Debating the switch from PC to Mac?

Hello,
I am debating the switch from PC to Mac, but I currently use CS5 and Lightroom 5. Is it possible to do a Platform Swap? I would HATE to have to purchase CS6 (and Lightroom, if applicable) on top of a $2500 upgrade on a computer.. Help, please!
Kristi

Yes, you will need to cross upgrade to CS6 Mac for $200, but the Lightroom license is also for the Mac and you can activate using your present serial number.
Gene

Similar Messages

  • I am looking to make the switch from pc to mac and have been eyeing the MBP 13". I would like to know whether it is fine to add RAM and SSD myself? any compatibility or warranty problems? what brand/type of RAM and SSD is the best fit? thank you.

    i am looking to make the switch from pc to mac and have been eyeing the MBP 13". I would like to know whether it is fine to add RAM and SSD myself? any compatibility or warranty problems? what brand/type of RAM and SSD is the best fit? thank you.

    Chamar wrote:
    I'm possibly wrong here but I suspect opening a brand new MBP to add parts yourself will void the warranty.  It is probably in the small print.  I certainly would not risk it for an expensive Apple product.
    Some (Windows) laptops have easy access to memory and disk slots that do not necessitate taking the complete back cover off.  However, Apple does not make life easy for you.
    However, if you are going for a 'used' machine it is probably worth a try.
    Not possibly, definitely wrong, Ram and Hard Drive are considered user replaceable and will not void the warranty if changed.

  • Trying to make the switch from PC to Mac

    Hi, I just graduated from high school and I'm off to college so I've been doing some research on what kind of laptop to get. I'm heavily leaning towards the Mac but I'm looking for that extra nudge that makes me a believer after a life on PC. I tend to be pretty virus-prone so the fact that Mac doesn't really have a problem with that is a huge factor. I really like the style and aesthetics that Mac has and it's simplicity of use. I'm not so worried about making the switch in that aspect because I feel like Mac won't be a very complicated and overwhelming change from PC. I also like the deal that I would get a free iPod Touch upon purchase and a $100 cut in price (so I'm told by the man at the Apple store). I have been looking specifically at the Macbook Pro 13-inch. However, one thing that I hear a lot about is problems with compatibility. Apparently there are a good deal of programs that don't work well with Mac and I don't know which ones. I would like to know exactly what kind of programs these are. Will I be able to download music or movies on a Mac? run games like WoW (if I would ever decide to play it) or similar MMOs? If it's not too much to ask it would be nice if someone could point out what Macs can do that PCs can't or on the flip side what PCs can do that Macs can't - Pros and Cons are good too. I would really appreciate any help anyone could give me. Thank you.

