i need a new computer...damn!

[back alley]

Go to the Apple website, go to the store, and see if there are any suitable systems available refurbished.

My photo processing computer is a Mac mini (mid-2012 generation) with i7 2.7GHz Quad cpu, 16G RAM, and an (aftermarket) 960G Crucial SSD installed. I use it outfitted with an Apple wired keyboard, Apple wireless trackpad, and Apple Thunderbolt Display 27". No, I don't remember how much it cost me. I do remember that it cost nothing in time to set up and maintain; it's fast and useful, runs the latest software, and has enough processing and memory overhead to keep me happy for a while to come.

G

i've read that the 2012 mini is the one to get...no minis at all on the apple canada refurb list though...i keep all my photos and music on seperate external hard drives...already have monitor, apple keyboard, mouse...

 

[cz23]

Joe, what kind of "strange things?" Are you sure it can't be fixed? Pretty much anything on a computer can be.

 

[Godfrey]

i've read that the 2012 mini is the one to get...no minis at all on the apple canada refurb list though...i keep all my photos and music on seperate external hard drives...already have monitor, apple keyboard, mouse...

The 2012 mini has one Thunderbolt and one FW800 port, and the i7 Quadcore option, where the newer model has a faster i7 Dualcore processor and dual Thunderbolt ports. On balance and depending on how you option the hardware, the performance is about equal with a slight nudge to the newer model for most apps. Only apps which are very well factored/partitioned for multiple cores show a small improvement in performance on the 2012 model.

If you have FireWire devices that you need to attach, you can either use the Thunderbolt to FireWire 800 adapter (cheap) or the built-in hardware protocol converter in the Thunderbolt Display 27" (expensive).

G

 

[back alley]

Joe, what kind of "strange things?" Are you sure it can't be fixed? Pretty much anything on a computer can be.

the biggest pain is it seems to affect my pse software...forcing me to shut down photoshop and start again, a few times a session.
i can't upgarde the os any longer (apple's doing). the machine runs slow compared to when it was new.
the battery enlarged and has cracked the case...i keep it plugged in now all the time.

 

[shadowfox]

I would not recommend Ubuntu to just about anyone that is not a computer nerd. Even setting up simple filesharing with another Windows computer is a daunting task.

Not true anymore, Erik.
The latest ubuntu is just as easy to use as Windows or Mac.

Sharing files with Windows, is now one double-click in the File manager on an icon called "Windows Network" 😀

 

[shadowfox]

1. The problem with Linux, Ubuntu included - no LR or PS. And GIMP sucks.

2. The problem with most PC laptops - not usable for photography graphics card and not upgradable. You have to look for specific model which has advance dual mode graphics card.

3. I wouldn't mind Apple at home with LR and scanner software. But it is expensive.

1. On Linux, use Darktable, it's better than LR in some ways. I got so used to it that now I regret not being able to use it on Windows or Mac (if I had one). GIMP sucks the same way as when you try to use Photoshop to manage 1000 images.

Or when you try to outrun a Nissan GTR in a Towing Truck. Or when you try to tow a car using the Nissan GTR 🙂

2. I've been editing my photographs on my laptop just fine. Just a built-in Intel business-class graphics card with high resolution (3200x1800 pixels) and millions of colors, what else do I need for editing?

3. This I agree, Macs are expensive to own

 

[shadowfox]

the biggest pain is it seems to affect my pse software...forcing me to shut down photoshop and start again, a few times a session.
i can't upgarde the os any longer (apple's doing). the machine runs slow compared to when it was new.
the battery enlarged and has cracked the case...i keep it plugged in now all the time.

Used macs are not that expensive, Joe.
I saw them all the time on Craigslist.

 

[btgc]

Don't know if I get it right but this days computer is a mainboard, memory, SSD for OS and program files, optionally HDD disk or array for large files, and case for your liking. Gaming rig is another, it's like building camera system - it sucks money and never is up-to-date.

Mini-ITX or large tower, low power seeper or watt-killer monster, just research components, put them together and install OS, apps. Apple looks nice but no way for me to spend money on PC components for price of RISC system....and miss whole point of PC system - building it yourself.

 

[burancap]

Joe,

Another thing to consider: Based on the age of your existing Mac, I would think you are leaping from PPC to Intel. Whatever software you have will have to be dealt with for the new architecture.

