I want to switch to a Mac from PC

[jcrutcher]

I've used PC's for the past 15 years for business. A couple of years ago I added my photo processing to my work PC. ( Lenovo T500 with Vista) It seems every 3 years I need to replace the PC and that has accelerated when I added Photoshop, Lightroom, NIK etc.

so my thought is to pull all the Photo software off the PC and put it on a Macbook and keep business on the Lenovo or it's replacement. So the question is 13 or 15 inch? Macbook Pro or Macbook Pro with Retina screen?

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Jim

 

[texchappy]

Can't tell you about the newest models but I've been using Macs since 2002 and loved them. If you are going to do any photo work on it I would think that the 15 Retina would be ideal but I haven't played with one myself yet. Afraid I'll want one if I do.

 

[ruby.monkey]

Performance-wise, current Mac hardware is on par with Windows - not surprising, really, since they share the same core components. Apple makes some excellent laptops but they won't necessarily get you off the upgrade treadmill.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

A great bargain is to get a Mac Mini and a big monitor from a manufacturer other than Apple (only because you can find big bargains in non-Apple monitors.) In addition, being able to buy a non-Apple monitor gives you much more flexibility in choosing monitor size and capability. A search on the web will show you that the Mac Mini is a very popular option chosen by photographers.

 

[jcrutcher]

Thank you guys. I imagine I can cancel my software license on my PC and upload Mac versions of Photoshop, lightroom etc. Does the mac software take as much space on the hard drive as windows? it seems to me that windows keeps growing.

Jim

 

[Richard G]

The Mac mini is a good suggestion. One of mine is 6 years old and working fine. The newer one has two drives and I back up one to the other. The latest MacBook Pro with the retina display looks great and gets some good reviews, but Wired found it the least repairable laptop they'd stripped down. My current MBP is 15" and it's from 2009. I wouldn't really want smaller for photography. It's heavy though.

 

[RObert Budding]

Not much difference any longer. Win 7 is rock solid, as is the Mac OS. And most applications, or equivalents, are available on both platforms.

 

[RangerFinder]

Not much difference any longer. Win 7 is rock solid, as is the Mac OS. And most applications, or equivalents, are available on both platforms.

This. My first advice would be to stop using Vista because it is a giant steaming pile. 7, however, is a really stable and much less resource hungry operating system. I also say this because you're already comfortable with PCs. Lion is a great operating system as well so if you do decide to go to Mac I agree with the mac mini and third party monitor idea. The new retina Pros are beautiful but not very user friendly under the hood as far as user upgrades go.

 

[Pablito]

Not much difference any longer. .

I'd have to disagree with that. I've used macs since 1996 and whenever I have to use a PC it feels like stepping from a Mercedes into a Chevy. 😀

 

[segedi]

Macs are coming out with new versions pretty frequently, so I don't think the upgrade cycle will be much different honestly. I learned on macs (graphic design major) but my first job was in Web design (PC). I now only test designs on macs or iOS devices, after using windows, I find the file system easier to navigate and the design and photo software systems to be more intuitive. Windows 7 is very nice. And a macbook pro works very well for win 7 to run on. Will wait to see what benefits win8 brings, but it a different beast entirely, touch/tablet oriented and I'm curious to see how it works for desktop.

As far as software size, I think the Lion versions were actually larger in file size, but I haven't looked in a couple of years.

And to add to the fire, I think Apple is wonderful at marketing expensive products. And the iPad is a nice device. But for a workstation solution, it only makes sense if you have existing software, buy into the 'Mac is better' mentality or have a fragile ego.

 

[ruby.monkey]

I'd have to disagree with that. I've used macs since 1996 and whenever I have to use a PC it feels like stepping from a Mercedes into a Chevy. 😀

... and I programme on a Mac Pro every day, and coming to it - and those bloody awful keyboards - from a Linux box is painful. Guess it all depends on what one is used to.

But there's no denying that Vista can run like a dog. Performance wasn't one of its main aims - that was left for Windows 7.

 

[Duane Pandorf]

MacBook Pro 15"

MacBook Pro 15"

I'm going to throw a curve ball here. I would consider buying a late model refurbished MacBook Pro 15" from Apple. I'd buy one that's listed now for under $1400 and it has the antiglare Hi-Res widescreen display which you want for editing photos.

