Mbp 2011 13"

[DoctorMogal]

So I'm about to get one of these (first switch from PC! I'm rather excited).

Anyone got any comments about using them as DJ'ing powerhouses?
Any problems?

13" vs 15"?

Thanks,
Mogal

[Yep.]

The 13" is great for just running simple applications, but if you are going to run any CPU taxing programs (video editing, 3D Rendering, Multiple Audio Production Software (ex. Cubase + Reason ReWire or Ableton + Reason ReWire.)

[deevey]

But if you are going to run any CPU taxing programs (video editing, 3D Rendering, Multiple Audio Production Software (ex. Cubase + Reason ReWire or Ableton + Reason ReWire.)

I'm using a 2009 MBP '13, 4gigs ram love it and do all the above and haven't run into any issues apart from running low on disk and screen realestate.

I'm running 4 Decks of Traktor routed into Ableton via soundflower with 4 FX and sample channels in Ableton (along with the Traktor FX and transpose).

Honestly given the choice and if $ is not an issue i'd get the 15' in a heartbeat for the screen size alone not due to CPU concerns.

At the end of the day it'll probably last you 2-3+ years before you sell it for at least half what you bought it for if its kept well .. so $300 a year for that extra comfort.

[StephanV]

The 13" is great for just running simple applications

Don't think you've seen the new MBP 13" specs... The i7 isn't for running "simple" applications, it's somewhere between mid- and high end. If you're all about rendering and 3D modelling and stuff you shouldn't be looking at a laptop in the first place.

There's only 3 things that matter:
a) money (in which case you shouldn't be buying a mbp in the first place )
b) screen size and resolution: 13" is rather small-ish, and while it's certainly doable, a 15" is more comfortable.
c) portability

It's all up to you if you prefer a and c, or b. But both machines will be just fine, no worries there.

Edit: apparently the cheapest 13" has an i5 processor, my bad, but that's still more than powerful enough.

[DoctorMogal]

Cool, thanks for the help guys. I think i'll probably go with the 13" i5, low on money and u guys seem to have good reviews of it! :P

[Garygary1]

Don't think you've seen the new MBP 13" specs... The i7 isn't for running "simple" applications, it's somewhere between mid- and high end. If you're all about rendering and 3D modelling and stuff you shouldn't be looking at a laptop in the first place.

There's only 3 things that matter:
a) money (in which case you shouldn't be buying a mbp in the first place )
b) screen size and resolution: 13" is rather small-ish, and while it's certainly doable, a 15" is more comfortable.
c) portability

It's all up to you if you prefer a and c, or b. But both machines will be just fine, no worries there.

Edit: apparently the cheapest 13" has an i5 processor, my bad, but that's still more than powerful enough.

3 words: Intel Integrated graphics. Besides the processor upgrade, the 13 inch mbp is a shadow of its former self. Anything visually taxing (like real-time waveforms) will lag and affect the performance of your software.

EDIT: If you must get the 13 inch, go for last years model. It'll be cheaper and have better all around performance. (Core 2 Duo is more than powerful enough)

[epidemik]

3 words: Intel Integrated graphics. Besides the processor upgrade, the 13 inch mbp is a shadow of its former self. Anything visually taxing (like real-time waveforms) will lag and affect the performance of your software.

EDIT: If you must get the 13 inch, go for last years model. It'll be cheaper and have better all around performance. (Core 2 Duo is more than powerful enough)

Debatable.
http://t-gaap.com/2011/3/9/macbook-g...site_locale=en
2 out of 3 of the sites they talk about in that article have the Intel Graphics outperforming 320M. So, I think it's fair to say theyre comparable...

"All around better performance" is straight up false. Especially since music production/djing is going to depend way more on the CPU than the graphics card. I don't know much about the software qoeka so I'm not going to argue with you but my suspicion would be that the Core2Duo would limit your "real-time wave forms" before the Intel graphics became an issue.

Taking all that into account, I'd take the i5 over the Core2Duo any day. And Thunderbolt may end up coming in handy a year or so down the road (only time will tell if that takes off).

The difference between the 2011 model and the refurb (previous) model is 270 which is a fair chunk of change. You get a bigger hard drive (250gb is fairly small) and a much better processor at the expense of a little battery time if you go for the 2011 model.

And as stated before, if you have the money, the extra screen space of the 15" is really nice. If you have quite a bit of cash to blow, the hi-res 15" is pretty nice too.

Granted, as deevey points out, both the i5 and the C2D will be more than sufficient for DJing and music production.

[farhanashraf]

http://www.djtechtools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26683