Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I need to replace my old imac. The screen is dying and I have to go ahead from my husband. I had just assumed that I would get the new imac that is coming out on Friday, after talking to the apple rep, she suggested the macbook pro. I have a 17 in screen now and was looking forward to the bigger 21.5 inch screen Mac book pro has a a 13 or 15 inch screen. I use photoshop elements a lot, what experiences have you had with the notebook? What do you recommend?

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

I use Aperture on a Macbook Pro which is more convenient to the iMac that my wife used to have. She has a pro now also.
My laptop is part of my gear and goes with me when I take my camera to a shoot.

2MATO Loc: CNY -Central NoWhere

Like BigBear, I use a MacBookPro 15 inch- I am on my third one and have loved every one of them. I travel, visit, etc., and it is part of my gear that goes everywhere. On trips, I am processing the day's pix with Aperture on to my blog several times a week. My laptop is always handy at home, on the porch, in the backyard, office, living room, kitchen....
If you are ALWAYS processing at home, you may prefer the desktop as the screens have stunning clarity, but I hardly ever use my desktop Mac as I am so welded to the MBP. When I use iChat with my 89 year old Mom, I can carry the MBP around in my arms and show her stuff in my house, not just what is behind me at my desk.

I took it to China and all around the USA and Canada multiple times. In remote campgrounds I use MIFI to connect. I could edit, send pix and blog sitting on the shore of Resurrection Bay in Seward, AK.

It is YOUR preference and work style that are important, as I am sure you know, BUT, if you are asking if a MBP -especially with retina display - is a good choice - I send a resounding YES.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Thank you for your input. You have both given me information that is useful. I like the idea of a laptop and it's portability. I was looking forward to a huge screen. What about memory on the MBP? Does it handle the software easily? I would be putting Photoshop Elements on it.

2MATO Loc: CNY -Central NoWhere

No problemo. I have 20 thousand pix on mine, mostly Raw... Run Aperture, iPhoto, Elements, Lightroom..... zoom. Don't get the low end of the offerings.... you will love it. You will use it constantly. If you truly desire, you CAN get a screen to plug into, also. But I am always away from that desk. Right now, I am in an easy chair at my Mom's 8 hours from home.... but using MY computer. Today's pix have been edited and sent to family already. It is worth every penny.... cost it out per day! Treat yourself.

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

I use a Macbook pro for only two reasons.
1) I shoot out of town sometimes and need to process where I shoot.
2) I shoot tethered for portraits most of the time.

If your not needing it for travel and your not wanting to shoot tethered. I would get the IMAC.

I have a MAC PRO for office use. I will probably replace it with an IMAC when it dies. You can't bet the retina display on the MAC machines. They are superb.

Processing won't be a problem on any machine. I would max out the memory of what ever you get. PS loves memory.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Thank you for the input. I have never liked using a laptop, and when I travel I usually take my husband's ancient Dell laptop for back up, but it can't handle any PP and I often wish I had something that I could do pp on the road with. I know I will love the new imac, but I am not sure I am ready to be tied to a laptop full time.
I tried using gimp on my daughter's laptop and found it very cumbersome to use with a touch pad.

I will get as much memory as I can afford, but I also run two external drives as backup and I don't rely on the computer for storage.

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

Just don't get memory confused with "Storage".
Memory will help your speed and workflow. You can set the preferences in Photoshop to allow for how much memory to use.
Not sure about other editors. I would recommend at least 8 gig of memory if your using PS.
Storage(Hard drives) are for storing your data.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I always get that confused. Thanks for setting me straight.

3Dean Loc: Southern California

Unless portability is an overriding issue, display size, resolution, and readability might be the next biggest factor.

Depending on the state of your vision, the smaller laptop display might be harder to read. Even if you opt for the ultra sharp Retina display, everything will be smaller on the screen. At its highest resolution of 220 pixels per inch, things would appear twice as small on the Retina display as they do now on your current 17 inch display. While you can opt to run the display in a lower resolution mode you will lose both sharpness, and screen "real estate".

One solution to this would be to purchase a compatible large screen external display that you could connect while working at your desk. I would also recommend purchasing a mouse.

On the other hand, the 21.5 inch iMac would display the same comfortable sized text and graphics that you are used to seeing on your 17 inch, but more of it.

Since I started wearing glasses, I've been very careful not to purchase an ultra high resolution display that would have me squinting all of the time.

Also be aware that the new iMacs and Retina display Macbooks no longer have internal DVD drives. You can still get them, but they are now external.

Shaka Loc: Brisbane, Australia

As I get older it's all about screen size. I have a two year old iMac and simply love it. Go with your heart and enjoy! Brian

Denisedancer Loc: Sydney Australia

I've used the iMac for several years and thought it was best for my photos because of size of screen. I also had an old Macbook Air passed down to me from my son. Although I never liked using a laptop, I found it so convenient that in the end the only time I was using the iMac was for my photos. When I had to get a new computer recently to replace the old iMac I opted for the MacBook Pro with Retina Display 15" screen and specked it up to maximum with everything so I could use it for my photos. I was worried about how I would go with the smaller screen but with the higher resolution of the Retina Display it's great, no problem at all. I love it. I did buy the external CD/DVD drive also as they are definitely on the way out for a number of computers.I use Lightroom and have recently installed Aperture and it looks like that will work fine when I learn how to use it.As 3Dean said, you can always buy a mouse, but I would definitely recommend the MacBook Pro with Retina Display.Go to the Apple store and check it out.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Tough choice. I got my wife the iMac 21.5", and it's beautiful. I got myself a refurb 15" MBP, and it's beautiful. :D

I would say that if you want to move the computer from place to place, get the laptop. Otherwise, I'd go with the desktop.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

If you get the retina display you CAN'T add memory after purchase that's very important so buy the 16 gig of memory. My MacBook Pro can have memory added to it which eventually I will do. I love my MacBook Pro.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

This is a tough choice. If money were no object I would buy the pro and buy a larger screen to go with it. I a pretty sure I will not be buying the pro with the retina screen. I was trying to keep the price in the 1200 range, but already see that that is not going to happen :shock: With having to buy a DVD drive if I want one, warrenty and some kind of office program.