Ugggg....what's with everyone saying macs aren't good for editing?

[Sageg]

I'm getting ready to purchase a macbook pro, but I've been hearing comments that the screen isn't that good. I know it will never be as good as a desktop, but is it really that bad?

A friend of mine just canceled an iMac because she was told the screen was no good

What are good units to buy?

[Anke]

I've got an iMac and a MacBook Pro, both are beautiful and the screens are just fine for editing. I was unsure at first but they are fabulous once you are used to them. Just keep bright lights from behind you as they reflect.

[René Damkot]

iMac (the big one) screens are better then MBP screens. A good monitor is better then both however.
MBP screens are just usable IMO for critical work. And then I'd probably double check anyway on a decent screen.

[Gibbo]

I haven't heard many people saying that Macs aren't good for editing? I would rather have a Mac with a poor screen than any PC.

[Sageg]

thank you so much for reassuring me!

[Todd Lambert]

Macs are fine for editing... Why do you think Macs are used more in graphics, television, movie editing, etc... if this was an issue?

I edit almost solely on my MBP LED LCD - never had any issues whatsoever.

[basroil]

I'm getting ready to purchase a macbook pro, but I've been hearing comments that the screen isn't that good. I know it will never be as good as a desktop, but is it really that bad?

A friend of mine just canceled an iMac because she was told the screen was no good

What are good units to buy?

It's not that they are bad, it's that they aren't the best...
iMac 24" has a good screen, 20" is horrible, but for laptops, only thing that may be better is the XPS16 with its RGB LED screen, everything else is about the same.

You should wait on new computers, starting in about a month, the mobile i7 laptops should be out, and you'll see a 300-400% increase in performance over similarly clocked core 2 duos. However, Apple isn't slated to release new laptops til spring, so Macs will be slower soon.

For photo editing on a laptop, you'll want an external screen for when you are not on the road. No if's and's or but's about it. And 90% of the time, a non-Mac with a good external screen will be the same price or cheaper than a similarly spec'd mac.

[Moppie]

Laptops, general, are not ideal for editing work.
They are generally under powered, have limited hdd space, limited connectivity for back ups, and yes generally poor quality screens.
They have to have these compromises in order to be portable and light weight.

The iMac makes many of the same compromises, it uses a laptop processor, and only the 24inch has an acceptable screen. It has limited connectablity for back ups and only one internal hard disc.


The Mac Pro is different beast, its a proper desktop work station and is ideal for editing when used with the right monitor(s).

[OdiN1701]

<BEGIN Apple-Style Advertising>

Macs are horrible, because I say so. None of them can run Photoshop properly without crashing. They will corrupt all of your pictures, send the naughty ones of your ex to your current SO, and auto respond to SPAM by sending your credit card and SSN# back.

<END Apple-Style Advertising>

So if you buy into the Apple commercials, the above should work.

1 - I wouldn't get an iMac. Too integrated and not really upgradeable in the future.

2 - I wouldn't get a Mac Book, as I don't like to edit on a laptop, but that's me. Laptops are also going to be slower than a desktop system.

3 - So that leaves the MacPro, which is $2500 starting, and no monitor.

You decide, but really the best proper Mac for serious editing is a MacPro. And you can get a faster PC than a MacPro, with a monitor, for about what just the computer costs if you get a Mac. Seems pretty clear to me that unless you absolutely must have a Mac for some reason, that it's a waste of money.

[basroil]

3 - So that leaves the MacPro, which is $2500 starting, and no monitor.

You decide, but really the best proper Mac for serious editing is a MacPro. And you can get a faster PC than a MacPro, with a monitor, for about what just the computer costs if you get a Mac. Seems pretty clear to me that unless you absolutely must have a Mac for some reason, that it's a waste of money.

Don't forget that i7 860/870 based competitors are up to 20% faster in some cases, and half the price with monitor (bit more with a good monitor)

[Village_Idiot]

I haven't heard many people saying that Macs aren't good for editing? I would rather have a Mac with a poor screen than any PC.

