Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
p.3 #1Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
I'm sorry to hear you were MAC user all your life...🥺. Try windows, 95% of the world runs on windows. MAC is a great hardware PC, but it is like a car that uses coal when the rest of the world uses gas or electricity to power cars. 😉
Sep 21, 2026 at 05:37 PM
p.3 #2Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
tester_V wrote:
I'm sorry to hear you were MAC user all your life...🥺. Try windows, 95% of the world runs on windows. MAC is a great hardware PC, but it is like a car that uses coal when the rest of the world uses gas or electricity to power cars. 😉
Most of the world was on Linux or other Nix I thought, but probably Android by now is the most popular globally now on devices.
Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most vehicles.
EBH
I'm sorry to hear you were MAC user all your life...🥺. Try windows, 95% of the world runs on windows. MAC is a great hardware PC, but it is like a car that uses coal when the rest of the world uses gas or electricity to power cars. 😉
Most of the world was on Linux or other Nix I thought, but probably Android by now is the most popular globally now on devices.
Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most vehicles.
EBH
Sep 21, 2026 at 06:03 PM
p.3 #3Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
tester_V wrote:
I'm sorry to hear you were MAC user all your life...🥺. Try windows, 95% of the world runs on windows. MAC is a great hardware PC, but it is like a car that uses coal when the rest of the world uses gas or electricity to power cars. 😉
Actually — if you do want to "go there" — current "Mac" (not "MAC") computers are arguably not the machines deserving the coal-burning analogy. Perhaps you have not heard of Apple's advanced OS? Or their M processors' performance?
I have nothing against Windows computers or users. I used to occasionally teach students using both platforms in a lab that had Windows and Mac machines side by side. Lots of smart and talented photographers use them to produce excellent work.
But, c’mon, that "computer wars" stuff is so 1980s.
No mater how many "winky" emojis you add.
Let it go.
Please.
I'm sorry to hear you were MAC user all your life...🥺. Try windows, 95% of the world runs on windows. MAC is a great hardware PC, but it is like a car that uses coal when the rest of the world uses gas or electricity to power cars. 😉
Actually — if you do want to "go there" — current "Mac" (not "MAC") computers are arguably not the machines deserving the coal-burning analogy. Perhaps you have not heard of Apple's advanced OS? Or their M processors' performance?
I have nothing against Windows computers or users. I used to occasionally teach students using both platforms in a lab that had Windows and Mac machines side by side. Lots of smart and talented photographers use them to produce excellent work.
But, c’mon, that "computer wars" stuff is so 1980s.
No mater how many "winky" emojis you add.
Let it go.
Please.
Sep 22, 2026 at 11:09 AM
p.3 #4Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
tester_V wrote:
I'm sorry to hear you were MAC user all your life...🥺. Try windows, 95% of the world runs on windows. MAC is a great hardware PC, but it is like a car that uses coal when the rest of the world uses gas or electricity to power cars. 😉
I’d agree with you, but then we’d both be wrong.
I'm sorry to hear you were MAC user all your life...🥺. Try windows, 95% of the world runs on windows. MAC is a great hardware PC, but it is like a car that uses coal when the rest of the world uses gas or electricity to power cars. 😉
I’d agree with you, but then we’d both be wrong.
Sep 22, 2026 at 07:26 PM
p.3 #5Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
Just from the top of my head " advanced MAC OS and the Finder specifically" cannot even create a file...case closed. The OS is about 40 years old and never was really updated, whatever you need to do it asks about "enter your password". it is because it does not know who is logged in.... And of course it is sold to the Apple users as a safety precaution..... in reality it is extremely outdated. There is no, I repeat NO OS on this planet the asks a user to "eject usb drive" before removing it... well MAC os still does it.... I remember when the OS 26.3 or something like that was released I read what is new in it..."" 8 new emojis..." and stuff like that.... It is really sad....Look, I'm not here to trash that garbage called MAC OS, I'm using my MAC Book PRO M4 PRO, I heavily modified it with custom Finder replacement and other custom apps and guess what> it is become usable. If anyone is interested I can pint you to some of the free MAC apps I'm using. Cheers! 
