Will the basic MacBook work well for editing?

I need a new laptop and was thinking about getting the regular mac-book and upgrade to the 250GB HD to the 500HD for $150 then down the road switch the 2GB memory to 4GB myself down the road.

http://store.apple.com …y/macbook?mco=M​TM3NDc2NTg

How well will this laptop perform editing photos? I'm currently using a 5YR old Compaq and it takes for ever to edit a photo and im beginning to freak out....

Next yr id like to get a 27" Imac and will then take over most if not all editing tasks.

Ive searched but all that really comes up is MB Pro info.

Thoughts?

I use the 13" MacBook Pro with the same processor and it's just fine. I run LR3 and Photoshop CS5. Definitely a good idea to upgrade the HD and RAM though. Obviously something with the i5 or i7 processor is ideal but the price tags on those are much, much higher. Performance-wise there shouldn't be much difference between that MacBook and the Pro.

You are currently using a PC, stick to a PC, and get a decent laptop or desktop for the same price

MB 13" = core 2 duo 2gb 250gb hdd (must be upgraded by apple or a certified tech for warranty to be valid)
$1000
If your 5 year old laptop gets 1 hour per assignment, MB will get you between 20min and 30min.

http://reviews.cnet.co​m …4505-3121_7-33981983.html
Asus G51
i7 720, 4gb ram, 320gb disk (user replaceable, meaning you can get yourself a 500gb disk for well under 100 bucks. all you need is a regular screwdriver)
If your old computer took an hour to complete a task, this thing probably won't take more than 5min. Yes, same price as a MB (with more ram and larger hdd to start), and it's several times faster.

BoostedD50 wrote in post #10663073
I need a new laptop and was thinking about getting the regular mac-book and upgrade to the 250GB HD to the 500HD for $150 then down the road switch the 2GB memory to 4GB myself down the road.

http://store.apple.com …y/macbook?mco=M​TM3NDc2NTg

How well will this laptop perform editing photos? I'm currently using a 5YR old Compaq and it takes for ever to edit a photo and im beginning to freak out....

Next yr id like to get a 27" Imac and will then take over most if not all editing tasks.

Ive searched but all that really comes up is MB Pro info.

Thoughts?

The only reason you should go with a Mac is because you really like them. I love the feel, simplicity, reliability and software. There's a premium that goes with being #1 in every category they make (Consumer Reports, CNet, etc...) and some people think that makes the computer better for photography; it doesn't. It simply makes them better built, supported and user friendly. If you still want a Mac I would get a desktop first unless it is very important for you to be mobile. I would go to the Apple refurbished store and keep an eye out for deals. I would also get the education discount too

basroil wrote in post #10663280
You are currently using a PC, stick to a PC, and get a decent laptop or desktop for the same price

He was asking about a MacBook. Those of us who own Macs don't troll PC folks. Act in kind.

Is that you Bill G?

The user's guide of the current version of the MacBook includes the instructions on how to replace a hard drive. Mess it up, and yes, the warranty is void. Mess up a PC on replacing a hard drive, and that warranty is void, too. Otherwise, RAM and hard drives are owner upgradable, assuming some minimal technical proficiency.

To the OP, go for it. I use my 3 y.o. MacBook for basic editing when I'm away from my iMac, and it's a fine machine.

When I picked up my i7 MBP I installed 8GB RAM before I even turned it on. Of course I did this in the darkness of my closet so the Apple guys wouldn't find out.

mathogre wrote in post #10663784
He was asking about a MacBook. Those of us who own Macs don't troll PC folks. Act in kind.

Is that you Bill G?

The user's guide of the current version of the MacBook includes the instructions on how to replace a hard drive. Mess it up, and yes, the warranty is void. Mess up a PC on replacing a hard drive, and that warranty is void, too. Otherwise, RAM and hard drives are owner upgradable, assuming some minimal technical proficiency.

To the OP, go for it. I use my 3 y.o. MacBook for basic editing when I'm away from my iMac, and it's a fine machine.

He has non-mac right now, so he's fair game

OP doesn't seem like he is set on a MB, rather testing the waters. However, here's a big warning: The MB and MBP13 use processors that are now almost four years old (3.2 or so to be more exact, though 1.8gh versions came out about 3 years 9 months ago). It's like going into car dealership and asking for a 85 civic because you like the look of it. Yes, it would have been great a long time ago, but older stuff just does not compare to the newer ones in terms of efficiency and raw power. MBP 15" is the minimum you should consider on the mac side.

