Black Friday - Good Photo Editing Laptops?

If you just run Photoshop or similar, I would consider this one

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B95SV7YF/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0B95SV7YF&pd_rd_w=EcREJ&content-id=amzn1.sym.9f074495-da4d-4e1c-b407-69e85fa47fdb&pf_rd_p=9f074495-da4d-4e1c-b407-69e85fa47fdb&pf_rd_r=YF7Z0KE8V3QV58KTPBQ5&pd_rd_wg=CeS21&pd_rd_r=1c748733-380a-4765-9e75-ec6ace8170e7&s=pc&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzMzBPMEczQTE1QVQ0JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODMxOTc1SElPNzlKSDBWWkU1JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxNjI1MTMyMlo0SUpNWTNSN005JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsX3RoZW1hdGljJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==


It has an IPS screen, which is great for color accuracy, the asus's don't say, but most gaming computers have a VA monitor/screens, which is great for gaming, but not so much for color accuracy. It has plenty of graphic and memory power. Thunderbolt 4 ports are not too bad either. And Lenovo has pretty good customer service

Adam, I have never used a laptop for editing photos!. Always a desktop. I've never owned a laptop, but I am considering my next purchase and I don't know if I want to get another desktop! It would be nice to have something portable and I really dread all the cables I would have to connect! Getting to old for that.

I still can't see working on a laptop monitor though. I will follow this discussion.

Rudy,

Link not working for me. Maybe brand/model number. Does this type of screen solve the angle issue when the tilt is changed?

I have an old HP Pavillion, 17", which I used for presentations and sometimes travel, but never considered doing any FINAL editing on it, always the desktop and the 2 27" monitors.

Jessica,

Do you see a NEED for a laptop? Would a large tablet do for most of your needs? Tablets come big now, up to 13"!

Rich

Let's try that again

Lenovo Slim 7i - 2022 - Slim & Light Weight Laptop - Windows 11 Home - 16" Display - 16GB Memory - 1TB Storage - Intel i7 12th Gen - Storm Grey

Right now $999 on Amazon with free returns

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B95SV7YF/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0B95SV7YF&pd_rd_w=EcREJ&content-id=amzn1.sym.9f074495-da4d-4e1c-b407-69e85fa47fdb&pf_rd_p=9f074495-da4d-4e1c-b407-69e85fa47fdb&pf_rd_r=YF7Z0KE8V3QV58KTPBQ5&pd_rd_wg=CeS21&pd_rd_r=1c748733-380a-4765-9e75-ec6ace8170e7&s=pc&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM

Jessica - I use my laptop in clamshell mode, meaning with the lit closed and an external monitor. When I need to move my laptop I just unplug the monitor and the power cord and I am ready to go. Both are USB-C, so very easy and no trouble at all. (better not to use HDMI for images)

Every so often I run it on the battery to keep the battery alive

Rudy, I had no problems grabbing the link the first time.

@Rich
https://amzn.to/3tV5osP

Usually I have no problems with copy and pasting links like this, but for reasons unknown to mankind this particular link did not want to cooperate with me.

Rudy,

Yeah, when I copied and paste it, nada...but of course being an old codger....I'm here on Chrome for FAA stuff, but then copied it to my other screen, on AOL...where old people live.....LOL!

And "LEGALLY"(LOL), you're not using a laptop! It's a FLAT desktop with an attached monitor.....My little Samsung tablet is my laptop for stuff, Internet stuff, but like my old HP Pavillion, would never use it to do any photo editing....

Rich

Stefano,

Thanks! Looks like a great deal! $999!!! But all that "SLIM" stuff scares me, seems it must be pretty delicate for travel and stuff....

Rich

I'll put in a plug for an Apple MacBook Pro. It's not cheap, but it does fall in your range. Mine's about 6 years old, still very fast due to its solid state drive and the screen is great. If you have a monitor you like, you can get a Mac Mini for far less and it has the same guts as the Pro, just needs a screen.

Even though the storage of SSD Macs isn't that big, I have a couple of external SSD's that plug into the Thunderbolt ports, which run as fast as the internal connection. Those give me bottomless light speed storage capacity.

As reliable, fast and dependable as this Pro has been, it would be hard to think of "punting" to a Windows PC, especially one with a hard drive. It is a testimonial, but I don't get paid for it.

Doug,

Then wouldn't a PC with SSD work as well....with comparable cpu's.....?

Rich

Rich! Why would I want a 13 inch tablet if I am considering if I even want to work on a laptop?

