Chris F. Loc: San Francisco

Two issues, the first was that Windows 8 does not seem to function on my daughter's new HP laptop very well. We had to send it back 2 times for re-imaging the hard drive. HP has now stopped installing (or at least a few weeks back) Windows 8 on their computers. They finally replaced my daughters with a Windows 7 machine. HP seems to be on a slide too and their machines are not like the old days. Windows 8 is much better on the Dell laptop that replaced the HP in between all the back and forth.

My second and primary issue with Win 8, is that I am very tired of the interfaces changing on Windows and Office every time there is an upgrade. I work downtown and am fairly proficient with computers, but it drives most of us nuts to have to learn how to perform simple tasks within the software and operating system each time this happens. XP, Vista, 7, 8, and next 9.

Generally, all we need to do is create spreadsheets and correspond with business letters in Word. We spend wasted time relearning and figuring out where all of the functions have been moved to. Sorry, just venting. I'm okay now. LOL!

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

I miss stated, I use at times Pro Photo RGB color working space in PS and it is best with 16 bit to avoid posterization in 8 bit. I don't know how what I said got mixed with the above, I think it's called a brain fart.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Okay. I just stay in ProPhoto RGB all the time and only convert to 8 bit if I have to export for web, low quality print etc. Home printing is all done in 16 bit.

Thanks for clearing your statement up. I have those senior moments also.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

I do the same as you, though on PC...which I'm getting sick & tired of constantly playing cyber cop. My big hold off to switching to MAC was software compatibility...I new the issues with Parrellls, Botcamp or evengoing the multi OS route... which meant sharing resources. I use several high end CAD products like AutoCad, ProE, Solidworks and the list goes on...fortunately these companies now facilitate Mac platform, so now it's only a configuration issue with Mac, putting together a machine that will handle the work i do.

GC likes NIKON Loc: East Greenwich, Rhode Island

After a bunch of reading, research and advice from this thread, I am ready to pop for a Dell XPS, w8.1 64 bit, 2TB 16gb. Only one thing is bothering me, everyone seenms to be out of stock on the Dell XPS line except for B&H who is out of stock or has discontinued all of the Dell XPS line and shows what I spec'd out above as a new arrival in stock. Nobody has anything with a SSD. Dell is mid April to build anything.

Is Dell due for a re-fresh on the XPS line (maybe a XPS 8900 ??). Why are there none around in stock ???

willdenise Loc: Tennessee

Think about that Mac, before you go that route

smhamilton41 Loc: Bozeman, MT

I see Costco has XPS's if that helps.
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Abbott

Gene, that is ridiculous. The difference between what you are citing is incomprehensibly minor. . . and not worth discussion.

I have been in the photography business for the past 29 years and it wasn't until 8 years ago when I switched everything in my business to MacPros and apple software that the business became as fun as the photography. My proficiency with photoshop and other software is simplified to a grade school level because of my macs. The easy of training new employees has been reduced at least 80%. The focus of my business is now now on the photography and not the post processing. Post processing is now a joy. . . not a task. It has been my experience that the only photographers who are not using Macs are people who have never tried one. MacPros were made for photography. . . . If this wasn't such a slam dunk discussion I would have not entered the debate. This is like arguing which car to use in a 50 mile race, a YUGO with no tires or a Mercedes . . . If you don't want to use Macs because of the cost, so be it, but don't argue the quality, ease of use or functionality, because the Macs are literally years ahead of any other computer on the planet. :thumbup:

Rickhstudio Loc: San Antonio, TX

[quote]After a bunch of reading, research and advice from this thread, I am ready to pop for a Dell XPS, w8.1 64 bit, 2TB 16gb. Only one thing is bothering me, everyone seenms to be out of stock on the Dell XPS line except for B&H who is out of stock or has discontinued all of the Dell XPS line and shows what I spec'd out above as a new arrival in stock. Nobody has anything with a SSD. Dell is mid April to build anything.[quote]

You could build your own fairly cheaply or see the refurb pages at newegg.com. Newegg has a 32 GB SSD SATA III for $40 and a 60 GB for $50. Plenty of room for OS and programs. Use another disk for your files.

If you get a 64 bit computer with win 7 or 8, keep your 32 bit XP and install it on a partition on the new computer (easy to do with win 7 or 8) or put it on its own drive. You can then dual boot and be able to run all of the XP programs with no problems.

It is not that hard to build your own computer. If you order a barebones kit the instructions will usually talk you through it.

I've built my own computers for many years and I'm 66, not a youngster.

Abbott

"build your own computer" . . .

If this was April 1, I would laugh. . . .so post this on April 11 is silly. . . and nonsensical . . .

Rickhstudio Loc: San Antonio, TX

Here's an even better one. I changed from Macs (started using in 83) to PCs. Cheaper, faster for the money and I can build whatever I want. I can write my own programs. I like what I'm sure you think is the challenge. Still can't network PC with Mac worth a flip.

Abbott

Here's a better one, instead of writing programs and wasting all the time to do things on a PC that a Mac does automatically, YOU COULD BE TAKING PICTURES. . .how about that? Where do you clowns come from. . . .If you want to be a computer geek, by all means be one, buy the parts and make your own computer that will be as good as your computer skills can take you, but if you want to be a real photographer, let Apple handle the computer part of your business so you can give your clients and employers what they pay you to do: Provide them with high quality photographs, quickly and without any hassle. If I am going to chose between YOU the computer maker and Steve Jobs' products .. . .Jobs wins. Sorry :thumb up: Also, if you can't network with a Mac, I question the level of your IT skills. . .sorry

Rickhstudio Loc: San Antonio, TX

Us clowns have been making a living as a professional photographer for 46 years. If I had to depend on Mac for business and photo help 25 years ago, and I tried, I would have gone out of business. I take around 80,000 pictures every year and my PC skills do just fine.
I don't want to get into this anymore. I was just trying to help GC likes Nikon with his problem, not get into an argument about which computer is better or which can do what.

Everyone can do what they please.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Recently, I went to an Apple store and played with the MacPro.Wow! I am also and AutoCad freak and have been since the DOS days. I don't like boot camp or OS sharing resources. However, a beefed up MacPro would probably handle everything just fine. I still use my PC for cad work but that's it. I use 365 and Adobe cloud on my 3 Macs and love them. Good luck.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

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