Changing to a mac.... couple questions...

10/26/2010 01:38:01 PM · #1

Ok, so I am considering getting the quad core 27" iMac with 8 gb of memory.

Should I wait until the new Lion OS comes out this summer? Is it really going to be that big of a deal that is worth waiting for?

Should I ask Adobe to transfer the license for CS3 from my windows pc to my mac or would upgrading to cs5 be a better choice? (I get an education discount) Am I missing out on anything that is a must have in cs5?

And what about the memory... would 4gb that comes with it enough or will i really need the 8gb?

Finally, what is the best way to make usb printers wireless? Any hardware suggestions you have?

Thanks~ !!!!

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/26/2010 01:48:05 PM · #2

Don't wait for Lion. Any new features will be more than offset by the value of using the computer for the 6-8 months you would have waited.

Transfer the license and then upgrade to CS5. There was a big speed boost when CS4 was released because it was written specifically for Intel Macs, and CS5 add some nice features (better RAW conversion and HDR, puppet warp, etc.)

4GB of RAM is plenty, but more is always better. It's an easy and inexpensive upgrade if you buy the memory elsewhere.

If you plug a USB printer into the iMac, you can simply share it with other computers over Airport. It only takes a single click in the system preferences. Presto- instant wireless printer!

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

10/26/2010 02:23:30 PM · #3

I was going to reply to this but Shannon said almost everything ... one smart cookie.

I'd recommend 12 GB memory if you can afford it. Snow Leopard is a 64 bit OS and CS5 is a 64 bit app so the memory will be useful and helpful.

Also, if you can afford it, also get a 2 TB external drive and configure Time Machine to back up to it. Apple has really figured out the backup stuff.

giantmike

Canon EOS R6

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

10/26/2010 02:54:25 PM · #4

Dang, beat to all of the punches! Except, I may even recommend buying a time capsule instead of a external drive (or maybe buy both!). The Time Capsules not only provide you with dual-band wiFi (so your slow b/g devices don't slow down your fast n devices), but also a hard drive to do automated backing up, and a USB port to create a shared wireless printer. Best thing about the wireless printer portion is that your iMac doesn't need to be on to share the printer across your network. This is how I have it setup, and I love it.

Another thing to consider is also buying Apple's Aperture. It's a really nice piece of photo organization software, with some very powerful non-destructive adjustments (including the ability to brush in/out said adjustments).

10/26/2010 03:16:27 PM · #5

Originally posted by Dr.Confuser:

12gb ram??? for picture editing? or is video involved?

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/26/2010 03:24:45 PM · #6

Originally posted by mike_311:

12gb ram??? for picture editing?

It can't hurt, but it's overkill for most photo work. Photoshop uses around 4X the size of your image for memory (one to store the original, one for the current version, one for undo and one for the history state), so even a few GB is plenty for most work, and if you open more than 7 images at once Photoshop pages data to the hard drive anyway. 8GB is about all you'd ever need unless you're working with multiple memory intensive (generally video or audio) applications at once.

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

10/26/2010 03:25:17 PM · #7

You'll love the iMac, and waiting until next year for Lion would only deprive you of it for many many months. Snow Leopard is just fine :-)

I have one, and I added RAM myself (MUCH cheaper than having Apple do it). I have 12G, and that was plenty UNTIL I got CS5 about a month ago. CS5 really hogs and eats a lot of memory. I'll end up maxing mine out at 16G before long. But if you stick with Light Room or Aperture for most things, 8G should be fine. BTW, if I remember correctly, the off the shelf IMac comes with 4G. I think I bought another 8G elsewhere for just under $500, so if you don't have apple do it, the money apple would have charged you for it will get you more RAM if you want it. You could probably end up with a 12G set up if you want.

I also concur with the Aperture 3 recommendation.

ETA: Scalvert is probably correct--I open CS5 from Aperture, so I end up with both apps running. Less memory might work fine if the only app I had running was CS5.

Message edited by author 2010-10-26 15:27:26.

hahn23

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

10/26/2010 04:15:39 PM · #8

I agree there is no reason to wait for Lion. Snow Leopard 10.6.4 is really cutting edge as a 64 bit OS.

Apple's Aperture 3 is a joy to use. I'd sure recommend the NikSoftware plugins... especially HDR Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro 3.0, Viveza 2 and Silver Efex Pro. Free trials available. Webinars available. Super nice integration with Aperture.

About hard drives, I recommend developing a redundancy plan which can restore your files in case of all kinds of casualties. Hard drives fail over time. Houses burn to the ground occasionally. Insurance can replace hardware. Software can be downloaded from the source, if need be. But, your images and documents are only there until a storage device fails.

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/26/2010 04:20:21 PM · #9

Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by mike_311:
12gb ram??? for picture editing?

It can't hurt, but it's overkill for most photo work. Photoshop uses around 4X the size of your image for memory (one to store the original, one for the current version, one for undo and one for the history state), so even a few GB is plenty for most work, and if you open more than 7 images at once Photoshop pages data to the hard drive anyway. 8GB is about all you'd ever need unless you're working with multiple memory intensive (generally video or audio) applications at once.

In my workflow, I often have 12 - 15 photos open at one time and the extra memory helps a lot. I also often have Bridge, or Lightroom open, and Safari, and Email, and ... well a gig here and a gig there, it adds up.

Clearly it is a luxury, but if you can afford it, you'll learn to love it.

10/26/2010 04:21:51 PM · #10

on the issue of backup. I use Google backup, i pay $20 a year for 80gb. there are lots of other sites and solutions. all my important stuff get uploaded and stored there.

10/26/2010 09:49:45 PM · #11

Thank you to everybody who responded...

