When to upgrade my MBP?

jakeg1999 wrote in post #13206408
That sounds like a great idea! Is there an easy way to transfer photos from one catalog to another? I would like to upload to the ssd, delete and edit, then transfer them over to a portable drive.

You'd either have to reinstall your OS or clone the drive to move everything to the SSD. Not sure about how to do it with a mac. 120GB SSD is about $190 here. Note that those are the slightly older 3G models, the faster 6G ones are $60 more here. I use that brand.

I don't know much about lightroom, or catalogs. The way i'd do it is export the metadata to XMP files (control-S I think), then copy the images and their settings to the external drive. Point LR at the folder and it'll pick up your changes.

A Mac/LR person might be able to help more with details. With mac I can only help at a conceptual and hardware level, not software.

sf1 wrote in post #13205316
Unfortunately, the MBP he has is fully loaded with RAM at 4 GB.

If it's the late 2008 MBP it'll take 8 gb; otherwise, 6 gb of RAM. Need to know the unit's model identifier.

Usually a RAM or hard drive issue.

Yeah, that's what I'd suggest, too.

Apple just quietly bumped the specs on MBP models, so if you need an update before the Ivy Bridge models are expected to come out in the spring, go for it now.

Faster is relative. My first system had a 1 MHz CPU and 4 KB of RAM. It was blazing fast and did everything I needed it to zippyity quick.

My current system is so much faster that there isn't an accurate way of benchmarking it against my Apple II...

My point is -- if your system works for you now, don't bother. Yes, your machine will be capable of grinding numbers into dust faster, but that is not necessarily meaningful (thought it certainly can be) to your every day life.

=)


I think the SSD option is a fantastic way of breathing new life into your system. I don't know much about OSX as far as TRIM/TRIM2 support, so I'd look that up.

I went with a 27" 3.4ghz with 2 TB HD.....It should be here Friday. I realized that the only time I really need a computer with keys is for my photography. Everything else I use a computer for can be accomplished with an Ipad. So I plan to sell my Macbook Pro and get an Ipad once the dust settles with setting up the new desktop. As far as speed, speed is important to me, because I do edit quite a few photos when I do edit, and with the sizes of the different editing programs these days, my laptop is definitely starting to slow down. I would have liked an SSD but the setup I have now will be more than plenty fast,I do regularly back up my photos, and it's a hefty price for rather small storage space. Again, those are just my reasons.....Now I just have to figure out what I can get for my MBP......Jake

Jake,

I'm in the same boat. Upgraded to a 27 inch iMac and am now selling my MBP and getting an iPad. The speed of the iMac is much better than the MBP. You'll be happy.

I do suggest that you get a good quality external hard drive for back ups - at least a 7200 RMP FW 800 - the thunderbolt ones are very expensive right now.

jakeg1999 wrote in post #13342892
I went with a 27" 3.4ghz with 2 TB HD.....It should be here Friday. I realized that the only time I really need a computer with keys is for my photography. Everything else I use a computer for can be accomplished with an Ipad. So I plan to sell my Macbook Pro and get an Ipad once the dust settles with setting up the new desktop. As far as speed, speed is important to me, because I do edit quite a few photos when I do edit, and with the sizes of the different editing programs these days, my laptop is definitely starting to slow down. I would have liked an SSD but the setup I have now will be more than plenty fast,I do regularly back up my photos, and it's a hefty price for rather small storage space. Again, those are just my reasons.....Now I just have to figure out what I can get for my MBP......Jake

I believe mac2sell offers a reasonable approximate value, congrats on the iMac! My 27" should be here next week.