david vt Loc: Vermont

Hi all.

Looking for help from some of the UHH community in specing out a new Apple laptop as my main machine (general) and photo editing (avocation at this point)

Last year, when I needed to replace my windows laptop, I bought from a local builder a Lenovo tower, with two 240GB SSD and two 2TB HDD in RAID configuration. Using ON1 and hooked up two monitors, including a 27in BenQ. While I am happy with the machine performance, I made a mistake going with a desktop. Not so much for photo-editing, but I need to take the machine with me when I travel (the iPad just not cutting it as only hardware)

At this time, I am going to move back to a laptop, and have decided to move to Apple. This thread is not to debate that choice (please), but looking for some UHH members whom are well experienced with Apple laptops to help with machine recommendations, and I want to likely include an external drive bay to maintain the 2TB RAID for the photo archive.

I don’t know if the normally discussed needs (16GB dRAM, 4GB vRAM on the video board) translate well to the apple laptop line, and would like recommendations. I am usually on the move when traveling, so I see myself not doing much editing. Just want to temporarily dump the cards until I can get them back to store “properly” on the HDDs

A) supporting 1 or 2* external monitors, including the hi-res BenQ.
B) currently ON1 RAW as main editor. May eventually add LR/PS or something else
C) normal stuff we all need (office, email, etc)
D) (likely) external HDD RAID configuration
D) docking station for the monitors and external HDDs

*ideally, I would love to get a fairly small laptop, and drive two larger monitors. Laptop size/weight is very important to me when traveling

Ideas? Thanks in advance

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Before I spend your money, do you have a budget in mind?

david vt Loc: Vermont

Hi. No. I know Apple machines are more expensive (being in a home with 4 iPhones, 3 iPads, and 2 older Apple laptops already) than the likely equivalent in a windows laptop. Also know that smaller/powerful generally equals $$$ if not $$$$.

I know that ON1 2019.6 is available for the MAC, but when i look at the tech specs, I see intel or Xeon processor (no speed listed), 16GB of DRAM, 2 GB dedicated vRAM recommended. This make sense to me in the Windows world, and my current desktop exceeds them, but I am not enough into apple laptops to know if the specs are “directly translatable” to the Apple universe.

So, go ahead, spend my money. Generally, on a scale of 1-4, I am probably a 2-3 range, but want to do this once, right, and not need to upgrade for a while. If there are $$ vs $$$ alternatives, feel free to highlight. I am reaching out here as this is out of any comfort zone I might have, and I know at least some of the UHH community are apple experts when it comes to photo processing workflows.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

I have a MacBook Pro with a 27"BenQ monitor and two external HD (one as a backup and one as a photo storage unit). I have been happy with this setup, but I have learned a few things the hard way. Check out the laptop you chose carefully, because some MacBooks cannot be upgraded later. To have the capacity to manipulate the post-processing you have (and may add), you may have to keep most of your photographs on external hard drives. Compatibility between the MacBook and external storage and the ability to manipulate them can be an issue.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I’m by no means an Apple guru, but you basically have 3 choices: a MacBook Air (2.75 lbs), a MacBook Pro 13” (3 lbs) or a MacBook Pro 15” (4 lbs). The main difference between a MacBook Air and a 13” Pro is that the Pro is available with an I7 processor as an option, while the air is an I5. Both are limited to 16GB memory and Intel graphics. A full blown Air with 16GB and 1TB SSD is $1899 while a 13” Pro with an I7 and the same memory and SSD is $2399. If you want to go whole hog with a 15” Pro with an I9, 32 GB memory, Radeon 4GB graphics and a 1TB SSD, it will set you back $3649 and going to 2TB SSD adds $400.

