This is very helpful.
I have a comment and a couple questions. My comment is what drove me to this is I paid $4k for a top of the line Windows gaming laptop to years ago only to find recently that it was bogging down when I imported my card after a photo shoot. I have since found out the culprit is Onedrive, which goes into overload trying to copy all my files to the cloud. I have since figured out how to shut the sync process in onedrive while i am processing photos. THe other point is I would like to get a 5k monitor but they apparently don't work well with Windows at this point.
Now my questions. Is a 16 inch Mabook Pro M1 with 1 tb and 16 gb ram going to be adequate or do I need more RAM? There is a deal on one of those but the price goes way up if I get more RAM or larger HD.
Second question, would I be better off with a Mac Studio? I am not looking at moving this around much.
Well, as I said my changeover to Apple is not very long ago, compared to the time othgers here are living in the Apple world, so there are for sure people here, who are more helpful than myself with their experience, but nevertheless, here's what I think:
I start with Q2, as the main issue is the decision desktop versus notebook. If you don't need the mobility of your system and you don't have a mid / long term perspective to do so (e.g. for work) I would say go for a desktop, i.e. for a 24" iMac, a Mac mini or a Mac Studio.
Why am I so "unprecise" regarding the model ?
It's because I don't know enough about your demand in horse power, So I try it the other way round.
CPU / RAM:
After knowing that some users of DxO PhotoLab I'D call "serious users" can cope well with ordinary Mx CPU's (i.e. non-Pro, non-Max- non -Ultra) and you have a strong focus on the budget I recommend to collect opinions around this part of the story first. The latest Mx, i.e. the M3 comes with max. 24GB and if others here can comfirm that this would be enough for your need, an ordinary M3 system could be the way to go. In this case I would try to get a system with an M3 with 24GB.
I simply can't tell, because my first and only Mac has 64GB but this is because I also have other requirements (as mentioned this machine is my one-for-all system)
If 24GB RAM would be shooting too short in your case you need to go one up an get an Mx Pro. If post processing the maximum demanding job for your system IMHO there is no need to spend the money for a Mac Studio, beause you just get it with a Mx Max or an Mx Ultra, which would be overkill.
With M3 you have the choice of 24" iMac and Mac mini
With Mx Pro you have "only" the Mac Mini, but it is not the latest generation, but an M2 Pro.
As a trand I would recommend to got for more RAM if in doubt as one of the disadvantages of the Apple systems is, that you can't upgrade them.
SSD:
This is an interesting one. Many people start moaning about the internal SSD being so expensive. But the truth is that the internal SSD's are the only way to use the performance potential of the latest SSD interface to the maxinum.
On the other hand there are only few things that you would really need this speed for. I have 2 TB, being split in two dynamic volumes for private and for professional use and I have can cope with that relatively easy, because do the following:
- New RAWs got on the internal SSD on a "per download" basis (e.g. one shotting day --> one directory)
- After they went through culling, selecting, postprocessing and export of the processed images as JPG in max quality, the RAWs including their sidecar files go to an external SSD archive
- This way I have all processed images on my notebook all the time, while all finally processed RAWs leave my internal SSD and can minimize the load for the internal SSD.
I think there are as many workflows as people out there, this is just my way, but I think you get the idea.
Also the SSD is not expandable, but the increase in price is heavy. That's why I tried to find a compromise between a fast working machine and a cheaper "data grave" sitting beside the Mac. To give you an idea, the upgrade from 1 to 8 TB SSD costs whopping 2.530 €, while an 8 TB SSD RAID 1 array with USB 3.2 connection stting beside my Macbook was around 920 €. Yes, it is by far not as fast as the internal SSD but for the purpose the speed is nore than enough.
Display:
You might have wondered, why I talk about a 24" iMac although you ask for a 27" display ?
Well, it's because of post processing. It might be a matter of getting used to it, but I am working with 2 displays in my office setup at least the last 15 years, and to me there is one big advantage for post processing:
Instead of having a line of thumbnails at the bottom steeling you screen space for the actual image you are processing and may be doing retouchiung at 100% zoom level, with two screens you have one for the thumbnails and the other one is for processing the curent image only. It's not only an advantage in terms of screen space for editing, it is also very comfortable if you want to make selections of images to which you would like to transfer the settings you just made for one you processed, if you want to see the result of a selection filter straight away a.s.o.
So, if you feel safe with 24 GB of RAM it could be an interesting alternative to combine a 24" iMac with a 27" Studio display.
You are on M3. i.e. the latest technology and for around 5000 € you have a two screen solution with a 5K Retina display and 2TB SSD.
A single screen solution with an Mac Mini (albeit this model is still on M2, so it would probably worthwhile waiting a bit to get a M3) and a Studio display you would get to slightly below € 4.000.
All this is just rough calc with standard Apple prices to have an idea. I ma sure you could find deals and/or go for systems with an older generation chip, e.g. M2 instead of M3
Especially if you go for the stnadard CPU I would not consider the M1, because the new ones definitely were faster especially the M3, but the main reason is that with an M1 you only get max. 16GB of RAM which honestly I would try to avoid.
What about non-Apple displays ?
Yes the Studio display are expensive, but decided not to go 3rd party and I haven't regretted it a single moment.
Admittedly I didn't do a deep dive for alternative high end solution as Eizo or something in this direction.
If you go for a Studio display IMHO don't spend money for the nano glas. I had them side by side and although I have window facing south direclty on the left side of my desk where there are two studio displays in different angle to the window. I have no issue working even with bright day light (no direct sun, however). And even more important: The standard glas you can clean like any standard glass. This doesn't work with the nano.
From ergonomic perspective it depends on your setup. If you have single display solution or you combine a 24" iMac with a Studio display the standard feet are no problem.
For people with dual screen setup like me I would recommend getting the VESA mount version and a proper flexible twin VESA stand.
SOFTWARE:
I have decided to got with DxO Photolab quite some time ago. So my thoughts relating to RAM memory could be invalid or parlty missleading if you work with another software.
Probably worthwhile checking this with others as well.
Hope this helps a bit and all the best for your decision process ...
I'm sure you will love the move.