I would vote for a MacBook too, but mainly for the software security. Everything else is pretty much whatever floats your boat.

But Adam said that an Apple was not an option, soooo.....

Jessica,

For traveling? Downloading images and ding some "global" editing and then fine tuning on your desktop? I would think the vast majority of professional editors use monitors....

Other than "marketing", is there really any difference between top level Androids and MAC's? Performance wise?

Rich

Following this!

Rich

"Slim" stuff doesn't have to scare you anymore. SSD drives are tiny (I have a 1tb thumb drive that is half the size of my pinky), Batteries are smaller, Everything is smaller. and as long as you don't use it as a coffee table, step stool, or smack somebody on the head with it, it should be just fine for traveling and other mobile stuff.

My current Dell Desktop is 7 years old now. Do I really want another desktop and do I need it for photo editing? A desktop is all I know.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought this one:

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/acer-predator-triton-300se-14-2-5k-gaming-laptop-intel-core-i7-12700h-1tb-ssd-16gb-ram-rtx-3060-win-11/16250538?source=search&asSlot=1

Acer Predator Triton w/ i7-12700 CPU, 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM, GeForce RTX 3060, Win11.

I bought it specifically because I wanted something portable and powerful. I used it to edit a couple of my recent photo uploads, and was blown away by the difference in speed with the dedicated graphics card. My old desktop (bought in 2015) would often take 30 to 40 minutes to process an image with any of the Topaz software, but this thing took maybe 15 seconds. Now that I've completed the setup on it, it's become my main computer. When I'm at home, I use it with my 34" widescreen monitor. I wouldn't do any photo editing using the laptop monitor except while I'm away on vacation.

John, Jessica,

Same as above "And "LEGALLY"(LOL), you're not using a laptop! It's a FLAT desktop with an attached monitor.." Mostly uding the CPU....

" I wouldn't do any photo editing using the laptop monitor except while I'm away on vacation."

Desktop it is then!

Rich

MacBrook Pro here. I made the switch to Mac about 4 years ago. Bought my 1st ever, I don't think I'm ever leaving Mac, so much user friendly for me, not fighting off "viral" issues. Exceeds my performance expectations. I DO want an update. I have been considering the desktop with a larger screen for better image viewing. I do waiver, at this point...I thought having the easy "take where your go" accessibility in the laptop would fill my demand. When I'm on the go...I seldom am accessing the laptop. I think my failing eyesight requires more than my current 15" laptop Mac provides. I'm still on the hunt at this time. My thinking is the desktop Mac. I can continue to use my MacPro laptop, for the little time I actually work on photos "one the road". Age appropriate, continuous evolving demand to maintain an image...

Rich,

Laptops are handy just for portability. Previously while I was away on vacation, I'd take my work laptop with me and remote desktop into my home desktop to use Photoshop as well as back up my photos, but that depends on a decent wifi connection and work likes to lock things down so they were making it more and more cumbersome to do that. Now that I have my own laptop, I'll take that. I've repurposed my existing desktop as my media and automation server, so I can FTP into it to upload my photos while I'm away (and from there, they automatically upload to Amazon Photos). It's kind of like having my own cloud storage.

The point is that both desktops and laptops have their place.

I replaced my laptop earner this year. It's on sale now. I wouldn't worry about an SD port. Just get card reader. Sd to USB or SB to USBC. I can't tell you how many laptops I have seen with a broken card reader. So I avoid using them. They wear out easier than USB ports. Look into Lenovo.

I only ever used it for editing when I was on vacation. The Topaz AI programs ran a but slow. I have 32 Gs Ram on my desktop and pretty much maxed out on the HP options. but for the Lenovo I just wanted something for occasional use.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/replacement_for/1669911-REG/lenovo_82fg015xus_ideapad_5i_15_i5.html

"Doug,

Then wouldn't a PC with SSD work as well....with comparable cpu's.....?

Rich"

It might, but compared to Windows PCs I have used at work (I used to be a support person and web guy) and home, everything about my Macs has been preferable because of the lack of drama. Malware is rare, I reboot about every 4 months whether I need it or not and the thing is really fast for image editing. I don't intend for this to be a testimonial, but truthfully, I would not want to return to the Windows world unless somebody was paying me to support them again. I'm typing this message on a Mac Mini that's been on this desk turned on 24X7 since 2011. It's not my main image editing computer, which is my Mac Pro laptop, but it's still running, isn't slow and does everything I want it to do. I know that sounds like a testimonial but it's really just a statement of what is.

