A Specific Question About Laptop Monitors

[sean_reid]

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Have you considered an external screen such as Eizo (Nanao)? A friend just bought the ColorEdge CG241W which he describes as superb with his photos.

 

Hi Ravi,

 

I have editing computers already. It's the travel computer I'm sorting out. Thanks for the advice.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[sean_reid]

Sean, I run Windows XP Pro on my MacBook Pro with no problems. Granted, I haven't pushed the envelop on what applications run stable on the Windows side. I only use my accounting software (QuickBooks) and Microsoft Office 2007 (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint. I intially set the MBP up with a Boot Camp partition to run Windows and it worked fine. However, I later purchased Parallels to run Windows XP under a virtual machine and it works great. The advantage of Parallels is that it is much easier to swap files from Mac to Windows and vice versa. I find that I spend less and less time in the Windows environment as I become more confident in the Mac side. I would probably be happy ditching Windows all together if I didn't need it for my business (if only there was a Mac version of Microsoft Access). Feel free to contact me offline if you want additional or specific information.

 

Hi Mark,

 

Thanks for the post. Have you noticed any heat issues running the Windows apps.? The computer experts here may correct me (and are welcome to) but I wonder if running in Parallels allows the Mac to do its usual fan management so that heat is not an issue.

 

How do you find the font rendering in OSX? As I mentioned above, I find OSX legibility (on the web for example) to be a big problem for me. I did some searching (see my post above) and this is a problem many seem to have. I'd really love to hear from Mac folks on this issue.

 

Except for the font rendering, I think I'm in the same boat as you. I could see myself gradually moving back to Macs again for all of my computers. Haven't been a Mac person since 1994 but I'm open to it so long as I have the Windows environment open to run certain programs. I could start with the laptop and see how things go from there (except for the darn font thing).

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[sean_reid]

Hi John,

 

If your time allows, please read this article and tell me what you think: ATPM 12.01 - Paradigm: Coping With Mac OS X’s Font Rendering Ditto for anyone else interested.

 

I could only find a way to turn off Mac font smoothing at 12 points and below.

 

Thanks,

 

Sean

[wparsonsgisnet]

Hi Ravi,

 

I have editing computers already. It's the travel computer I'm sorting out. Thanks for the advice.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

Sean, when I read Ravi's comment, it immediately suggested to me that it might be nice to travel with a 15" Eizo screen in some sort of a case.

 

While an expensive way to get a "real" screen on the road, it would solve all the screen-related dilemmas in your laptop purchase. I note on their website that they offer a 15" screen (in the stardard, that is non-wide screen, form).

 

The L367 screen can be had for around $300. See here for features:

 

EIZO / FlexScan L367 Features

[johnjs]

Hi John,

 

If your time allows, please read this article and tell me what you think: ATPM 12.01 - Paradigm: Coping With Mac OS X’s Font Rendering Ditto for anyone else interested.

 

I could only find a way to turn off Mac font smoothing at 12 points and below.

 

Thanks,

 

Sean

 

Hi Sean,

Read the article, as you said in an earlier post, maybe people are simply used to text smoothing, I guess I am. I did find a small freeware app called Tinkertool which allows you to completely turn-off font smoothing in all versions of OS X including Leopard. I just downloaded it and tried it, nice little app which does a few other cool things. Available with a quick Google search, first result.

Best-John

 

Edit: I should also add that Tinkertool also gives you greater flexibility in font smoothing, all the way up to turning-off font smoothing to fonts up to 144 point, which when set that high, effectively turns-off font smothing.

[sean_reid]

Hi Sean,

Read the article, as you said in an earlier post, maybe people are simply used to text smoothing, I guess I am. I did find a small freeware app called Tinkertool which allows you to completely turn-off font smoothing in all versions of OS X including Leopard. I just downloaded it and tried it, nice little app which does a few other cool things. Available with a quick Google search, first result.

Best-John

 

Edit: I should also add that Tinkertool also gives you greater flexibility in font smoothing, all the way up to turning-off font smoothing to fonts up to 144 point, which when set that high, effectively turns-off font smothing.

