Processing software for iMac

Masked Bandit

Masked Bandit

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Philip
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Hi All,

I am finally about to bin my 5 year old pc. It is painfully slow, and has a mind of its own of late.

I am considering an iMac...expensive though they are.

I have a copy of CS3 which I have used for ages, and still lack the skill to exploit it fully. Problem.......I will have to get new software.

I can just about stretch to an iMac, but not any of the later versions of CS. Is there other software for a mac, that will do as good a job at processing, and is cheaper?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Philip
 
Lightroom.

Or keep CS3 and run it under virtualisation software like Parallels, VMWare Fusion (both reasonably priced) or VirtualBox (free). Those let you run a copy of Windows on your Mac. Most folks use something like that to keep using Windows software they are used to when moving to a Mac. I moved 4 years ago (thank goodness) and run Parallels with some older copies of Windows software I didn't want to give up or couldn't find a Mac equivalent for that I liked as much. Or if you want software with many of the same features as Photoshop, try Gimp on the iMac. Its free and pretty capable.

That said, you'll have to tear my copy of Lightroom from my cold, dead fingers when I pass on to that great digital darkroom in the sky :-)
 
I guess I'd want to ask why you would want an iMac instead of another windows PC? For similar money you'll get a lot more power and upgradeability. Is CS3 compatible with W7?

I use OSX, Windows and Linux machines, and wouldn't buy another mac though many do like them.
 
ancient_mariner said:
I guess I'd want to ask why you would want an iMac instead of another windows PC? For similar money you'll get a lot more power and upgradeability. Is CS3 compatible with W7?

I use OSX, Windows and Linux machines, and wouldn't buy another mac though many do like them.
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Hi Tony,

I don't really fancy the new versions of windows, but I suppose I would jst have to deal with Windows 8. Incidentally, why would you not buy another mac?
 
Photoshop Elements, new version 12 has been about £ 35 recently. Depends if you need full photoshop or not. Lightroom may also suit. Depends on your shooting style, editing requirements and personal preference.
 
Hi Philip, several reasons really. Upgradeability isn't good for many models including the smaller iMac, I'm not convinced about reliability having had issues with my own, and for me particularly OSX just *feels* restrictive. Plus they often are expensive for the hardware you're getting (the exception is the MB Air - like for like PCs tend to be similarly priced).
 
Another vote for Lightroom. It depends on how much processing you do, to decide on the software.
 
If you do a relatively small amount of PP then you could try Cyberlink Photography Director free with this month's Practical Photography magazine. Does a lot of what elements does apparently.
 
In your originalpost you mention that you haven't fully exploited the potential of CS3 so Photoshop Elements should be more than capable and is a bargain price in comparison.

On my Mac, I mainly use Lightroom for my photo management and editing with the very occasional firign up of photoshop for more complex work (probably 1 in 200 photos)
 
I've used both Photoshop and Lightroom on both PC's and Mac. I think that with Lightroom, Photoshop is a bit over kill as an app. The only time I now use Photoshop is when I need to do a bit of cloning. Something that Elements would do very nicely and a lot cheaper. I have Lightroom 5 and CS5 and to be honest I can't see any reason to upgrade Photoshop to the latest version . I also think that Lightroom's interface, especially the Develop module is much better than Photoshop's . If I didn't have Photoshop I'd use Lightroom and Elements.

You can download trials of both from the Adobe web site
 
The obvious replacement to photoshop for a LOT less money will be pixelmator with aperture being the cheaper alternative to Lightroom.
 
I've just bought an 21.5" Imac and Lightroom 5 when Adobe had their recent 40% offer. It's Night and day better than my old pc and a joy to use. I've found lightroom easy to use after a quick demo from a mate and now my keep rate of pictures is probably 20% higher :)
 
Masked Bandit said:
Hi Tony,

I don't really fancy the new versions of windows, but I suppose I would jst have to deal with Windows 8. Incidentally, why would you not buy another mac?
Click to expand...


Just use Windows 7. You don't have to use 8. 7 will be supported for years yet. XP was supported for over 10 years.

You could use Windows 8 and install "Start8" by Stardock. It basically gets rid of the new Win8 interface, puts your start menu back and it behaves exactly like Windows 7... but with all the new features of 8.

Here's my Windows 8 install.... looks just like Win 7.

pierhpm.jpg


I've even installed Stadock's (free) Object Dock to give a Mac OS dock... (the only good thing about Mac OS if you ask me).

I wouldn't get a Mac. Expensive for what they are, and using a PC will enable you to carry on using CS3.
 
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Masked Bandit said:
I have a copy of CS3 which I have used for ages, and still lack the skill to exploit it fully. Problem.......I will have to get new software.
Click to expand...


Have you asked adobe customer support. Normally they'll allow you to change you licence platform for the costs of admin for the change. I think when I moved platforms it was less the £5 to do this. Having said that I don't know if they'd allow you to move CS3 now. Ask them though
 
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4GB.. but it depends on /LARGEADDRESSAWARE linker switch implementation. Unless you're editing very large images, or doing anything complex, it's unlikely to cause any slowdown, as the machine itself will be able to address more than that... just PS that will have a 4GB cap. He'll still have a similar problem no matter what platform though.

It's all down to whether Adobe will help him out though I suppose.
 
Pookeyhead said:
4GB.. but it depends on /LARGEADDRESSAWARE linker switch implementation. Unless you're editing very large images, or doing anything complex, it's unlikely to cause any slowdown, as the machine itself will be able to address more than that... just PS that will have a 4GB cap. He'll still have a similar problem no matter what platform though.

It's all down to whether Adobe will help him out though I suppose.
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yeah itll depend on what processing is done but on the old tester action script CS3 was significantly slower. even on an i7, 16gb etc.

i'll dig out the times i benchmarked..
 
After over 20 years using MSDos and Windows PCs both professionally and personally I swopped over to an iMac last April and what joy! I went for the best processor and upgraded the memory to the max. I have no reservations about the change. I do keep my old Windows 7 laptop for a very few specialised jobs I do (not connected with photography) and it constantly amazes me that Windows just seems cobbled together. I do not regret biting the bullet and going for the IMac. As for software I use Lightroom and more than happy with that.
 
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