are all but gone, if you don’t believe me just try it.
It’s a software issue.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Why such a bashing when you say that your software isn’t compatible?
June 14th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Haven’t the recent switchers from Windows to Mac realized that XP actually wasn’t fast on it’s own?? When I used to run XP as my main OS, I used to strip that sucker down until it could barely boot up. Then, XP was certainly fast - But not nice to use.
For me, I’d take the minor performance hit any day, if it gets me an OS that is more intuitive to use. The fact that one has to wait for the UNDO commands to take effect (this would represent all of 2 minutes out of your day), is completely irrelevant when you look at the out-of-the box feature set Mac OS X offers. Hey, your already saving time by having all of the programs you use docked conveniently at the edge of your screen - what’s 2 seconds for Undo?
-Jason
June 8th, 2008 at 4:44 am
People who complain about using a Mac don’t know what the hell they are talking about, or don’t know a good computer form a bad one.
PC’s are a virus magnet and just a hassle. They are slow, dumb, and can’t boot if you forget to take the floppy out the A drive. Yes I said floppy remember those!!! Who needs an A drive anyway?
I just think Mac’s are the best. Dude keep up with time.
June 7th, 2008 at 7:58 am
This is food for thought. I was looking to buy a macbook air. I don’t know why they don’t make it in glossy white. For that reason I might just go for the glossy white macbook..
June 6th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I just bought a MacBook Pro, installed Fusion to run Windows XP,
I’ve installed a software in XP that use a dongle protection, the sucker (the Mac OS) has crashed on me, and I can’t reboot the bastard, I get a white screen with an interrogation mark, I bought the Mac 6 hours ago, I’m now considering giving it back to the Apple reseller, get my money back and purchase an IBM ThinkPad instead …
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 am
im a student at a design university in sydney. i bought a top of the line 2.33GHz, 3GB macbook pro because the uni is 100% mac run and storage and compatibility issues were becoming a pain.
i have never been so torn between two mindsets about anything. i love the mac os. (maybe im just bored of XP)
but… i am yet to use my MBP for one single session of doing ANYTHING without the application crashing or freezing completely.
i’m not just talking about high end programs like Final Cut, Maya, Photoshop, flash etc, but also everyday programs such as firefox, safari and word crash all the time.
Using audio programs like Ableton and Reason don’t crash, but once CPU usage gets up to 30% they get all glitchy.
what a joke.
the uni macs are bad too, i just use mine at home more often so i notice it more.
i will never buy another mac. i could have bought 3 top of the line PCs for the price of this shiny paperweight.
the only people who want to use macs are people who like sitting around waiting for their computer to restart enjoying the downtime, re-doing the work that was lost in the crash.
oh did i mention the hard-drive failed in the first 12months and i had to pay AUD$600 to get the data recovered.
that being said, i’m probably in the 1% of people who havent had a problem with their iPod! but thats because its a 4GB nano, solid state flashdrive.