Macbook questions

[Stan_Lite]

I'm looking at buying a new laptop - primarily for editing photos.

Since taking up photography, I've noticed a lack of options among my existing hardware for editing photos on the move. My NC10 netbook is too small hasn't got enough oomph and my M1710 is too big and bulky to be called portable.

I'm seriously considering a Macbook as I've heard they're good for this sort of thing. It will be used primarily for editing photos but will, occasionally, do other stuffs (web browsing and media playing mainly).

I'd love a Macbook Air as it's thin, light and sexy but the lack of ethernet port and only one USB port would mean carrying around a USB hub and adapter for ethernet, making it less portable and annoying. My best option, presumably, would be a Macbook Pro (probably 13").

I have a few questions:

1. Are they really as good for photo editing as they're touted to be?
2. What are my options for syncing my picture folders with my other machines? I use Synctoy for Windows and Conduit on the Ubuntu machines (both brilliant apps - always among the first to be installed on any new build). Is there a similar app for the Mac? What would be my best option for syncing between the three systems?
3. Is the Aperture software any good for working with RAW files? Is it as good as Camera Raw in Photoshop or will I be better off sticking Photoshop or Elements on it?
4. Will I be able to run Windows in bootcamp to play the odd game if I want to?

[leowyatt]

1) Yes
2) erm not sure here :/
3) I know Pete uses it so he's probably the one to ask
4) is a definite yes

They recently got a refresh so now would be the time to buy

[divine]

Originally Posted by Bigstan

1. Are they really as good for photo editing as they're touted to be?

Not any more - Photoshop runs virtually identical in OSX and Windows now and you can usually get more power for your money in a PC based laptop. Macs haven't really been 'better' at this sort of stuff for a while now (during PowerPC days they were streets ahead). Only real advantage is availability of Aperture over Lightroom.

They're good but no more so than a PC running the same applications, it's far more down to personal preferences in the OS, the choice of software and whether you want a shiny silver laptop or would be happy with a black one...

As for batch processing RAW stuff, either Aperture or Lightroom are going to be better than Photoshop - they're work flow tools as opposed to out and out image editors like Photoshop is.