So you'd rather settle for a final product that isn't as good as what you could possibly have due to the platform you'd rather use? I say, aim for the best.

Macs are fine for editing... Why do you think Macs are used more in graphics, television, movie editing, etc... if this was an issue?

I edit almost solely on my MBP LED LCD - never had any issues whatsoever.

Because they use Mac Pros?

I use a MBP, but it's attached to a 30" monitor. The downside is my gaming rig is much faster, much more upgradable, and doesn't overheat. A MBP hooked up to a 22"-24" monitor is a different story though, there's not as much resolution is has to work with.

[Todd Lambert]

<BEGIN Apple-Style Advertising>

Macs are horrible, because I say so. None of them can run Photoshop properly without crashing. They will corrupt all of your pictures, send the naughty ones of your ex to your current SO, and auto respond to SPAM by sending your credit card and SSN# back.

<END Apple-Style Advertising>

So if you buy into the Apple commercials, the above should work.

1 - I wouldn't get an iMac. Too integrated and not really upgradeable in the future.

2 - I wouldn't get a Mac Book, as I don't like to edit on a laptop, but that's me. Laptops are also going to be slower than a desktop system.

3 - So that leaves the MacPro, which is $2500 starting, and no monitor.

You decide, but really the best proper Mac for serious editing is a MacPro. And you can get a faster PC than a MacPro, with a monitor, for about what just the computer costs if you get a Mac. Seems pretty clear to me that unless you absolutely must have a Mac for some reason, that it's a waste of money.

What a bunch of crap... sorry.


The major downside to doing what you propose, is that you'd have to use Windows or Ubuntu - no thanks, I'll stick with a far superior operating system.

That is worth MUCH more than a few mhz in processor on this month's latest and greatest motherboard or processor.

The guy has already decided on buying a Mac - he just asked about the screen quality. Why bother trying to convert people with a bunch of FUD?

You obviously need to make cases for your choice in computing platform to justify things in your own mind.

I got news for you... I do some pretty serious lifting in Photoshop (much more than just photo editing) by trade, 10hours+ a day... have been for years... and I use nothing but a MBP to do it. This has only become a viable option in the last couple of years, but today's MBPs are 90% of what most people need as a desktop. For people like me who work in a variety of locations, this means I don't have any snycing issues, or backup problems... I have one machine, with everything on it... that goes everywhere I do and can do anything I need to do.

I have Windows running on it as well, so if the need arises, I can easily do things that route too.

I have the equivalent of several machines running on that is an inch thick, with a 17" display that is the same dpi as a 24" cinema display. I have 6GB of usable ram (big difference than a lot of PC laptops that may have 4gb but can't actually use it), a 500gb 7200 rpm harddrive, and external drives for all the extra space I could ever need.

When Apple comes out with the next 17" update that has a nehalem processor in it, I will upgrade to that. With Apple hardware, it is easy to jump from model to model with a very insignificant hit on price. You can't say the same with any other PC hardware.

I'm sorry, but there are just far too many people that run around spreading a bunch of crap about a machine they've never used or don't understand.

[basroil]

What a bunch of crap... sorry.


The major downside to doing what you propose, is that you'd have to use Windows or Ubuntu - no thanks, I'll stick with a far superior operating system.

Sorry, that's just opinion, none of the OSes are perfect, and each of them have their strengths and weaknesses. I personally use long file and path lengths, so HFS+ just doesn't cut it for me. OP may or may not like OSX, let him decide that.

That is worth MUCH more than a few mhz in processor on this month's latest and greatest motherboard or processor.

Actually, it's not. A 5% increase in speed from OSX will be stopped dead in it's track when it runs into a 20% increase in speed at the same price (usually much more than that, iMac to i7 rig at the same price is well over 500%). Doesn't have to be the latest and greatest, but a 3 year old Core 2 chip and calling it better than a just released i5 or fairly old i7? Ain't working.