    Hi Tower_Sage,
    I hope you realize that you are going to get an extremely Apple-biased viewpoint here . The choice between a Mac and PC is purely personal, and compatibility is generally not an issue. There are really only a few instances where compatibility becomes critical, and that is the requirements of your college, and games.
    First, my favorite, games:
    Most high-profile, big-budge titles eventually come out for Mac. Unfortunately sometimes the performance of the game suffers compared to the PC version. This is not because of some flaw or problem with Macs, but rather the amount of time and effort developers put on the game. EA uses a Direct X "wrapper" for many of its games, and this results in lower performance than on a comparable equipped PC. The few games I have played this way (Spore, C&C 3, NWN2) all played "good enough" on my Mac. Some developers (like PopCap and Blizzard) actually support Mac from the get-go, and these titles do not suffer at all. Another example that I just discovered today, PopCap and Blizzard have created a World of WarCraft themed Peggle game, however this is available for PC only (at least right now), so I can't play it on my Mac. Bottom-line, if games are a priority, you need to investigate if the games you want to play are on the Mac, otherwise you will need to run Boot Camp.
    School Requirements:
    My college specifically requires Microsoft Office 2003 (not earlier or newer versions like 2007) for coursework, and Internet Explorer. So, when I switched to a Mac (in early 2008) I faced a few hurdles. I am a "computer geek," and was able to work around the compatibility issues by using Safari, and Office 2004 (and later Office 2008) for about 98% of the issues. The biggest issues seems to be the individual professors and classmates, as if they are not able to open your Word or PowerPoint documents, then you of course can't get grade. However, the work-around for this, was to use the Save-As command and save the documents in the 2000/2003 format. If you remember to do this, you should be able to get by using the Mac versions of Office. One of my final courses, I absolutely had to have Internet Explorer due to some glitch on the school servers, as I was unable to turn in assignments using Safari. Make sure you check with your college and see what requirements they have.
    The only other "real" issue you will have, is software. Mac software is not sold everywhere, so you will end-up getting most of it online, unless you happen to live near an Apple Store (best place for Mac products, as far as selection goes). The advantage of getting software online, is that there is a lot of open source software that can be found for free.
    Lastly, your copy of Office 2007 will not run on your Mac, without using Boot Camp. Under Boot Camp, your Mac becomes a PC. This means you must have a Windows disc (with license) to use Boot Camp, and this forces you to share your Mac hard drive with two operating system. Unless your college supports Macs (many do), plan on getting a copy of Windows at around $150 along with your Mac. Depending on the monetary support you have, you may want to consider getting a copy of VMWare Fusion (http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/) or Parallels Desktop for Mac (http://www.parallels.com/) for around $80 as well. This program will allow you to run Windows in a window on your Mac Desktop, and integrate Windows only program into the Mac experience. Plus, if you use Boot Camp, these programs can actually use that Windows install, allowing you to run in a window on your desktop, and if you need max performance (like for a game), you can re-boot into Boot Camp. This is how I currently run (with Parallels Workstation), and it solves 100% of the possible compatibility issues.
    Good luck!
    Rich S.
    Coming Soon: Wombat Computer Service (http://www.wombatcs.com)

  • Making the switch from PC to Mac.

    I am a dedicated Apple fan, to say the least. Like, I need a t-shirt and a tattoo. I have an iPod and iPhone currently and I've played a bit with the iPad but that's not what I'm asking.
    My whole life I've had a PC. I hate Windows and PCs have always seem to fail me. I'm an extremely heavy computer user.
    In school, I use Macs. I'm in Graphic Design. I also am a musician. I've been begging for one for a super long time. Now that I'm getting ready for college - a Mac could very well be my Christmas present.
    In the past five years I've went through quite a few laptops due to Windows failing and what not, just dumb things that could happen I suppose. Being an Apple lover, I've heard that Macs are very could quality laptops, it's harder for them to get viruses, ect. Is it true?
    Would it be worth it to make the switch?
    What tips can you give?
    & what antivirus software should be used for a Mac?
    Previously, I used Norton and I haven't had too good of an experience.

    Whereas no Windows computer would last very long without products like Norton, a Mac already includes all the protection it needs against viruses and malware. Norton a/k/a Symantec functions well on Windows PCs but it will cause no end of problems on a Mac.
    A Mac is far removed from a Windows PC. It has always been so. Evolution of the two systems has been completely separate from the beginning, and have followed very different philosophies. Whereas OS X draws its roots from mainframe OS with multiple user accounts that must be separated from one another and the system that runs them, Windows took a very open approach from the beginning. It got much worse with Explorer and Active Destkop. Microsoft has been trying to shut the door on that Pandora's box of viruses and malware ever since.
    Norton and its many Mac variants are one of the worst pieces of trash you can install on a Mac. All commercial Mac anti-virus software is superfluous and some of it is harmful. Apple Support Communities is full of horror stories describing the effects of installing such junk.
    OS X already includes everything it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. You don't need to buy anything else.
    This is an interesting thread you might enjoy: Virus count?

  • THinking about the switch from PC to Mac Pro

    I'm looking at a configuration of two 2.8 quad-core with 2 gb ram from Apple, 6 gb ram from 3rd party, a single 750 SATA drive and Final Cut 2 Studio, and running VMWare Fusion for running Windows apps, and software development tools (Windows world). I have been doing a fair amount of video editing/processing, and see that growing - between this increase, and Windows Vista, I think the Mac world may be my best choice - I would run the Windows apps under Windows XP.
    The Apple Store recommended going with 2 x ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256MB cards - I will be running with dual monitors, and the biggest demand will come from Final Cut 2. Is there a better choice to be made for the money?
    Anybody see any flags raised by what I say I want to do, and the hardware I'm thinking about?
    I debated the value in the second Quad core - whether the Final Cut 2 Studio software was written to take adavantage of multiple cores. I'm leaning toward the second quad core since the studio is most likely separate apps, and there might be some benefit provided the second quad core via the OS. Any thoughts on this?
    The Ram and hard drives are too pricey from Apple - any suggestions on good third party supplier for the ram chips - I know they need to meet the Apple specs, but assume some mfgs have had a better production/quality history than others.
    Any input on this is appreaciated.
    Michael

