Recommendations for Computers for Photography (Page 4): I use Belarc Advisor. It's free and tells you everything about the components in your computer very detailed.

Robertven Loc: Fort Worth

TriX wrote:

Does any other member use a free computer asset inventory tool that they can recommend to Susan? The tool that I use professionally is FAR too expensive. Lacking that, as I mentioned, go to “start”, then “control panel”, then “system” to get the basics. Hopefully, even though you don’t have the original configuration, perhaps you have the various documentation on the motherboard, graphic card, etc. which will give you manufacturer and model number. Feel free to PM me with details if you like.

I use Belarc Advisor. It's free and tells you everything about the components in your computer very detailed. https://www.belarc.com/products_belarc_advisor

art pear Loc: North Dakota

If you shoot raw make sure it has 12 gig of ram at least. Lenovo is what I have at home and work for a pc and my personal laptop. All three have been solid for about 4 years so far. My pc at home has 8 gig of ram and is fine with my D7000 raw files, but doesn't like the D800 raw files. It tends to lag a bit.

DK Loc: SD

jaduff wrote:

Agree with the iMac suggestions above. I’ve been ... (show quote)

I absolutely agree. I've always used Mac and travel with the Mac Book Air which is a full computer, but compact. My Macs last way longer than my friend's PCs. Only had one out of five crash. Still using three of them. The first one became too outdated, but I can still look up stuff on it.

AlfredU Loc: Mooresville, NC

rmalarz wrote:

27" iMac.
--Bob

As usual, I agree with Bob.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Robertven wrote:

I use Belarc Advisor. It's free and tells you everything about the components in your computer very detailed. https://www.belarc.com/products_belarc_advisor

Thanks - much appreciated. I was leery of recommending one without an endorsement from an actual user.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

There are quite a few other venues where Mac people gab with other Mac people and the same with PC and Windows people. I would suggest you find them and see what is being gripped and hyped about. One of my gripes about Apple is the elimination of the optical drive (for CDs and DVDs, reading & burning), restrictions on ports, USB, Firewire, Lightening. Apple has essentialy converted its laptop to a table top. Plus, Apple has spoiled iTunes & iPhotos (now Photos), like hiding stuff in folders you can not see. Another point is that older Macs (PCs too?) are of 32 bit architecture and the new stuff coming out is 64 bit architecture, so you have to buy new software. Apple stores carry little so you are stuck with doing OtherWorldComputing.

timkramer Loc: PA

art pear wrote:

If you shoot raw make sure it has 12 gig of ram at least. Lenovo is what I have at home and work for a pc and my personal laptop. All three have been solid for about 4 years so far. My pc at home has 8 gig of ram and is fine with my D7000 raw files, but doesn't like the D800 raw files. It tends to lag a bit.

I shoot in RAW+JPEG mode so thanks for the tip on the D800 raw files. I have a D700 so am assuming lag time would be similar?

timkramer Loc: PA

Really great comments and recommendations out here. I do appreciate the time you all have taken. Looks like the Mac vs. PC battle is still alive and well. That being said, I'm still no closer to a decision yet :) But hey, lots of things to research out there.

mikeglaw

If you can replace your hdd with an ssd, at least 512gb (cost about $130 on Amazon) you can add about a 5x speed improvement. Also, if you can double your memory tha may help.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

I use a desktop for all of my PP for a couple of reasons. The first is the bang for the buck, where the laptop or tablet is always left in the dust. The second is expandability - have you ever extended the life of a laptop by upgrading components? I generally am able to maintain the performance of my desktop well beyond, years beyond, the life of that more expensive laptop. I do carry a laptop when I am traveling, but do not use it much while at home.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

timkramer wrote:

Really great comments and recommendations out here. I do appreciate the time you all have taken. Looks like the Mac vs. PC battle is still alive and well. That being said, I'm still no closer to a decision yet :) But hey, lots of things to research out there.

Just be sure you consider that with a Mac you are limited by what they offer on it. Similar idea about buying into a camera system. But at least there are 3rd party lenses for cameras - not sure there is any way to substitute on a Mac.

PC's are not limited by who makes the components. Only by compatibility between components. And even that can be overcome by replacing the source of the incompatibility.

timkramer Loc: PA

mikeglaw wrote:

If you can replace your hdd with an ssd, at least 512gb (cost about $130 on Amazon) you can add about a 5x speed improvement. Also, if you can double your memory tha may help.

Might be able to swap the HDD with the SSD, but currently my 4GB memory is only expandable to 8 max I believe. I need to check the specs on which Envy model it is, but I think it only has 1 additional memory slot and I thought it would only reach 8GB. At the time I bought it, I figured 4 was enough and the 500MB storage was plenty. This was a long time ago in computer years though.

GED Loc: North central Pa

SusanFromVermont wrote:

Just be sure you consider that with a Mac you are limited by what they offer on it. Similar idea about buying into a camera system. But at least there are 3rd party lenses for cameras - not sure there is any way to substitute on a Mac.

PC's are not limited by who makes the components. Only by compatibility between components. And even that can be overcome by replacing the source of the incompatibility.

To add to Susan's comment, Apple has also decided to remove connections on their laptops which are needed on a professional machine. It's all well and good to incorporate the newest fastest technology however when someone has to travel and actually use it in many different venues they should not have to carry a case of adapters to make commonly available connections. A good design would provide for both until one is obsolete.

Meganephron Loc: Fort Worth, TX

If money is not an issue, Apple with Retina display properly calibrated will give you brillliant displays. I have a new MacBook Pro and it is brilliant and super fast. Draw backs are USB C inputs. Virtually everything you currently use will require an adapter. No DVD for backup if you chose that method.

My final images are done on 27 inch 2011 iMac calibrated with Spyder Pro printed on Canon Pixima 9000i soon on Canon Prograf Pro 1000. If you don’t print yourself would try to find local print source that will work with you to get the output you want. Many online services will tweak your image and you may not be happy. So, try a variety of services.

therwol Loc: USA

timkramer wrote:

I have an older HP Envy, which I purchased about 5... (show quote)

Which operating system are you using now? I assume it's Windows 7 64 bit. If it's 32 bit, then I would definitely not keep the machine. Adding more RAM would do no good. Have you ever reinstalled the operating system? Windows runs slower and slower over time because of accumulated stuff that you may not be aware of. If the fan is going at high speed all of the time, have you looked at the heat sink and fins to see if you have a big dust ball inside?

Just some thoughts. If you replace the machine, you will get more bang for your buck with a desktop versus a laptop. All-in-ones are attractive but often use laptop processors that don't run as fast as desktop processors, and there is no room for expansion.