[DEMUG] how to configure a new MacBook Pro?

[Michele Stapleton]

I'm dying to replace my G3 iBook with a screaming fast Mac Book Pro  
and now I'm looking online deciding how to configure it so I can give  
Santa a very precise wish list. (WHO AM I FOOLING???)

Price is always a consideration; I don't always buy the biggest and  
fastest, but I will splurge for extras that will make a clear  
difference in performance. I am a digital photographer, so I do work  
with large files and often have photoshop and a couple of other apps  
open at once.

I'm looking at a 15-inch model and am wondering

Will I notice that much difference (and is it worth paying for) between

2.2 GHz
2.4 GHz (+$500)
2.6 GHz (+$750)

For RAM, it ships with 2B and the Apple Store says add $700 if you  
want 4 GB, but if I read things right, I can buy 4GB RAM and install  
it myself for approx $250.  See http://www.smalldog.com/list/wag114/ 
wag10014/attt/?list=39479,39480,41341  I've never cracked open a  
laptop, but I did install extra RAM in a G5 desktop model without  
blowing anything, so unless this a risky procedure, that looks like a  
better way to go.

I could bump up the hard drive from 160 to 250 for $150-200 but  
unless you guys with crystal balls say that the files of the future  
are going to be huge, I probably won't go for the bigger hard drive.  
I don't store files longterm on my iBook now, I use it to download  
stuff I shoot on the road, but when I get home, it gets transferred  
to a hard drive in the office immediately. I don't think I've ever  
had more than 40 GB of files (in addition to apps) on the iBook at  
once.  I do have a small Western Digital portable hard drive that's  
about 160-180 GB that I carry on the road to duplicate files on the  
iBook (so I have a copy on the laptop and a backup copy on another  
device.)

Am also thinking I will pass on a glossy display.

Would love to have feedback, advice, musings, etc. from anyone to  
help me with this decision.  Even better are monetary contributions. :)

TIA!


Michele

-----------------------------------------------
Michele Stapleton, photographer
BRUNSWICK, MAINE
http://www.MicheleStapleton.com
http://www.MaineWeddingPhotographer.com/
-----------------------------------------------