PC for Photographers: The Ultimate Guide. In Post-processing by Jeff Harmon January 19, 2015 191 Comments. The Mac Pro is an incredibly powerful machine, but I don’t recommend it for a beginning photographer. (big box) shelf is not going to be the best for photo editing. Mac or Windows. June 4, 2017 Reply. Steve Callaghan.

Posted on by [ UPDATE: In June 2017, Apple updated their MacBook Pro laptops with new processors, more SSD storage and renamed, but not changed, GPUs. UPDATE 2: In July, 2018, they updated MacBook Pros again. While the technology has changed, my general recommendations remain the same for these new units. I’ll add updates for the new gear as I learn more.] A frequent email request from readers is help in configuring a computer for video editing. There are many options and, sometimes, it is hard to decide the best place to spend your money.

Yes, the launch of the new MacBook Pro has had its share of controversy. Trendnet tpl-303e software for mac. But, what if you still need to buy a laptop for video editing? What do you really need? How much do you really need to spend? You don’t need to spend a fortune to get the right system. Let me help you decide what you need to buy.

NOTE: Here are two other configuration articles you may find useful: • for video editing • for video editing There are many reasons to buy a laptop, with portability leading the list. However, the MacBook Pro has enough power that you can reasonably consider it for your principle editing system, especially when you combine it with an external 5K or 4K monitor. WHAT SIZE LAPTOP?

I recommend 15″. Whether you are running Premiere or Final Cut, larger screen sizes help. Both these interfaces work better on larger screens. Second, while Apple has expanded – and vastly improved – the speed and storage capacity of the MacBook Pro, I still recommend storing projects and media on an external drive. While there is a benefit to storing everything on the internal hard disk – portability and speed being two of them – using a second drive allows you to move projects between computers, as well as access to your data in the event your computer goes into the shop. However, for best results, you would be well-advised to consider an external SSD if you want speed, or a RAID if you need more storage space. Single hard disks will work, but don’t equal the performance of the laptop itself, or these other two options.

DOES THE TOUCH BAR MAKE A DIFFERENCE? I think it does. I found it increasingly helpful as I worked with the unit. NOTE: that explains how the Touch Bar works in Final Cut Pro X. SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT BATTERY LIFE?

I think the current battery controversy will be resolved quickly through software. However, even more than that, video editing burns through batteries, regardless of how long they are supposed to last. For me, all my editing – even on the road – is done when I’m attached to wall power; excepting only the very tiniest projects. Since I’m never on battery power for editing, how long the batteries last is not an important consideration for me. UPDATE: The battery issue was traced to a bug in the OS.