Help from Apple users spec’ing new laptop (Page 3): My laptop is a 2018 version with 16GB and a 512 SSD with, I believe, a 2GB graphics card. It is a 15" pro with all the latest USB...

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

My laptop is a 2018 version with 16GB and a 512 SSD with, I believe, a 2GB graphics card. It is a 15" pro with all the latest USB ports. I use it for all my normal work and, occasionally, some light PP or tethered shooting with a Samsung T5 attached. For my real PP work, I use an iMac Pro with 32GB 1TB SSD and dual 27" 5k monitors. ALL my photo storage is external. PM for more detail. Best of luck.

Ruraldi Loc: Milmay, NJ

How big is the learning curve going from a PC to a Mac?

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Ruraldi wrote:

How big is the learning curve going from a PC to a Mac?

As a long time PC user, I adapted pretty quickly. A lot easier to switch versions. Best of luck.

Bettona Loc: San Francisco Bay area

In addition to all the good advice here, I’d like to add that you should give a prospective keyboard a good tryout. We have Apple everything and are well pleased with the exception of my MacBook; I bought the laptop without trying the keyboard - big mistake.

brucebil

When I get in my office I plug my MacBook into an external keyboard, mouse and screen and plug the Ethernet cable in to get the best performance from the WiFi.

david vt Loc: Vermont

kiterwv wrote:

I would suggest going to a certified Apple dealer, tell them what you want to do, and have them fit the computer to your needs. I use a Mac desktop for working on my photos and a MacBook air to carry into the field. The Macbook Air does not have enough power to use as a primary photo laptop. I bought my granddaughters MacBook Pro's with adequate memory and storage after talking to the dealer. They both do graphics work, and the new Macbook Pro's are really cool and light.

Thanks. Good to know the air can be used. Not sure I want a two computer solution, but something to think about. When traveling, I am not anticipating heavy editing of the RAW files. More email, surfing, etc, possibly with some light editing of jpegs (I shoot both right now).

david vt Loc: Vermont

coolhanduke wrote:

I have used the Mac laptops for years for my photo editing needs. Love them....

I highly recommend the Apple care program. I jarred my monitor and it needs replaced at a cost of $795.

Thanks for the details. I might look at newer used machines as well, especially if I keep a two computer solution

david vt Loc: Vermont

burkphoto wrote:

Sure, this is easy. ....

Bill - as usual, you have a very well though out answer. Thank you for the specs. This is the way I was headed, now that several folks have commented that the ON1 specs are really the same between WIN and MAC. And no, I am not planning on any extensive video editing at all. I have my hands full just learning how to edit RAW images now.

It sounds like I would be giving up on my dRAM (now at 32) as in the 13in line 16 is maxed out, but this I hope will be enough on an i5 or i7 when using a primary editor (ie. ON1 or LR) and not trying to multi-task too much. Do I understand you correctly?

The 3rd party site I think will be very helpful. I do like docking stations so I don’t have to connect/disconnect many cables each time.

Question - do you know if the MacBook can drive 2 external monitors via a docking station with the cover closed.

Thanks again for the details.

david vt Loc: Vermont

neillaubenthal wrote:

Long time Mac user here...If you’re going to edit ... (show quote)

Hi. Actually, the reason I went with ON1 is that, while it does cataloging very nicely, it does not have the “only touch through LR” overhead (actually, this factor of LR intimidates me and was the reason I went with ON1). You build out your indented folder structure the under one root, and ON1 will work with whatever you put under it. There is an option for separate sidecar files for full ND editing. To get those, you import through ON1, and it adds them next to each file.

One advantage I found it that once imported, you just ensure you move the two files (same file name, different extension) together and you are in business. With this, I can temporarily download to anything I want, building a folder structure for that shoot or trip (say on a USB drive)and then just move it all over to the main photo archive folders once I return. I do like this in ON1.

david vt Loc: Vermont

suntouched wrote:

Bottom line is - make sure you get enough hard dri... (show quote)

Thanks. Yours and others comments on a two computer solution (very light weight - but more than my iPad, for traveling plus a larger machine at home for heavy duty work) might might work, but then I have to have the issue of another machine to keep everything synced. If I go this route, I would likely still can the current machine (may become my sons gaming computer) and get two Macs. with an iPhone and iPad already, Apple does do a good job setting up to keep everything synced together.

david vt Loc: Vermont

@bill. Very helpful comment and links on the single vs multi-thread. thanks

david vt Loc: Vermont

cjc2 wrote:

My laptop is a 2018 version with 16GB and a 512 SSD with, I believe, a 2GB graphics card. It is a 15" pro with all the latest USB ports. I use it for all my normal work and, occasionally, some light PP or tethered shooting with a Samsung T5 attached. For my real PP work, I use an iMac Pro with 32GB 1TB SSD and dual 27" 5k monitors. ALL my photo storage is external. PM for more detail. Best of luck.

Thanks. If I want a 2 machine solution, would head somewhere similar. Will PM you about the external storage

david vt Loc: Vermont

Ruraldi wrote:

How big is the learning curve going from a PC to a Mac?

the rest of our household is all apple products (older laptops, iPads, and iPhones), my machine is the only Windows machine left. I think I can make the conversion quickly if I chose as I have help them on occasion already.

that said, the machine I really want (13” air with 32 dRAM does not exist....

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

david vt wrote:

the rest of our household is all apple products (older laptops, iPads, and iPhones), my machine is the only Windows machine left. I think I can make the conversion quickly if I chose as I have help them on occasion already.

that said, the machine I really want (13” air with 32 dRAM does not exist....

And the reason is that the Air is not powerful enough to use all that memory. While the Air is GREAT for travel, it is not that good as your only laptop. I know, I had one for a while. Best of luck.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

david vt wrote:

Bill - as usual, you have a very well though out a... (show quote)

16GB is plenty. I ran Lightroom and Photoshop with 8GB for five years on my i5 iMac. I just couldn’t keep AS MANY programs open as with 16GB. I went to 16GB because I edit video.

YES you can run two external 4K monitors via Thunderbolt 3, with or without a monitor breakout box or dock. You may need USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) to HDMI adapters.

You can feed one monitor from a dock and one from the computer, too.