IPhoto 11 - Is it possible to have the same library on two machines

Question

I have a replacement imac 27 on which after three weeks of hard work I have finally got 40k of photos in but I have also just purchased a 6 months old macbook pro. As I will use the mbp when away in the motorhome, I would like to be able to keep the libraries the same.
My thoughts are these, Presently the size of the library is 24.27GB and I have a 32GB cruzer usb flash pen. If I copy the library to this, and then use it to import the library - both the same now.... but away for 6 months or so, and libraries now different..... what happens, if I do the same in reverse?
Or I suppose... I could just MOVE the library to the usb pen - and then move it to the MBP and back again.... would that be better.
My concern then comes when the library is too big for the usb pen.
OR is there another way. I have seen mention of an iphoto sync programme, does anyone use this and does it work? (It is not Apple obviously, it is Haystock Software).
Really appreciate some thoughts as I have a 1-2-1 booked for Tues 8th, and I can't take the imac with me, but I want to take the MBP... as I have a lot of questions.
Carol

Answer 1

Thank you! Would I be better off buying the full version rather than just the free download?
THat depends on what you want to do - if you need the paid version features thenyou need the paid version - if you do not then there is no reason - see their web page to see the features - iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ -
What is your opinion of Aperture?
Higher end than iPhoto - quiet a bit harder to learn
IF I purchased that, would I still use this other program?
Again it depends on what you want to do - I believe that IPLM has an Aperture version - again check their web site for information
From what I've seen, I'm ready to step up to Aperture. I have thousands of photos and have been exporting them to my desktop and then importing them to Photoshop Elements to 'work with them'. It looks to me like Aperture would do away with that troublesome step.
Or learn to use iPhoto - any photo editor (including Photoshop Elements) and be fully integrated into an iPhoto workflow by making it the external editor in the iPhoto preferences - iPhoto has the capability to directly interface with any external editor - simply go to the iPhoto preferences (iPhoto menu ==> preferences ==> General and set the Edit photo option to in external editor - select the desired external editor and you are set - now when you edit photos they are sent to the selected external editor and when you are finished editing you save (not save as) and the edited photo is returned to iPhoto, the original is maintained in iPhoto and the iPhoto database is correctly updated.
If you want the option of editing in either iPhoto or the external editor after selecting your external editor simply set the edit in back to main window - now when you right click (control Click) on a photo you will get a menu which allows you to select either. - this feature may or may not be available in Aperture and it may work differently - I do not use Aperture
LN