I didn't want to wait for Lion.
I am unable to get the cross platform transfer for CS3 alone... I must upgrade to CS5.
I already have wireless printing with my pc but I wanted to make the printer totally wireless.

As far as memory, I wanted to upgrade it myself. It looks like I can get 8gb here and combine that with the 4 it comes with for a total of 12gb... at a lower cost than getting only 8gb total through apple. Is this a good company to purchase memory from? And is what I selected an acceptable brand?

Thank you so much!!

I can't wait to actually get this new computer!! My damn pc is so limiting right now and I am SICK of the issues I am having...

One more question, I have maybe 3 programs for Windows that I was going to use on my imac via Boot Camp... Business apps that i don't want to buy again. How fast is the reboot time between the mac os and windows xp?

10/26/2010 09:55:30 PM · #12

adobe wont give you a cross platform transfer?

crooks, i'd go looking for a serial. you already paid once for the software, why buy it again?

10/26/2010 10:01:15 PM · #13

Originally posted by mike_311:

adobe wont give you a cross platform transfer?

crooks, i'd go looking for a serial. you already paid once for the software, why buy it again?

Well, I wanted to upgrade anyway and I get an educator discount so the cost of the upgrade would be the same as buying CS5 outright.

If i didn't want to upgrade, I'd be PISSED

10/26/2010 10:07:42 PM · #14

Originally posted by slickchik:

As far as memory, I wanted to upgrade it myself. It looks like I can get 8gb here and combine that with the 4 it comes with for a total of 12gb... at a lower cost than getting only 8gb total through apple. Is this a good company to purchase memory from? And is what I selected an acceptable brand?

I've ordered memory almost exclusively from OWC since the 1980's.

If you want to save even more money, note that students and schools employees can get a discount plus a free iPod touch and printer. You can also buy refurbished models directly from Apple at a substantial discount and they carry the same warranty as a brand new Mac.

As for Windows, rebooting is pretty quick. However, you might take a look at Crossover. If your business apps are supported, it would allow you to run them directly in the MacOS without even installing Windows. It won't be as fast as Boot Camp, but your iMac will have so much horsepower it may not matter.

Originally posted by mike_311:

adobe wont give you a cross platform transfer?

Mike, the reason is simple: Adobe doesn't sell CS3 anymore. If she had a Windows version of CS5 they would provide a transfer, but otherwise it will require an upgrade just as it would going from CS3 to CS5 in Windows.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

10/27/2010 01:30:58 PM · #15

am i going to miss out on something if i don't purchase aperture 3?

i don't see why i need it if i have cs5 and iphoto 11

and is there something similar to microsoft money that i can use for accounting (please don't recommend quickbooks... i have it and i HATE it)

Message edited by author 2010-10-27 13:32:17.

giantmike

Canon EOS R6

10/27/2010 01:53:04 PM · #16

iPhoto is ok but far from great. Aperture gives you much more powerful edits, better organization, and better integration with other applications (e.g. Photoshop. Plus it handles Raw files much better with higher quality. I finally purchased aperture this past summer, and now I have no idea how I lived without it.

10/27/2010 01:57:38 PM · #17

if you dont want to use aperture you can check out adobe lightroom.

Sony Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 ZA

10/27/2010 02:25:27 PM · #18

Originally posted by mike_311:

if you dont want to use aperture you can check out adobe lightroom.

Well that opens up the whole Lightroom vs Aperture debate...

So which one?

salmiakki

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

10/27/2010 02:34:21 PM · #19

Try them both. I've trialed Lightroom 3 or 4 times and I just don't get along with it. I much prefer Aperture. But that's just me.

hahn23

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

10/27/2010 02:38:16 PM · #20

Originally posted by slickchik:

Originally posted by mike_311:
if you dont want to use aperture you can check out adobe lightroom.

Well that opens up the whole Lightroom vs Aperture debate...

So which one?

I don't know anything about LR, but I am delighted with Aperture 3. My workflow is really streamlined now, as I can do everything in A3. I think the A3 processing engine is fantastic. Working directly on RAW images makes a lot of sense to me.

10/27/2010 02:43:09 PM · #21

Originally posted by slickchik:

Well that opens up the whole Lightroom vs Aperture debate...

So which one?

They're roughly equal although Aperture is better integrated with other Apple applications and the OS.

10/27/2010 04:59:58 PM · #22

OMG, i just bought the top of the line imac... it is refurbished so i got a pretty good discount... when i saw it available in the apple store online, i jumped on it because it was everything i wanted minus the memory...

i also got cs5!!

because it is refurbished, it may come with other software like aperture... so i am waiting on buying aperture 3 until the mac arrives :-)

i can't believe i jumped from pc to mac! and i am not looking back, no not once!!

btw, do you think i could sell cs3 for windows to someone at dpc if i uninstall it from my pc? would there be a licensing issue?

Message edited by author 2010-10-27 17:00:32.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

10/27/2010 05:03:01 PM · #23

Originally posted by slickchik:

btw, do you think i could sell cs3 for windows to someone at dpc if i uninstall it from my pc? would there be a licensing issue?

I don't think there's a problem doing that. I am pretty sure you can install it and activate it anywhere as long as you deactivate it on your pc (BEFORE you uninstall it)

10/27/2010 05:28:23 PM · #24

Originally posted by slickchik:

because it is refurbished, it may come with other software like aperture... so i am waiting on buying aperture 3 until the mac arrives :-)

It won't. If you bought from Apple, the computer will be wiped clean and have a fresh OS installed.

FWIW- Adobe just cut prices on student/teacher versions of their software. Also note that their education software is non-transferable (you're not allowed to sell it).

Message edited by author 2010-10-27 17:30:41.