So. I have decided to leap from my old PC to a new Mac set up as well as get CS3 & LR2. Figured I'd just hemorrhage all the money out now and have one big learning curve. I'm game.

I am concerned because I have read so much about the screens on the Macbook Pro & iMac being terrible for screen to print color and contrast/brightness issues. My consideration is a Macbook Pro & then a cinema display... since it seems i will need a second screen to get the color I need anyway. But tell me...? Why on earth would I spend that money to be able to travel with the Macbook Pro if I cant really edit the photos on it anyway?! BUGGER! And if I get an iMac... then I cant travel with it. Why does buying a mac set for a pro/semi-pro/attempting-to-be-pro have to be so difficult!??

I use external HDs & a 9x12 Wacom.

Should I just go for the 15" Macbook Pro and get the 23" cinema display?! What other upgrades do you suggest? I read lots about after market ram etc to help the speed of those programs running.

What do you use and how do you get a colour match on your prints?

The 15" MBP and the 23" ACD are a great combo. Check the refurb section of the Apple online store for some great deals and full warranty. Be sure to max out the RAM, but don't buy it from Apple. Check OWC or TransInternational for that. I found for Apple displays, that ColorEyes Display Pro, profiling/calibration software works very well for controlling the brightness and gives great color accuracy. My prints match very nicely, even on my 24" iMac.

2nd on Apple refurbs and OWC. I currently run 24" iMac & MacBook refurbs with OWC RAM & NO problems. Occasionally refurbs will have 'silent' upgrades - was a model that had an option (different video, extra RAM, larger HD, etc). I use the MacBook for travel and basic editing & creating initial backup on DVD, then on return transfer to the iMac.

The LED backlit screen on the MacBook Pro is the best you will find in any laptop. It calibrates well with gamma 2.2, 120 cd/m2 brightness and 6000K.