Laptop Buying Advice?

Hussein

Heyy guys, I know this might probably be a bit repetitive but I never had a laptop (preferred powerful desktop) and I'm planning to buy one. I'm a Windows power user and haven't used a Mac before so I was thinking of buying a Macbook Pro or a Macbook Air. I need the laptop mainly for my studies and later work Graphic Design (Photoshop, Illustrator) , Video Editing (Sony Vegas, After Effects)... I don't care about gaming on the laptop and heavy video rendering since I will mostly use my desktop for it. How well can the Macbook Pro or Air handle such tasks? And is it a good idea to have my first notebook a Mac alongside my Windows PC? I'm looking more into portability while maintaining performance. So if I get a Macbook Pro I'll be getting the 13"inch version. Do I give up on buying an expensive Mac and rather buy a high performance Windows notebook for half the price? btw I was considering the ASUS Zenbook, any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Joe

I need the laptop mainly for my studies

What do you study?

and later work Graphic Design (Photoshop, Illustrator) , Video Editing (Sony Vegas, After Effects)...

Macbooks work notoriously well with the Adobe suite.

I'm looking more into portability while maintaining performance

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by portability. Do you mean mobility? (portability means something completely different when talking about computers).

Do I give up on buying an expensive Mac and rather buy a high performance Windows notebook for half the price?

It depends. What do you need the extra performance for? Performance is not only about the numbers shown by your processor vendor. If you want to do Graphic Design as you mentionned, MacBooks will be far more performant despite lower specs.

Your question is too broad and is unlikely to get a relevant answer. You're asking us to confirm that MacBooks are better for you. It seems to me that you have your mind made up already. Dare I say Mabrouk? :)

MrClass

Get a Macbook Pro 15.4". You will be able to run Mac and Windows. And, shame on you for not using Final Cut Pro for video editing (currently taking the official Apple course, it is so WOW!)

In addition Mac is more stable and more optimized than Windows when it comes to some graphic editing applications, proof: Same Mac computer was used, and:
Stock Mac with Adobe Photoshop CS5: Was able to process twirl distortion filter on a 100MB image
Stock Windows with Adobe Photoshop CS5: Took ages to load the same 100MB image and crashed (became non responsive completely) when applying the same filter

Mac for life.

Hussein

rahmu , by portability I meant mobility (easy carry around) and yeah I guess you're right. I can't deny being compelled by the design and functionality of the Mac and the curiosity of exploring the Mac World :P I guess I'll be getting a Mac then but I'm still not sure about whether to get the Macbook Air for the slim and small size or the Macbook Pro 13" or 15" for more power.

Hussein

Any stores in Lebanon you advise me to buy from? Quantum and M2 seem good retailers.

MrClass

Get the 15". You need the power.

Hussein

I guess I'll wait for the new 2012 release of the Macbook Pro, Thanks Guys for the tips!