Sep 22, 2026 at 09:47 PM
p.3 #6Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
tester_V wrote:
Just from the top of my head " advanced MAC OS and the Finder specifically" cannot even create a file...case closed. The OS is about 40 years old and never was really updated, whatever you need to do it asks about "enter your password". it is because it does not know who is logged in.... And of course it is sold to the Apple users as a safety precaution..... in reality it is extremely outdated. There is no, I repeat NO OS on this planet the asks a user to "eject usb drive" before removing it... well MAC os still...Show more →
You clearly are using all those 8 new emojis well. I am glad Windows works for you. You are happy with your tech choices and I am happy with mine.
Just from the top of my head " advanced MAC OS and the Finder specifically" cannot even create a file...case closed. The OS is about 40 years old and never was really updated, whatever you need to do it asks about "enter your password". it is because it does not know who is logged in.... And of course it is sold to the Apple users as a safety precaution..... in reality it is extremely outdated. There is no, I repeat NO OS on this planet the asks a user to "eject usb drive" before removing it... well MAC os still...Show more →
You clearly are using all those 8 new emojis well. I am glad Windows works for you. You are happy with your tech choices and I am happy with mine.
Sep 22, 2026 at 10:40 PM
p.3 #7Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
EB-1 wrote:
Most of the world was on Linux or other Nix I thought, but probably Android by now is the most popular globally now on devices.
Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most...Show more →
Photoshop / lightroom optimization is poor. I can throw 64C threadripper and multiple nvidia cards or rtx6000 at it but it cant actually use the power.
tester_V wrote
I'm sorry to hear you were MAC user all your life...🥺. Try windows, 95% of the world runs on windows. MAC is a great hardware PC, but it is like a car that uses coal when the rest of the world uses gas or electricity to power cars. 😉Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most...Show more →
Photoshop / lightroom optimization is poor. I can throw 64C threadripper and multiple nvidia cards or rtx6000 at it but it cant actually use the power.
Sep 23, 2026 at 01:18 AM
p.3 #8Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
aCuria wrote:
Most of the world was on Linux or other Nix I thought, but probably Android by now is the most popular globally now on devices.
Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most vehicles.
EBHPhotoshop / lightroom optimization is poor. I can throw 64C threadripper and multiple nvidia cards or rtx6000 at it but it cant actually use the power.
+1
Stuffing all that power into a laptop ... one has to make some choices regarding the power / heat dissipation paradigm. This is where I think Mac has done their homework, in certain regard (i.e. modular / shared memory > CPU/GPU as future software develops / transitions that CPU / GPU relationship, etc.).
And, not that there aren't more powerful options than an MBP ... there ARE ... but, in a laptop, there are quid pro quo limits to what you can stuff into it.
EB-1 wrote
tester_V wrote
I'm sorry to hear you were MAC user all your life...🥺. Try windows, 95% of the world runs on windows. MAC is a great hardware PC, but it is like a car that uses coal when the rest of the world uses gas or electricity to power cars. 😉Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most vehicles.
EBH
+1
Stuffing all that power into a laptop ... one has to make some choices regarding the power / heat dissipation paradigm. This is where I think Mac has done their homework, in certain regard (i.e. modular / shared memory > CPU/GPU as future software develops / transitions that CPU / GPU relationship, etc.).
And, not that there aren't more powerful options than an MBP ... there ARE ... but, in a laptop, there are quid pro quo limits to what you can stuff into it.
Sep 23, 2026 at 06:29 AM
p.3 #9Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
tester_V wrote:
Just from the top of my head " advanced MAC OS and the Finder specifically" cannot even create a file...case closed. The OS is about 40 years old and never was really updated, whatever you need to do it asks about "enter your password". it is because it does not know who is logged in.... And of course it is sold to the Apple users as a safety precaution..... in reality it is extremely outdated. There is no, I repeat NO OS on this planet the asks a user to "eject usb drive" before removing it... well MAC os still...Show more →
You come back to FM after not posting for years… and THIS is where you want to go?
