OntheRez Offline Upload & Sell: On
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ShotByTom wrote:
I am ready to buy a new desktop and am reviewing options. Does anyone use a Mac mini for their photography work? My only real concern about a Mini is the video card, or lack thereof!
Has anyone found the recent LR update improved their speed because of the use of the video card?
In general the Mini isn't considered a "heavy duty" tool. It is used a lot as a network server - overseeing external drives, etc. It's biggest use is as a small footprint light duty workstation. I've set a number of people up with one but they mostly use it for email/web/letters and iPhoto for their cell pix. You're right about video. It's an Intel thingy integrated on the motherboard, and I think it still uses system memory rather that dedicated VRAM. Check on that.
This isn't to say that people don't use it for development. Depends on available cash, how intense you work your images, and how much you shoot.
At a minimum I recommend the 21" iMac with the 256 GB SSD drive. Do not under any circumstances by the so called "fusion drive." It's junk. This machine with the SSD option $1,300. Not bad. If you have the cash considering the 27" machines with more memory and more SSD storage. That 27" is real sweet. As always get as much RAM, as fast of processor, and as big and fast of a drive as you can possibly afford. Unless you're positive you'll never want to do more with your photos, make sure you buy more machine than you currently think you need. Data expands to fill the memory/processor/etc. (Oh, always check Apple's refurbs. I've gotten a good deal or two there.)
As for the latest Lr, I haven't installed it yet. I'm never close to the front of the line for any update (by anyone). Let others be the beta testers. It seems stable so I intend to do so when I get time.
Hope this helps.
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