 

[back alley]

Joe,

Another thing to consider: Based on the age of your existing Mac, I would think you are leaping from PPC to Intel. Whatever software you have will have to be dealt with for the new architecture.

my needs are simple...the latest version of pse for a mac and that is pretty much it.
i surf the net and work on images, send emails but nothing too strenuous for the machine.

 

[nongfuspring]

The comp is almost a decade old! No wonder you can't upgrade. Stick to what you know, buy the mac mini, they're not that expensive and with basic photo editing as your most intensive task you should be fine. Not sure if it'll last you another 10 years (IMO they don't make macs like they used to) but long enough anyway.

 

[hipsterdufus]

Not true anymore, Erik.
The latest ubuntu is just as easy to use as Windows or Mac.

Sharing files with Windows, is now one double-click in the File manager on an icon called "Windows Network" 😀

I'll disagree with this. I just installed Ubuntu over the weekend on my HTPC. It took me an hour to figure out how to get Ubuntu to resolve windows hostnames. That is unacceptable to me. (had to run both sudo apt-get install winbind and sudo apt-get install libnss-winbin for those interested)

I'm not exactly a newb. I'm a Windows System Admin in my regular life. I can't imagine a "normal" person trying to figure out something that should be so simple that's made so obscure.

Back to the OP, go with what you know, Joe. My $0.02.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Best of luck, Joe! Just less than a month ago, I purchased a new laptop because the old one (which was just like yours, a 2006 model with a defective battery and very low RAM) just go too slow to work on. Even after I threw out a lot of documents, the disk was still as slow as molasses...

Now I got me a new one, updated the system to Yosemite and it works like a charm. My intention is too keep it as light as possible, work everything from a separate drive, and update whenever it asks for it. BTW, unless you're editing video, 8 GB of RAM are more than enough.

BTW, I do remember when you opened a lens and decided to use your canned air on it. 🙂 I nearly spat my coffee! 😉

 

[f16sunshine]

Joe,

Another thing to consider: Based on the age of your existing Mac, I would think you are leaping from PPC to Intel. Whatever software you have will have to be dealt with for the new architecture.

That's true but also true... There is so much included in the latest free apple Aps and within Yosemite that you may not need to buy anything.
You can even edit and convert your Fuji RAF files in iPhoto. Basic editing but better than nothing.


On another note with no offense intended.
Some of you computer guys may not see the value in a completed product.
For folks like me and others.... Building a computer is like building a street-rod.
Some of us don't want to look under the hood and just want the simplicty of a Toyota. Even if the same money could buy a whole lot more performance building something in the garage. 😛

 

[AlexBG]

Can you get apple products on finance where you are? I have an education web url that I can PM you, takes about 15% off.

 

[Corran]

Some of you computer guys may not see the value in a completed product.

While there is certainly a subcategory of people that will continually upgrade and tweak a computer build to eek out a few more % points of performance, you don't have to.

The computer case from my build two years ago has never been open since I put it together. Total time for the build, from getting the package from Newegg to running the Win7 install, was less than an hour. Admittedly, I have built about 10 computers previously, so that's probably better than a newbie will do, but still.

A better analogy, in my opinion, is getting the reliability of a Toyota but the Toyota comes in a box separated into about 10 parts that you put together. Seriously there's like no tools required except a simple Phillips-head screwdriver, if that.

 

[back alley]

if i ever made a video of me putting together ikea furniture...it would go viral...and not in a good way!

 

[back alley]

Best of luck, Joe! Just less than a month ago, I purchased a new laptop because the old one (which was just like yours, a 2006 model with a defective battery and very low RAM) just go too slow to work on. Even after I threw out a lot of documents, the disk was still as slow as molasses...

Now I got me a new one, updated the system to Yosemite and it works like a charm. My intention is too keep it as light as possible, work everything from a separate drive, and update whenever it asks for it. BTW, unless you're editing video, 8 GB of RAM are more than enough.

BTW, I do remember when you opened a lens and decided to use your canned air on it. 🙂 I nearly spat my coffee! 😉

ah the old time, the good times...

 

[cz23]

If your RAM is OK and you don't have video problems, maybe consider starting over with a new hard drive. There's not much else to a comptuer. Shame to sell a camera. Of course, for a digital photographer a decent computer is as essential as a camera.

the biggest pain is it seems to affect my pse software...forcing me to shut down photoshop and start again, a few times a session.
i can't upgarde the os any longer (apple's doing). the machine runs slow compared to when it was new.
the battery enlarged and has cracked the case...i keep it plugged in now all the time.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Probably best off with a 2012 server model; buy used, max it out to 16GB and toss in two SSDs.