nick0137 Posted November 7, 2006 Share #1 Posted November 7, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Where to start? With a "hello" I suppose. So, er, "Hello". Having lurked for a long time at pretty much every place that Google throws up on a "Leica forum" search, it's become pretty evident that this is the place that gives the best combination of knowledge, helpfulness and lack of stupid sniping. So, I've taken the plunge to join and post. Now, compliments out of the way, it's time for what, bearing in mind the obvious knowledge about and desire for an M8 displayed by many here, might be an embarrassing confession. My new M8 is sitting on my desk as I type, fully charged and ready to go. And, I'm a digital (but not Leica) virgin. OK, I've searched the archives and I think I've worked out stuff like (a) what SD cards will (or might) work the best, ( (with the benefit of Mr Mancuso's excellent "idiot's guide") some idea of digital workflow through C1 and PS (and I guess to have any better idea I'll just have to do it) and © to get as a first priority my screen calibrated. But, in relation to PC/Mac hardware I'm a bit lost. I've got a PC at home and at work (I'm self employed) but I'm loathe to use either for my new "digital adventure". The home PC is used by the kids for all sorts of nonsense and I'd be for ever terrified of them screwing stuff up. And my work PC is pretty strained dealing with what's on it already. So, I'm thinking about getting another PC. Now I understand that (for any cyclists on here just like the Shimano/Campagnolo divide) there's not much point asking for any help on the PC/Mac issue. So, whether it's a PC or Mac, what should I be looking for as a minimum for something that will develop with my (hopefully) developing digital skills and demands? 2GB memory? 200GB hard drive? 17" screen? I realise that this is small beer stuff compared to banding and magenta hues but bear with those of us who are a long way behind the game here.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 7, 2006 Posted November 7, 2006 Hi nick0137, Take a look here Digital newboy. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jmr Posted November 7, 2006 Share #2 Posted November 7, 2006 Nicholas, welcome to the foum, as you say, it's not a bad place to spend some time. Personally I use a Mac, but I guess it's just that, a personal choice. My only observation on new kit for you, would be to go for a bigger monitor. I use a 23" Cinema Display, which is a bit over the top for internet viewing, but fabulous for Photoshopping, where you lose a deal of screen real-estate to menus etc. Have fun with the M8! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
canlogic Posted November 7, 2006 Share #3 Posted November 7, 2006 I am a software developer (Windows) and I went through the same thing not long ago. Even though I have some high end PC's and know them fairly well I opted to buy a Mac for my photo stuff. I bought a 24" iMac and use it only for my photo and video stuff. I wanted to run Aperture which is MAc only so that was the decideing factor between the 2. I do not regret my decision and the Mac really is suppurb for these types of apps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted November 7, 2006 Share #4 Posted November 7, 2006 Hmmm. Maybe i should do a beginners guide to digital. i think this may help a lot of film transplants to digital. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtownby Posted November 7, 2006 Share #5 Posted November 7, 2006 Nick - Thanks for posting and for the Shimano/Campagnolo comparison. (I ride on Campy so it's not surprising I use Macs, right?) I was about to post my own thread on workflow, but I will use your's instead, OK? I'm using Apple's "Aperture" for file management and color adjustment on my Oly E-1 files and am wondering if anyone can recommend an Aperture workflow to handle the M8's DNG files. Right now, Aperture does not handle DNG's natively, as I understand it. (BTW, I'm not absolutely wedded to Aperture over the long run. I'm also beta testing Adobe's Lightroom. Seems that Aperture is stronger in file storage and management, though I still have lots to learn about it. But to back up someone else's response to you, do check out the large iMacs before you make a decision on your system. Amazing machine/value.) --Gordon http://www.gordonownby.net Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frc Posted November 7, 2006 Share #6 Posted November 7, 2006 Before I share any info, are you with Shimano or Campagnolo ;-) I'm a relative newcomer to the binary world, as you are. Still not interrested in computers as such but very satisfied in using my digital darkroom. My choise has been Mac because of my use of Mac's during my photographic training, acyualy never seen a single PC in any classroom. Can't tell about running photoshop cs on windows by personal experience but people running this program on PC are mostly very impressed by the speed and ease at which Mac runs it. Some of them even made the switch. Not biased, only enthusiastic. My gear is: G5 dual core2.3 Ghz, 2GB extra memory. 