    Hatter,
    The configuration is close - I like both of your suggestions on the graphics card and the boot drive - Apple won't add the Radeon 3870 card, nor the Velocity Raptor drive. So, if I buy the 3870 and Velocity Raptor from OWC, there is a decision I would have to make with regard to what I buy from Apple.
    I'd like to continue the process, listing my thoughts, hoping to get more good feedback.
    I'm leaning towards buying Apple's standard graphics card (Radeon 2600), and use it for lower demand activities - I figure I can always upgrade it at a later date if the performance is frustrating - I'll have a good comparison with the 3870, so the contrast should be apparent. I'm thinking about the standard 320 g drive, since the extra cost ($50 for 500g, or $150 for 750g) doesn't make sense with the Caviar Black priced at ~$150.
    So, I would be getting a machine with the OS sitting on the 320g drive. *Is there a good strategy for adding the Velocity Raptor, making it my boot drive?*
    I'm assuming I will get the OS on disc - is this true?
    Lastly, I'm looking at the timing of purchasing. I debated on waiting to buy until after MacWorld 2009, but plan on buying prior to the event. My thought was to avoid any issues that come with new releases - adding another layer of issues without knowing what is "normal behavior" isn't worth the increased functionality. In the PC world, sales abound at the end of quarter, and prior to new release. *Is it worth waiting a little while hoping Apple will discount the Mac Pro? Or is this unlikely??*
    Again, thanks for all of the great suggestions.
    Michael

  • I'm looking to make the switch from PC to Mac to accommodate Premiere Pro CC.

    Premeire Pro is a big program that needs a lot of power to function correctly. I have the "System Requirements" page up from the Adobe website, but as I'm researching laptops, it's still not clear to me which Macbooks will be compatible with that program. Can anyone help me with this dilemma?

    Tess,
    I'm not sure why one would switch to Mac for PrPro these days. Once upon a time Apple was clearly a better line of gear for imaging/video, especially as their stuff was more clearly specialized to that work. Over the last couple years it's almost seemed like Apple was tossing their whole concept of "we're the graphics folks" out the window. Look at the massive threads on these boards over the last few OS updates for Mac ... expensive two-year old graphics cards suddenly no longer supported, graphics drivers choking on the system, people needing to go back an OS notch or two to get back to work ... and the hardware is no longer any better designed for graphics than the PC side with similar attention to graphics needs. This isn't to say that Apple doesn't produce some fine machines that do work well for this stuff.
    So out of curiousity ... what do you think would be the big improvement in going to Mac for the OS? There's been a post recently where one of the big all-time hardware geeks around these parts posted a laptop over at Newegg for about a grand that would be a pretty good editing machine. Pc ...
    Neil

  • I made the switch from PC to MAC

    Hello Everyone
    For the past few weeks I have been visiting this forum for info on the MacBook Pro. Thanks for all the information! A week ago I called the nearest Apple store - an hour and a half away, and reserved the $1999 model, $1799 with my student discount. A week later, today, I called and my laptop had arrived. I took the trip down there and picked it up. I love it and I'm very happy with it. No problems so far! I bought the airport express for wireless internet for my laptop but I didn't realize at the time I bought it that my regular dell desktop is now not hooked up to the internet when i had to hook up the cable model to the airport connection. What can i do to solve that now that I already purchased the airport express? Thanks!
    MacBook Pro   Mac OS X (10.4.5)  

