Post Processing Hardware

[Matblack]

Hmmmm

I have a problem, we have a number of PCs in the house but none of them are really ideal for post processing RAW files, the netbook is too small both from a processing and hard drive point of view the PC downstairs is atached to the projector which is rubbish because it auto calibrates for films and adjusts contrast on the fly, work laptop is a no no.

I think I'm going to have to get something else, it needs to be compact with a good screen 17-22", have reasonable processing power and a good screen.

So














Which Mac do I need?

MB

[Mark]

I'd say the iMac is the one to tick all those boxes. Of the others:

Macbook - screen too small.
Macbook Pro - would do the job if you were happy at the lower end of screen size (17")
Mac Mini - underpowered for the job I'd suggest
Mac Pro - don't think that can qualify as 'compact'.

[divine]

An iMac would be the ideal candidate from the mac range.

You could probably make a far more effective tool for processing images by building a PC if actual productivity is your main aim, rather than having a pretty computer.

edit - also, regardless of any PC vs Mac debate, assuming you only want Mac, the new i7 models should be out fairly soon shouldn't they? Probably worth waiting for those if you do go that route.

[leowyatt]

iMac 20" should do you nicely :)

[Matblack]

You know I think I would be quite happy with an older model iMac, is there any reason why they wouldn't cut it for photoprocessing? Odd though that there aren't that many on ebay.

The comment about building a PC to do the same job is reasonable, I quite like the idea of having the whole thing as one unit though and I'd like to have a play with OSX as it seems idea for a media hub and iPod dock and maybe for watching the odd film on but the main reason for this is the photo editing.

MB

[leowyatt]

that is a surprise there aren't many for sale on ebay. How old are you thinking of going MB?

[Matblack]

Well maybe just the previous generation the iMac Core Duo?

MB

[Matblack]

Scratch that I'd be happy with a G4 or a G5 or an Intel

MB

[Burble]

Personally I wouldn't want a G4 or G5 as Apple are dropping PPC support in the next release of OS X.

[Matblack]

Personally I wouldn't want a G4 or G5 as Apple are dropping PPC support in the next release of OS X.

Thing is though, that I don't really want to spend a lot of money and it really is just for music and photo work, as the size of RAW files hasn't increased that much since these machine were out I would have thought they would be able to cope admirably even if they can't run the absolute latest OS, after all a lot of machines are still running XP rather than Vista, or amm I missing something?

MB

[Matblack]

Maybe I should just build a small form factor PC and spend the extra on a decent display

MB

[Burble]

Buying a G4 would be a real false economy in my opinion as you're restricted in what software (I'm not referring to the OS) it can run. Photoshop CS4 for example requires a minimum of a G5.

If you want to do it on the cheap then build a PC. As for XP vs. Vista that's not really down to spec. My PC will easily run Vista but it runs XP because I don't like Vista. Similar story with the equipment at work.

[Matblack]

I've secured a 22" Samsung monitor for a pitance and I can use that with the laptop or the cellar machine for photoediting, so the iMac is off the cards for the time being. Thanks for the advice though :)

MB

[leowyatt]

As you've got your monitor an intel mac mini might do the job.

[divine]

£488 to even get a DVD-RW and still only 1GB RAM...

Who buys these? :confused:

Actually, I know someone. One of my old housemates bought one and when I mentioned the lack of RAM to him he replied 'You only need RAM if the processor gets too hot and Mac processors don't get hot so it's ok' :/

[leowyatt]

your housemate was an idiot :p

[divine]

That was the point ;)

[Matblack]

Hmmmm, Minii Macs do seem to be quite cheep second hand, I'll give it some thought. Any purchases I make cut into my camera budget and I'd like to get a 40d soon so I don't want to spend much.

MB

[Mark]

I got a Mac Mini as a playabout machine. I didn't want a full-blown Mac (and I still don't). It tends not to get used very much though so I doubt I'd replace it if it broke.

[divine]

Shuttle K48 - £120
4GB RAM - £40
640GB Samsung F1 - £50
Core 2 Duo E7400 (2.8GHz) - £100
DVD-RW - £15

£325 + Operating System and supremely more powerful for image processing than a Mac Mini.

Can probably be bettered/adjusted but it gives you an idea of the comparative performance you can get from a PC for much less money.

[Matblack]

I'll stick with my media centre for the time being, I'll have to improvise a way to use the new monitor downstairs, its not an ideal solution but I'll be able to afford a new camera sooner if I don't splurge on stuff like this.

This all came about because I was getting frustrated trying to sort out the exposure on pictures on the projector and the bloody thing kept auto adjusting so I could see what difference I have made, a nice monitor will sort that out nicely and the media centre is great for Adobe Lightroom :)

MB

[divine]

Sorted then, no point spending money when you don't need to! :p