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.
December 9th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
MacBook Pro is one of the Perfect Machine.. just do it and make it GOOD ;)
December 7th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
LOL - I am not surprised. I am one of those who switch from Mac to Thinkpads 8 years ago thanks to a expensive stint with a series crappy Powerbooks. Bought CS2, and it just works on Windows. Period. I was productive immediately. There is no heat problem. And the Thinkpad is better built and smaller with a higher res screen. I will never switch back.
November 22nd, 2006 at 1:32 pm
Even with the latest creative suite application I have read today a universal version may still be as late as next spring :(
November 16th, 2006 at 7:56 am
Gary,
Sorry, no. I’m waiting for CS3…
November 16th, 2006 at 7:34 am
Just curious, would you be interested in selling your Macbook Pro?
November 13th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Hey Nik,
Of course, even with all your amazing graphics, it takes a comment about my beloved Macs to get me to finally post a comment.
I am a Mac devotee, to date I have owned 4 Mac desktops or towers and 5 Mac laptops. I hate PC’s…they are complicated and NOT user friendly and the fact is that when it comes to graphics, Mac just dominate them, PC’s have only dominated the market due to the vast array of support and programs allocated to them (All hail Bill Gates). But times have changed.
My G4 tower whips through CS2 like a hot knife through butter, and I have found that all bugs in using either Photoshop or Illustrator have come from the Adobe end. (Go ahead and ask them what black should be?) and again, that is the case here.
Don’t be mad at your Mac, as you have I am sure already seen, it totally rocks anything that is either Universal or set up for the Intel chip, and when that CS2 upgrade comes or CS3, whatever, your machine is going to hum along with such ease and speed, your hardly be able to contain your delight. I will feel the same with my black MacBook. Until then, maybe you can focus on the incredible weight or lack there of, the nice thin structure, how about the widescreen, glossy right?, wait, maybe the built in mic and camera…nifty, we can go on and on can’t we. Damn thing even came with a remote.
And for all the doubters. Intel Core Duo blazing fast processors only help to make the one of the most stable OS’s on the market more stable, but the facts are, and this is not me, check the countless articles from PC people to confirm, they are ALL over the web, the MacBook and MacBook Pro also run (with BootCamp or Parrellels) Windows XP and XP Pro with more stability that a PC computer. I even read one article of a guy running Linux, and then partinioning his drive to 3 sections to run all three.
Nik, your in good hands, welcome to the dark side.
November 8th, 2006 at 6:47 pm
Hey Nik, I told you not to buy that carp.
U know Pc Rules
I’m saving some loot for the new
Acer Farrari 5000.
who want’s to by my 4000.
Yo keep up the good work. love the new site
November 8th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
wait for CSC3 n more! use GIMP and inkscape instead!
same result as adobe!!
November 8th, 2006 at 9:54 am
Damn’ it boy! You have to wait for the Intel Photoshop version. Then it will fly.
I am a “switcher” myself. I bought a MacBook (shiny white) and it’s the best thing I ever had. I love it (in a way a man can love a thing).
Be patient until we have all the Intel software, then we’ll see.
Take it easy
maddagu
November 3rd, 2006 at 4:53 am
for me, the software… i dunno if adobe cs2 is full of craps and bugs… unlike the older version of PS… it is very slow to read, and either opening fonts list and other links it is realy sucks… so i keep using my older version of photoshop, CS1.