To get a Mac or not?

[freebird]

My old desktop crashed and I'm looking to replace it with a nice image editing system.

Im leaning towards try a IMac desktop.

I have a Sony laptop with nvidia 8800 card now(512mb). It does a ok job, but when coming to final print its not what I see on the monitor. Its not calibrated so thats to be expected I guess.

I hope to do some weddings in the future and I need a system I can count on when it comes to final print.

Any thoughts you all might have would be appreciated.

The college digital darkroom uses IMac's, so there must be something to them.

Mpix says laptops will not give you optimum print quality compared to other monitors. They even mentioned CRT's. hmmmm

So any insight you might have , I would love to hear it.


Thanks in advance,

Chuck

[Damo77]

Oh gee, brace yourself. You'll get plenty of vocal opinions on this one. I use both, and prefer PC. There's a lot of personal preference involved, I think.

Yeah, laptops aren't the greatest for imaging, though I'm sure they're getting better. Get one with good viewing angles, and whatever you do, don't sit in odd lighting conditions to do your pp work. (It might sound lovely to be able to swing in the hammock in the garden while you do some Photoshop work, but your prints won't thank you!)

[Damo77]

Oh, and if you're spending some dough on a new system, for heaven's sake set aside a few bucks for a monitor calibration device!

[Tony-S]

Originally Posted by freebird

My old desktop crashed and I'm looking to replace it with a nice image editing system. Im leaning towards try a IMac desktop.

I wouldn't get an iMac for image editing unless you're also willing to buy an external matte display. The glossy screens of the iMac are difficult to work with.

I have a Sony laptop with nvidia 8800 card now(512mb). It does a ok job, but when coming to final print its not what I see on the monitor. Its not calibrated so thats to be expected I guess.

I'd buy a calibrator first to see if that fixes your problem. You also need the proper profiles for the paper and printer that you use. This problem isn't because of PC or Mac, it's an issue of color management.

[freebird]

Yes and color management is a little intimidating, I know it shouldnt be.

I just need to dive in and see what happens. Is calibrating a laptop worth the while though.

If I print from Mpix, do I get their profiles? I dont print anything from home and just now experimenting with Mpix.

Doing portrait and wedding I need to be dialed in color management. Skin tones will be hard to tweak I would think.

I have heard about the Matt display , but not much.
Thanks for mentioning that too.

Thanks for all you guys quick replies, your all so generious

Chuck

[Tony-S]

Chuck,

You have a pretty nice video card. Does your laptop have a video-out port, such that it can drive an external display? Also, what is your printer model and what paper do you use?

[freebird]

Yes I think there is a external video connection. I have no printing done at home nowdays, I have been sampling mpix lab. I do have the gateway 15 in flatscreen that I use to do image editing with and actually, it was very close. It did not have the glossy screen like the Sony does. I think that makes a big difference.

I might have to try that, thanks



Chuck

[Tony-S]

Since you don't do your own printing, that makes things much easier. You should buy a calibrator - that will solve 90% of your problems. The remainder will be up to MPIX, which do a great job (so I've heard). I have the Spyder, but the others are good, too. Just make sure it can do second displays. Some are sold with only one display support (and are less expensive).

[freebird]

Tony-S,

Thanks for your reply. I will have to check some things out with calibrators and the old monitor. It has this big plug on the end that used to go into a PC tower and it has two screws on it to tighten to tower.Im not sure if it will work with this laptop or not , have not tried it.

Thanks again,

Chuck

[CanadianKitKat]

Once you go Mac you'll never go back!

[Damo77]

Originally Posted by CanadianKitKat

Once you go Mac you'll never go back!

LOL - actually, once you go Mac, you'll never go anywhere! You'll be too broke to leave the house!

Save some dough and get an equivalent PC ...

[dpastern]

Macs aren't that much more expensive than a PC these days. If the hardware in the current PC is still OK, then I'd get it rebuilt, and look at a calibration tool. For help with calibration questions, I will point you to Rene's most excellent thread - please read it, and if in doubt, post a question:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=296149

Dave

[freebird]

Damo77, why do you prefer your PC over the Mac?


Chuck

[sadatk]

Love my mac.

[Steve Beck]

I made the good switch in November 07. it is the absolute best thing I have ever done. Have 5 Macs now at home PC-less and proud.