Will you be using a tablet and a mouse simultaneously?  MB Pro's only have 2 USB ports so you would have to get a USB hub.  Otherwise I would get a Windows tablet notebook or if you're going for Mac because of the platform of your current CS software then get the mac converted into a tablet.  I can't remember offhand which website does it but they offer a service to send in your MB Pro and they convert it to a touch-screen stylus-capable tablet device with CD/DVD drive still in tact.

I'm primarily a PC person for my own reasons,but I have seen the MBP and I am impressed with their screens and color management,both essential for designers and artists. I wonder if you are aware of "clamshell mode". You can close the MBP,attach your own keyboard,tablet,and a large size display,making it a desktop design station. The new Thunderbolt leaves room for expansion to higher port speeds than the USB 2 and FW 800 ports already there.

You can look at the product page: http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/features.html#thunderbolt  If I had that kind of cash and using my equipment professionally,it would be a serious contender.

Kathleen Dougherty wrote:

 

This is good information, thank you.  I will check out the options you suggest and may not need a 17"screen after all!

While up for jury duty in the waiting room,I noticed a designer working on a project in Illustrator using a 15 inch MBP. so that size sounds good if you have to be away from the desk. Even with the lighting,the screen looked great.

I did get my jury assignment,and was asked to report to the double doors on the ground floor with the exit sign on top. 

(We got enough folks,go home.)

Anyhow,glad it helped.

Gene

I have sworn off anything HP due to excessive bloatware. My printer doesn't need a 300MB driver that will try to tell me where to go shopping for other HP products. Lord knows what kind of bloatware they have installed on their computers.

Jay

Mmmmm...

I refuse to buy HP now... last time i bought their products was in 1999 - an external CD writer (then about $600/700) and a printer - much cheaper . Both products packed up on me literally a couple of day after their one year warranty expired.

Never touched, nor recommended, them since...

Dave you're lucky... but do you manage with just a b&w printer?

All these printer manufacturer suck big time... low on initial cost... really heavy on replaceables... JHC!... a colour ink-pack for a low-end Deskjet is almost the same as the printer itself!

shunithD wrote:

 

Dave you're lucky... but do you manage with just a b&w printer?

no, i have 2 dye-subs for color. the black and white does a couple dozen pages a month. the color ones do, erm... maybe one or 2.