The guy has already decided on buying a Mac - he just asked about the screen quality. Why bother trying to convert people with a bunch of FUD?

Not yet he hasn't. If he had, he would have asked which mac to get, not why not to get a mac.

You obviously need to make cases for your choice in computing platform to justify things in your own mind.

Everyone does, that's all they know. You're doing it yourself:rolleyes:

I got news for you... I do some pretty serious lifting in Photoshop (much more than just photo editing) by trade, 10hours+ a day... have been for years... and I use nothing but a MBP to do it. This has only become a viable option in the last couple of years, but today's MBPs are 90% of what most people need as a desktop. For people like me who work in a variety of locations, this means I don't have any snycing issues, or backup problems... I have one machine, with everything on it... that goes everywhere I do and can do anything I need to do.

I have news for you... I do the same, I'm on two PCs, and I've had absolutely zero issues with files or programs. And my i7+ laptop combo is the same price as a MBP, laptop is as powerful as the MBP, and i7 is well over 500% faster. 6x the speed, more portable, and same price? That's my preference, and it works quite well. OP may be like you, or may be like me. Let OP choose.

I have Windows running on it as well, so if the need arises, I can easily do things that route too.

I have linux on the laptop as well, neither it not OSX is ever needed since ALL the programs I know and have run on it just fine in Windows.

I have the equivalent of several machines running on that is an inch thick, with a 17" display that is the same dpi as a 24" cinema display. I have 6GB of usable ram (big difference than a lot of PC laptops that may have 4gb but can't actually use it), a 500gb 7200 rpm harddrive, and external drives for all the extra space I could ever need.
Most laptops are now 64bit, or come pre-enabled with 36bit PAE. In fact, all dells have either 64bit only or an option (at no added cost) for 64bit, as do others. And it's not the equivalent of several machines, it's just a large, heavy desktop replacement laptop that is half the speed of similar volume desktops. Dell 16" have a similar resolution, and 17" from all companies usually have a 1920x1200 resolution option. That's the market it's in.


When Apple comes out with the next 17" update that has a nehalem processor in it, I will upgrade to that. With Apple hardware, it is easy to jump from model to model with a very insignificant hit on price. You can't say the same with any other PC hardware.

No, quite unlikely. To go with a i7 920m, the macbook will need a much better power system than it currently uses (none of this battery draining method it currently uses), and more importantly, exhaust fans and intakes. Or telling you to stop having children because of low temp burns from leaving it on your lap. If anything, it will be based on the i5/i7 800 series, which are not nehalem chips.

I'm sorry, but there are just far too many people that run around spreading a bunch of crap about a machine they've never used or don't understand.

There are plenty of valid and invalid arguments for both sides. OP should choose the system that best fits him, not a mac or pc for just being that. Anyone who says macs are absolutely better just don't understand that not everyone thinks the same way they do.

EOM

[Village_Idiot]

EOM

Well put.

[Todd Lambert]

There are plenty of valid and invalid arguments for both sides. OP should choose the system that best fits him, not a mac or pc for just being that. Anyone who says macs are absolutely better just don't understand that not everyone thinks the same way they do.


I agree... and really, that was the point of my (long-winded) response, really... The guy is looking at a Mac, asks a specific question about the screens, and instead, gets a bunch of contrived crap that has nothing to with anything.

You feel well-served by have an admittedly faster machine than a MBP... great! SO DO I, by having a Mac. However, I don't go into threads about people asking questions about PC laptops, and tell them that it's better to get a Mac.

PC fanbois are so predictable. Anything that is written here about Macs or Apple in general, brings out these very common posts, usually by the same group of posters, and they try to "persuade" the OP by suggesting things that may or may not be true (all of these points can be argued until everyone is blue in the face) and for what? Why do you feel so compelled to try and change what everyone is thinking when it comes to an Apple product. What do you really care? I could care less that you've found happiness with a competing product or platform. Really, I can care less. I'd never be inclined to try and convince you that the Mac is better, when I know you probably don't care. So, why do you time and time again, come into any thread that is Apple related, only to bash the product and suggest that the poster should buy a PC?

