ncshutterbug

I am considering a new computer but have avoided Windows 10 up to now. Does anyone know if the problems have been resolved for photographers?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

For photo processing, I left windoze about two and a half years ago. I was lucky enough to get a 27" iMac. At this point, Microsoft can go pound sand. Yes, I still use a couple of Win 7 systems, but only for Windows specific software applications. My main computer is a Fedora Linux system. Something to consider..Apple.
--Bob

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

I have always used Windows and have been using Win 10 since day 1, I have never experienced any problem with any photography.
What have you read or heard about Win 10 and photographers.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Likely Lightroom weirdness. I've read that. But Lr acts weird for a lot of people. I don't use it. Photoshop CS6 works perfectly for me with Windows 10. Windows 7 or 10 are both stable.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

What (photography) problems? Up-grading a system with Lightroom on it can get a bit tricky, but a new system and new install of Windows 10 and Lightroom or Photoshop, should have no isssues.

I like my Dell XPS 8900 i7 (3.4 GHz), Windows 10 desktop; 32GB RAM, 4GB video (a COSTCO package). Yes, Windows 10 took some getting used to from Vista & 7.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

She may be referring to issues with Profiles for different new cameras for Camera RAW and ACR. That has nothing to do with Windows, but the newness of ones camera model and its Raw format.

ncshutterbug

Thanks guys! I just don't want to take a chance on loosing files or messing up Lightroom. I am using Windows 7 and am comfortable with it. Bought this computer because it didn't have 10 on it, but it's worthless crap and I will have to bite the bullet and replace it.

ncshutterbug

Exactly my concern. I use Canon 5d iii, and shoot raw. The camera wasn't recognized by Lightroom when we change computers.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Hello. I have used Windows machines for years and when the Win 10 update came along, I simply updated and never looked back. The only issue I've had was the drivers for the audio on my laptop. That was during the Win 10 migration, so the drivers had not been updated. They have since then, and no further problems.

I'm a bit anal about keeping my computers 'tuned' by keeping the hard drive clean of unnecessary files and use a utility called CCleaner to do that, plus keep the registry file clean of unnecessary entries. So, I've not had any of the issues I see mentioned by others. In fact, having used Windows since version 1.0, I believe Win 10 to be the best release to date.

I would encourage that you not be so concerned about Win 10.

EDIT:
Software updates will be a never-ending event. This has nothing to do with the operating system.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Short answer is yes for mainstream applications. If you are running really old software or hardware, you'd have to check to make sure it is supported on Windows 10. It is no different for Apple, BTW - there are more than just a few people having difficulties with the latest iteration of MacOS - Sierra - and are awaiting updates either from Apple or the software publishers. For a short while Lightroom did not play nicely with Sierra, but I think that has mostly been resolved.

I just built a powerhouse system for a friend - based on an Intel i7 6700K cpu, workstation graphics card to display 30 bit color, a 1 TB Solid State Drive to boot from, and 12 TB of internal spinning storage. The motherboard has 32 gb ram (critical for PHotoshop), with room for 32 more. The total cost was $1850.

She looked at Apple, and the closest thing was around $4000 after factoring in the external drives she would have to purchase to get to 12 TB.

Nothing wrong with Apple, but if you are looking to get the most bang for the buck, a PC will give you that.

You can pretty much dismiss the urban myths regarding reliability - they both break; regarding ease of use- they are equally easy to use once you learn the OS, applications are 99% the same; regarding viruses - As macs become more popular, they are increasingly being targeted by malware; regarding components - open up a mac and you will find middle of the road components - you always have the option with a PC to spend a little more and get better drives, memory, cpu cooling, bigger power supply, regarding longevity - Ok, so an 8 yr old Mac still works - fine - would you really want to try and run current applications on an 8 yr old computer? etc etc etc; I could go on but won't - convergence in the industry has drawn the mac closer to the PC, to the point that even the PC emulation software runs very well on a Mac, now that they are using Intel processors.

Many of the opinions you will hear sound like this - Oh, I switched from PC years ago and never looked back. Well, things have changed, and the majority of the complaints against PCs have been addressed, and either will provide a quality computing experience. I am not biased in favor of either platform - but I am a little old-fashioned. As an IT consultant since 1983, my advice to my clients was to first determine the applications that they wanted to run on a computer, then select the best computer (which often was a balance of cost vs benefit) to run them. To select a computer platform first is a bit like the cart pushing the horse.

I strongly recommend weighing the alternatives - and if you decide Windows, then have a system custom built. MicroCenter will do that for $120 for you, but so will your local "computer guy" who does repair and consulting. Don't get the cheapest off-the-shelf system out there. You will be spending somewhere between the cost of a cheap system from Best Buy or Costco, and the cost of an Apple iMac or Mac Pro.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

That's an easy fix, either from Canon or Microsoft. All you have to do is download the proper Codec. And it's free.

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/cameras/dslr/eos-5d-mark-iii
https://www.windows10download.com/microsoft-camera-codec-pack/

And you will need to get the latest version of Lightroom/ACR to ensure your camera is supported.

Adobe just added support for the 5D Mk IV last week.

ncshutterbug

Lots of SUPER advice! I do have several old programs, a couple no longer produced, that I can't bear to give up. Plus my version of Lightroom is 5, so that may also be a problem. I don't want to go to Mac, even though I understand it's really a good idea, but I don't want to learn a new way with all the other stuff one needs to keep up on these days. I have all my files on external drives so I don't need to worry about that, but some programs and Lightroom presets didn't transfer well to the current computer and I simply lost some.
Thanks so much to everyone for your input.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Windows 10 is arguably the best MS OS ever. Most of the issues people have are 'user issues', lack of knowledge, preparation etc.

Your presets may be able to be recovered. I was also a big Windows 7 fan, but ran a dual boot system for two months before converting. Sure a little computer knowledge is required - do you service your own vehicles? - but I consider W10 to be a big improvement and mine is set up to behave just like W7, without any additional software.

If my 88 year old Mother-in-Law can deal with a shift from W7 to W10, I'm sure you can. I also run some very old software, and it does better on W10 than it ever did on W7.

Good luck!

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Hi ,
Got to ask why change computers when Win 7to Win 10 is still free. - you may need to upgrade bits though. Alternatively use Linux (Free) Free-ware. It works on even old computers. WINE allows some windows software to run too. (Check what does first, I just gave up on MS and use Linux based software).

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Win10 free update that was available for a year finished at the end of July this year (2016). There may still be a couple of back door methods, but the big issue is the apps and the familiarity. Linux? seriously? For many people that isn't even a starter option. It's a bit like wanting Lindsay Lohan for President. She may have some advantages over some of the current contenders, but not really an option!