Lightroom on Mac vs windows (Page 2): I too have used a PC sent the beginning of time, (although my first computer was an Apple +; not counting my college courses using a IBM 1620 &...

jgudpns Loc: Pensacola, FL

I too have used a PC sent the beginning of time, (although my first computer was an Apple +; not counting my college courses using a IBM 1620 & 370), I've been using a Mac studio now for about four months and really love it. Been running Lightroom, Photoshop, Affinity suite and Davinci Resolve without any issues whatsoever. They all fly! Planning on trading in my four year old PC laptop for an M2 air. Gaming is the biggest tradeoff.

Jodevoy

I made the switch last July after over 40 years on a PC. If you have an iPhone or iPad, you’re familiar with a lot of the interface already. I did the set up myself and had no problems. Read Lightroom Queen’s instructions on moving your Lightroom catalog between systems and follow them to a “T”. Worked like a charm for me. Best decision I made regarding laptops, I got the MacBook Pro 14” and now my husband just ordered the same thing since his Windows laptop is dying. Good luck with whatever you choose!

leftj Loc: Texas

CHG_CANON wrote:

Have you worked on a MAC OS before? The interface is much the same, and different and frustrating in subtle and annoying ways. Adobe software is exactly the same, within the confines of differences in the OS. There's no "control" key, for example, on a MAC. They have a similar "command" key, that isn't a 1:1 equivalent. Lots of little changes like that will continuously confuse you, if you have deep Windows experience.

Hmmm, I must have a very unusual MAC. It has a control key.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I switched to Apple @ 15 years ago and would not think @ going back. Apple designs their machines for creatives. I use a Mac STUDIO ULTRA for my PP work with Lrc. This email is being sent on a PC, although the Macs are equally as good for that. YMMV. Best of luck.

Machinedoc Loc: Yorktown Heights, NY

Don't know what kind of Mac you're using, but all of mine have a "control" key...of course the function is different than on a Windows box.

I bought my first Mac 13 years ago (it's still running) and have never looked back...it will take you about 2 weeks to adjust to the differences and then it will be smooth sailing. Try it, you'll like it!

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Three issues to be aware of:

1) for identical performance and resources, the Mac will cost substantially more.

2) the Mac is essentially non upgradable - buy all the SSD and DRAM and graphics performance you can afford (which will be expensive) up front. You can add external drives for data, but you cannot upgrade the memory or internal storage. Since applications and data sets ore getting larger all the time, plan on trading in 5 years instead of 10 (you got 13) with a PC which can be upgraded in terms of SSD, DRAM and graphics. And when you add that short planned “obsolescence” to the higher price, the total cost of ownership is 2x-3x higher. What are the benefits for that extra cost?

3) And of course, there is that new OS. If you’re going to run the native OS, fine and well, but if you plan to run Windows on a Mac platform, why?

leftj Loc: Texas

TriX wrote:

Three issues to be aware of: br br 1) for identic... (show quote)

Define substantially and give verifiable examples.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

leftj wrote:

Define substantially and give verifiable examples.

Sure - just read the Apple specs…

Apple 24” IMAC with 16GB DRAM and 2TB storage - $2499. I can buy an equivalent PC for ~ half that which leaves a lot of room for a good monitor and still come out nearly $1,000 less. PLUS (and this is the big one), the PC DRAM, SSD, graphics (and monitor) can be continuously upgraded, giving it a MUCH longer life. Glad to give you a component list with prices for the PC if you like…

I know - just built a new full house PC replacing the last one that had been in service for >10 years because I could upgrade it as technology and SW evolved.

Macs DO have benefits. Their laptops are great for travel because they’re light with long battery life, and if you’re not very computer literate, they’re an excellent choice. Plus the styling is very nice (but often at the expense of cooling)

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

Tim Canavan wrote:

I am about to purchase a new computer to replace m... (show quote)

I'll probably be in the market for a new PC later this year. One mistake I made the last time I bought one (on-line and shipped to me) was to ignore the size of the case. Previously I had a PC with ample room for extra drives. Instead I now have three individual drives sitting on the floor with all of the cables and USB hubs that implies. This is a factor I will pay attention to the next time.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

TriX wrote:

Three issues to be aware of: br br 1) for identic... (show quote)

Normally, as you know, I agree with you, but not in this case. This is the standard PC dribble. It's been proven, many times, that the MACs have a lower total cost of ownership for many reasons, such as support needed and ease of use. As a longtime PC user (since the IBM PC with dual floppies) and a recent convert to the Apple platform (15+ years) I can't begin to agree with this. (I am still a PC user as well, including sending this message). The MAC machines were designed and built for graphic professionals, including photographers. MACs are truly 'plug and play' whereas PC are not. I'm still using a iMac from 2014 with the latest OS. I perform my PP on a MAC STUDIO ULTRA and am very very happy! To me anyway, this is just like the Nikon/Canon debate; NOT of any use! (Sorry buddy!)

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

pecohen wrote:

I'll probably be in the market for a new PC later this year. One mistake I made the last time I bought one (on-line and shipped to me) was to ignore the size of the case. Previously I had a PC with ample room for extra drives. Instead I now have three individual drives sitting on the floor with all of the cables and USB hubs that implies. This is a factor I will pay attention to the next time.

The downside of prepackaged PCs is that they often skimp on expandability.
You want a good sized case with room for fans and extra drive slots,
A big enough power supply for the future - not a marginal one with the appropriate connector for a graphics card.
MB with enough fast USB ports, a fast Ethernet NIC, open PCIe slots, open m.2 NVME slots for future expansion and open DRAM slots.

Buy for the future. The best way is to order the components and assemble it yourself - should take ~an hour. The longest part is installing the OS and applications. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, pay a local or National company to assemble a custom machine with your chosen components and load the OS.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Windows is the platform for business, the platform for success. Choose wisely.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

cjc2 wrote:

Normally, as you know, I agree with you, but not i... (show quote)

No problemo! Many of my friends here are Mac users or use a different brand of camera - whatever works for you. My son, who teaches graphic arts and photography is a Mac user and constantly trying to convert me. No question Macs are the platform of choice for professional photographers and graphic designers. In fact, of all the hundreds (maybe thousands) of customers I visited, they were the only Mac users I encountered except for users who traveled, who really loved their lightweight MacBook Airs.

BUT, I do have to add that since your experience with your 2014 Mac, things have changed. Now the SSD and DRAM is soldered in and non-upgradable, and for me, that’s a non-starter. No matter how you try to justify it (shorter circuit runs, higher reliability of non-socketed components), the obvious reason is to make the machine non upgradable which forces you to upgrade periodically rather than update the machine. Planned obsolescence. BTW, writing this on an IPad with an IPhone in my pocket…

rck281 Loc: Overland Park, KS

No matter which you choose, it will be lightning fast compared to your old machine.

leftj Loc: Texas

TriX wrote:

Sure - just read the Apple specs… br br Apple 24”... (show quote)

It comes down to a matter of personal preference however to keep it at $1,000 less you're going to spend $249 on a monitor which is not going to buy a very good monitor.