Whatever it has it should have a good screen, IPS and high color value. The rest is just speed. I think most computers now come with SSD as their main drive, if at the very least makes the computer much faster feeling. I'd do the same with a laptop.


----Mike Savad

John,

Yes, I understand, as mentioned above, I ahve a HP 17" laptop that I use for presentations/talks and for travel, but as YOU, would never do FINAL editing on that screen. You're using the laptop as the horsepower AND a monitor for the editing part, so really, 50% of a laptop, which is sorta what most of us are saying.....

Doug,

Now we're getting into the weeds. For the vast majority of users, both systems are fine, both systems have their own "piccadillos", from talking to friends that have high end MAC stuff.... getting into the realm of those annoying "pixel peepers".....LOL!

Rich

Would this be good for photography and other art?

Lenovo Flex 5 Laptop, 14.0" FHD Touch Display, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, 16GB RAM, 512GB Storage, AMD Radeon Graphics, Windows 11 Home, Graphite Grey

Graphite grey? Maybe the red one is better?

Speed wise most should work, though I would aim for more ram if that's available. Its mostly the screen and how well it shows color and at what angle.


----Mike Savad

my only option is Mac/Apple and has been for the last 20 years

I will not touch a PC

hope you find something you like Adam

Nina and Doug. Apple products are great but why even post if you are not offering a suggestion that answers the OP Request? Is it actually helpful or just boasting or do you need a comment in every discussion?
"Apple is not an option."

Adam, this is the one I chose -
https://www.costco.com/dell-inspiron-16%22--intel-evo-platform-laptop---12th-gen-intel-core-i7-12700h---3k-3072-x-1920-display---windows-11.product.4000052526.html

I refuse to sit at a desk or table, so only use laptops for editing, and have done so for at least 20 years. My old laptop is similar to this one, the main difference being it has only 32GB memory and runs Win 10. I bought it at Costco also because they throw in an extra year of warranty.

"Nina and Doug. Apple products are great but why even post if you are not offering a suggestion that answers the OP Request? Is it actually helpful or just boasting or do you need a comment in every discussion?
"Apple is not an option.""

Because I like to think that there are options in a world that gets dominated by certain products. It's hard to think of Apple as a "little guy" but if it were not there, the PC/Windows world would have nothing to aspire to. Most of the changes to the Win world have come from imitating things that were done by Apple earlier. Microsoft never saw a good idea that it did not copy, either from Apple or from the UNIX/LINUX world. They need outsiders as much as we do. Think of an auto world with nothing but Chevys, made by dozens of other manufacturers, but still from Chevy designs.

@Rose - something like that could work but photo editing on a 14 inch screen seems like it would be tough. I’ve done most of mine on a laptop with a 15.6 inch screen and that is far from ideal but when on the road, that’s the only option.

16gigs of ram is good, 512 hard drive is on the smaller side but certainly usable. I don’t know much about AMD chips so the processor may of may not be able to handle large files easily. It looks like the graphics card may not have ram of its own and that could be something else that slows things down.

MSI GE76 Raider Gaming Laptop - 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H - GeForce RTX 3060 - 144HZ 1080p

https://www.costco.com/msi-ge76-raider-gaming-laptop---12th-gen-intel-core-i9-12900h---geforce-rtx-3060---144hz-1080p.product.4000052542.html

AMD vs Intel - doesn't matter. More RAM is good. Honestly unless you're running a lot of stuff at the same time or doing 3D rendering, it's not going to be worth it to think too hard about the specs. I wouldn't go under 4 gigs of RAM, but I will say I run Photoshop and a web browser together on a computer with 1 gig of RAM sometimes. In fact, there's a laptop around here with 512 megs of ram that was running Photoshop (CS5, which you can't get anymore), but the screen backlight died.

I now use a 32" TV to edit images. It works much better for my eyes.

If you're wanting portable always go for the SSD. They have no moving parts.

I'd say 4 gigs of ram or more (preferably more), SSD (a 512 GB SSD or bigger sounds fine to me), ports (not manufacturer specific) to connect in some way to other devices/monitor/data storage (wireless is only good when it it working), and save money as much as possible for when you need a new one because some obscure thing/part is now obsolete/unusable/unsupported.

Edit: You don't need a gaming laptop to edit images. Gaming doesn't mean better. But if one happens to meet your needs that's fine.

Bradford - naming and shaming? why? this is a discussion forum, isn't it?

