Aack! I thought I hit the more button. Dear patient and fabulous moderator, feel free to stick all this inside so I don't hog the page.
*hangs head in shame*

I can't help you with the iBook, but I know where I am buying some xmas presents this year (poise!)

Thanks, mischief.

And thanks to the super-kind and prompt moderators.

Your main problem is that those versions of those apps which you are running under Classic simply won't work on a new Intel-based Mac. If you owned OS X versions of the apps already, I'd advise you to get a new machine straight away -- even running under Rosetta, the performance difference is likely to be night and day. But since you'd have to upgrade to CS2 just to get it running on your new machine, and then you'd presumably want to upgrade to CS3 when it came out, well, it seems like too much software buying. So that makes it a bit more complicated.

I suppose another option would be to get a cheap secondhand copy of CS1 (I've seen those floating around on eBay from time to time at pretty reasonable prices) to tide you over on your new machine until CS3 comes out. Of course, you have to be oh-so-careful with buying stuff like that online.

As for the CS3 release date, I'll eat my own arse if Adobe fails to bring it out by the end of Q2 this year. They've essentially committed to that already, they've already released a public beta of the new Photoshop, and the customers are straining at the leash for it. There have even been rumblings of a 27 March release date, but you have to take these rumours with a pinch of salt.

Your budget will largely decide which system you buy. I always follow the rule of buying the best system I can afford when it comes to replacing my main computer. If you can afford to spend $2000 on a computer right now, get a new MacBook Pro. Otherwise, go refurbished or get a souped-up MacBook.

I got the wife a 13" White MacBook last summer and have been disappointed with the build quality. The case is discolored and cracked already. The MBP I got for work is wonderful, but 3 times the price. If you are making the investment in new hardware, I'd skip the MacBook and go for the MBP.

I would think that if a CS3 release is imminent, as chrismear predicts, they may offer an upgrade path for people that purchase CS2 close to the release. But there's no guarantee of that.

My macbook (black) bought in July is at the shop getting three hardware quirks fixed.
#1 - num lock and shift lock light up constantly even though they're not on. A few restarts always 'fixed' this, but ...
#2 ... since the headphone jack lit up as if an optical plug was in there and there was no longer an option of turning on the speakers...
#3 .. and the battery completly died. Big X over it. Kaput. I decided to take it in to the shop.
All quirks are most likely related. Just throwing that out there, I'd go pro if I had the dough.

My 2 year old Dell laptop is dying on me, and I was considering finally making the switch [the only thing holding me back from switching long ago is the fact that I still want to play my PC video games] I was considering getting a basic macBook, but if the MBP is more reliable, I suppose I'll have to suck it up. I wanted a 13" comp though.

Cinnamon, I'd try to tough it out if possible, the Lightroom beta just expired and CS3 beta is out, so I can't imagine they'll wait too much longer.

Just a different perspective. Yes, the mbp is nicer than the mb. Duh. You're paying (depending on the details) about twice as much for the mbp. That money goes somewhere.

But if you get the mb, save a thousand, and then get another macbook in a year and a half/ 2 years, you'll already have the money to do it and chances are it will be more advanced in many areas than the 2 year old mac book pro.

justgary, that was exactly my reasoning when i got my macbook - i wear laptops out in 2years or less no matter what. Unless is a sony vaio, because that only took two months.

Oddly, my 1994 Toshiba now runs suse linux and is still a happy camper.

It's being announced on the 27th of March, shipping in the spring

[the only thing holding me back from switching long ago is the fact that I still want to play my PC video games] I was considering getting a basic macBook, but if the MBP is more reliable, I suppose I'll have to suck it up. I wanted a 13" comp though.

Also, if you're playing games, you'll probably greatly appreciate the graphics card in the Pro over the integrated graphics in the MacBook.