    If you want to have your Dell wired, and your laptop wireless, you can accomplish it with just a simple cable.
    When you plug your internet into the base station in the WAN port you have another LAN port that outputs that connection. If you get a network cable (straight-through) you can connect it fron the LAN port on the base station to the internet port on your Dell.
    I do not own this particular base station but I think this will work. The picture below will give you an idea of which port is which, even though it is probably shown on the base station.
    But if you want to have both connected to wires at once then you will need a hub. You can buy any simple hub that you pick up from any local tech store, no need for anything fancy. You would plug the hub into the LAN port on the base station then you would plug the your Dell and your laptop into the hub. Both require network cables that have a Straight-through configuration. (should say it on the cable packaging.)
    Hope this helps, good luck!
    Awaiting my precious MBP.    
    Awaiting my precious MBP.    
    Awaiting my precious MBP.    
    Awaiting my precious MBP.    

  • Making the switch from PC to Mac what's my best option?

    I am at the stage where I need to upgrade my notebook. I am looking at a Mac because of all the multi-media capabilities that come with Mac, but I will still need to function in the MS world. Any comments on running MS Office on a Mac? Can I run both the Apple software & the MS software on the Mac at the same time? I need some help to decide what to do.
    Dell Inspiron 8200   Windows XP Pro  

    I am by no means a Mac head that will recommend a Mac in any circumstance, regardless of the facts. However, I think devbob's comments are biased and he has never used a Mac.
    I own both a Mac and a Windows computer and I consider myself above average when it comes to computer knowledge, so I thought I would add my 2 cents. The Mac is, hands down, is easier to use and requires much less maintenance. And the Mac interacts very will with Windows for the basic stuff like email, internet, Word, and Excel. If you need to do anything else with other Windows users regularly, a Mac is probably not for you. Outside of those items, it can get very difficult to work across platforms and it would be much better to use the same opporating system your peers are using. In most cases, that is Windows.
    devbob is certainly correct that there is more software for windows than for Mac. But there are also more viruses and spyware for Windows. For home use, I don't think there is a better computer than a Mac. However, I don't think I will ever use a Mac at work because, like devbob said, there isn't enough software out there for the Mac. Also, since only 3% of the world uses a Mac currently, there isn't much incentive for outside vendors to write for a Mac yet. Although, there isn't much incentive for people to write viruses for it yet.
    If you are planning to use a lot of Windows programs at work, don't get a Mac. If you are doing a lot of multimedia, email, and internet surfing and only need very occasional access to Windows software, I think getting a Mac would be a good choice.
    Oh, and one more thing. I don't currently have an Intel Mac, but if you do want to run Windows with bootcamp or Parallel, I am pretty sure that you will need to buy you're own copy of Windows XP and you'll also probably want to buy virus protection. That could set you back another $400. You could almost buy a cheap laptop for that.
    iMac (Flat Panel 21) G4   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  
    iMac (Flat Panel 21) G4   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

  • Should I make the switch from PC to Mac?

    Hi. I have recently bought a 120GB HD Sony Laptop (PC) and am wondering if you would recomend I take it back for a MA699LL/A Macbook that has 60GB HD.
    Does anyone own that model? And is it pretty fast?
    And if this is in the wrong forum, sorry, I am new to the Apple forums.
    Thanks. =)

    More than fast enough for web browsing, word processing, etc. In fact, it's overkill for simple tasks like these.
    As with most laptops, it doesn't make a great gaming machine - the graphics card is not really intended for heavy 3D. If you were wanting to install Windows on it as well, you probably want a bigger hard drive, but there are other options - if you only need to run a few Windows programs, Parallels works very well. Parallels is a virtual machine, meaning that it can run Windows or Linux on top of OS X, at near native speeds.
    I bought my Mac Pro intending to dual boot to Windows, but haven't had to resort to that - Parallels does the job nicely. In fact, it's fast enough to do heavy .NET or Delphi development with no noticeable lag.
    Once you become used to OS X, you won't want to run Windows.

