Which Computer to purchase?

Question

Long story short...
I have decided to use Aperture for my new workflow. My current desktop (PowerMac G4) can't run it. So I need to buy a new Mac. I have Photoshop CS2 but probably won't use it much once I commit to Aperture. If I was using Photoshop more I would buy a new Mac Pro, however, I have been toying with the idea of buying either a 24" iMac or a 17" Macbook Pro instead of a MacPro. I understand the differences in expandability, portability, etc... I shoot RAW with a Nikon D300 and hence my need to upgrade computers.
So, my question is will I be happy with performance of Aperture on an iMac or MBP? Or should I just belly up to the expense of a MacPro?
Thanks,
Scott

Answer 1

To start off, the iMac has all the limitations of a laptop without mobility; no benefit except cheaper cost. Plus a glossy display, and many but not all pros find having the display add contrast and saturation to images is not acceptable. Note also that Aperture is IMO more, not less, demanding than Photoshop.
Mac Pros - even the 2006 ones - absolutely rock when properly set up. However portability is huge, an important enough issue that if could only have one box it would be a 17" MBP.
Once we get past the usual caveat that laptops are limiting to the performance of heavy graphics apps like Aperture I strongly recommend the 17" MBP. I have not used one yet, but the new 17" MBP should provide a truly excellent mobile graphics platform. What I like about it rather than the 15" MBP:
• More screen real estate, a very big deal when in the field and no external display is connected.
• Much higher pixel count, a very big deal when in the field and no external display is connected.
• Available matte display, a very big deal (to many graphics pros) when in the field and no external display is connected. Note however that I not have actually seen the new 17" MBP because it just recently started shipping.
• Faster; the added size and easier heat dissipation of the 17" apparently allow Apple to make less engineering compromises.
• Twice the available RAM, a very big deal moving forward as app vendors evolve apps to better utilize available cheap RAM, OS 10.6 and boxes with more RAM access. Under OS X Photoshop (and probably Aperture as well) can already take advantage of up to 32 GB installed RAM, maybe more.
• Longer battery life is alleged by Apple and by the first users who have received the new 17" MBPs.
• After years of using 15" and smaller, starting with the Duo, I currently use a 2.33 GHz 17" and far prefer the larger size.
• All the above benefits and it only weighs 1.1 pound more than the 15" MBP.
Good mass storage management is one key to decent heavy graphics app performance. For best speed one must keep the internal drive underfilled.
A carefully set up external hard drive configuration (eSATA or FW800) and Referenced-Masters workflow will be necessary sooner or later, so start off with a Referenced-Masters Library rather than the default Managed Masters. Note that with a Referenced-Masters Library image Masters are backed up separately, not via Aperture's Vault.
The cost of maximizing RAM in the new MBP unfortunately is still exorbitant, but 4 GB will work OK in the short term and new 17" MBP RAM prices are already falling. Just watch OWC prices <http://otherworldcomputing.com/> and wait a bit to max out the RAM to 8 GB.
We buy laptops for their portability. The mobility componentry used to achieve thin boxes limits performance. Expanding on what I said in the first sentence, do not expect a laptop or an iMac to fully perform like a Mac Pro desktop with 16 GB RAM would handling heavy graphics.
Good luck! I am sure you will enjoy either a MP or a MBP. Forget iMac.
-Allen Wicks