Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4... DOH!!!

[papa-razzi]

If you are upgrading the OS on an existing machine - Win 7 64-bit.
If that machine is older than 2 years, buy a new machine with Win 8 and Start8.

Or, buy a Mac.  I have Macs and PCs.  Versus Win 7, I find the Mac UI different, not necessarily vastly superior (snow leppard).  However, the overall experience is better - things just work.  It takes a while to get used to doing things on the Mac if you are a life-long PC user.  But once you do, most people don't go back to PC.

I agree Win8 is a failed attempt by microsoft to catch up to the well designed OS X/iOS multi-device user experience.  If you have to go up the learning curve for Win8, why not spend that time transitioning to a Mac?

I ended up building my own system dedicated to my photo & video processing, and went with Win7 64-bit because I could do so for far less money than purchasing a Mac.  But if I were buying a new machine for general purpose use, I would not bother with a win8 machine.  I would go with a mac.

[Richard8971]

If you are upgrading the OS on an existing machine - Win 7 64-bit.
If that machine is older than 2 years, buy a new machine with Win 8 and Start8.

Or, buy a Mac.  I have Macs and PCs.  Versus Win 7, I find the Mac UI different, not necessarily vastly superior (snow leppard).  However, the overall experience is better - things just work.  It takes a while to get used to doing things on the Mac if you are a life-long PC user.  But once you do, most people don't go back to PC.

I agree Win8 is a failed attempt by microsoft to catch up to the well designed OS X/iOS multi-device user experience.  If you have to go up the learning curve for Win8, why not spend that time transitioning to a Mac?

I ended up building my own system dedicated to my photo & video processing, and went with Win7 64-bit because I could do so for far less money than purchasing a Mac.  But if I were buying a new machine for general purpose use, I would not bother with a win8 machine.  I would go with a mac.

My machine is fairly new, I rebuild it about every two years. I custom built my PC so I can upgrade components as they are needed. I am currently running a Black Edition quad core AMD CPU overclocked to almost 4GHz running 16GB of DDR3 memory and 3TB of SATA drives.

D

[Rienzphotoz]

I went with a dual boot XP/Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit system. XP will allow me to still use some hardware and software that I have that is only comptatable with XP and 7 will allow me to go forward.

Congratulations ... Good choice. I like your tag line from Matrix "There is no spoon" ... I wish it was true for some of our problems in life ... BTW, if I remember correctly that line was said by the kid who was bending the spoon in part 1?

[Cptn Rigo]

I went with a dual boot XP/Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit system. XP will allow me to still use some hardware and software that I have that is only comptatable with XP and 7 will allow me to go forward.

Congratulations ... Good choice. I like your tag line from Matrix "There is no spoon" ... I wish it was true for some of our problems in life ... BTW, if I remember correctly that line was said by the kid who was bending the spoon in part 1?

Spoon boy: Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead... only try to realize the truth.

Neo: What truth?

Spoon boy: There is no spoon.

Neo: There is no spoon?

Spoon boy: Then you'll see, that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.

[Rienzphotoz]

I went with a dual boot XP/Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit system. XP will allow me to still use some hardware and software that I have that is only comptatable with XP and 7 will allow me to go forward.

Congratulations ... Good choice. I like your tag line from Matrix "There is no spoon" ... I wish it was true for some of our problems in life ... BTW, if I remember correctly that line was said by the kid who was bending the spoon in part 1?

Spoon boy: Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead... only try to realize the truth.

Neo: What truth?

Spoon boy: There is no spoon.

Neo: There is no spoon?

Spoon boy: Then you'll see, that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.

OK, now I remember ... so it was said by both. Thanks

[Rockets95]

Windows 7 is Windows XP fixed. I just got a new laptop with Windows 8. I got Start8 from Stardock, so no huge learning curve. Definately go for the 64bit OS.

[zim]

Keep your current WinXP PC the way it is and get another PC for your photography with Win7 Pro x64 and run Lightroom 4 on that.  Get a good higher end IPS display for the photo pc.  The Photo PC is just another tool.

Excellent idea.  I've been tolerating Win 7 just to run LR 4.  There has not been one positive thing I've gained with Win 7 but instead lots of things that annoy me.  I'm seriously considering building a dedicated Win 7 photo PC while my main PC is XP.

Full Disclosure - I am in IT, I see and support many types of systems and OS versions.  I used XP x64 as my main workstation up until a couple months ago.  I still use it for some things (through an RDP session from my new Win7x64 workstation).  I sympathize with folks that don't want to change.  For those that the PC is just a tool, upgrading/changing the OS is a hassle.  Still, please be aware that the time is nearing when all updates, support, etc are going to end for XP.

XP will become a dead OS in April 2014.  http://www.technibble.com/windows-xp-support-ends-in-april-2014-what-technicians-need-to-know/

What this means is you will no longer receive updates for security, drivers, etc.  The OS will still function but it will cease to exist as far as Microsoft is concerned.

