Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

Drivers do not die. Shut down should not occur due to heat. I think your graphics card may be at fault. I think a repair would be far cheaper, but I think you are looking for an excuse. I would repair the laptop and look to a desktop with a large monitor. If you are really interested in IQ, a large screen would best serve your needs. It reveals noise, artifacts, sensor dust issues better than any small screen. It will assist in composition, addressing tonal issues, color cast, etc that are also hidden by a small screen. A large screen monitor will last generations of a CPU and having it separate as part of the desk top reduces the necessity to replace the entire laptop should it fail for some reason.

As for functionality in such applications like Photoshop, there are no differences between a MAC and a PC, though many will tell you otherwise base upon their personal and often limited experience.

THEMRED7007

Had my MACBOOK for five years...no problems and still going strong. One to one is the key...enjoy your new MAC lifestyle!

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

I switched to MAC just because I could a year ago and have not looked back. If you are reasonably techie you won't have an issue. There are a lot of things I had to google as I was learning a MAC. Example the first time I plugged in a second monitor, I had to figure out how to put it on the correct side so the mouse would move to it without going the opposite direction. So there is a learning curve, but if you can google it's relatively easy to find answers. You are not alone apparently there are a lot of people switching, because of that others have already found and posted the answers to issues you may encounter. Apples support model is also a ton better then MS.

I would get some help moving files, you want to be sure you have the correct format on the new HD so MAC can index properly, but as someone said the Apple stores can do this for you.

Downsides
1. MAC's are more expensive, but my plan is not to have to upgrade every year like I did in the PC, and that will even out the cost for me.

2. Learning curve. If you have no techie skills, if you need help beyond powering on a PC, don't even consider it

3. Apple do not release patches as often as MS. Since attackers now attack browsers, it is incorrect to believe you do not need any protection on your MAC, or any OS that has a browser. Keep your browser up to date and basic protection and you will be golden.

Thombar Loc: Hominy, OK

Hi Raleigh, IMHO switching to a Mac will be the best decision you could make for your photograph as well as other computing needs. There is a bit of a learning curve but nothing a reasonably intelligent person couldn't do. And there is a lot of help out there. The folks at the Mac Genius bar will transfer your files for free. :D

Festus Loc: North Dakota

I too have been debating whether or not I should switch to the Mac. The biggest problem I have is not the learning curve or the cost of the Mac, but the cost of switching all my software from PC to Mac. Most software is sold as PC only or Mac only. The cost would be tremendous! ;~)

gcastile Loc: Chicago, IL

All new MAC laptops have a program that pops up when you first set it up, that allows you to transfer files from an old PC or MAC.

Thombar Loc: Hominy, OK

Hi Festus: Unless you have tons and tons of PC software it really isn't that big of an expense. There are also a couple of programs out there that will let you use your PC software on the Mac. Ask at the Genius Bar about that feature; they will probably set it up for you.

mutrock

Do it like a cost/benefit study in business. Add up the cost and then add up the benefits. If the value of the benefits to you exceed the cost then go for it! I have not seen any posts on here listing photo editing benefits of a Mac over a comparably equipped PC. Anyone know what they are?

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

The one for me is that I don't need to buy a piece of equipment to calibrate my monitor. It calibrates itself to where I get prints that look like the photos I took.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

I always find the question of whether one should go with Mac or PC a bit silly. Since I have used both Mac and PC for years (Mac at work, PC at home) I have found no advantages worth considering in using one over the other. PCs can do exactly the same things as Macs with some differences in the shortcuts you use to achieve your ends. I use Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Lightroom and various other graphic programs that work on both systems. I do like Paint Shop Pro though, and this doesn't work on Mac.
So buy whichever system suits you best.

spiderbob

Wow, no one said how good the new PC's are. I'm a mac person and always will be, but my wife is a PC person and always will be. She has the new one which is also touch screen desk top version I have the IMac with the big screen. They are both so close to each other now in quality. But I still prefer the Mac. It's a shorter learning curve than you think. I've had mine for 3 years now.

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

First off, you didn't say what OS you have in this machine. There are new versions of BIOS that need to be installed to enable this laptop to run WINDOWS 7. Check on Lenovo's website to download and install this improvement. The drivers used for WINDOWS 7 machines are different than those used on an XP or VISTA machine and the BIOS needs to be compatible.
Also, this model is only using an Intel Core 2 DUO T9600 CPU and only has 2 gig of RAM. This CPU is not typically known for running hot (as AMD Mobile CPUs are) and I suspect that upgrading your BIOS, amount of RAM to 4 gig or more, and installing the latest drivers compatible with your OS, this should make your T500 run as it did when first purchased. Hey, this is not a speed demon or high performance laptop and doesn't have the latest graphics GPU or high resolution display, but it should do fine as long as you've upgraded your BIOS and RAM to support the OS you're running. Both drivers and BIOS require upgrade to support the use of the WINDOWS 7 OS.
I do agree that the purchase of a MAC AIR or PRO will vastly improve your performance but it will also deflate your wallet. It's a totally different class of laptop with a CPU that outclasses your present laptop but you can get an Intel 4700 i7 in a WINDOWS based laptop for half the cost of an APPLE.
I'm just trying to look at this from a logical point of view.

Regarding your querry about transfer of photo files to a MAC, photo file are photo files and they work well on both MAC and WINDOWS programs.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

MacBook Pros come with up to 16 gig of "memory", if that is what you are talking about. How much more do you need?

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

I think you misunderstood Jerry's comment. He said that you can't upgrade the amount of RAM once you purchase a new MacBook Pro since they do not have RAM slots on the MOBO. The RAM is soldered onto the MOBO when manufactured and is not upgradable by the user/owner.

Brandmic Loc: Alabama

People can say what they will about how expensive apple products are but the simplicity and ease of use is like night and day. I switched four years ago and have never once regretted it. My MacBook Pro works as well today as it did the day I bought it. My daughter had a MacBook for 7 years before an accident did it in. I was so frustrated with windows, with all the security issues, pop up boxes and crap I had to make a change. I went through so many windows based computers I could have bought a couple of Mac's. You may pay more initially but in the long run it's less expensive and way less frustrating. For example to transfer photos between two iOS devices such as MacBook and iPad or iPhone you can use the free "Wireless Transfer" apps available for Mac and iPad, iPhone etc and transfer photos effortlessly.

The learning curve is not near as hard as one might think. The major difference I had to get used to was the way files are handled on the Mac's. With so many free and inexpensive apps available you can learn to do just about anything with a Mac. Not to mention no more paying Microsoft hundreds of $$ for upgrades (that usually have multiple issues).

Not to mention security. I've never had my MacBook Pro compromised while I had several windows computers that had the hard drives compromised.

Did I mention that if you live close to an apple store (I do) you can go in and get any issue resolved on the spot and most of the time it's free even when it's out of warranty. With Microsoft you have to either find a local computer store and pay big $$ or talk to someone that barely speaks English in China or Taiwan.

And apple has just recently lowered the prices on their laptops.

You get what you pay for in computers just as with cameras and lens.

Switched and NEVER going back to junk.