  • Painless switch from PC to MAC

    As many people do so, i will be making the switch from PC to MAC in 2009.
    Since i want to do this as painless as possible, i want to be prepared as good as possible. I already found some information about licensing but i'm also much concerned about the technical issues.
    - Creative Suite CS2 / Photoshop CS3 : can i take all my actions, custom settings, brushes etc to the other side? All compatible. Concerning third-party plugins i know i will have to contact them seperately
    Working a lot in Indesign and Illustrator, i expect to have many Font issues. Any advice on this?
    - Lightroom: i have 5 collections and some 100,000 photos in DNG, JPEG and PSD format on 3 different (internal and external) drives. I backup on another external drive. I'm concerned making the switch, Lightroom's database will either not be compatible or will not take along all settings (presets, keywords, sets, etc).
    - color consistency / calibration. I know the colors displayed on my current monitor are correct. Can I expect differences when displaying my photos on a mac?
    Anything else I have to think about? I don't want to lose years of work neither spend weeks switching from one platform to the other. Any advice is really welcome.

    Mr. Isaacs,
    Please note this definition of the word misinformation:
    "False or inaccurate information, esp. that which is deliberately intended to deceive..."
    I am not a lawyer, and you might not be either: but when I am repeatedly given misinformation by representatives of a corporation, I must consider the possibility of fraudulent behavior. Whether or not the persons giving out the misinformation are employees or outsourced contractors is immaterial to me; the ultimate responsibility lies with Adobe's management.
    Here's another example for you of misinformation. I discovered yesterday (after quite a bit of searching) that Adobe Acrobat Pro for Mac does not include the application LiveCycle Designer. However, when I looked at the product description on the Store page, I saw no mention that this is a Windows-only feature:
    From http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatpro/features/:
    "Create dynamic forms
    Use Adobe LiveCycle Designer, a professional form design tool included with Acrobat 9 Pro, to further customize and automate dynamic XML forms."
    I have several forms that I have created for clients using LiveCycle Designer. However, now that I have a Mac, I will be unable to edit those forms in Acrobat Pro, which I purchased as part of Creative Suite. From Help files http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Acrobat/8.0/Professional/help.html?content=WS58a04a822e3e50102 bd615109794195ff-7dfd.html:
    In Windows, you can use LiveCycle Designer to edit forms that were created in Acrobat, but Acrobat can’t edit form fields that have been opened and saved in LiveCycle Designer.
    So now I will need to purchase a full copy of Acrobat Pro for Windows ($449.00 USD) in order to continue to use the forms that I have created for my paying clients.
    Just out of curiosity, I decided to ask a sales representative about whether or not LiveCycle Designer is included in the Mac version. I clicked the Chat button on the Acrobat Pro product page, and initiated a chat with "Randy." Here's the important bit of our conversation:
    "Adrienne: Just to clarify, the Mac version of Acrobat Pro 9 does have LiveCycle designer included?
    Randy: Yes."
    "Randy" was only too eager to take my money then and there. Of course, if I had purchased Acrobat Pro 9, and once I opened, installed, and ran the software, I would have discovered that I did not in fact have LiveCycle Designer. I could then initiate a return, which would hopefully be completed within the three-week time frame specified.
    I repeatedly requested that I be given an ID for the chat, either the representative's ID or a reference number for the chat. "Randy" told me he couldn't give me any "personal information," (I did not ask for his last name, just a way to identify him) but said I could email myself a copy of the chat. I entered my email address as instructed but never received a transcript of the chat.
    I can only conclude two things from this experience:
    One: Adobe's management of its Customer Service and Sales departments is incompetent;
    OR
    Two: Adobe is deliberately trying to deceive me, the customer, with "bait and switch" tactics.
    If it's the first case, then I am only too eager to stop buying products from a company that cannot manage its Support and Sales teams. If it's the second case, I must consider filing a complaint with the FTC.
    Mr. Isaacs, if you were in my position, what do you think you would do?

  • The move from PC to Mac...maybe

    I have been recently considering making the switch from PC to mac. I am an avid PC user and very PC savvy. I guess its just a big leap for me and i just want to be sure its the right decision. Im going to college and need a good laptop im going to major in photography so i need a computer for graphics and that can handle what i need it to do. So i guess my question or questions are, How big is the learning curve? Are there any problems major or minor? What are the essential programs to get? Are the peripherals good if so which ones? and finally is the switch totally worth me paying the 1000 or so USD to get a mac?