Windows 7 is actually a great OS and it isn't that hard to become comfortable with.  It performs better and much more reliable and secure.  You would like it even more on a laptop.  Lightroom or any other similar software is going to benefit from a 64 bit OS and at least 8GB of RAM, preferably 16GB.  Just do it and don't look back.  It's not that big of a deal.  Then after you are comfortable with Win7 on the Photo PC, start deciding about your main workstation.  My suggestion on that is to go to buy.com or eCost.com and purchase a refurbished HP or DELL Core2Duo workstation PC with Win7 Pro for about $250.  I would suggest to stick with Intel Core2 or i Series CPU + Chipset and away from AMD or Pentium 4.  Here's a good example... http://tinyurl.com/aza9qt5

Excellent post Rusty, you won't get much return from the geeky types here but your advice is spot on

[Rienzphotoz]

Since we are on the topic of Adobe Photoshop and computers, I have a question. Last August (after being a Windows user for 17 years ... from Win 95, 97, 98SE, XP, Vista & Win 7) I switched to Apple Mac Book Pro with the following config:
Mac Book Pro 9.2, 13-inch Mid 2012
OSX 10.8.3
Processor: 2.9 Ghz, Intel Core i7
Memory: 16 GB 1600 Mhz DDR3 (originally came with 8GB but I upgraded it to 16GB, from OWC)
HDD: 750GB SATA
It works fine (better than my M14x Alienware) and I have no issue with running CS6, Lightroom, Final Cut Pro & Aperture, iMovie etc ... but I've been tempted with upgrading the HDD to:
a. OWC Mercury Electra 6G (480 GB)
    OR
b. OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G (240 GB)
What I want to know is, will upgrading to the above SSD hard disks make a significant speed difference in the way my MBP functions? ... BTW, I am aware that my current HDD has 77/MBps Read speed and that the above SSD will be at over 556/MBps etc, but how much of a difference will it be, in real world usage when working with CS6, Lightroom, FCP, Aperture etc?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[Richard8971]

I went with a dual boot XP/Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit system. XP will allow me to still use some hardware and software that I have that is only comptatable with XP and 7 will allow me to go forward.

Congratulations ... Good choice. I like your tag line from Matrix "There is no spoon" ... I wish it was true for some of our problems in life ... BTW, if I remember correctly that line was said by the kid who was bending the spoon in part 1?

Spoon boy: Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead... only try to realize the truth.

Neo: What truth?

Spoon boy: There is no spoon.

Neo: There is no spoon?

Spoon boy: Then you'll see, that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.

OK, now I remember ... so it was said by both. Thanks

LOL! I love that movie. And the quote reminds me that there is always a different way of looking at things, esp when you have to solve a problem. When you think you have tried all logical means, then maybe you need to start looking outside the box.

A quote from Sherlock Holmes is a great one to remember, "when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.."



D

Oh, and Neo said it one more time when he and Trinty were standing on the cable mount above the elevator holding onto each other, just before he shot the base of the cable mount sending the car plunging.

[thepancakeman]

A quote from Sherlock Holmes is a great one to remember, "when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.."

That's a Star Trek quote from Spock--you're telling me that he was quoting Holmes?   

[Rienzphotoz]

Since we are on the topic of Adobe Photoshop and computers, I have a question. Last August (after being a Windows user for 17 years ... from Win 95, 97, 98SE, XP, Vista & Win 7) I switched to Apple Mac Book Pro with the following config:
Mac Book Pro 9.2, 13-inch Mid 2012
OSX 10.8.3
Processor: 2.9 Ghz, Intel Core i7
Memory: 16 GB 1600 Mhz DDR3 (originally came with 8GB but I upgraded it to 16GB, from OWC)
HDD: 750GB SATA
It works fine (better than my M14x Alienware) and I have no issue with running CS6, Lightroom, Final Cut Pro & Aperture, iMovie etc ... but I've been tempted with upgrading the HDD to:
a. OWC Mercury Electra 6G (480 GB)
    OR
b. OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G (240 GB)
What I want to know is, will upgrading to the above SSD hard disks make a significant speed difference in the way my MBP functions? ... BTW, I am aware that my current HDD has 77/MBps Read speed and that the above SSD will be at over 556/MBps etc, but how much of a difference will it be, in real world usage when working with CS6, Lightroom, FCP, Aperture etc?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

No one has an answer?

[Harry Muff]

I put a Crucial SSD in my GF'S MBP and it it AWESOME. PS boots in about 3 seconds.




Just do it!

[mrsfotografie]

Ugh, I just bought Lightroom 4 and to my horror, it is not comptatible with XP!!!

After the release of Vista, I swore to myself that I would stick with XP (which I really like) for as long as I can. Well after 12 years of faithful XP use, it looks like my travels have come to an end.

Now, mind you I am running a new system (AMD Phenom II X4 965, OC'ed to 3.8Ghz) DDR 3 memory, etc... but I have just resisted upgrading to Windows Vista (Gag! Yuck!), 7 or now even 8 for YEARS. (Call me a rebel...)

Well, that has come to a quick end with the purchase of Lightroom 4. Now, my question is, which is better? Windows 7 or 8? Any thoughts?

D

I've moved from XP Pro x64 to 7 Pro x64 just 2 weeks ago for the same reason (actually, I had been using workarounds to get a lot of different types of software to install on XP x 64), I have the same AMD Phenom II X4 965 processor and Windows 7 really flies with it (not even overclocked but the PC does have 8 gigs of memory).

So go for it! Windows 7 x64 professional

FWIW don't even think about Vista.

[sandymandy]

Windows 7 is Windows XP fixed.

Its more like Vista fixed.

[Rienzphotoz]

I put a Crucial SSD in my GF'S MBP and it it AWESOME. PS boots in about 3 seconds.

Just do it!

Thanks for the reply ... I am aware that it will significantly increases the boot time, I am more keen on knowing how PS CS6  works once its up and running.