Posted by Elliott Neep on May 29, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Hi. Has anyone here recently made the transition from a Windows-based PC to a Mac? Depending on how things go, I may be taking the plunge with a MacPro in a few weeks. Is there anything I should watch out for? Are there any useful bits of software that will make my PC software run on it. How does Lightroom's performance compare or is it worth buying Aperture? Many thanks on any info you can give.
I took the plunge recently and I must say that I will never go back. After about 15-20 years on the Windows machines I must have spent 75% of the time rebooting and sorting problems..
I now own a Macbook pro and an iMac, both run at phenomenal speeds with 2.4(+) GHz processors, Intel Core 2 Duo and 4 GB of RAM.. They fly...
I also run 'Parallels' (http://www.parallels.com) so that I can revisit some of the applications and software that are only available for Windows PCs. Parallels runs as a 'virtual' machine and in that way you don't have to split your drives like you do with Bootcamp. Bootcamp seemed like a bit too much like hard work, but this option is great. In fact you can run the software without even seeing Windows.. Sometimes I have my dual monitors up and running and run the Windows virtual machine (via Parallels) in the secondary screen whilst most of my work is undertaken in the Mac environment. I can then easily move between them both seamlessly..
I also have Microsoft Office (Mac version) running and use Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc.. just the same as I did with Windows, again without any problems. I even use Entourage for my email but Mac's 'Mail' works just as well.
Hope that helps and I would definitely advise anyone that asks to switch to Mac..
Three years ago, if that's classed as recent.
I can't remember much about Windows now and the only software I'm using that I also used on my PC set up is Photoshop, although it's now CS3 instead of CS.
I have Aperture, C1Pro and Lightroom installed on my Mac and only ever use Aperture.
Parallels is probably a better emulator than the Bootcamp thing that comes with Leopard, simply because you can drag and drop stuff between OS's instead of having to re-boot to do it, Again I can't speak too much about either because I've only ever had a wee play with them before deciding I'd rather stick to the one OS.
One thing to be aware of with Macs is that most mobile phones are not very good at communicating with them, i.e syncing contacts etc.
If you're going to run with Aperture make sure you install as high a spec graphics card as you can get, it is a program that uses a lot of graphics card to render previews of images and thumbnails.
Leopard still has a heap of annoying bugs that should really be fixed by now, especially in Safari and Mail.
Don't believe everything you hear about Macs not crashing, I've had all three of mine hang with the spinning wheel of death, although maybe only once or twice each but it is usually when I'm doing something important.
I'm not sure about the MacPro's but I've never had a computer run so quietly as my macs. We have 4 running in my office (2 MacBook pros and 2 iMacs) and the only noise I'm hearing is either my daughter or myself typing. No noisy fans and no noisy HDDs
Cheers,
John
I made the switch earlier this year, and I try my best not to sound like an Apple fanatic, but I have to say, they are brilliant!
I bought the lowest spec MacPro, and it runs very smoothly. The Apple version of Lightroom runs extremely well, I'm really happy using it as my main editing software, with Photoshop elements 6 for some of the more specialist stuff (which I try to avoid anyway). I tried the trial version of Aperture, but just didn't get on with it (that's not to say it's not good software for other people). I run the windows version of Microsoft Office, so I have no problems of file compatibility for work. I really don't find myself needing any windows software any more, but if i did, Parallels should do the job just fine.
If you make the swap and stick at it, then you'll hate windows after 6 months or so. The MacPro's are good machines and are built to very high standards (higher than a lot of PC Servers in many cases!).
In terms of what to buy - buy the best graphics card you can go for, but buy the minimum amount of disk and memory from Apple (they're very expensive) and instead get memory from Crucial and disks from Dabs/Scan. The memory needs to be paired and the best performance comes when you have 4 memory slots populated - so something like 4x512Mb or 4x1Gb or 4x2Gb is best. Adding the memory and drives is incredibly easy and only takes a minute.
Buy a decent mouse - coming from the PC world, the Mac Mighty Mouse is weird with only one button and the inability to do a simple right click will drive you nuts.
In terms of software, try OpenOffice in place of Micro$oft's bloatware errr Office! It'll open Office files quite happily - and it's free! Lightroom will run quite happily. If you can get your head around Aperture, then you'll find it's streets ahead of Lightroom for organizing your shots - but it does take some getting used to! It is worth persevering with. For running windows software (haven't bothered in 2 years!), you can either use the popular 'Parallels Desktop' or VMWare. For techies the VMWare offering seems to get more brownie points (you will need another license of Windows to use either one though). BootCamp comes with OS X along with all the drivers needed to get Windows up & running.
Elliot, I've been using both for the last 5/6 year - at work & at home. If you know a little about the hardware involved, I think you can get equally capable machines. Bang for buck pc wins, but macs are very well built.
Tried Aperture but find it nowhere near as intuitive as Lightroom - this might be to do with the fact that we're used to other Adobe products. I think a new machine with enough RAM with do both adequately. As far as Parallels goes, I find it very clumsy, and didn't work well at all with my widescreen at home - for performance, I'd suggest Bootcamp.
OK, mixed responses on the software front, but on the whole, going for Mac looks like the right move to make. Hope you don't mind me emailing you all when I make the transition - just to go over a few options
It has to be said that most people will only get on with Lightroom as its more 'familiar' interface style is more comfy and what people expect from an application. If you can get rid of a few preconceptions and open yourself to a few new ideas and are prepared to put the time in to Aperture, then you'll find it a lot more useful all-round than Lightroom is.