 

Tinkertool came up in the comments on that web page. So it allows one to dial in font smoothing then? Do you use it? Maybe that would do the trick. Anyone here used it to make text more legible on the Mac? When I get time and Google to see if I can find some screen captures.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[sean_reid]

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If any of my subscribers reading this has a Mac and uses Tinkertool, please PM me. I have a quick favor to ask. Thanks.

 

Sean

[sean_reid]

Mark Gowin was kind enough to send me some screen shots (of RR) where Tinkertool had been used to disable font smoothing. The result was just what I need so maybe Mac plus some Windows can work.

 

Thanks Mark.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Guest stnami]

I don't really want to go into the details about my latest dissapointments with SonyStyle but this is the second time they've screwed up and so I won't be buying from them in the future

... fair enough but sometimes it is worth swallowing a bit of dissapointment and get what you really want despite the actions of others.....sure macs and PC are similiar these days but the are still made to run different platforms.

I just bought a RD-1 (suited my needs better than a M8), it was a pain and a few dud deals, finally got a new one from a friend of a friend's friend.......paid too much but what the heck it's about results one wants to acheive

[sean_reid]

... fair enough but sometimes it is worth swallowing a bit of dissapointment and get what you really want despite the actions of others.....sure macs and PC are similiar these days but the are still made to run different platforms.

I just bought a RD-1 (suited my needs better than a M8), it was a pain and a few dud deals, finally got a new one from a friend of a friend's friend.......paid too much but what the heck it's about results one wants to acheive

 

Hi Imants,

 

Glad to hear it. I still like that Epson very much and hope it works well for you. You still have several M and LTM lenses right?

 

I agree with getting what one really wants but, actually, a Mac may be what I really want. It might be a good way for me to see if I want to gradually switch all of my computers over to Mac over time. One thing, that I think you can appreciate, is that the Macbook Pros are much more beautiful, as objects, than the Sonys. I like that about them. I like the way they look and feel.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Guest malland]

...One thing, that I think you can appreciate, is that the Macbook Pros are much more beautiful, as objects, than the Sonys. I like that about them. I like the way they look and feel....

Sean, and I would extend that to the operating system and the GUI. To me, it's a bit like how I feel about a camera: I like it to "feel right", the way an M6 does to me. And I haven't found any digital camera to resonate in that way: that's why I understand Mike Johnston's statement about the M8 not quite having the "gestalt" of a Leica M.

 

I'll be interested to see how Imants finds the RD-1.

 

As for portable computers, I think you'll be happy with the high resolution 17 inch MacBook Pro.

 

—Mitch/Paris

Flickr: Photos from Mitch Alland

[Guest stnami]

Yes I will get back to you guys about the RD-1 in a couple of weeks...... Yea I gave up travelling with a computer, not in a hurry and quite not having one around, I just shoot and take notes,,,,,,,draw

[sean_reid]

Sean, and I would extend that to the operating system and the GUI. To me, it's a bit like how I feel about a camera: I like it to "feel right", the way an M6 does to me. And I haven't found any digital camera to resonate in that way: that's why I understand Mike Johnston's statement about the M8 not quite having the "gestalt" of a Leica M.

 

I'll be interested to see how Imants finds the RD-1.

 

As for portable computers, I think you'll be happy with the high resolution 17 inch MacBook Pro.

 

—Mitch/Paris

Flickr: Photos from Mitch Alland

 

Hi Mitch,

 

I think Mike's "gestalt" statement (M8 vs. film Ms) is rubbish. My friend Mike simply did not have enough time to use the M8 and, as you and he both know, I think he was way off in much of that review. Use one for a few weeks before you come to any "gestalt" conclusions. Have I mentioned <G> that, for my purposes, the M8 is far and away the best digital camera I've ever worked with. And that based on over a year's intense work, not Mike's 3-4 day quicky. I bristle at some of the M8 nonsense I read just as you bristle (understandably) when people dismiss small sensor cameras.

 

The R-D1, as you may recall, is also a camera I've recommended for you (should you ever want to work with a larger sensor).

 

I think you were dead on about the Mac 17" high res. (for my priorities at least) but I don't need to get this right away and I may wait for the LED screen version. I can limp along through January but then I do a lot of remote shooting so I must have the new laptop.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[sean_reid]

Sean, when I read Ravi's comment, it immediately suggested to me that it might be nice to travel with a 15" Eizo screen in some sort of a case.