    i need a computer for graphics and that can handle what i need it to do. So i guess my question or questions are,
    You really need to get a MacBook Pro if you plan on doing graphic and video work. The graphics circuit in a MacBook shares memory with the main RAM. Performance for pro graphic and video work is anemic.
    How big is the learning curve?
    Should be easy for you. You can always run Windows on it right along side the Mac OS with Fusion.
    What are the essential programs to get?
    iLife includes apps you can use. You may want to look at some Adobe products for graphics work.
    Are the peripherals good if so which ones?
    You should have a good drive for backup. External USB drives are inexpensive.
    and finally is the switch totally worth me paying the 1000 or so USD to get a mac?
    You will be looking at little more for a MacBook Pro. You can get an educational discount though it you're in school. You may even consider a refurb. Same warranty as a new one.
    -Bmer
    Mac Owners Support Group - Join us @ MacOSG.com
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  • Building a NAS while switching from PC to Mac

    I am getting ready to make the switch from PC to MAC.  I currently have my primary desktop PC functioning as a shared media storage center, with USB external drive as backup.   All media is funnelled through iTunes and synced with two Apple TVs in the house that are CAT-6 connected to network switch.   I use Apple TV (cut the cord) to browse my iTunes library over LAN and stream recorded TV/ripped movies quite a bit. 
    My plan is to purchase a MacBook Pro and eventually get a Thunderbold Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse to act as docking station. 
    I would like to transition my media files to a NAS, but I'm struggling to find a good guide for making my own NAS.  My understanding is that it would be pretty easy to use the parts I have on my home built PC to function as a NAS in an area separate from the MacBook.
    A few specific questions:
    1)  Will I need to specially format my NAS drives to be Mac-friendly?
         1a)  Will any special formatting limit flexibility of sharing that data with non-Mac laptops/PCs?
    2)  Will the Apple TV be able to "see" the music/movie iTunes library on the NAS or, like it is now, will it require the PC/NAS to be running iTunes in order for the libary to be viewable on Apple TV?
    I really don't want to drop several hundred bucks on a Time Capsule.  I already have an airport extreme with express x 2 (working great, love them). 
    Any advice here would be appreciated.  I look forward to your responses.
    Thanks and take care.

    I am getting ready to make the switch from PC to MAC.  I currently have my primary desktop PC functioning as a shared media storage center, with USB external drive as backup.   All media is funnelled through iTunes and synced with two Apple TVs in the house that are CAT-6 connected to network switch.   I use Apple TV (cut the cord) to browse my iTunes library over LAN and stream recorded TV/ripped movies quite a bit. 
    My plan is to purchase a MacBook Pro and eventually get a Thunderbold Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse to act as docking station. 
    I would like to transition my media files to a NAS, but I'm struggling to find a good guide for making my own NAS.  My understanding is that it would be pretty easy to use the parts I have on my home built PC to function as a NAS in an area separate from the MacBook.
    A few specific questions:
    1)  Will I need to specially format my NAS drives to be Mac-friendly?
         1a)  Will any special formatting limit flexibility of sharing that data with non-Mac laptops/PCs?
    2)  Will the Apple TV be able to "see" the music/movie iTunes library on the NAS or, like it is now, will it require the PC/NAS to be running iTunes in order for the libary to be viewable on Apple TV?
    I really don't want to drop several hundred bucks on a Time Capsule.  I already have an airport extreme with express x 2 (working great, love them). 
    Any advice here would be appreciated.  I look forward to your responses.
    Thanks and take care.

  • Airport express switch from pc to mac

    Where can i download the airport express setup assistant for my new macbook?

    akurl wrote:
    I own Photoshop Elements 4, and recently made the switch from PC to Mac. Of course, my installation CD is useless. Is there a way to download the Mac version (with my serial number, etc.) without having to pay for another copy?
    Unfortunately not.  There is no way to officially download old software packages.  Your best way is to get a new version (version 10) from Amazon:
    <http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-65136385-Photoshop-Elements-10/dp/B005MMMT6E/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF 8&qid=1343016745&sr=8-4&keywords=pse10>
    It is about $67 + Free shipping
    The package sold by Amazon can be installed in Windows 7 or Apple Mac, or OS X so you have future proof technology depending on how often you upgrade the technology.
    Good luck.

  • I am writing to this forum to ask for help in determining whether Aperture will satisfy my needs when I switch from Windows to MAC in the near future.