My laptop is getting older and I thought maybe I would replace it now. I don't do much photo editing - I am a digital artist so mostly I use the digital brushes, but am wondering why I see a lot of "gaming" machines listed? what would be the difference?

Val Arie,

SPEED! When playing these action games, speed needed. That's what makes them so expensive! For your needs, if you want to save, then stay away from those "gamers" machines! How about a "tablet" instead. If needed ONLy for creating artwork, these are perfect! Many under $200.

"The best tablets are not only versatile and portable, they’re also extremely powerful. In fact, when you combine a tablet with an an external keyboard, these gadgets can handle just about anything a laptop computer can do—sometimes even more efficiently. If you want to make your life more mobile-friendly, now is the time to buy: You can find great Black Friday tablet deals for serious savings on these devices."

IF then you WANT a laptop, then look no further!!!

https://www.cnet.com/deals/early-cyber-monday-laptop-deals-2022/

If you get a good one($$$) won't need a new one for many years!

Rich

I see you haven't YET adjusted your pricing as we talked about.....

I have been re-reading all the most recent discussions on buying new laptops in the last two days.

I've spent a good part of today clicking on links to Cyber Monday sales.

I am just as confused about what to buy as I was two years ago!

Maybe next next year or whenever this one actually dies!

Sigh...

Now isn't the time for research. Its way too late now. The best you can do is research the one you want, 2 weeks before you want it and hope it goes on sale. Or at least gives you an outline what to buy. I needed my screen right away, but I still researched it for days (usually I go for weeks), but I needed it fast... That said as it turns out, I had 2 extra screens I could have used in the meantime.

Like I want a notebook tablet something. But need to do research. But there are always other holidays. And considering most of the sales I saw were only 20% off. Or on amazon, prime only sales, and many of those prices went up in price the amount it was off for (I know because I saw it happen).

I kept reading about steals on hard drives. But I don't know what the retail price are on those. And though it would be nice to have a 16tb drive, I don't need it. And its still expensive.


----Mike Savad

A bunch on Amazon and elsewhere have gone back up. This one still looks good. It's the one in the original post but with a 15.6 inch screen instead of 17 inch.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1702433-REG/asus_fx507zm_bs74_tuf_i7_12700h_16gb_1tb.html

Not doing research today Mike. Just checking all the options.

I have been "researching" for way too long already. I have yet to get elementary advice without all the technical nomenclature so I don't know exactly what model I want so that I can watch for it to go on sale.

All the advice and examples I've been sent in email and what I've seen here is either out of my price range or a basic machine with no software other than the Windows. Once I add the software I might want it's once again out of my price range.

I've done without more important things in life than new electronics. I'll survive this frustration, too.

Sigh, then a smile.

Adam just proved my point.

ASUS 15.6" TUF Gaming F15 Laptop (Mecha Gray) $999.99 .

Windows is the only software installed so now I must add other software (Minimum: $145) an external monitor ($399), a card reader ($15) and photo editing software (Est: $100).

Now it's $1658.99 plus 9.5% tax = $1816.59 That's $300 over my budget and that's with bare minimum software and no other accessories.

I'll eventually find something I can afford that's decent. After all, I found this Toshiba years ago when I was about to give up on finding a laptop!

Smile!

Kathy,

Do you need a laptop? Are you replacing a laptop? If you have a desktop then maybe just get a 10" tablet....

Rich

Thanks Rich but I do not want a tablet. I have an old, cheap tablet...somewhere. Didn't like it and hardly used it so it's in a drawer somewhere (which reminds me I need to get it out and give it away). We bought it for traveling but only took it on one trip, wished we had taken my laptop instead then brought it home and stuck it somewhere!

I am replacing a laptop. I gave up my 2003 Dell desktop when we moved to AL since I hardly used it after buying this laptop and I do not want another one. I will be using a laptop as my only computer like I have been using this one (17" Toshiba Satellite L755 - Windows 7 ) for 10+/- years.

RIch, Thank you - that makes a lot of sense. I don't work that fast so speed isn't an issue for me. The pricing thing I haven't a clue about. Did I forget???

Val,

Yes, you must have forgotten our telephone conversation! You were going to review my tutorial and then adjust your pricing, especially the high end sizes UP and ah, start sending me $500/month....did you forget BOTH of fthose???

https://fineartamerica.com/showmessages.php?messageid=5127197

"And then change them on my profile. But i actually have already change the prizes for prints (to try them out for a while) and i have also made a sale. So thanks to you i just made about 100 dollars more than i would have with my old pricing. So thank you for that!"