You are derailing the thread, not to mention embarrassing yourself.
Please stop.
Just from the top of my head " advanced MAC OS and the Finder specifically" cannot even create a file...case closed. The OS is about 40 years old and never was really updated, whatever you need to do it asks about "enter your password". it is because it does not know who is logged in.... And of course it is sold to the Apple users as a safety precaution..... in reality it is extremely outdated. There is no, I repeat NO OS on this planet the asks a user to "eject usb drive" before removing it... well MAC os still...Show more →
You come back to FM after not posting for years… and THIS is where you want to go?
You are derailing the thread, not to mention embarrassing yourself.
Please stop.
Sep 23, 2026 at 06:36 AM
p.3 #10Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
RustyBug wrote:
Most of the world was on Linux or other Nix I thought, but probably Android by now is the most popular globally now on devices.
Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most vehicles.
EBHPhotoshop / lightroom optimization is poor. I can throw 64C threadripper and multiple nvidia cards or rtx6000 at it but it cant actually use the power.+1
Stuffing all that power into a laptop ... one has to make some choices regarding the power / heat dissipation paradigm. This is where I think Mac has done their homework, in certain regard (i.e. modular / shared memory > CPU/GPU as future software develops / transitions that CPU / GPU relationship, etc.).
And, not that there aren't more powerful options than an MBP ... there ARE ... but, in a laptop, there are quid pro quo limits to what you can stuff into it.
The problem with the more powerful laptops is that they tend to be heavily throttled when on battery power.
The problem with macs is that the cost of ram and storage is usually exorbitant.
I use both but I don't like either tradeoff
aCuria wrote
EB-1 wrote
tester_V wrote
I'm sorry to hear you were MAC user all your life...🥺. Try windows, 95% of the world runs on windows. MAC is a great hardware PC, but it is like a car that uses coal when the rest of the world uses gas or electricity to power cars. 😉Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most vehicles.
EBH
Stuffing all that power into a laptop ... one has to make some choices regarding the power / heat dissipation paradigm. This is where I think Mac has done their homework, in certain regard (i.e. modular / shared memory > CPU/GPU as future software develops / transitions that CPU / GPU relationship, etc.).
And, not that there aren't more powerful options than an MBP ... there ARE ... but, in a laptop, there are quid pro quo limits to what you can stuff into it.
The problem with the more powerful laptops is that they tend to be heavily throttled when on battery power.
The problem with macs is that the cost of ram and storage is usually exorbitant.
I use both but I don't like either tradeoff
Sep 23, 2026 at 08:04 AM
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p.3 #11Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
aCuria wrote:
Most of the world was on Linux or other Nix I thought, but probably Android by now is the most popular globally now on devices.
Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most vehicles.
EBHPhotoshop / lightroom optimization is poor. I can throw 64C threadripper and multiple nvidia cards or rtx6000 at it but it cant actually use the power.+1
Stuffing all that power into a laptop ... one has to make some choices regarding the power / heat dissipation paradigm. This is where I think Mac has done their homework, in certain regard (i.e. modular / shared memory > CPU/GPU as future software develops / transitions that CPU / GPU relationship, etc.).
And, not that there aren't more powerful options than an MBP ... there ARE ... but, in a laptop, there are quid pro quo limits to what you can stuff into it.The problem with the more powerful laptops is that they tend to be heavily throttled when on battery power.
The problem with macs is that the cost of ram and storage is usually exorbitant.
I use both but I don't like either tradeoff
My experience with my MBP ... battery vs. powered ... seat of pants experience is same. That's one thing that Mac does pretty well regarding the throttling thing. With my ThinkPad Extreme, the diff was vastly more noticeable. I used my laptop connected to mains, exclusively (still on my lap), and when going to battery, I knew it was going to be a reduction in performanance, and not for a very long time till I exhausted the battery into further throttling. On a different note, I'd have to reduce power to control thermal heat signature, the dang thing could roast my legs.
With the MBP ... I run on battery until it says I'm low. Mostly, I simply plug it in overnight and then I'm good on battery for most of the next day, if not all of it. Performance wise, though ... no experience of constraint (imo) when on battery. That, and no more roasted legs.
RustyBug wrote
aCuria wrote
EB-1 wrote
tester_V wrote
I'm sorry to hear you were MAC user all your life...🥺. Try windows, 95% of the world runs on windows. MAC is a great hardware PC, but it is like a car that uses coal when the rest of the world uses gas or electricity to power cars. 😉Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most vehicles.
EBH
Stuffing all that power into a laptop ... one has to make some choices regarding the power / heat dissipation paradigm. This is where I think Mac has done their homework, in certain regard (i.e. modular / shared memory > CPU/GPU as future software develops / transitions that CPU / GPU relationship, etc.).
And, not that there aren't more powerful options than an MBP ... there ARE ... but, in a laptop, there are quid pro quo limits to what you can stuff into it.
The problem with macs is that the cost of ram and storage is usually exorbitant.
I use both but I don't like either tradeoff
My experience with my MBP ... battery vs. powered ... seat of pants experience is same. That's one thing that Mac does pretty well regarding the throttling thing. With my ThinkPad Extreme, the diff was vastly more noticeable. I used my laptop connected to mains, exclusively (still on my lap), and when going to battery, I knew it was going to be a reduction in performanance, and not for a very long time till I exhausted the battery into further throttling. On a different note, I'd have to reduce power to control thermal heat signature, the dang thing could roast my legs.
With the MBP ... I run on battery until it says I'm low. Mostly, I simply plug it in overnight and then I'm good on battery for most of the next day, if not all of it. Performance wise, though ... no experience of constraint (imo) when on battery. That, and no more roasted legs.
Sep 23, 2026 at 08:15 AM
p.3 #12Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
aCuria wrote:
Most of the world was on Linux or other Nix I thought, but probably Android by now is the most popular globally now on devices.
Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most vehicles.
EBHPhotoshop / lightroom optimization is poor. I can throw 64C threadripper and multiple nvidia cards or rtx6000 at it but it cant actually use the power.+1
Stuffing all that power into a laptop ... one has to make some choices regarding the power / heat dissipation paradigm. This is where I think Mac has done their homework, in certain regard (i.e. modular / shared memory > CPU/GPU as future software develops / transitions that CPU / GPU relationship, etc.).
And, not that there aren't more powerful options than an MBP ... there ARE ... but, in a laptop, there are quid pro quo limits to what you can stuff into it.The problem with the more powerful laptops is that they tend to be heavily throttled when on battery power.
The problem with macs is that the cost of ram and storage is usually exorbitant.
I use both but I don't like either tradeoff
The cost of tech has gotten completely out of hand these days. Even after Apple's price increases in June, their products now seem reasonably priced, if not below average, compared to everything else on the market.
I bought a 4TB Samsung external SSD for under $200 in December 2023. That same drive is now selling for $1,000, even when it's on sale.
RustyBug wrote
aCuria wrote
EB-1 wrote
tester_V wrote
I'm sorry to hear you were MAC user all your life...🥺. Try windows, 95% of the world runs on windows. MAC is a great hardware PC, but it is like a car that uses coal when the rest of the world uses gas or electricity to power cars. 😉Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most vehicles.
EBH
Stuffing all that power into a laptop ... one has to make some choices regarding the power / heat dissipation paradigm. This is where I think Mac has done their homework, in certain regard (i.e. modular / shared memory > CPU/GPU as future software develops / transitions that CPU / GPU relationship, etc.).
And, not that there aren't more powerful options than an MBP ... there ARE ... but, in a laptop, there are quid pro quo limits to what you can stuff into it.
The problem with macs is that the cost of ram and storage is usually exorbitant.
I use both but I don't like either tradeoff
The cost of tech has gotten completely out of hand these days. Even after Apple's price increases in June, their products now seem reasonably priced, if not below average, compared to everything else on the market.