It gets old. You can see almost any Mac/Apple related thread on here, several posts by the same characters, who try to convince us that Macs suck or that they are less in some means or another, to a PC alternative? What did Apple do to you in your childhood that brings such discontent and hatred? Did Apple touch you in your privates or something? :rolleyes:

[OdiN1701]

What a bunch of crap... sorry.

No different than all the crap that Apple advertises.


The major downside to doing what you propose, is that you'd have to use Windows or Ubuntu - no thanks, I'll stick with a far superior operating system.

That is worth MUCH more than a few mhz in processor on this month's latest and greatest motherboard or processor.

There's nothing wrong with Windows. I've been using it for years without a hassle. I've had more crashes and problems using Apple's OS than I have had with Windows, and I've used an Apple OS for a far smaller amount of time. What does that tell you?

The guy has already decided on buying a Mac - he just asked about the screen quality. Why bother trying to convert people with a bunch of FUD?

Why don't you ask Apple and Apple-zealots? They do this as a way of life.

You obviously need to make cases for your choice in computing platform to justify things in your own mind.

No, I'm quite justified in my choices based on results I've seen.

I got news for you... I do some pretty serious lifting in Photoshop (much more than just photo editing) by trade, 10hours+ a day... have been for years... and I use nothing but a MBP to do it. This has only become a viable option in the last couple of years, but today's MBPs are 90% of what most people need as a desktop. For people like me who work in a variety of locations, this means I don't have any snycing issues, or backup problems... I have one machine, with everything on it... that goes everywhere I do and can do anything I need to do.

And? As I stated in my post, a laptop for editing is not for me. If it's for you....okay... Again...point?


I have the equivalent of several machines running on that is an inch thick, with a 17" display that is the same dpi as a 24" cinema display. I have 6GB of usable ram (big difference than a lot of PC laptops that may have 4gb but can't actually use it), a 500gb 7200 rpm harddrive, and external drives for all the extra space I could ever need.

I have 8GB of usable RAM in my PC. So what?

When Apple comes out with the next 17" update that has a nehalem processor in it, I will upgrade to that. With Apple hardware, it is easy to jump from model to model with a very insignificant hit on price. You can't say the same with any other PC hardware.

Sure. You can jump from model to model very easily. Just get out that checkbook. You *could* do it with a PC too, but you don't have to. You can just upgrade the pieces you need to upgrade and keep the rest instead of purchasing an entire new system. How that is an insignificant hit on price I have no clue. $200-400 upgrade or $2000 new computer because of new model. Hmmmm...

I'm sorry, but there are just far too many people that run around spreading a bunch of crap about a machine they've never used or don't understand.

Apple again does that, along with their zealots. I have actually used Macs, and understand them perfectly. Which is why I recommend people get a PC which is faster for cheaper, unless they absolutely must have OS X for some reason.

[basroil]

Well put.
I was getting a 3 character limit message before that... vBulletin still has some bugs that need working around.


It gets old. You can see almost any Mac/Apple related thread on here, several posts by the same characters, who try to convince us that Macs suck or that they are less in some means or another, to a PC alternative? What did Apple do to you in your childhood that brings such discontent and hatred? Did Apple touch you in your privates or something? :rolleyes:

They stole my Power Pete when they stopped bundling decent games between OS7 and OSX ;)

[Todd Lambert]

stuff

I haven't seen one post on here where some "apple zealot" is running around trying to bash PC purchases, or invade with propaganda on any and every thread that mentions an Apple product.

It gets boring after awhile. Yes, we get it. You'd rather use Windows and your own custom PC with a super fast processor that can be upgraded. That's great. Except people buying Apple products don't want that. They want a product that works, doesn't have the hassle of constant security upgrading, etc...

