~ Updated: 2018-01-17 (Original Post: 2017-07-14) We are often asked: what is the best computer for photo editing? If you have the cash to burn, you can simply go out and buy the best computer to run Photoshop and Lightroom.
How Much Does Mac Photo Editing Software Cost? You'll find that the best Mac photo editing software ranges between $30 and $100. Usually, programs costing $50 and up will give you more creative freedom and control over your work.
In the real world, however, buying a computer for photo editing is a daunting and expensive experience; especially for new photographers who have just started out. After buying a camera, lenses, and all the extras, your cash reserves might be depleted. The reality is, that all your expensive camera gear, will come to nothing if you don’t have a reliable and fast computer system, on which to edit your photos. In this article, which we update regularly, we shed some light on what we think is the best computer for photo editing and hope to save you a lot of time, money, and heartache Desktop, or Laptop? Visual explanations in picture. “High-End Desktop PC” Another uncertainty is whether you should buy a Desktop Computer or a Laptop? The first question you should ask yourself is; do you travel around a lot, or do you mostly work from home?
Desktop PC’s have great upgrade potential but are a hassle to move around. Laptops, despite their limitations in terms of specs and upgradeability, are better for people who are constantly on the move. Another aspect you should take into consideration is screen size. Editing on a big monitor is much more pleasant than struggling with a smaller laptop screen. If you consider buying a laptop only, then also consider buying an additional large screen for photo editing.
What most professional photographers do, is buy a laptop for on-the-road work, and then have a beast of a system at home or office, for editing that demands a lot of disk space and processing power. We recommend staying away from All-in-One PCs (where the hardware is built into the screen) as they seriously lack upgradeability.
It’s also impractical for photographers who need multiple drives for storage. The general exception, however, would be the Microsoft Surface and the iMac, which both have impressive specs and offer excellent monitors. These high-end, very expensive machines, will last years before needing an upgrade. For editing, the latest iMac will run the latest Photoshop and Lightroom apps seamlessly. One of the most frequently asked questions and a widely-debated topic is: which is better, Windows or MacOS? My advice is, get the system that you are most comfortable with.
I grew up with a PC and am often a bit confused when using MAC. However, the opposite will be true for someone that really knows their way around MAC. One definite advantage of MAC is the more “limited” product range compared to the vast variety of Windows-based PCs. In other words, if you buy a new MAC, which only comes with medium – high-end specs, you can be pretty sure that it will be able to run your editing programs seamlessly; whereas an uninformed user, might buy a low-spec PC, which can’t do the job. On the other hand, if you do your research and buy a proper PC, you will get more “bang for your buck” as well as future upgradeability. “Solid State Drive (SSD)” The Hard Disk Drive (HDD) has been around for so long that all drives are generally called Hard Drives. In recent years, however, the Solid State Drive (SSD) has become ever more popular.