photoninja1 Loc: Tampa Florida

I'm wanting to get a portable solution for running Creative Cloud software to manage my photographs. I've about had it with Windows so that leaves Macbook Pro and Mackbook Air. Which of the two do you think will work best for this purpose? Please answer based on your experience

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

If you don't need the absolute lightest, you can configure more with a MacBook Pro- SSD drive, Max the Memory from OWC, go for a quad i7 chip.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'd make my decision based on the computing power, that is max processors and processor speed, max memory, and best video. Can you attach an external HD for backup.

I moved from Windoze to a 27" iMac. I know that is not what you're looking at, but my comments were based on those very same qualities. I just didn't need to be mobile.
--Bob

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Here is a comparison of the 13 inch models.
http://www.gizmag.com/macbook-pro-retina-vs-macbook-air-2014/33250/

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I have a macbook pro and my son has a macbook air. While I prefer the size, weight and snazzy feel of his, he has struggled with upgrading the thing, and it comes with rather restrictive specs and little upgrade-ability. Whereas, I just snapped out my keyboard of my macbook pro and stuck another RAM module in there myself.

My best advice: go to a mac store, use them both, and study the specs and the upgrade options carefully before buying. Photo software needs plenty of room to breathe and each generation seems to hog more resources than the last.

photoninja1 Loc: Tampa Florida

Thank you guys, for your quick and informed feedback. I was a bit on the fence, but it looks like the Pro offers compelling advantages over the Air even though the Air is lighter and has more battery life.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I have 2 PC's, 3 MacBook Pros (13-8GB, 15-8GB, 15-16GB Retina, and an iMac 23". I like editing on the iMac but the MacBook Pro 15-16GB Retina is very good also. There's nothing wrong with the others. I hardly use the PC's any longer.

johnst1001a Loc: West Chester, Ohio

For sure the Macbook Pro, I7 processor, and 16gb ram. SSD hard drive would be nice to have as well, but if you are like me, and take a lot of pictures, I would store my pictures on an external hard drive so as to not fill up the computers hard drive which may slow it down if you get too full.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

I purchased the MacBook Pro 15in, i7 last yer and maxed it out at 32MG RAM and 750 SSD drive. These Retina displays can't be upgraded very easily, so if you can max them out when you buy. If you can't get a non-retina display, they can be more easily upgraded with RAM.

With an HDMI attached monitor for editing, I love my Mac. Yesterday using the PS Script I opened 350 JPEG files into layers to create a star trail.

BTW, I would never edit on any laptop except very basic field edits. IMHO laptop monitors are just too small, so Retina display really does not matter much if you have a connected monitor.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

phoitoninja1,

I would definitely recommend getting a Macbook Pro either 13 or 15 inch screen. Depends on how much detail post processing you want to do - a no brainer is the larger the screen the more you can see in detail which I am sure you are well aware of in PP'ing. I have had a Macbook Pro a couple times and one of my son's now has a Macbook Air.

The Macbook Pro is a lot faster in processing speed and the RAM can be expended to a max of 16 GB, vs. the slower speed Air and the max RAM of only half - just 8GB. True, the AIR does have a bit more battery length, but that is a mute point in my opinion when concerned about processing images. I went to a 27 inch iMac (much cheaper and more for your money, but not portable) when my last 15 inch MacBook Pro cratered and became a Vintage Machine based on Apple. I love the 27 inch screen for Post Processing work, have it maxed out at 32 GB, and have a 1 TB Fusion internal drive. I, however, use several external drives for keeping my many images and for backups - a real must regardless of what computer you purchase and what your budget can afford. Oh, you can easily upgrade (DIY) your RAM using http://www.crucial.com memory, which is very reliable and much cheaper than Apple, and I have used them for a good 20 - 24 years. Of course, there are other reliable online businesses to get memory chips to increase your RAM.

I miss the portability of the Macbook Pro, since I used to tether to it from my Nikon D800. Maybe when my finances allow, I will get another Macbook Pro, but probably a 13-inch screen due to being cheaper. Here is a link http://www.apple.com/mac/compare/notebooks.html that you can compare the Macbook notebooks right from Apple. Have fun deciding and best of luck to you.

Best Regards,
Tom

Machinedoc Loc: Yorktown Heights, NY

I've had a 15" MacBook Pro for 4 years and really enjoy using it. I added more RAM and swapped out the original 320 GB hard drive for a 1TB...the pro has an upgrade path...the Air does not. If it's still an option, consider the non-glare display.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I had an AIR, but I retired and bought a MacBook Pro 13" with retina, 8 gb and a 256 SSS. I could not be happier. The Air is smaller and lighter, but the Pro is more capable. At the moment, I still do most of my editing on a blazing fast PC. More so because that's what I've done in the past. BTW, I use a Synology DS for ALL photo storage, along with a backup. FWIW.

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

I use & like a MacBook Pro 17" mid-2010. Just replaced the optical drive with a 1TB SSD drive from http://www.macsales.com. Price was right. Task is simple if one follows their clear instructions. Don't know if they have similar kits for new MacBooks. When importing pics from my camera, I now have a working copy & backup without plugging in an external drive. Moving some Lightroom files to the SSD improves performance, especially if you have a big Lightroom catalog.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

You can always get an auxiliary battery to recharge the computer if you don't have a power source available. Call B&H and ask what products are available.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Agreed- the Q was MBPro or MBAir, not peripheral storage.