And replacing a hard disk or ram shouldn't involve ripping out the keyboard, but that's just me

Stick to i3, i5, or i7 chips and you'll be much happier OP.

BoostedD50 wrote in post #10663073
I need a new laptop and was thinking about getting the regular mac-book and upgrade to the 250GB HD to the 500HD for $150 then down the road switch the 2GB memory to 4GB myself down the road.

Replacing the RAM and hard drive are a piece of cake on a MacBook. All you do is remove 8 screws on the back, then pull the drive and replace it. Ten minutes and you're done. You'll want to clone the drive first (Carbon Copy Cloner) with an external USB or Firewire enclosure, or you'll have to reinstall the OS then back up from a Time Machine volume. RAM is even easier.

What is your camera and what software do you use for image manipulations?

to put this in perspective.... im on a 3 year old iMac now... specs are a 5400rpm hard drive, 4GB RAM and a 2ghz intel core 2 duo.... and for the little while I had a 5D Mark II.... the 21mp files were huge and this computer tackled those pretty good in photoshop and lightroom.

Just my 2c. from experience with huge files on a relatively old computer now. With my current 5dc files this computer doesn't struggle IMHO. But then again it depends on how demanding you are of your computer.

I think you should be just fine with the macbook for editing to hold you over until you get that iMac. Just don't run multiple programs when doing heavy photo editing on the macbook and i think you should be fine. If you do decide to upgrade anything on the macbook or get a macbook pro.... RAM is priority # 1 followed by faster or SSD hard drive #2.

Right now I have a 50D and use LR3 and PS5. I'm a noob I just started this hobby 3wks ago.

I probably could be swayed one way or the other. Ive never owned a Mac I have used them once in awhile. While I know there not Gods gift to editing there is something there that's pulling me in. I figured the laptop is cheap enough that if it wasn't for me, I could just use it for internet and what not.

Spending 2 grand on a 15"MBP with the i5 4GB, 500HD seems insane to me, I would rather get a cheap windows laptop(1,000) then spend the 2 grand on the 27" Imac quad core later down the road.

Thanks for all the responses!

If you use PSCS5 on PC, you need to transfer your license: You cannot use it on both PC and Mac with one license (You can with LR)

So that's a pretty strong argument to stick with either PC or Mac, not both.

As for laptop: If you want to do little editing on it, and mainly use it "on the road", the 13" might get you by. But you might need a faster Mac for serious work.
For anything more, I'd at least get an i5 15". Both speed- and screen real estate- wise.

Alternative: Get a decent Windows laptop, and a new desktop PC later down the road.

I use a 12" PB G4 when shooting tethered, and a dual G5 for editing, so I'm in the market as well. (as soon as there's money)

Not to thread jack, but I just bought a Core i5 (2.4Ghz) MBP with the stock 4GB of memory, am I going to see a huge difference stepping up to 8GB? Thinking about pulling the trigger...I'd use the system almost completely for photo editing. I found the upgrade for like $175 after you send in the stock 2x2 ($50 rebate).

Transferring/ buying new software isn't a deal breaker for me I can get programs for cheap.

René Damkot wrote in post #10666572
If you use PSCS5 on PC, you need to transfer your license: You cannot use it on both PC and Mac with one license (You can with LR)

So that's a pretty strong argument to stick with either PC or Mac, not both.

As for laptop: If you want to do little editing on it, and mainly use it "on the road", the 13" might get you by. But you might need a faster Mac for serious work.
For anything more, I'd at least get an i5 15". Both speed- and screen real estate- wise.

Alternative: Get a decent Windows laptop, and a new desktop PC later down the road.

I use a 12" PB G4 when shooting tethered, and a dual G5 for editing, so I'm in the market as well. (as soon as there's money)

opianstate wrote in post #10667104
Not to thread jack, but I just bought a Core i5 (2.4Ghz) MBP with the stock 4GB of memory, am I going to see a huge difference stepping up to 8GB? Thinking about pulling the trigger...I'd use the system almost completely for photo editing. I found the upgrade for like $175 after you send in the stock 2x2 ($50 rebate).

If you use CS4 or earlier, absolutely not. If you use CS5 or LR2/3, you can see some improvement, but not as much as getting yourself an SSD.

basroil wrote in post #10667287
If you use CS4 or earlier, absolutely not.

Nope. It might make a difference.
PSCS4 will only use 3.5Gb, but the rest will be used as VM.