 

While an expensive way to get a "real" screen on the road, it would solve all the screen-related dilemmas in your laptop purchase. I note on their website that they offer a 15" screen (in the stardard, that is non-wide screen, form).

 

The L367 screen can be had for around $300. See here for features:

 

EIZO / FlexScan L367 Features

 

Hi Bill,

 

I'm actually pretty happy with what the Mac and Sony high-res 17" screens can produce but thanks very much for the suggestion.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Guest malland]

...I bristle at some of the M8 nonsense I read just as you bristle (understandably) when people dismiss small sensor cameras.

 

The R-D1, as you may recall, is also a camera I've recommended for you (should you ever want to work with a larger sensor)...

Sean, point taken on the M8. I'm still thinking that I may get an R-D1, to be able to use my M-lenses...

 

—Mitch/Paris

Flickr: Photos from Mitch Alland

[sean_reid]

Sean, point taken on the M8. I'm still thinking that I may get an R-D1, to be able to use my M-lenses...

 

—Mitch/Paris

Flickr: Photos from Mitch Alland

 

 

You might want to reread that R-d1 long-term report but I think you might really cotton to the Epson.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[M_Driscoll]

Anybody running Windows Vista with 'Bootcamp' on a MacBook Pro. I'm curious as to how much hard drive space two operating systems consume.

 

Like Sean, I'm drawn to the design of the Mac over the Windows alternatives.

 

I have a Dell XPS 1710 and by the time it's loaded with programs (Microsoft Office/AutoCad/Photshop CS3/Lightroom/Sketchup/Itunes/etc.) there's only about 60-70 gb of free space out of 250 gb. That's not much headroom. It has a very good 1920 x 1200display and is fast; but, it's design is heavy and chunky (7.6 lbs.). I also had to turn the colored lights off because my wife was making fun of me. It's not a 'road warrior' machine. On the other hand you can get one with two 320 gb hard drives

 

I also have a smaller 13" Sony SZ 170 that's lightweight, elegant, but a little too slow for me. All my Sony laptops had irritating quirks. This one required remapping drive letters to get it to read a USB drive! The Sony's are also generally overpriced in my opinion and SonyStyle is a pain. Heaven forbid you should ever need warranty work.

 

I like the MacBook Pro 17'; but I'm never going be too far away from all of the Windows based software and machines at my business. Buying Core 2 Duo Windows Vista, or whatever, boxes from Dell Outlet for $600 every couple of years keeps productivity moving. Buying Apple in any quantity would be foolish. On the other hand buying one MacBook Pro 17" for me would be OK. I'll also wait for the LED screen and hopefully a larger hard drive.

 

I'm still curious about how full the dual operating system configuration gets.

 

Thanks.

Zenfolio | Matt Driscoll

[Guest stnami]

I am sure you will get a in depth answer here [Mac-Forums.com - Search Results

[johnjs]

Sean -

Waiting until Jan '08 is probably a good idea (only a few weeks now) as it is rumored the MacBook Pro line will be updated with the newest generation of Intel Penryn (45 nm) mobile processors, at up to 2.8gHz speeds. Possibly the hi-res displays will also be updated to LED technology as well at that time? The new chips should be even better at power usage and run cooler.

 

Matt-

I'm not running BootCamp myself, so I can't answer your question directly, but I do recall that when my MacMini was fresh out of the box it seemed the OS was using about 6-8gb, and I've done several fresh installs of Vista which are about 10-15gb if I recall correctly, depending on how many features you install. It's probably safe to say that a dual-boot configuration with Vista and Leopard would consume at most 30gig of drive space, and the MacBook Pro is available with up to a 250gb drive.

 

best-John

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[sean_reid]

Thanks John. That may be just what I'll do. The LED thing does seem to provide a real advantage for callibration, etc. and my heavy travel shouldn't start until next year unless my friend's health deteriorates and I need to be away from VT.

 

---------------------------------------------------------

 

This is, after all, the "Digital" forum and the computer is as essential to digital photography as the camera.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean