Im looking to get a new laptop, near the $1500 price range.

I was just wondering if the 13" Macbook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.4ghz:

1. can handle HD content in iMovie?

2. it is good for streaming HD content on youtube?

3. how long would a charge last if im working in iMovie, or using Safari?
(Apple says 10, but to me that doesnt sound realistic)

Or my other option is to get a Windows based laptop with a Core i7 processor, which is a last resort because Im looking for a computer with a battery life over 3 hours.

Thanks

Your price range indicates you're looking at the 2.66MHz 13" MacBook Pro.

1. If you're talking about editing in iMovie, it will handle HD movies. Processing time is dependent on a number of factors. It will certainly playback movies in a timely fashion on the main screen, as well as an auxiliary screen. The DVI output will convert to HDMI. We're talking about a machine that's faster than my G5, and has more RAM (which is one of the factors in editing processing time).

2. Depends on your internet connection. Just remember that, on this machine, your GPU shares memory with the CPU. With 4 GB of RAM, that's probably not a problem

3. Apple says up to 10 hours on the battery, using WiFi (suggesting Safari?) and an editor. It will certainly do more than 3 hrs on a fresh battery, and it will do as well as my 15" MBP, which is more than satisfactory. You can more than likely have more than 4 or 5 hours using iMovie and Safari. The 15" MBP with Core i7 processors doesn't have any better battery life.

I live in Canada, so the prices are a little higher and a 13" Macbook Pro 2.4ghz comes to about $1500.

But anyways thanks for the help!

This review may help: http://www.macsonly.com/061810.html

Well I think Im buying a new Mac at the end of August then.

Thanks for your help !