Alvesang
macrumors regular
That leaves me with one question: Who would buy an expensive software like CS5 for casual use? There's Photoshop Elements for that. And PSE by the way works well, with the same heavy duty exceptions mentioned for CS5.
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MaBook Air 11.6" and Photoshop CS5
- Thread starter ryanmckenzie
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That leaves me with one question: Who would buy an expensive software like CS5 for casual use? There's Photoshop Elements for that. And PSE by the way works well, with the same heavy duty exceptions mentioned for CS5.
entatlrg
macrumors 68040
If you're not working from a desk and an external display is not an option then using all those app's is for sure better managed on a 13.3 screen versus the 11.6.
I know, I have them both and use those app's.😀
Is your tablet workflow dependent on CS5?
I'm still on CS3 and have no need to upgrade (except maybe for HDR) - if you don't need CS5 I bet one of the older versions would work better with the MBA, which ever version.
I'm still on CS3 and have no need to upgrade (except maybe for HDR) - if you don't need CS5 I bet one of the older versions would work better with the MBA, which ever version.
Beg your pardon, but imho you are wrong .
It can't be said the MBA is running Photoshop 'fine' , without adding 'however' .
Indeed, for light loads the MBA works surprisingly well in PS CS5 (if you use the proper settings), and without major hassle .
But the slow CPUs, just 4GB of RAM don't allow for great productivity, if productivity is a factor .
Filters are usually not an issue, but lots of (not adjustment) layers are , and batch processing of complex and/or large files is a pain on the MBA.
But it's still great when carrying an MBP is not an option , it just isn't very efficient .
I don't do Flash or Video editing, but I assume the MBA will be significantly slower there than a MacPro and also a regular laptop , much more so than with image editing .
KnightWRX
macrumors Pentium
Nope, I'm not wrong and you just proved me more right with more extreme examples where you push the boundaries. No one is asking to run an Air as a replacement for a Pro workstation where you deal with large data sets and complex filters and no one expects the Air to be equivalent to those.
But the Air is quite capable of running of Photoshop CS5 to do what casual Photoshop users do. You know, the tasks that you could remove CS in front of the 5 and Photoshop could still do (yes, Photoshop 5.0, the thing in the 90s that ran on 32 MB of RAM and a Pentium 100 mhz computer.)
A lot of users over-estimate their computing needs. I get that you are all Pro-level artists that work Photoshop day and night and don't have an image file smaller than 2 TBs, but really, why are you applying your niche needs in pro-level editing to someone asking about casual use ?
leftywamumonkey
macrumors 6502a
Mr. Retrofire
macrumors 603
The OS (kernel) and the applications run in different "spaces" (kernel space vs. user space). That is the reason why you can use very fast 64-Bit software under a 32-Bit OS. The 32-Bit mode has not many limitations, because the RAM and the harddisk(s) are much slower than a 32-Bit processor.
Btw, the speed increase for Photoshop is not very high, because it is already optimized via SSE2 (128-Bit instructions). Just like iTunes or VLC.
Mr. Retrofire
macrumors 603
Yeah, and they try to use a MBA for the wrong tasks. Sometimes it seems these kids want a MBA with the performance of a Mac Pro. They smoke definitely the wrong stuff. Photoshop CS5.1 on a MBA? Why not Cinema 4D or Maya? *lol*
Abstract
macrumors Penryn
Agree x 1000.
Next thing you know, people will be asking for an 11" MBA with 17" display.
There's an appropriate tool for every job. People should choose the appropriate tool and stop complaining that their square peg doesn't fit into the circular hole.
If you're a heavy-duty user with processor-intensive needs, then choose a laptop with a faster CPU. A 13" MBP isn't THAT much heavier than a 13" MBA, and even if you actually believe that it is too heavy, you'd probably would still be willing to carry it around because you have 'real' work to do, and you need a way to get it done; no excuses. This is the way it was in the Stone Age (pre-2008), when
People don't carry around a 15" or 17" MBP because they enjoy the extra physical exercise. They get it because they need the machine that will meet their needs. An MBA will fulfill your computing needs, as long as those needs don't involve movie editing and multiple edit layers in Photoshop.
I'm going to buy the upgraded 11" MBA when it's released, and I intend to write documents, work on spreadsheets, read PDFs, and post at MacRumours and FaceBook while I'm away from home. It could handle my current photographic needs, but I'll still use my 15" MBP to do that type of work, since it's the better, faster tool for the job. 😉
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I totally agree with your points, but I don't think you should be assuming the part about no one expecting an Air to be a desktop replacement. In all my years of IT, I've found that you should never assume anything, because people think/expect what you wouldn't even imagine.
I'm sure an MBA will work just fine for everyday Photoshop needs. When I purchase mine, I know PS won't run exactly like it does on my desktop, or do everything as efficiently, but I'm not asking it to. I do, however, know that it will handle the basic tasks I will be performing just fine. This is the whole premise of your argument, and there must be an asterisk there: it will run fine, just don't expect it to be screaming fast.
I definitely agree with you on the over-estimating of specs, as well. It's like when people walk into Best Buy and want a general, everyday, computer that can be used for web browsing, email, and storage of digital photos, and end up with some Quad-Core, 8GB, 2TB HDD, $300 video card machine because they'll "need it".
Beanoir
macrumors 6502a
I'd say that wasn't really a niche example to be honest, CS5 is used by many graphic artists, photographers, SE engineers etc, who DO very often work with files in excess of this size.
