Anyone used MacBook with large InDesign, Photoshop docs?

[c.s.]

I'm curious how you'd compare the experience to other Macs you own. I haven't seen many comments from heavy Photoshop users.

I've got a retina iMac for most of my work, but will be doing some traveling now. I'm used to a 2012 15" rMBP and love the screen real estate, which I usually bump up to 1680 x 1050 when using Adobe apps. I've used the 15" size for years. Still, I only use a notebook when I absolutely have to. I prefer the ergonomics of a desktop. I wonder if I'll dislike the experience even more with a smaller screen and slower processor, or if I'll like being able to carry it anywhere and not worry about the weight. Anyone edited a 500 MB Photoshop file with 30+ layers on this thing? Appreciate your thoughts.

 

[mainframe_module]

yeah,

I'm curious how it will go with tethered shoots from a medium format camera and to handle quick photoshop edits on location and handling raw files.....hmmm

 

[JuanKr]

Me too.... especially with the Canon 5Ds archives. Could with it?

 

[Eric8199]

I'm curious how you'd compare the experience to other Macs you own. I haven't seen many comments from heavy Photoshop users.

I've got a retina iMac for most of my work, but will be doing some traveling now. I'm used to a 2012 15" rMBP and love the screen real estate, which I usually bump up to 1680 x 1050 when using Adobe apps. I've used the 15" size for years. Still, I only use a notebook when I absolutely have to. I prefer the ergonomics of a desktop. I wonder if I'll dislike the experience even more with a smaller screen and slower processor, or if I'll like being able to carry it anywhere and not worry about the weight. Anyone edited a 500 MB Photoshop file with 30+ layers on this thing? Appreciate your thoughts.

You mentioned InDesign. I use QuarkXpress 8.5 and have done a few things on the MacBook with it. It's a touch slower than my mid-2012 15" rMBP, but not much — nothing too noticeable. I haven't used it for extended periods of time, however, so I don't know if it will heat up and throttle as a result.

As for Photoshop, I haven't done anything too extensive. I do know when adding text there is a delay from me typing to the text showing up on screen. Otherwise, basic photo editing works fine, and I've done some minor graphics stuff and it seems OK. Certainly wouldn't want to use it as your primary Photoshop device, but could be used if you're traveling or as a secondary machine.

 

[Brocksley]

I've had it slow down on ~50mb PSD files with ~10 layers. It does fine for photo retouches.

 

[c.s.]

I've had it slow down on ~50mb PSD files with ~10 layers. It does fine for photo retouches.

Good to know! Doesn't sound like the product for me. I do a ton of that.

 

[Queen6]

Good to know! Doesn't sound like the product for me. I do a ton of that.

Being passively cooled, you definitely need to steer away from any CPU intensive loads, as the CPU/GPU has no alternative other than to throttle, elevating the rest of the MacBook will help to maintain higher loads longer. Assuming you can keep the MacBook cool enough, powered cooler etc it will hold full "boost" as long as you require it, equally this defeats the portability of the MacBook.

Q-6