MacBook Pro vs Desktop PC as a workstation?

I have a 2011 17" MBP (8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD and 1 TB hard drive in the optical slot) and a 2008 Mac Pro (24 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD as primary, 60 GB SSD as swap drive, 2 TB 7200 RPM Hard drives in an RAID 0 config, 3 monitors).

For MOST Photoshop stuff, the laptop is fine.  That is up to and including multiple layer D800 files.  For bigger stuff, panos and the like it bogs down - although perfectly useable if I'm not in a hurry.

The MacPro, however, even with a two generation old processor / Northbridge system, still beats the pants off the newer laptop.  That is especially true in video or 3 D graphics applications.  The MacPro screens are better calibrated - you really can't color calibrate ANY laptop screen although you can certainly use a secondary monitor.

Pros and Cons - no best answer.  It appears that a MacBook Pro / Thunderbolt system would indeed work fast enough for you - especially if you are 'just' doing Photoshop / Aperture / Lightroom.  If you plan on doing more intensive work, 3D and the like, the bigger data paths available in the desktop systems will come into play.

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RG www.lostrange.com