They want a different experience and that is what they get. The details of your processor, don't matter to anyone other than hardware geeks who have nothing to do but measurbate about their PC specs. Real people just get real work done. The Mac facilitates that. I've never once had an instance where my MBP has prevented me from getting work done, even with it super slow processors, and second-class system. Amazing huh?

[saturnin]

use what u got.... ..if u got a mac..use mac if u got pc use pc ...those are only tools....both do the job.. sure one does things that the other doesnt... so u find a way around it...
cheers

[Mastamarek]

Apple ftw!!. I ve been using macs for over 10 years now and the most stupid comment some can make about mackintosh environment is that they are rubbish for photo/video editing.

[Pete W]

I have just switched to a Mac Pro 8 core after always having PC's and Microsoft Widows including 7 and have to say my MAC with Snow Leopard is so much better in many ways. I can not see me going back to my Dell XPS anytime soon....

Not tried imacs so can not comment on them. I am using 2 Dell Monitors with the Mac.
It is a big outlay but a similar spec'd PC is not that much cheaper and windows is just so resource hungry. The mac loads app etc so much faster and processing batch images is much quicker... I can not fault it as yet.....

Do not get me wrong I like my XPS but the MAC is in another league...

[René Damkot]

Lets keep this thread on topic. Which is, unless I'm mistaking, the screen of a MBP...

If the OP (or anyone else) wants to read about Mac vs. PC, there's plenty of threads about that. Strange thing is, most of them seem to be locked... :rolleyes:

[Todd Lambert]

You know, I wish this forum had a rule like the ARS Technica boards do... no apple vs windows posts allowed. They have to be put into a special sub-forum called the "BattleFront". Any post outside of that area, gets deleted. It makes for such nice reading, since the questions get answered and you don't have to scroll through crap.

This thread was answered in the first couple posts and then proceeded to have almost two extra pages of crap (some of what, I contributed too) that has nothing to do with the original poster's question.

For this matter, it'd be nice too, if the same rule was applied to Canon vs Nikon. If you troll with crap like Canon is better than Nikon, or Nikon is crap, etc.. it should just be deleted or moved to a Canon Vs Nikon area.

Ah well. I guess I'll just have to use the tools that we have here - the ignore button.

[Mastamarek]

Well, the topic says "mac aren't good for editing". lol.which isnt true of course.

as of the screens of macs, I really dont know the whole deal. Mac screen are pretty good, especially the LED ones on their laptop line up. But then again, who uses a small 15/17' screen for photo/video editing? I m running an external screen with my MBP and actually the MBP LED is much better in quality wise. lol. I can post pics. But then again my external display is bigger and has a higher res.

the whole screen argument just doent really cut it. Who says macs screens suck? dont listen to internet pc-bots as they will always try to make you buy an XPS. lol. I say, read the reviews from an unbiased sources and check out the mac you want to by by yourself. lol. that why you pay the premium. You can actual go to an apple store and play with teh mac before you buy it.

[OdiN1701]

It gets boring after awhile. Yes, we get it. You'd rather use Windows and your own custom PC with a super fast processor that can be upgraded. That's great. Except people buying Apple products don't want that. They want a product that works, doesn't have the hassle of constant security upgrading, etc...

They want a different experience and that is what they get. The details of your processor, don't matter to anyone other than hardware geeks who have nothing to do but measurbate about their PC specs. Real people just get real work done. The Mac facilitates that. I've never once had an instance where my MBP has prevented me from getting work done, even with it super slow processors, and second-class system. Amazing huh?

My PC works and doesn't have the hassle of constant security upgrading or anything like that. My PC facilitates getting work done better than a Mac in my experience - Mac's have crashed on me more times while using them for much shorter spans than I've used Windows. Never been prevented from getting work done by a PC.

Well maybe not so true - I did have a power supply die a little while back. Being 7 years old though it's not hard to imagine that the supply finally stopped working. Amazing that I could use the same power supply for all the different boards and upgrades over those 7 years huh? And you can go into a store and buy a replacement right off the shelf. Try to do that with an iMac power supply. Much easier to replace too.