I'd then increase the system ram memory to 8 gig which is max. If you want to up the speed some more, I'd replace the 500 gig 5400 rpm drive with a small (128 gig SSD) and then replace the DVD with a 7200rpm drive and put your photos on it and your Photoshop scratch files on the SSD.

(MCE has a kit for this and includes an external case for your DVD)

If you need additional screen real estate I'd buy one of these: NEC MultiSync P221W-BK 22" Widescreen LCD Computer Display

I have a 5 year old MacBook Pro and wish I could up its ram to 8 gig but I'm limited to 4. But I've just done the upgrade with the Crucial 128gig SSD and 750gig 7200rpm hard drive.

 

[Jubb Jubb]

Any reason you want a laptop over a desktop? The iMac is a great bargain and great machines. I've used all macs, from PowerBooks through to Mac PRos and iMAcs are definitely my favourite. Small, compact, don't take up much desk space and are powerful. I find laptops to be a pain. They heat up very quick and the small screen is no fun either. If its portability you are after, why not get an iPad?

 

[Pablito]

I will admit that I'm hopelessly prejudiced as I stared with the Mac Plus, but I just have to laugh when I see my colleagues with their university-issued PC laptops, covered with silly lights and excess plastic. My Macbook pro, also university issued, is about one third the thickness of the average pc laptop. In terms of sheer useability, I find the mac much easier. And I love the keyboard. But then, it's what I'm used to 🙂

Did I say the 17" screen is very nice? For travel, there's the 11" air.

 

[MikeAUS]

Stick with Windows 7, unless you like paying a lot more money for a Mac more locked system that may look nicer, but trap you in Apple land at every turn 😉 Get a fast dedicated Windows 7 PC for photo stuff. This will cost a lot less than the equivalent Mac. You cannot just 'swap' your Windows Adobe software for Apple Adobe versions. You will have to 'cross upgrade' to the Mac version and there is some cost involved. AFAIK.

 

[Rob-F]

so my thought is to pull all the Photo software off the PC and put it on a Macbook and keep business on the Lenovo or it's replacement. So the question is 13 or 15 inch? Macbook Pro or Macbook Pro with Retina screen?

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Jim

That is exactly what I have done. I got fed up with PCs going belly-up, and switched to Mac for all but the office, where I use a Lenovo. I now use a 21.5" iMac for all computer needs at home; a 13" MacBook for travel photography (I'm typing this on it from the Hampton Inn in Salina, KS); and my wife is sitting next to me using her MacAir.

I've never looked back from making this switch. I use Aperture for my photo processing needs, plus PSE 8 for the few things Aperture doesn't do.

If you are only going to get one Mac, and you will use it for photo work, I'd get something larger than a 13".

 

[lynnb]

Upgrading your PC/Mac also depends a bit on software upgrade cycles. After more than 2 generations of software you may need a faster, higher-specced platform to run it on at a reasonable speed - particularly if you're working with large, multi-layered files. Same goes for data transfer speeds to external HDDs: USB3 and Thunderbolt now help avoid that bottleneck.

I use Mac Mini (3yrs old) + 2 monitors + external HDDs; CS4 and LR4. Works well for me; no need to upgrade yet. But I also read good things about Win7's stability and performance.

I've found that the Mac more closed system architecture does make it easier for third party hardware and drivers to work easier out of the box after you plug them in. Just my experience.

Apple does sometimes ignore users with legacy technology. I have firewire 800 ext HDDs and Apple has dumped that in favour of Thunderbolt and USB3. I believe you can get adaptors, though.

System security was another issue that initially tipped me in favour of Macs around 10yrs ago. However, that's changing - with increased market share, Macs are now becoming more of a target.

Edit: I'd always recommend maxing the RAM no matter which system you go with. That delays the eventual upgrade and you get all the benefits from day one.

 

[jcrutcher]

Thank you again guys and gals. I prefer a laptop since I travel a lot and don't really have an office to desiginate for Photo Processing. Actually I've done most of it at work which I need to stop. So far i'm leaning towards a 15 inch macbook pro with max hardrive and ram. I've learned a lot from your responses so far, thank you.

Jim

 

[Sylvester]

Nothing beats a iMac for photo processing... 21 inch or 27.
I have a 21 and still no regrets after a year of use. 😉

 

[starless]

I've been using a 13" MBP for graphic design -- running the whole range of Adobe apps and also for scanning negatives. The 15" might be more comfortable to use because of the larger resolution, but it is definitely bulkier.