Running Programs on a Macbook

[Sungmin Eric Kim]

Hello,

 

I wasn't really sure where to put this so I thought I'd stick it under general.

 

During solo VJ productions each of our crew uses a Macbook running VirtualDJ and a separate laptop running Resolume Arena.

I am looking to move to the 16GB i7 Macbook Pro Retinas.

 

Do you think that they have enough to "power" to be running Virtual DJ and Resolume (each on separate screens) at the same time on one machine?

 

 

Thanks

[paulears]

I suspect they do - but won't sharing controls be a real pain? They may have separate screens, but you will have to switch between programs before you can click on a button?

[gyro_gearloose]

The Macbook can only support 2 external screens. If you use one for the UI for one of your programs then you'll only have one output to share between the two programs. Not sure that that'll work too well unless theres a way of combining the output from two programs into one output? I'm assuming that you want to send the video out from Resolume and VirtualDJ to some external screens/projectors?

 

Given the tiny size of the Macbook screens you might be better off buying an iMac and running both programs on the one screen. Slightly less portable than a Macbook and an external monitor, but easier to set up.

[Stuart91]

Is there any particular reason why two separate, lower specced MacBooks couldn't do the job?

[Munro]

The Macbook can only support 2 external screens.

 

Not strictly true. Although Apple don't advocate support for this, I have managed to run more. Using both the thunderbolt ports and the HDMI can create three external monitors - throw in Dual/Triple heads and you've got a sizeable setup. Depends more on what spec your GPU is.

(I have the MBPr with the additional graphics.)

[sameness]

The Macbook can only support 2 external screens.

 

Not strictly true. Although Apple don't advocate support for this, I have managed to run more. Using both the thunderbolt ports and the HDMI can create three external monitors - throw in Dual/Triple heads and you've got a sizeable setup. Depends more on what spec your GPU is.

(I have the MBPr with the additional graphics.)

 

 

Yep, the 13" MBP only supports two external screens, but the 15" and above are designed for 3 externals as they have the better graphics chip