Components do give out. And if you try telling me Apple components don't, nice one as I worked in computer repair for years and fixed plenty of Apple systems. Typically they require more specialized, more expensive, and harder to replace components. Just more reason I wouldn't buy one.

[basroil]

Lets keep this thread on topic. Which is, unless I'm mistaking, the screen of a MBP...

If the OP (or anyone else) wants to read about Mac vs. PC, there's plenty of threads about that. Strange thing is, most of them seem to be locked... :rolleyes:


Hmmm.. since nobody is going back to topic.....

New MBP screens are equivalent to other WLED screens from every manufacturer. Decent enough, but not good enough for some people. Only machines that currently have better color reproduction (on paper and review at least, haven't seen direct numerical comparisons yet) are the RGBLED monitors on some dells and a few other companies. Apple does not currently have RGBLED monitors. (as stated in my first post...)

[Todd Lambert]

Ignore list is pretty cool, however, when someone who is on your ignore list posts, it still shows the thread as updated in your control panel, even though you don't see the posts - bummer.

[Mastamarek]

My PC facilitates getting work done better than a Mac in my experience - Mac's have crashed on me more times while using them for much shorter spans than I've used Windows.
You must be in that lower 9% of the world thats lucky, because according to teh numbers the reality is different:

http://www.betanews.com/joewilcox/article/Apple-has-91-of-market-for-1000-PCs-says-NPD/1248313624

[Natural Imagez]

And apple is the best at customer support should you ever need them for anything. Ever tried to call microsoft? thats a min 20-30 min to even get thru. after using windows all my life, recently switching to a mac pro 6 months ago i would never go back, ever. i am using dual 20" samsung widescreen monitors and it works fabulous for me

[Tony-S]

I'm getting ready to purchase a macbook pro, but I've been hearing comments that the screen isn't that good.

So long as it's calibrated, the display will be fine (relative to any other laptop, other than the Lenovo that has an 8-bit panel). Personally, I don't like the small screens and if you can afford it, you should get yourself a nice 8-bit external display. They start out around $225 for the Dell 22" with an e-IPS panel.

[Mastamarek]

Ever tried to call microsoft?

I used to have a 360, after it died on my 3 times in a row I gave up calling them.

[OdiN1701]

You must be in that lower 9% of the world thats lucky, because according to teh numbers the reality is different:

http://www.betanews.com/joewilcox/article/Apple-has-91-of-market-for-1000-PCs-says-NPD/1248313624

That doesn't really have anything to do with what we're talking about here.

But it doesn't surprise me that they sell more computers over $1000 - almost all their systems are over that, whereas you can find a ton of PC's for under that price point.

[maxblack]

My G4 from 2000 stills works. 9 yrs old. Pretty cool too.
Heck, my 7100 power mac from 1994 still works!
OK, back on topic...

[mattyb240]

Can we please stop the windows apple bashing.

OdiN1701 we get it your experience with macs hasn't been that successful fine, you have a better workflow on PC and thats great. As it has been stated they are merely tools for getting the job. I am happy with my Apple tool that hasn't let me down, while having brand new PC's with a load of ball ache. In your case its the opposite and thats fine. Apple's ad's are no more shameful then Windows laptop value! They both are tacky jabs at each other, but thats marketing!

As for specialist parts etc, they are still generic components with nothing "specialised" about them.

Anyway there just tools people! No one cares!! I think the forum mods need to start addressing these situations,as I must say any Mac thread always turns out to be the same people saying "get a pc". I'm all for hearing the best option for the person as long as they ask for it! Generally people who have decided to go Mac have weighed up the options including price point, upgrades etc.

And to the OP your thread title should be better. Calibrate the screen and you should be fine, however it wont be as good as an external IPS screen,.

[René Damkot]

Hmmm.. since nobody is going back to topic.....

Indeed. Thread closed :rolleyes:
Good that there were at least some useful answers for the OP :)