Personally I find the fixed interface of Lightroom incredibly restrictive to my workflow and the cataloguing and database side is seriously lacking when compared to Aperture (I've more than 120K images in the Aperture database at the minute with another couple of years still to add in!). Having said that, Aperture still doesn't function fully with the inability to edit all the current Metadata versions around which is one of the biggest bugbears of Aperture at the minute - oh and it can export XMP metadata to a file, but can't import it from a separate file .
The biggest benefit of Aperture over Lightroom is the ability to access and do edits from anywhere in the application - you don't have to switch between modules when browsing a library and making image edits as you do in Lightroom.
I do still use Lightroom, but only when I have to on a Windows Laptop .
Discussion
7 repliesI took the plunge recently and I must say that I will never go back. After about 15-20 years on the Windows machines I must have spent 75% of the time rebooting and sorting problems..
I now own a Macbook pro and an iMac, both run at phenomenal speeds with 2.4(+) GHz processors, Intel Core 2 Duo and 4 GB of RAM.. They fly...
I also run 'Parallels' (http://www.parallels.com) so that I can revisit some of the applications and software that are only available for Windows PCs. Parallels runs as a 'virtual' machine and in that way you don't have to split your drives like you do with Bootcamp. Bootcamp seemed like a bit too much like hard work, but this option is great. In fact you can run the software without even seeing Windows.. Sometimes I have my dual monitors up and running and run the Windows virtual machine (via Parallels) in the secondary screen whilst most of my work is undertaken in the Mac environment. I can then easily move between them both seamlessly..
I also have Microsoft Office (Mac version) running and use Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc.. just the same as I did with Windows, again without any problems. I even use Entourage for my email but Mac's 'Mail' works just as well.
Hope that helps and I would definitely advise anyone that asks to switch to Mac..
HTH
A very Happy - Brett
I can't remember much about Windows now and the only software I'm using that I also used on my PC set up is Photoshop, although it's now CS3 instead of CS.
I have Aperture, C1Pro and Lightroom installed on my Mac and only ever use Aperture.
Parallels is probably a better emulator than the Bootcamp thing that comes with Leopard, simply because you can drag and drop stuff between OS's instead of having to re-boot to do it, Again I can't speak too much about either because I've only ever had a wee play with them before deciding I'd rather stick to the one OS.
One thing to be aware of with Macs is that most mobile phones are not very good at communicating with them, i.e syncing contacts etc.
If you're going to run with Aperture make sure you install as high a spec graphics card as you can get, it is a program that uses a lot of graphics card to render previews of images and thumbnails.
Leopard still has a heap of annoying bugs that should really be fixed by now, especially in Safari and Mail.
Don't believe everything you hear about Macs not crashing, I've had all three of mine hang with the spinning wheel of death, although maybe only once or twice each but it is usually when I'm doing something important.
I'm not sure about the MacPro's but I've never had a computer run so quietly as my macs. We have 4 running in my office (2 MacBook pros and 2 iMacs) and the only noise I'm hearing is either my daughter or myself typing. No noisy fans and no noisy HDDs
Cheers,
John
I bought the lowest spec MacPro, and it runs very smoothly. The Apple version of Lightroom runs extremely well, I'm really happy using it as my main editing software, with Photoshop elements 6 for some of the more specialist stuff (which I try to avoid anyway). I tried the trial version of Aperture, but just didn't get on with it (that's not to say it's not good software for other people). I run the windows version of Microsoft Office, so I have no problems of file compatibility for work. I really don't find myself needing any windows software any more, but if i did, Parallels should do the job just fine.
I say go for it, you wont regret it!
Dan.
In terms of what to buy - buy the best graphics card you can go for, but buy the minimum amount of disk and memory from Apple (they're very expensive) and instead get memory from Crucial and disks from Dabs/Scan. The memory needs to be paired and the best performance comes when you have 4 memory slots populated - so something like 4x512Mb or 4x1Gb or 4x2Gb is best. Adding the memory and drives is incredibly easy and only takes a minute.
Buy a decent mouse - coming from the PC world, the Mac Mighty Mouse is weird with only one button and the inability to do a simple right click will drive you nuts.
In terms of software, try OpenOffice in place of Micro$oft's bloatware errr Office! It'll open Office files quite happily - and it's free! Lightroom will run quite happily. If you can get your head around Aperture, then you'll find it's streets ahead of Lightroom for organizing your shots - but it does take some getting used to! It is worth persevering with. For running windows software (haven't bothered in 2 years!), you can either use the popular 'Parallels Desktop' or VMWare. For techies the VMWare offering seems to get more brownie points (you will need another license of Windows to use either one though). BootCamp comes with OS X along with all the drivers needed to get Windows up & running.
HTH
Tried Aperture but find it nowhere near as intuitive as Lightroom - this might be to do with the fact that we're used to other Adobe products. I think a new machine with enough RAM with do both adequately. As far as Parallels goes, I find it very clumsy, and didn't work well at all with my widescreen at home - for performance, I'd suggest Bootcamp.
Hope this helps.
Des
Personally I find the fixed interface of Lightroom incredibly restrictive to my workflow and the cataloguing and database side is seriously lacking when compared to Aperture (I've more than 120K images in the Aperture database at the minute with another couple of years still to add in!). Having said that, Aperture still doesn't function fully with the inability to edit all the current Metadata versions around which is one of the biggest bugbears of Aperture at the minute - oh and it can export XMP metadata to a file, but can't import it from a separate file
The biggest benefit of Aperture over Lightroom is the ability to access and do edits from anywhere in the application - you don't have to switch between modules when browsing a library and making image edits as you do in Lightroom.
I do still use Lightroom, but only when I have to on a Windows Laptop