23 " cinema display ( not a must this size but very comfortable ) Wacom tablet, for retouching and controling with a pen. ( very comfortable to ) Happy biking, Fr. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick0137 Posted November 7, 2006 Author Share #7 Posted November 7, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks for the replies. And for those who asked I'm a Campag user, obviously, as it goes with the mechanical world of Leica - Shimano goes with the digital world of...er, Leica. I've been trying to find reasons not to go with a Mac (the best of which is that I've never even used one) but I confess to being very tempted - if I'm going to have new "digitally dedicated" hardware why not get something completely new? Guy, (if I may), a Beginner's Guide (I don't mind it being called an Idiot's Guide - I've always been a believer in "know your limitations") would be wonderful, but it sounds like a hell of a lot of work, particularly when you (and others) have already provided so much useful stuff that's in the archives to be searched. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted November 7, 2006 Share #8 Posted November 7, 2006 Really hard to say which system is better and don't want to get into the PC vs mac war . i was a PC user for many many years and just recntly switched ships and went mac. I do like it better but in terms of major differences there really is none. Now if you go Mac with the Intel chips they are really nice and can run PC software on them also. Now PS runs a little slower on the Mac right now becuase it is run under emulation calle Rosetta , reason is it is not universal coded yet , that would be the next version of PS coming in january or so. But C1 is Universal coded and runs extremely fast on my Mc Pro and Macbook Pro. Now there are differences in PS and C1 on how they run. C1 is procesor hungry and PS is ram hungry. so you will still need a decent processor but more important PC or Mac you still need ram. Mac's love Ram plain and simple and there like a a pig in the mud with ram, they just love as much as they can get. Honstly now that the Mac can run PC programs with the Intel chip . i would saythe Mac is really the best choice and prices have come to a point were they are equal if not a little better on the Mac side. Major shift in pricing. I would not venture into this without at least a 20 in monitor and actuall 2 side by side a 20 and maybe a 17 . I have a 30 inch and a Mac Pro that is faster than a stampeded but i am the pig in the mud so don't go by what i have , i have 6gb pf Ramm and running Raid O raptor drives and all the stuff to fly. You can do with a lot less. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTD Posted November 7, 2006 Share #9 Posted November 7, 2006 If you do go with a mac, could I suggest you buy a book. They are generally easier to use than a Windows machine, but they are different. 'OSX The Missing Manual' by David Pogue is very good and will make switching a lot easier. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick0137 Posted November 7, 2006 Author Share #10 Posted November 7, 2006 All helpful stuff. Thanks. Am heading towards a Mac purchase I think. And the M8? Well in my very short acquaintance with it, I've concluded that, er, it's like a Leica M. Which is, I think, a good thing. A very good thing. Now, roll on getting my digital suite sorted out so I can try to get some banding/magenta-ing/high ISO disappointment going. Feeling left out..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted November 7, 2006 Share #11 Posted November 7, 2006 I heartily recommend the new MacBook (probably the Pro). I just got the bride the $1099 version and she is in heaven. I would suggest maxing the ram and attaching external disks for storage. The Pro looks really nice. These things cost less than windoze machines! And, you get OS X (the real thing). I have to reboot windoze ALL the time. I ended up with the PowerBook G4 that she had and I like the idea of carrying it along on a shoot. I still do my PSCS2 stuff, etc on my Gateway Pentium-D with 19" Sony monitor, but am puting the free software on the G4. I can't make the move to Apple yet because I also do video and don't have $2k to throw away on sw this year. g'luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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