If it were my money (and I really wanted a Mac), I’d opt for the 13” Pro with an I7, 16GB memory and 1TB SSD at $2399 (and maybe spec more or less SSD depending on what you plan for an external drive). I’d be willing to spend the extra $ for the 4 core I7 as opposed to the 2 core I5 if I was planning on doing any post processing on the laptop

brucebil

I have just purchased a MacBook Pro 15’” with the I7 processor, 16G ram and 500G SS hard drive. I upgraded from a 2014 MacBook Pro. I use 2 external drives (1 master and 1 backup) and run a 27” BenQ monitor. I use LR and Photoshop. It is expensive but a superb combination. I travel constantly and have used Mac laptops since 2001. I do not have a desktop. I just can’t say enough about how well this works, and believe the cost is well worth it if you can afford it. I could have used the 13” but like the larger screen when away from home and editing.

Julian Loc: Sarasota, FL

I went from six-year old, i7 fully loaded desktop PC to the newest 2019, i9 8-core MacBook Pro 15.4" laptop approx two months ago. What a pleasure it has been to run the On1 Raw and Capture One software! I often complained about the painfully slow performance of On1 RAW when running on my PC; the MacBook Pro simply flies with all of my editing software. It is simply amazing. I will never go back to PC.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

My only suggestion is to get all the memory you can when you buy it because increasing memory later will probably not be an option.

ejrmaine Loc: South Carolina

I've recently bought a new 2019 MacBook Pro 15", I'm using 3 external drives, one a 6T backup drive using Time Machine, one dedicated for Lightroom images and the other one is a trial for Luminar 3, this is to keep my LR images separate.

I bought a 256 G SSD with 16 G RAM and have a 27" HP Monitor. The MacBook Pro has a 2.6GHz Intel Core I7, the Graphics card is a Radeon Pro 555X 4 GB.

I see an increase is speed from my older (mid 2012)MBP, I chose 15" MBP over the 13" for the faster processor.
I have no problem using the Abode Classic LR & PS and the Luminar 3 editing software, they all can access the NIK and Topaz plugins.

Hope this helps.

Collhar Loc: New York City.

We only have Apple. Laptops , phones and two towers. We also own the stock. BUY!! Apple products

david vt Loc: Vermont

All above. Thanks for both advise, and feedback on your recent purchases. It sounds like what I want doesn’t really exist, in that the smallest, lightest machine does not come with a fast enough processor

Interested in where people go for external HDD. I think a dual drive in RAID configuration at 2-4 TB will enough, but need to find it, set up in RAID, and tie into the new laptop. More to learn....

picsix

I've been an Apple user for years. In the past, I've had a MAC Book Pro. I do a fair amount of traveling, and felt the need to bring it with me to upload my photos at the end of the day. I finally got smart, and bought a MacBook Air- lighter and smaller. I use it mainly for uploading and photo editing and when I travel and it's great! It's a 13 inch, 1.6 GHz Intel Core 15. I bought the 16GB for memory as I try and move the pictures I'm not working on, to 2 external hard drives. I also use Adobe Photoshop and Bridge.

I love my Mac's! Good luck!

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I have a 13” MacBook Pro laptop. I took it, a 1T external on an extensive trip out west. The size is just right, easy fit into the bag. Before we left, I created folders for each stop on the external drive. Each night on the trip, I downloaded the photos for that day in the appropriate folder. I didn’t do any editing. Worked like a charm. I got as much memory as I could afford on the Mac.

Collhar Loc: New York City.

So right about MacBook Pro. mine is a 2009. It weighs a ton. Besides the back of the case is heating up. I'm sure the battery is the culprit.
Anyway my grandson left for college and left his 2013, 13 inch Mac Book air. I have ordered a Transcend 480 GB upgrade from the 128GB on the Air. The change over seem pretty straight forward. Memory not so much. I will transfer LR, PS and Luminar and use this for the photo stuff.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

Jerry is right in that you can never have too much memory (RAM). Also, the fastest graphics card you can buy is the right one. Tomorrow will bring even faster ones and you can expect, over time, the applications will need more and more. Also, over time, the raw files will get bigger. Within your financial limits, it makes sense to max out RAM and graphics card capacities.