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.
May 2nd, 2009 at 6:14 am
@Troy Dillinger: Motion needs power to work flawless. It an aplication for power machines, even if it works nice on MBPro.
I have a 2.4 Core2Duo, with 2GB of RAM. Adobe Master Suite CS4, FCP, LiveType, even Motion for small project. It works just smooth and pretty fast with Safari and Firefox, A.Illustrator and Photoshop, Mail, Pages, FontLab Studio 5, Linotype Font Eplorer X, Proteus, iChat and Skype running in the same time, about 20-30 open tabs in every browser, Aperture and/or iPhoto, Bilings, Coda and CSSEdit.
First OS X install (the one when I bought it) and never shutdown-ed. And it’s just in sleep mode for about 7 month so far, without restart or shutdown.
It’s my second Mac machine, after my Powerbook G4 who’s on my girlfriend use now.
I also have a Mac Pro. No important problems with none of them.
April 1st, 2009 at 11:08 am
My macbook pro sucks!! I loathe it. It freezes constantly, crashes twice a day, takes so long to load a webpage, it sometimes gives up, and we try again, and again.
I hate anything made by these cons now.
March 25th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
My macbook did seriously overheat with adobe running, i had to keep takin it off my lab and adjusting it all the time, brought one of those laptop coolers which helps a little bit
March 15th, 2009 at 8:17 am
I love the Macbook Pro, I have CS3 installed on it and it runs fine. I cant belive I was using a PC for all those years!
February 8th, 2009 at 11:09 am
I have macbook 2.4ghz 2ram 160hdd It works good with CS3 (PS, Flash, DW) It works much better than my old PC 3.0Ghz P4 HT 2RAM
February 5th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Hi
Use a Mac OS X Leopard and Adobe CS 4 suite ;)
December 16th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
You need to invest in a mac pro, for the cost of a new macbook pro, about 4 g for a good one, you can get a mac pro for another 500 or if speed isn’t your thing you can get one alot cheaper.
I’ve got a 2008 mac pro 3.2 ghz with Originaly 2 g ram and a 500 g hard drive and a nvidia g c for 5 gs.
the standard config is like 2500.
If you want mac power go with the 8 core 3.2 ghz mac pro like I did. you cant beat it…
December 16th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I have a Macbook Pro and I love it. You might want to take yours back to where you bought it. If they’re a good Apple store like mine, they will help you figure out why it’s running so slow. It might be a faulty computer and they should help you with it. I have all the programs you have. Check it out before you write off Macs. If nothing else come to Tigard Or and I promise you will be treated well. The people up here are very good. I’m sorry you’re experience hasn’t been good. I hope it works out.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:14 am
How disgusting is it for longer-term Mac owners that the new machines run terribly, even after having to buy all new software to accompany your all-new ‘puter. I’m a production-heavy user, often working between Pshop, Dreamweaver, FCP, and either Motion or LiveType, with email and a browser open in the background. Why is my MacBook Pro such a dog after 2 system installs, all new versions of software for the new hardware? It’s no faster than my Powerbook G4 was, even though on paper its 50% faster. In 2 years, the Powerbook only color-wheeled 5 times. I now see a color wheel as often as I see a mouse and Genius support finds no problems. Have they slipped too? What happened to the Apple that only released superior technology, debugged and beautifully engineered in every way? Now its embarrassing that Apple products are over-sold and under-engineered, with the ultimate sacrilege finally killing its OS: PC parts in a Mac! Please buy my MacBook Pro and my iPhone back! I could get 2 faster PCs and a working phone!
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Agree with jonathan… i am using an iMac Intel (white case) in my office.. there are different result between using Adobe CS2 and CS3..which is, CS3 is running faster then CS2..so, give it a try with CS3.. adobe released CS4, hopefully it will tune better with mac OS Leopard…