Rich

LOL I am guessing I did. Thank you! I am good with the art end - tend to forget about some of the other stuff. I will look at it right now.

LOL I am guessing I did. Thank you! I am good with the art end - tend to forget about some of the other stuff. I will look at it right now.

As Rudy mentioned,..... laptops are not great for color accuracy,.....when using a laptop I'd suggest attaching (plugging in) a desktop monitor to the laptop of your choice as a work around which will then permit color calibration software use and in the end more accurate results.

Wish you the best of luck.

Happy Holidays.

Marty,

HELLO! Good to see you back in discussions! Yes, as I and others mentioned, laptops are not the best for editing, and as some mentioned too, they say "use" their laptops, but then admit they have a monitor plugged in, so really, they are using the laptop as a flat desktop and relying on a monitor instead of the laptop screen.

I'm spoiled now, since I have 2 27" monitors for my Photoshop stuff and can't even imagine, using a small 15-17" screen to edit stuff...

LOVE you lighthouse stuff!

Rich

I have tried to calibrate my laptop for color but can only get close. For most things it is good enough but not for art. My workaround, since I am a digital painter and mix my colors digitally, is to use the color numbers when mixing, rather than going totally by what I see on my screen.

Rich - LOL it is funny I was just wondering how you can work on such a big screen? Like how far away from the thing do you sit? When I need to see fine detail I can enlarge the part I am working on as much as I want - sometimes I find I am at a lot more that 100%.

Adam.
If you are using the laptop on the road and do photo editing...then here's my take.
1 - 15.6" laptop is already big when traveling. Moving to 17" is even bigger and heavier. I suggest you find one at a local store and hold it and try it.
2 - For 17" laptop you might need a specialized backpack or carrying case to accommodate it.
3 - If you have desk space, I suggest 15" laptop for portability and buy a decent quality (IPS) monitor for home base.
4 - As someone already suggested, find one with IPS display for best color accuracy. That will cost a bit more
5 - Speed and storage is your call. Depends how much editing you do, what software you use and how many photos you carry with you.
6 - Check minimum speed/memory requirements from the editing software you are using .... AND then DOUBLE that. If minimum requirements state 16gb ram then I HIGHLY suggest you start with 32Gb. When software companies say "minimum" they really don't mean "usable". It will work ...BUT!

Good luck.

Val Arie,

For what we do here, getting close is usually good enough. Remember, the buyers aren't using CALIBRATED SCREENS to order, so no telling WHAT THEY SEE! Here's a "free" tool, to help "calibrate" your monitor. First, open this and then, ON YOUR SCREEN, look at the B&W images on this link/page. IF you see ANY COLOR, then your screen is off. You probably have some way to adjust the color on your laptop, won't take much.

Once you fix the color, then look at the #2, Highlight and Shadow detail. You SHOULD see 8 bands, Black and then gray, each. If your monitor is too bright, then the whites on the right end will be blown out, last two bars maybe. If too dark, then you'll have trouble seeing the 8 black bands. Adjust your laptop until you get this nice balance, of 8+8 bands and you're done.

https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/monitor-calibration.htm

as far as the BIG monitors, no problem, I sit on the other side of the room and use binoculars....must betterer...

Rich

I bought a Lenovo laptop over the Black Friday weekend. It's not in the price point you are looking for, but I thought I'd give a few first impressions. This is my first business/productivity laptop instead of a gaming laptop...

I selected one with a 4K UHD IPS screen, which is amazing! I have had images blown up to 300% while editing, and they are still as sharp as can be.

I think this would have been a deal breaker if I had realized it before I ordered it, but Lenovo has switched the "Fn" Key and the "Ctrl" Key.
If you edit in Photoshop, you know what I mean. CTRL is needed for every PS shortcut, and it is in the wrong spot. I imagine I'll get used to it eventually, but for now, it's driving me crazy. My muscle memory goes right to the Fn Key every time. The arrow keys are also really small.

Susan,

That key would KILL ME! WHY did they move it? WHO wants it there? Where is it now?

Rich

I was an avid MacBook Pro user but recently switched to the Asus ProArt. Love it! I bought it from B&H photo.

Where is it now?

Bottom Row... Fn Key is first. CTRL Key is second.

It really is awful, but I can't send it back and didn't notice it before I started editing.

