warrenvon Loc: Ellicott City, MD

One word of caution . . . .. MAC laptops can not be upgraded all of the storage and memory are baked into the original build!

If you don't need the portability, then I'd also recommend the new iMac 27" desktop. It is an all in one design that features a 5K display that is an industry leader.

Its RAM can be upgraded by the end user and at Apple update prices, that can save you several hundred dollars. Buy it with the lowest RAM and upgrade from OWC.

If you decide to go with the laptop, then you have another consideration. Apple is in mid transitioning to Apple chips instead of Intel. They will be making their first announcements on Nov. 10. Wait and see what they come up with and then make certain the you PP S/W will be compatible.

Also consider an external monitor to be run from any laptop you might buy. This will give you the ability to select what works for you and also allow for dual screen work flow.

Good luck

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

If you want it for travel, get the one that best fits you pack. If you want it for non travel get the biggest screen you can afford. I don't sweet storage as Im use external hard drives and save the computer space as it seems to run faster. In have both a Mac laptop and a 17" Mac but store both on external drives. A pair of 8TBs for home and 2 small 1TBs for the laptop. I will always have 2 storage drives. Hard drives fail (I all never lose the storage again)

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I am, and have been for @ 10 years, a Mac user when it comes to my photography. I use a recent MacBook Pro 15" with 8GB, i7, and 512 SSD in the field with an external SSD for photo storage while in use. Once home, I use a iMac PRO with dual 27" monitors with all my photos stored on external drives/systems. LrCC user. Works for me. Best of luck.

colt4x5 Loc: Central Connecticut

Whichever Mac you get, be sure to get AppleCare. That modest investment has saved me plenty of money and aggravation.

brunsonmark Loc: Utah

I have a HP Sprectre x360 now 3 years old with an i7 processor and 16GB of ram running dual Benq calibrated monitors. I use them in my businesses (two partitions) and run LR, Capture One and Luminar 4. It is dual firewire USB C with a Plugable 4k docking station. I was able to upgrade from 512 GB storage SSD to a 2 TB SSD without buying a new computer (not possible with MAC). I know people love their Apple devices, but I really have no issues and I love not being forever obligated to Apple.... Just Saying!

Ednsb Loc: Santa Barbara

I've been a mac user from the very beginning but I'm going be truthful and I am very frustrated with them of late. I have been using a 27 inch iMac (mid-2011) for 9 years but in the late 2011 release they added ML graphics. Many PP software require that so I am thinking of my next computer as well. I've love macs because they were so upgradeable but that is no longer true. The latest iMac has the SSD soldered to the motherboard so you can no upgrade the drive because there are no slots. You may be able to run the computer off an external drive but the security chip might stop that (my apple store is still closed so I haven't been able to get in to ask) You can upgrade the memory still. If you buy the iMac Pro I believe it is more upgradeable still.

All of the current MacBooks are not upgradeable at all. Both the memory and SSD drives are soldered on the motherboard. So you have to buy the biggest configuration from the beginning especially for ram.

Any mac with a thunderbolt 3 port can use an external graphics card.

Ok here is the biggest problem - Apple is changing the chipset it uses for CPU from Intel to Apple Silicom (the A14 chipset they use in the iPhone 12). This is for 3 reasons - Intel really screwed Apple with a bad chipset, Intel chipsets run hot which is an issue on especially the laptops, and the Apple chipset is much faster. So a good move hopefully but... All current software running on the intel chipset will need to be recompiled and fixed to run on the Apple chip. This will take time and money and some developers will just stop developing for apple. There is supposed to be an emulator (when apple moved from PowerPC chips to Intel the emulator stunk). So if you buy Intel now it will probably need to be replaced because of software sooner than normal or if you buy the new computers using the Apple chipset your current software may not run or run well plus they may see the change to Apple chipset to be a new version. A lot to think about.

So what I am doing is waiting. My newest version of on1 runs great on my current machine. I can't upgrade to the 2021 PS and Lightroom. I am waiting to see how the new Luminar AI product will run when and if it comes out. And Apple has an event next week which everyone is saying will be to announce at least 3 new laptops running the Apple chipset and maybe a new iMac. I am hoping the new machines will be available before the end of the year so I can look at them. Also since the new chipsets are faster, cooler and cost less money hopefully that will be passed on as a lower price (laughs).

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I would also STRONGLY suggest this, if only for the Tech support. Best of luck.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

Well the Mac 27" is great. Expensive their are so deals now with lower RAM.
Upgraded myself to 15 RAM. That is is far as the old one would go.
I have had Mac's for years. Right now I am on my 9 year old 27". Have edited 75 videos etc.
I use Photoshop and Adobe Suite ripoff. If you are handling big photo art files RAM will
be an issue as you know. My 27 will handle 4K video. For just a laptop a few years ago
I bought Macbook Air laptop for my wife and myself. It seems this simple computer has become
the gem of the line the last few years. They have a MacPro laptop expensive.
During the virus we moved in with my daughter. We use the MacBook Air stream comcast
and watch or plug into a TV and watch Comcast Xfinity.
I ran my art and production business on Mac's. We wanted PC's so much for your budget
too unreliable and Microsoft well that is another story. I do video editing and sometimes photos.
I use WD External drives and don't put the shots on videos on the computer. My rule
on the Mac 27 is keep the memory 75% free at all times. Good luck.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

If you get a 27" I Mac the ram is inexpensive (got mine at B&H) and took 5 minuets to install (door in back)

tommydif

Whatever you might be interested in, there is an upcoming Apple event on 11/10, at which they may announce new computers, or new versions of existing ones. You might want to hold off until then, in that you may very well be able to get one of the current models for less, or a newer model that strikes your fancy.

FWIW, I use a 15" MacBookPro and it fits my photography needs well. Get a 2TB drive if you can afford it, or an external drive for photo storage.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

You can only do that on SOME models.

neco Loc: Western Colorado Mountains

Me too

djb663 Loc: Massachusetts

The MacBook Pro is soon to be transformed into a mac-based machine instead of intel based. Don't buy anything until this change is complete and it has been in use for a bit so any bugs become known and corrected. There is an event November 10 that is likely introducing the new machines. Sit tight till then.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Whatever you get, make sure you include all the features you want because adding them later might not be possible. I'm still using my MacBook Pro from 2012. I bought it refurbished with a Core i7, 8GB of RAM. I replaced the hard drive with a 500GB Samsung SSD. Most of the keyboard stopped working, so I got a generic Bluetooth replacement for $30.

Just be aware that you'll have to learn a new keyboard and OS. One really nice feature of Apple is being able to wipe the drive and reinstall the OS with a few keystrokes. Compare that to reinstalling Windows.

S2pics Loc: South central Michigan

Have been using MacBook Pros for several years. Just replaced my first in 2018 and have no problems while using PSElements. All photos are stored on a dedicated external derive