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Photoshop and Apple

post #1 of 29
3/18/10 at 8:38am
Thread Starter 
I am strongly leaning towards buying an Apple desktop, 27 inch monitor. All you see is the monitor since the whole computer is inside the thin, flat monitor. I have the real Photoshop that I have been using for 12 years and of course have thousands of digital photos.

One of the Apple reps told me that Photoshop would not run on the Apple unless it was a Mac copy. But another rep told me later that Photoshop would work just fine and claimed that he had done the very same thing.

Another rep told me that the Mac had a much superior photo editing program. Including updates over the last 12 years, I have spent over a thousand dollars on this Photoshop. I want the Apple but will be forced to get another PC if my beloved Photoshop won't work. I know somebody out there has had this experience and can tell me the truth. This is strange because Apple always scores by far higher than PC in customer service and product yet I have different reps telling me different things.

So, what's the true story?
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post #2 of 29
3/18/10 at 8:46am
If you get an Apple, you have to get a Photoshop for MAC. Your current copy will not work.
There is a way to run windows inside of a mac, and install your software in there but it is made to be used occasionally, and a heavy software like photoshop is a nightmare. It completely defeats the purpose of the mac - you will use it once, and never again, poor poor performance if done it this way.
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post #3 of 29
3/18/10 at 9:15am
What do you actually use photoshop for and what version do you have?

Honestly, few consumer users use photoshop to its full potential and the software in Mac (which I do not agree is superior to Photoshop) is plenty for regular needs. But yes, you would have to buy the Mac copy or run it through Windows in Mac
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post #4 of 29
3/18/10 at 10:02am
here's a starter link:

http://www.apple.com/search/?q=photoshop&sec=global

then, there's the discussions:
http://discussions.apple.com/search....Go&q=photoshop

you can establish a log in, and pose a question if you want

I understand about all the $$ you have in a program - often MAC programs will allow you to import information from another PC program, like MAC photoshop will probably bring in all your work from the PC photoshop - I'm not positive about this, but, maybe someone else will know more facts.

Getting comfortable with a new computer system takes time, as with any new application that you begin, but after the learning curve is over, you will probably find it was worth all the effort.
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post #5 of 29
3/18/10 at 10:09am
Yes, I have shared photoshop files with Mac and Windows users so the actual files would work, just the software is the issue
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post #6 of 29
3/18/10 at 10:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GloriaJH View Post
I understand about all the $$ you have in a program - often MAC programs will allow you to import information from another PC program, like MAC photoshop will probably bring in all your work from the PC photoshop - I'm not positive about this, but, maybe someone else will know more facts.
As far as the documents goes, sure you can open anything you open on a pc, on a Mac, provided you use the same software... Photoshop files from a pc, work the same on a mac...
But if I understood, the OP wants to run his software, which is a PC software on a MAC. That is a whole different ballgame.
Have you checked if there is any promotion to transition from PC to a mac? I would call Adobe and check if they can give you a discount, if you show your license from your PC photoshop, and the receipt from the MAC... You might be able to get something out of it. Adobe and Mac run pretty tight.
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post #7 of 29
3/18/10 at 10:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post
Have you checked if there is any promotion to transition from PC to a mac? I would call Adobe and check if they can give you a discount, if you show your license from your PC photoshop, and the receipt from the MAC... You might be able to get something out of it. Adobe and Mac run pretty tight.
Thats why I asked about the version, but he mentions in the OP that it is 12 years old with updates not newer software. I know even the difference between PS7 (the first version I used) and CS3 which I currently use is huge, so from older software - I dont think they even support the more recent stuff anymore in an effort to have everyone using CS+
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post #8 of 29
3/18/10 at 10:41am
Isn't your wife a teacher? They have big discounts for educators - that is another option as well... If you know a college student, then..... this person can get it for you at 80% off. Here is the link:
http://store1.adobe.com/cfusion/stor...&promoid=FCRWP
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post #9 of 29
3/18/10 at 11:03am
The student edition can be upgraded to the commercial edition so I am not sure what features it has
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post #10 of 29
3/18/10 at 11:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by icklemiss21 View Post
The student edition can be upgraded to the commercial edition so I am not sure what features it has
It has all the features, it is 100% complete. The only difference is that you can not sell your work... Like, if you are a designer, or such, you can not use that copy commercially.
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post #11 of 29
3/18/10 at 11:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post
There is a way to run windows inside of a mac, and install your software in there but it is made to be used occasionally, and a heavy software like photoshop is a nightmare. It completely defeats the purpose of the mac - you will use it once, and never again, poor poor performance if done it this way.
Just to address this. If anyone is buying a PC, especially a new mac (for what they cost), and it can't do this they made a big mistake picking out their PC hardware. Most now are multi-core with several gigs of ram, you dedicate a core or two just to your virtual machine and make sure to give it enough ram and it shouldn't be slow. If your past experience was otherwise you were trying to do too much on old hardware or your VM wasn't set up properly.
If you can't do what you want on your PC that defeats the purpose of even owning it.