The laptop you're looking at is similar specs of what I bought in Feb, Dell Inspiron 5515 but with an AMD Ryzen 7. Backlit keyboard, touch screen (which I really dont use), 1 tb SSD. I think I paid a little over $800 for it because the AMD Ryzen was way cheaper than the equivalent Intel processor. It's been the best laptop I've owned to date.

I won't use a desktop at home anymore. Too restrictive. I want to move around easily, sit in my recliner, and sometimes watch TV. I've been using a laptop for editing for at least 10-12 years.

It runs LR Classic and PS 21 at the same time just fine, along with ACDSee Ultimate. The only "slow" thing is using LR Classic's Photo Merge/HDR module. It takes maybe 1 whole minute to stitch 4-8 photos together. And that may only be due to the integrated graphics card. But editing those resulting .dng files is just as fast as a smaller .jpg file.

It's Amazon, I say go for it. Amazon gives you 30 days to return. You'll know in a week or two if it's going to work out.

I have always wanted a desktop type configuration that is dedicated to photo editing ONLY, A device that is dedicated to being versatile to accommodate programs like PS , TS, and has the software, hardware and everything else necessary to keep pace with respect to ram, graphic cards to take you well into the future, I have a desktop IMAC; so much of the space occupied is for applications I will never use that slows down photo editing . I am considering this but it apparently isn't coming out until March 2023 but seems to fit the bill...Its the IMAC MINI with MI chip,,,I have been on desktops soooo long I hesitate because of fear of the transition,
https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/

Judy: Earlier this year I purchased a Mac mini M1 (16gb ram + 1 TB SSD) PLUS a LG 4K 32" monitor for my photo editing and desktop computer. LOVE it. These are NOT upgradeable so evaluate your current and future needs wisely. Maybe 32Gb with 2TB SSD.

Now, if $$$ was no object, I would get the a Mac Studio paired with a higher quality monitor.

@Lucio: I was under the impression from the Apple Ad that the M1 chip for mini was not available til March 2023,,,This was mentioned in the link I provided, Unless this is just the latest version of the m1 mini,,,Glad you mentioned its not upgradeable...I think I will go in that direction,,,The only time I use the IMAC as much as I love it is for photo editing ,,,very little for anything else, Seems a waste to have so much dedicated space used for applications I dont use, Ill check into that Studio,,,but as I recall its a souped up iMac with more utility than I will ever use,,,, , The MINI seems ideal if its "user friendly" ....Ideally I would like to use the IMAC monitor I have now,,with the mini,,Im perfectly happy with this monitor..,that way I can have both ,,,and save money on a monitor

"The MINI seems ideal if its "user friendly" ."

The Mini has mainly the same guts as an iMac, but comes with no keyboard, no monitor and no mouse. It's plug-in compatible with those standard components if you have another computer, uses generic components, not Apple made. As for user friendly, it's the same OS and software as other Apple computers, so if you like another Mac, the Mini will be mainly the same. It's a cheaper way to get your foot in that door.

I broke down and bought the MacBook M1 pro 16. I've always been a pc desktop kind of guy but it was getting old and I wanted something I can use for both laptop and desktop. It fits the bill for both. The 16 gb version handles Photoshop editing with no issues at all. I use it hooked up to a benq adobe rgb calibrated monitor when using it at home. I never concidered Mac in the past bought now I might be a Mac user for life. As long as I can afford it that is

Mark,

Welcome! How do you compare the laptop's screen to your desktop monitor? Is there any difference?

Rich

Rich, The Macbook only has RGB and DCI-P3 color space, the monitor has those plus Adobe RGB. Although I edited a couple pics on the Macbook to compare to what they would look like in Adobe RGB on the monitor and the pic looks basically the same on both. The macbook has a glossy screen so it makes it pop a little more on the Macbook compared to the matt screen of the Benq. After seeing the results I wouldn't hesitate editing my photos on the Macbook if I didn't have the monitor. It has a very good factory calibrated photo editing profile.

Mark,

Thanks! The number one issue with laptops vs monitors has always been the accuracy of the monitor over the laptop, whether due to the tilt or the quality of the laptop screen. Good to hear that you feel it's close enough to edit images and not be concerned...I have an old 17" HP laptop, best available back then and would never have used it for anything other than a few "global" adjustments. Sounds like time to re-evaulate laptops.

BUT, having my 2 27" monitors would be a tough thing to give up....

Rich

Yeah, I'll always defer to my BenQ when editing my photos for posting here, but the Macbook is good for when I'm on the road.