Using a 128GB MacBook Pro and external drives with Lightroom...

W44NNE

W44NNE

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I'd really like to set myself up with a more permanent solution for editing photos. This therefore would ideally involve...

- MacBook Pro 13" retina as it has a backlit keyboard, is small, light and has a nice quality screen
- An external 4k monitor for desk-work
- Some kind of external Hard Drive solution for storing my photographs

Can anybody recommend the Hard Drive solution that would be best for use with this setup?

For example, if I go travelling, I won't require more than 128GB for editing on the go, but when I come back home, I'll back the files up but would be unlikely to edit them further.

Would this make sense?
 
At 128GB you will really really have to scrape for spare gigabyte even today. It is for people that barely use their pc's or only open word processor. 256 is min; the extra is negligible compared with 4K prices.

Backlit keyboard is a gimmick. You should have a good enough feel for where the keys are anyway.

Also consider that 4K support is kind of minimal. You'll be limited to 30Hz refresh rates, which is not ideal. I was cornered into buying one now, otherwise I would have certainly waited for a refresh.
 
Thanks for the reply. I decided to buy a 128GB as I can return it for any reason anyhow. Plus I got a decent deal. The thing is, when I go away, I rarely fill more than 64GB, so that should easily be enough space, even taking the OS and installed programs into consideration.

The rest of my storage will likely be a USB 3.0 hard drive of some sort, or at least that's what I'm thinking for now.

For me, the backlit keyboard was one of the things I was looking for. At night, in bed, it will make a great difference for me personally but obviously this will be seen as a gimmick for the majority.

How will the slow refresh rate affect things in terms of general use and photo editing? I won't be watching videos too much or doing anything like gaming etc. If I do, it'll more likely be on the laptop itself rather than on the external screen.
 
W44NNE said:
Thanks for the reply. I decided to buy a 128GB as I can return it for any reason anyhow. Plus I got a decent deal. The thing is, when I go away, I rarely fill more than 64GB, so that should easily be enough space, even taking the OS and installed programs into consideration.

The rest of my storage will likely be a USB 3.0 hard drive of some sort, or at least that's what I'm thinking for now.

For me, the backlit keyboard was one of the things I was looking for. At night, in bed, it will make a great difference for me personally but obviously this will be seen as a gimmick for the majority.

How will the slow refresh rate affect things in terms of general use and photo editing? I won't be watching videos too much or doing anything like gaming etc. If I do, it'll more likely be on the laptop itself rather than on the external screen.
Click to expand...

I took my 256GB to tenerife and it is certainly well over 128GB full now (obviously the pics have been copied to external drive and will be purged soon). It only had bare essential productivity software, no music or videos. As I said, you will have very little space to move about even before everything gains more weight.

I have read in multiple places that 30Hz even on LCD causes a lot eyestrain. I can't say how bad it will be, but certainly not ideal. 5K imac works at 60Hz, so the technology is there and will move across.
 
Okay thanks for that. It's just how soon we will see a new Macbook I suppose. I don't know when one is due... I believe the life cycle to be around two years but I'm unsure when the current model was introduced. If it's not looking like too far off, I will consider keeping my old setup and then purchasing the new model.
 
W44NNE said:
Okay thanks for that. It's just how soon we will see a new Macbook I suppose. I don't know when one is due... I believe the life cycle to be around two years but I'm unsure when the current model was introduced. If it's not looking like too far off, I will consider keeping my old setup and then purchasing the new model.
Click to expand...

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#Retina_MacBook_Pro

They get updated roughly once a year. Last one was modest spec bump; I reckon by the end of spring the new ones should be out.
 
Okay great, thanks... I can return this one so may well do so. I would hope the next one features a touch screen as well, but that may increase the cost considerably I suppose.

Thanks for your help... very much appreciated.
 
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