Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Stick with a Windows machine if you plan to use it for accounting programs. For LR/PS as much of everything as you are willing to spend.

MrPhotog

I have the 16" with the M1 chip--about 2 years old. Love it.

I bought the bottom of the line with least ram and smallest hard drive. It is still FAR faster than my Windows-based laptop.

I find the USB-C connected external hard drives are quite suitable as supplements for the built -in drive. I don't notice any difference when using those or the internal drive, and it was much cheaper than buying the Mac with a big internal hard drive. I bought a $30 expansion dock that lets me use USB A peripherals from my older computer, too.

I thought I would use my older windows software on the Mac and added Parallels, a program that emulates Windows. It works well, but I found that since I had to load new software when I set up the computer, it was easier to just load Mac native versions. Now I just use Windows for the old games I have.

It was more expensive, but I don't regret the difference.

I'm still learning keyboard tricks for functions I never did on the other laptop. There is no numeric keypad. If you need that, either get a different keyboard, or just an add-on keypad. You could probably plug in the existing keyboard you are using with your desktop.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

I think you need a membership card to enter the store

fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM

I have a high-powered Dell desktop and an equally powerful Levono laptop I use for photo post-processing. Just for fun, cause I've been hearing so much about Apple laptops and how great they are, I decided to get the Macbook Pro 16 with the M1 chip.

WOW!!! For my photo processing - LR/PS, Topaz, etc. the Mac User Interface with those programs is the same as the PC, so no learning curve there. The Macbook, for the most part, is much faster, and the battery lasts 10-11+ hours between charges. My Levono laptop is lucky to make it to 1 hour and thirty minutes.

There is a bit of a learning curve for the Mac OS, but I didn't find it nearly as hard as I was expecting.

In one test I did with the Dell desktop and the Macbook using the Topaz DeNoise program - using the same photo, the Dell took 25 seconds to do a four-window process of the one image and the Macbook took about 4 seconds.

MrPhotog

They check cards coming in, and again before checkout.

They'll ask for your card at the door when you enter. Just tell them you are going to the service desk to apply. So go to the desk and ask about membership, pick up an application form and then go on and window shop. If you see enough deals that you want to join-- fill out the application. I find it is worth the cost.

Without a card you can't check out, so you won't be able to buy anything except at the food court. Their $1.50 hot dog ranks at the top of the NY Times food section choice of hot dogs, and that includes a drink. Try it.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

Yes! I am on my second 16" MacBook Pro. Love it!!

delder Loc: Maryland

Good recomendations!
32 GB Memory & Discrete Graphics Card a must. 2 TB Drive good idea.

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

Is there some reason you don't want to use DELL outside the office? Dell makes workstations on laptop frames. You don't need a PC/workstation to run PS and LR.

Phil Singer Loc: Beautiful Downtown Brighton Michigan

My 2 cents: If you are going to take the laptop on the road for accounting work, get one you will be comfortable with on the road. For your digital photography, attach a good monitor (you may already have one). Don't know if Apple requires Apple branded external monitors; this may influence your choice of brands. The enterprise market buys a lot of Dell and Lenovo laptops; they have to keep reliability up to keep the business.

Me, I'm one of those nuts who doesn't trust any computer I haven't built myself.

gouldopfl

I used dell for years but no longer. Dell normally uses Intel processors which are at least 2 generations removed to AMD. The biggest problem with laptops can be the video chip that is used. You want the best available with a good GPU. I have a ASUS 17" which came with a 4900H ryzen 9 processor and 64 gig RAM a 1 tb SSD. Back in 2020 I paid 1450.

coullone Loc: Paynesville, Victoria, Australia

Yes, did it in June to the M2 MacBook Pro no problems and it flies on Affinity.
Bonus is battery lasts a LOT longer than my old i7 ever did!

Martin
Now living in Paynesville, Victoria, Australia on the beautiful Gippsland Lakes.
Time UTC = +10 hours

pego101

Yes say your going to the pharmacy

pnbarne

I use a MacBook Pro loaded with LRC. I can’t imagine going back to a WinTel even though I am quite competent as a Power Shell programmer.

My wife is 100% WinTel. I would not even attempt to get her to switch to Mac anything. She has all sorts of sewing applications on her HP and navigates them comfortably. The biggest problem she usually has is getting competent tech support for some of the sewing apps.

So, two people, two different choices, both are happy.