I bought a 4TB Samsung external SSD for under $200 in December 2023. That same drive is now selling for $1,000, even when it's on sale.
Sep 23, 2026 at 09:13 AM
p.3 #13Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
RustyBug wrote:
Most of the world was on Linux or other Nix I thought, but probably Android by now is the most popular globally now on devices.
Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most vehicles.
EBHPhotoshop / lightroom optimization is poor. I can throw 64C threadripper and multiple nvidia cards or rtx6000 at it but it cant actually use the power.+1
Stuffing all that power into a laptop ... one has to make some choices regarding the power / heat dissipation paradigm. This is where I think Mac has done their homework, in certain regard (i.e. modular / shared memory > CPU/GPU as future software develops / transitions that CPU / GPU relationship, etc.).
And, not that there aren't more powerful options than an MBP ... there ARE ... but, in a laptop, there are quid pro quo limits to what you can stuff into it.The problem with the more powerful laptops is that they tend to be heavily throttled when on battery power.
The problem with macs is that the cost of ram and storage is usually exorbitant.
I use both but I don't like either tradeoffMy experience with my MBP ... battery vs. powered ... seat of pants experience is same. That's one thing that Mac does pretty well regarding the throttling thing. With my ThinkPad Extreme, the diff was vastly more noticeable. I used my laptop connected to mains, exclusively (still on my lap), and when going to battery, I knew it was going to be a reduction in performanance, and not for a very long time till I exhausted the battery into further throttling. On a different note, I'd have to reduce power to control thermal heat signature, the dang thing could roast...Show more →
Yeah the MBP does not throttle under battery power. Its really a laptop-first chip, the performance per watt is very good. Apple was first to market with this kind of chip (M1, M2...)
In the past Windows laptop's used chips that were designed for desktop-first, and are then power limited when running on battery power. More performance when you are plugged in but the performance per watt is poor.
The good thing is that you can install your own 8TB SSD and normally it wont cost an arm and leg (though that said all SSD prices are insane right now).
Intel Lunar Lake, and AMD Strix are laptop-first chips but I have not used them. These are more similar to Apple's M5 but come with the same tradeoff (less power)
However once you have a nvidia gpu on the laptop its going to get throttled, the gpu eats more watts by itself than apple's entire M5 processor
What people do is use a laptop and then ssh to a server and offload the computation there... lightroom classic cant do this though.
aCuria wrote
RustyBug wrote
aCuria wrote
EB-1 wrote
tester_V wrote
I'm sorry to hear you were MAC user all your life...🥺. Try windows, 95% of the world runs on windows. MAC is a great hardware PC, but it is like a car that uses coal when the rest of the world uses gas or electricity to power cars. 😉Unfortunetly the mainstream consumer image processing software like Adobe DXO, C1, etc. only runs on a few OS. But the OP is looking at a consumer laptop in the $2K class, so Apple makes sense for those types of consumer image workflows.
Personally I'd rather use a Zen 5 Threadripper workstation with multiple NVidia cards and U.3 drives at home, but that's requiring more power than a NEMA 5-15 circuit and more expensive than most vehicles.
EBH
Stuffing all that power into a laptop ... one has to make some choices regarding the power / heat dissipation paradigm. This is where I think Mac has done their homework, in certain regard (i.e. modular / shared memory > CPU/GPU as future software develops / transitions that CPU / GPU relationship, etc.).
And, not that there aren't more powerful options than an MBP ... there ARE ... but, in a laptop, there are quid pro quo limits to what you can stuff into it.
The problem with macs is that the cost of ram and storage is usually exorbitant.
I use both but I don't like either tradeoff
Yeah the MBP does not throttle under battery power. Its really a laptop-first chip, the performance per watt is very good. Apple was first to market with this kind of chip (M1, M2...)
In the past Windows laptop's used chips that were designed for desktop-first, and are then power limited when running on battery power. More performance when you are plugged in but the performance per watt is poor.
The good thing is that you can install your own 8TB SSD and normally it wont cost an arm and leg (though that said all SSD prices are insane right now).