Also you don't always have to have the same software to open files made in one software. There are programs that offer support for those file types because they know people will need it.


Third, to the OP. Are you sure you even need photoshop? Or are you wanting to hang on to it because it's familiar? There are programs that do the same things that cost less or nothing.
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post #12 of 29
3/18/10 at 11:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post

Also you don't always have to have the same software to open files made in one software. There are programs that offer support for those file types because they know people will need it.
Sure you can open tiff, jpeg, etc files... I am talking about working a photoshop file - a PSD file, with all the layers, levels, channels, etc. For that kind of stuff yes, you do need to have the same software.
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post #13 of 29
3/18/10 at 11:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Just to address this. If anyone is buying a PC, especially a new mac (for what they cost), and it can't do this they made a big mistake picking out their PC hardware. Most now are multi-core with several gigs of ram, you dedicate a core or two just to your virtual machine and make sure to give it enough ram and it shouldn't be slow. If your past experience was otherwise you were trying to do too much on old hardware or your VM wasn't set up properly.
If you can't do what you want on your PC that defeats the purpose of even owning it.
Even Apple will say that this is for your occasional use. Photoshop, when used as Photoshop, can get very heavy... You need the computers capacity here... Word, sure... Other software... sure... Photoshop... IMO it is a waste of computer to use a fraction of it, when you can use it whole.
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post #14 of 29
3/18/10 at 11:43am
^Of course Apple will say that. They'd rather you run native software and sometimes weird things can happen in VM that I doubt they want to help fix.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post
Sure you can open tiff, jpeg, etc files... I am talking about working a photoshop file - a PSD file, with all the layers, levels, channels, etc. For that kind of stuff yes, you do need to have the same software.
No you don't. I have PSD support in GIMP.
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post #15 of 29
3/18/10 at 11:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
No you don't. I have PSD support in GIMP.
Can you everything photoshop does in it? That is what the OP is talking about..... Can you WORK the file? as I described? Does it do what Photoshop does? That is his issue. I highly doubt it.
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post #16 of 29
3/18/10 at 11:52am
GIMP does not have all of the features of photoshop but can certainly wok in layers and all the basic stuff you mentioned, unless you are a designer or use it for design (rather than simple photo editing) the features on photoshop CS4 etc are overkill

PaintShopPro also has support for PSDs, as does Illustrator, Rosio Toast and ACD software.

But from what Lee has posted, at least on TCS, I would imagine that Photoshop Elements or other smaller software would be fine
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post #17 of 29
3/18/10 at 11:56am
^Elements probably would. I don't think he does enough with computers to need more.

And yes, GIMP can do everything. The thing is that you have to add plug-ins to add more features. You may have to hunt around for some of them. And for those who don't like how it looks, there's the GIMPShop hacked version.