I think the point made is correct, and like I said earlier, yes CS5 will run fine on an MBA depending on what you use it for, if you're expecting to bring home some work from the studio that you normally run on a 8-core Pro and suddenly wonder why it's crap on the MBA, then yes thats a fair responses and plenty of people in that position. Its not just Yank school kids and gamers that use Macs, professional artists were using them long before...
And to answer your question about how we did it 5 years ago, everything is proportional, technology all moves at roughly the same rate, so cameras - file size - editing software - computer technology all advance together.
KnightWRX
macrumors Pentium
Yes, and those guys are part of a niche. Hence why it's a niche example. And I doubt those guys are coming on here asking about Photoshop CS5 on the Air. They know the answer already.
xxBURT0Nxx
macrumors 68020
Agreed, if you are using PS for that intensive of tasks you already are experienced with the program and its needs. A professional graphic artist knows what kind of machine they need for their work... if someone has to ask, any current mac will handle their photoshop needs just fine.
Beanoir
macrumors 6502a
How on earth are those type of professionals a niche of people using CS5?
I agree with everything else you say, but when it comes to CS5 and the rest of the creative suite they're hardly a niche they're Adobe's target market for gods sake!
However, amateurs looking to perhaps upgrade their kit, for instance a photographer, he/she just picked up a nice new Canon DSLR and wants to edit his day's photoshoot in RAW WILL struggle with CS5 on an MBA, thats advice and its advice that those people may be seeking on this forum, so why dismiss it??
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KnightWRX
macrumors Pentium
Fine, you know what, you're right. Absolutely 100% right and I am wrong. I will now delete all the graphics I made for my website and my iOS project using both Illustrator and Photoshop CS5 using my Wacom Bamboo on this MacBook Air as obviously I am just imagining them since CS5 suite does not run at all on this machine.
Thank you for enlightening me, this could have been an embarrassing moment for me. I forever bow to your wisdom.
xxBURT0Nxx
macrumors 68020
I think he is saying that professionals are the target market... consumers just wanting to edit their photos are the niche market. That's actually a pretty reasonable claim, I don't think Adobe is marketing PS to your average Joe who just wants to edit some photos on the weekend and touch up his family portraits or edit a few pics for his website. PS is definitely a PRO tool, and therefore the pros using it are not the niche market, instead your average joe is the niche market.
Beanoir
macrumors 6502a
Kind of yes, although i'd probably go one step further and say that probably neither are a niche market.
What I was trying to get across is that it would be perfectly reasonable for an average joe bloggs who has a pretty nifty DSLR camera and wants to edit all his RAW images in CS5 and might be looking to do it on an MBA, at which point he will struggle, there's no denying that.
If that joe bloggs was reading here, which is highly likely, then he'd be looking for an honest opinion on how well CS5 runs on an MBA, and the answer is, yes it does but with some limitations depending on what you are doing with it.
It would therefore be mis-leading for poor old joe bloggs if people here were to claim otherwise.
Beanoir
macrumors 6502a
Nothing like being grossly mis-quoted, if you READ what I posted earlier you'd have understood that I said, and lets quote this properly from my post No.25...
"It's not the software itself that'll give you problems, I run mine on a 11" with just 2GB, for simple editing stuff with smaller happy snap sized files (say up to 10mb files) it works fine. It also loads up nice and quick and is surprisingly usable.
However, if you start trying to open multiple files, multiple layers and RAW files, then you will notice the limits of the Air, after all thats not really what it was designed for.
So, yes for your everyday casual CS5 user, go for it, you won't be disappointed if you don't demand too much of it."
Nothing there about it not running on an MBA in fact quite the opposite.
So yes I can see how this might become quite embarrassing for you.
KnightWRX
macrumors Pentium
Look, I'll make this dead simple for you : You're 100% right. There's now nothing else to discuss here. No need to reply.
You do realise the OP was posted in October 2010 right ?
Beanoir
macrumors 6502a
I saw nothing in the manual defining what the "wrong tasks" are for my Air 11... I routinely push the little guy and am nothing but pleased with its performance.
Computers are not a hobby for me. They allow me to do my job and make money. The portability that the air brings (I have it with me everywhere) gives it value over its speed or power. I have a new $12,000 Mac Pro and a several new 15" Macbook Pros, but the Air gets far more day to day use.
I agree with KnightWRX that most people overestimate their computer needs..
Yes, there are certain types of computing that require big hardware (very little of it is in the design profession in my experience), but to use that type of work to justify not using a laptop... any laptop.. does not make sense. Few people need that type of power. Fewer need it 100% of the time. Any anyone who does require that amount of hardware should darn well be getting paid good money for their time and can afford a $1000 laptop on the side.
If I look at all the computers that I have used in my design career over the past 20 years, my little air is still faster than 90% of them.
jeremiah256
macrumors 65816
With as many high schoolers I see demo'ing CS5 on YouTube, I'm wondering how many people are actually paying for it.
And thanks for the explanation Mr. Retrofire.
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Well, count me in with these "kids". I have a Macbook Air, running office 2011, photoshop CS5 (for complex web development - a hundred layers at times with multiple effects) Half life 2, Bioshock, imovie HD editing - all run fantastically, and I've got the "low end" 11" with 1.4 and 2 gigs ram. I couldn't be more thrilled with it's performance at this size and specs. That SSD REALLY speeds things up, and it has a pretty capable graphics chip.