Intel Lunar Lake, and AMD Strix are laptop-first chips but I have not used them. These are more similar to Apple's M5 but come with the same tradeoff (less power)
However once you have a nvidia gpu on the laptop its going to get throttled, the gpu eats more watts by itself than apple's entire M5 processor
What people do is use a laptop and then ssh to a server and offload the computation there... lightroom classic cant do this though.
Sep 23, 2026 at 09:31 AM
p.3 #14Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
gdanmitchell wrote:
You come back to FM after not posting for years… and THIS is where you want to go?
You are derailing the thread, not to mention embarrassing yourself.
Please stop.
He's (tester_V) is another great reason to use the HIDE ME button. Just did it....
tester_V wrote
Just from the top of my head " advanced MAC OS and the Finder specifically" cannot even create a file...case closed. The OS is about 40 years old and never was really updated, whatever you need to do it asks about "enter your password". it is because it does not know who is logged in.... And of course it is sold to the Apple users as a safety precaution..... in reality it is extremely outdated. There is no, I repeat NO OS on this planet the asks a user to "eject usb drive" before removing it... well MAC os still does it.... I remember when the OS 26.3 or something like that was released I read what is new in it..."" 8 new emojis..." and stuff like that.... It is really sad....Look, I'm not here to trash that garbage called MAC OS, I'm using my MAC Book PRO M4 PRO, I heavily modified it with custom Finder replacement and other custom apps and guess what> it is become usable. If anyone is interested I can pint you to some of the free MAC apps I'm using. Cheers!You are derailing the thread, not to mention embarrassing yourself.
Please stop.
He's (tester_V) is another great reason to use the HIDE ME button. Just did it....
Sep 23, 2026 at 02:03 PM
p.3 #15Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
schlotz wrote:
You come back to FM after not posting for years… and THIS is where you want to go?
You are derailing the thread, not to mention embarrassing yourself.
Please stop.He's (tester_V) is another great reason to use the HIDE ME button. Just did it....
Ditto.
gdanmitchell wrote
tester_V wrote
Just from the top of my head " advanced MAC OS and the Finder specifically" cannot even create a file...case closed. The OS is about 40 years old and never was really updated, whatever you need to do it asks about "enter your password". it is because it does not know who is logged in.... And of course it is sold to the Apple users as a safety precaution..... in reality it is extremely outdated. There is no, I repeat NO OS on this planet the asks a user to "eject usb drive" before removing it... well MAC os still does it.... I remember when the OS 26.3 or something like that was released I read what is new in it..."" 8 new emojis..." and stuff like that.... It is really sad....Look, I'm not here to trash that garbage called MAC OS, I'm using my MAC Book PRO M4 PRO, I heavily modified it with custom Finder replacement and other custom apps and guess what> it is become usable. If anyone is interested I can pint you to some of the free MAC apps I'm using. Cheers!You are derailing the thread, not to mention embarrassing yourself.
Please stop.
Ditto.
Sep 23, 2026 at 04:15 PM
p.3 #16Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
Again, the world runs on Windows. Game over. It is fine if you like MAC. Why not if you are having a good time? But there is a reason why only 5% of the world uses MAC, and it is NOT because it is great, or even good. It is like a lomography cameras in 2026. You can get a really god pictures and a great time taking it but it is not practical or comfortable or... so many or, or , or. Cheers!
Sep 23, 2026 at 06:07 PM
p.3 #17Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
tester_V wrote:
Again, the world runs on Windows. Game over. It is fine if you like MAC. Why not if you are having a good time? But there is a reason why only 5% of the world uses MAC, and it is NOT because it is great, or even good. It is like a lomography cameras in 2026. You can get a really god pictures and a great time taking it but it is not practical or comfortable or... so many or, or , or. Cheers!
I doubt there is anyone that would argue against there are more Windows OS in use than Mac OS. That isn't and never was the point. Arguing that is rather sophomoric (and off topic from the OP's specified quest) ... Oooh, oooh, I was right, Horshack (vintage).