     I am writing to this forum to ask for help in determining whether Aperture will satisfy my needs when I switch from Windows to MAC in the near future.  
    I am currently using Photoshop Elements 8 on Windows 7.  After several years of use, I am self taught and adequately proficient for an amateur.  What I didn't realize (until I started researching my upcoming migration on the Internet) is that I actually use PE8 for two functions: digital asset management and digital editing. 
    Regarding Digital Asset Management: My research leads me to understand that PE on MAC does not provide the same level of organizational capability that I am used to having on Windows, instead providing Adobe's Bridge which does not look very robust.  Furthermore, iPhoto, which come on MAC will not support the hierarchical keyword tagging that I require to organize my library of photos. The two SW applications which I am thinking of switching to are either Aperture or Adobe's Lightroom.  Frankly, I'm thinking that it would be smoother to stay within the Apple product line. 
    So the remaining question is whether Aperture will support my digital editing needs. The tweaks that I do to my photos are not very complex (no, I do not want to put people's heads on other animal bodies).  But could someone who uses Aperture tell me whether It will allow me to do the following kinds of edits?:
    - If I have a photo where someone's face is too shadowed, can I lighten just that person's face, and leave the rest of the photo as-is?  
    - if I have a photo where the background is cluttered (eg, 2 people in front of the Parthenon which is undergoing renovation), can I remove just the construction cranes?  
    - Can it splice together several separate photos to give a panoramic?  
    If, once I get Aperture, I find that it cannot enable the kinds of editing that I do, I would probably get PE11 in the future. However, if people in this forum tell me that Aperture will definitely not  support the kinds of editing which I've described in the previous paragraph, I would prefer to get PE11 with my initial configuration (since someone will be helping me with my migration).  
    Thanks in advance for your consideration and help! 

    I am concerned, however,  about using a non-Apple Digital Asset Manager in OSX. I would really like to avoid integration problems. Is using PE11 to import and catalog my digital photos likely to cause conflicts?
    Thanks for any insight on this
    Amy,
    Not so much conflicts as maybe a little less seamless integration with Apple software and perhaps some third-party software providers in the Mac App Store where some programs build in direct access to iPhoto and Aperture libraries for getting images into those programs easily. Typically, there is a manual command to go to Finder (think Windows Explorer) to browse folders.
    One caution to mention however, is that the organization you set-up in PE Organizer is unlikely to transfer over to either iPhoto or Aperture if you decide to change at some point.
    The only real stumbling block that I see in your opening comment is that you want hierarchical keywording (Kirby or Léonie can go into the details on keywording limitations as I stay at one level). If you can work with the keywording schemes of either iPhoto or Aperture, then using PE for your external editor (either program supports setting an external editor) would probably be ideal since you know PE well. This is the idea with the Mac App Store version of PE (editor with no organizer).
    Note - I use Photoshop CS6 (full version) with Aperture and it works really well. The only downside is that Aperture has to make either a TIFF or PSD file to send to an external editor so that the original file is protected by not sending it to the pixel editor. While TIFF or PSD files protect the integrity of the image information without degrading it, they are typically much larger file sizes on disk than either RAW or JPEG files. Therefore, your library size (iPhoto or Aperture) will balloon quite a bit if you send a lot of files to external editors.
    One other possibility for an external editor would be a program called Pixelmator. It is pretty similar to early versions of Photoshop, but built for Mac. Other than the panoramics you want, it will do most pixel editing that PE can do. It is not an organizer, so it is built to go with either iPhoto or Aperture. It does have differences in how you complete certain procedures, so there is bit of a learning curve when you are used to doing it the Adobe way.

  • I have CC for work and my PC to do work at home. At home I switched from PC to Mac this weekend. I want to redownload my apps for the iMac but it's telling my I'm using a 30 day free trial. I need to discontinue the PC apps and download to the new compute

    I have CC for work and my PC to do work at home. At home I switched from PC to Mac this weekend. I want to redownload my apps for the iMac but it's telling my I'm using a 30 day free trial. I need to discontinue the PC apps and download to the new computer.

    YOu need to sign out of the PC thru the CC manager and then sign in on the Mac.

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