Those on windows, and have a decent computer, can also use Paint.NET.
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post #18 of 29
3/18/10 at 12:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by icklemiss21 View Post
GIMP does not have all of the features of photoshop but can certainly wok in layers and all the basic stuff you mentioned, unless you are a designer or use it for design (rather than simple photo editing) the features on photoshop CS4 etc are overkill

PaintShopPro also has support for PSDs, as does Illustrator, Rosio Toast and ACD software.

But from what Lee has posted, at least on TCS, I would imagine that Photoshop Elements or other smaller software would be fine
Well, Illustrator is adobe, so...
CS4 I never used, so I have no clue what's in it.
I can guarantee you that GIMP does not do all that photoshop does. That I know. I have been using Photoshop since Phototoshop 3, and I am now on CS3. Yes, I am a designer, so maybe I do have a different perspective on it.
Lee's question was about using his own photoshop on a new mac, as he invested over a grand on it. Well, That is the thing, addressing his question, to use it in the internal windows a heavy software like photoshop is not even advisable by Apple themselves.
Now, if he does use it only to correct levels, curves, and crop, that kind of stuff, then he might not need photoshop.
I personally would want BOTH. Doing design or not, I simply can not live without photoshop anymore . But I do think it is TOTALLY worth it to run photoshop in a full machine, instead of in the Virtual Machine.
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post #19 of 29
3/18/10 at 12:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post
But I do think it is TOTALLY worth it to run photoshop in a full machine, instead of in the Virtual Machine.
If pressed for cash at all it is a viable temp solution.

I just don't approve of supporting companies like adobe. There's a reason why everything I use strictly adheres to GPL - but the average user does not care about what rights they're signing away and paying through the nose for it to be done.
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post #20 of 29
3/18/10 at 12:12pm
Illustrator may be Adobe but not all software can be opened in other software from the same company

I won't use anything but photoshop either, but having seen what Lee has posted in the way of signatures, photos etc on here, in this case I don't think it is worth it and it would be easy to spend $1000 over 12 years on software updates - current versions cost almost that

A coworker uses GIMP and sharing files between us, the only thing they have not been able to open from our shared files was a photo in RAW format to work on, its animation levels leave a lot to be desired, but I usually use flash for animation anyway. Even things not included in GIMP that you can do in photoshop are available as plugins for GIMP
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post #21 of 29
3/18/10 at 12:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by icklemiss21 View Post
I won't use anything but photoshop either, but having seen what Lee has posted in the way of signatures, photos etc on here, in this case I don't think it is worth it and it would be easy to spend $1000 over 12 years on software updates - current versions cost almost that

A coworker uses GIMP and sharing files between us, the only thing they have not been able to open from our shared files was a photo in RAW format to work on, its animation levels leave a lot to be desired, but I usually use flash for animation anyway. Even things not included in GIMP that you can do in photoshop are available as plugins for GIMP
It's up over $1k now? Last I checked (years ago) it was around $800. That's crazy. You could buy a whole, decent, computer for that much. Or donate that $1k - better use for it.

I encourage everyone to try free software. You pay nothing, it's only a little of your time. And if it minds the GPL properly, you're not even agreeing to anything crazy via a license agreement.
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post #22 of 29
3/18/10 at 12:23pm
By the time you add taxes etc, I think we paid around $900 for the last new copy they bought at work - we have a multi user license so I use their copy at home too since I work from here more than the office - I probably would not buy it if I had to pay that much myself. We have not upgraded to CS4 at work yet but I know the new Extended CS4 is $999US, regular CS4 is down to $700
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post #23 of 29
3/20/10 at 10:09am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by icklemiss21 View Post
What do you actually use photoshop for and what version do you have?
I started with 5.0 but practically before i got it installed along comes 5.5. At the time, I actually had a room devoted in my house to a dark room for developing film. So in 1998, I got my first digital camera and Photoshop. I am now at release 8.0 and know it goes much higher but decided I had enough power at that level and left it alone. Right here on my present computer that does not work most of the time, I back it up on Mozy.com every morning (automatic) and was told I could simply do a restore from Mozy to the new Apple. But I have a very hard time accepting this...I really want the Apple but if they give me a guarantee that my old stuff is going to work. I am frustrated. I could sure settle for a new PC and that is what I will do if necessary. Determining how necessary is going to be the big problem and I have just started reading the difference in opinions here...
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post #24 of 29
3/20/10 at 10:52am
Mozy will help you move your files to Mac but will not guarantee there is something on there to open them

http://www.apple.com/macosx/compatibility/ will tell you if you can use files with Mac's preinstalled software