The fact that the two OS approach things differently ... is somewhat akin to an SLR / DSLR / Mirrorless vs. a Rangefinder. There are vastly fewer folks using a rangefinder than the others. Yeah, so what. Oh wait, the rangefinder hasn't changed its mechanism to match the others yet ... OMG, it is so far behind, stuck back in time.
Mac OS is based on a different approach that Windows OS ... yeah, and it was done so for folks who prefer to function via that approach (not my fav, but ... ). Big whoop that 95% of the machines out there are Windows (or whatever). Personally, I prefer the Windows OS and find it vastly preferential for keyboarding, but I like the experience of using the Mac for my laptop work / photo editing.
You can beat your chest for bashing Mac ... how'd you say it, oh yeah ... "Why not if you are having a good time?"
Horses for courses.
Again, the world runs on Windows. Game over. It is fine if you like MAC. Why not if you are having a good time? But there is a reason why only 5% of the world uses MAC, and it is NOT because it is great, or even good. It is like a lomography cameras in 2026. You can get a really god pictures and a great time taking it but it is not practical or comfortable or... so many or, or , or. Cheers!
I doubt there is anyone that would argue against there are more Windows OS in use than Mac OS. That isn't and never was the point. Arguing that is rather sophomoric (and off topic from the OP's specified quest) ... Oooh, oooh, I was right, Horshack (vintage).
The fact that the two OS approach things differently ... is somewhat akin to an SLR / DSLR / Mirrorless vs. a Rangefinder. There are vastly fewer folks using a rangefinder than the others. Yeah, so what. Oh wait, the rangefinder hasn't changed its mechanism to match the others yet ... OMG, it is so far behind, stuck back in time.
Mac OS is based on a different approach that Windows OS ... yeah, and it was done so for folks who prefer to function via that approach (not my fav, but ... ). Big whoop that 95% of the machines out there are Windows (or whatever). Personally, I prefer the Windows OS and find it vastly preferential for keyboarding, but I like the experience of using the Mac for my laptop work / photo editing.
You can beat your chest for bashing Mac ... how'd you say it, oh yeah ... "Why not if you are having a good time?"
Horses for courses.
Sep 23, 2026 at 07:36 PM
p.3 #18Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
Adobe products seem poorly optimized on windows, but seems to run better on lower hardware on the MAC. (maybe unified memory).
I have a great PC I built 64GB and 16GB Video card, but LR is not as nearly as one would hope.
I suspect the Windows and MAC builds are done by different developer teams with different goals.
Either one works for basic tasks. MAC does cost a lot more is the main negative.
Memory is high and just a bad time to buy.
I would go with a PRO and not the AIR if your looking at a MAC. M6 is about to drop.
I have a great PC I built 64GB and 16GB Video card, but LR is not as nearly as one would hope.
I suspect the Windows and MAC builds are done by different developer teams with different goals.
Either one works for basic tasks. MAC does cost a lot more is the main negative.
Memory is high and just a bad time to buy.
I would go with a PRO and not the AIR if your looking at a MAC. M6 is about to drop.
Sep 23, 2026 at 07:58 PM
p.3 #19Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
sonofjesse2010 wrote:
M6 is about to drop.
My target life expectancy for my M2 was 5-8 years. I'm not "Jonesing" for a new rig yet, so looks like I should make it at least M7 or beyond.
M6 is about to drop.
My target life expectancy for my M2 was 5-8 years. I'm not "Jonesing" for a new rig yet, so looks like I should make it at least M7 or beyond.
Sep 23, 2026 at 08:10 PM
p.3 #20Need Laptop Recommendation for Photo Processing
Correct that M6 is about to drop but not the M6 Pro chips. If one is buying a base model Pro, waiting another month to get M6 is a better move, but if you are buying M5 Pro or Max chips, there is not much benefit in waiting. There are rumors of touch screen Mac Ultra coming soon though, but who knows how much will that cost. The current Macbooks are way too expensive as is.
Sep 23, 2026 at 08:27 PM