But any non preinstalled software, such as photoshop, you will need the disk to install as the files that actually run the software will not back up properly to make them work.

Since you are using a much older version, you could probably pick up a copy of PS-CS for Mac for a cheap price somewhere, but depending on what you use it for, the preinstalled software on Mac is probably plenty for what you do, but check out Photoshop Elements for Mac - it probably has everything you need and more, people on here use it for signature graphics and is set up to be easier to use than Photoshop (more one click fixes for photos)
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post #25 of 29
3/20/10 at 11:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Persi & Alley View Post
I started with 5.0 but practically before i got it installed along comes 5.5. At the time, I actually had a room devoted in my house to a dark room for developing film. So in 1998, I got my first digital camera and Photoshop. I am now at release 8.0 and know it goes much higher but decided I had enough power at that level and left it alone. Right here on my present computer that does not work most of the time, I back it up on Mozy.com every morning (automatic) and was told I could simply do a restore from Mozy to the new Apple. But I have a very hard time accepting this...I really want the Apple but if they give me a guarantee that my old stuff is going to work. I am frustrated. I could sure settle for a new PC and that is what I will do if necessary. Determining how necessary is going to be the big problem and I have just started reading the difference in opinions here...
Lee, if you love photography and graphics, and photoshop.... give yourself the pleasure to own and work on a mac... It is outstanding... It is awesome, fantastic.. phenomenal... I can go on and on and on... Just take the plunge...
You will go through a transition time in the beginning, but it will be worth it.
I think everybody who loves the above things like you do, and can afford, like you do, should have the pleasure of owning a mac one day...
It is a very smooth, trouble-free powerful machine that is a dream come true where graphics are concerned.
It is a clean machine...
Seriously, I really think you will not regret this decision. I don't think people regret going from a PC to a mac too often... usually the regret is the other way around...
Now, before anybody shoot me here, this is specific for Lee... I have met him personally, and seen his passion, his house, and that is what I am going by...
Last thing Lee, if you must have photoshop, have you checked the educator's copy price?
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post #26 of 29
3/21/10 at 8:04am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post
Isn't your wife a teacher? They have big discounts for educators -
Thank you for reminding me. As far as buying the Apple goes, we get 10% for her being a teacher.
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post #27 of 29
3/21/10 at 8:24am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by icklemiss21 View Post
Since you are using a much older version, you could probably pick up a copy of PS-CS for Mac for a cheap price somewhere,
Somewhere indeed. There is an old tradition in Dallas that on the first Saturday of the month thousands of people gather in a huge parking lot full of pick ups and vans carrying all kinds of computer equipment. I am not saying anything shady is going on but the sale begins at 4 am and people shop with flashlights.

Thanks to all of you, I have printed out some of your comments that I wish to show the local rep. You have been most helpful with your comments.

Anybody living in the Dallas area should know about the first Saturday thing, although it is more than just an urban legend. at 4 in the morning you can find anything you want for a computer after having a good haggle.

I will keep this thread updated with actual true life experiences because DW is due back today and I know she has going to the Apple store today but I am going to balk at that and show her these printouts. Think about it for a week. Just one more week.
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post #28 of 29
3/21/10 at 10:28pm
there is a photoshop edition that works on mac - at least, works on mine & my brother's [both leopard OS]. i don't see why it wouldn't work on a desktop as well as on the laptops [we both have laptops]...
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post #29 of 29
3/22/10 at 8:54am
Did you make any decisions Lee?
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