Another 21.5" vs 27" for scrapbooking/iPhoto

[amandaz]

Hi, I'm a new member here! Spent the past week browsing to read as much as I could about my question before posting.

We need to replace our 20" 2004 iMac and are debating the low-end 21.5" vs. 27" iMac. Since we replace on average every 6 years, we'd like to get something that will go the distance.

My main uses will be standard home-use features, plus lots of iPhoto & PSE, and other scrapbooking software, yet to be purchased. I also plan to run VM fusion for Quicken. As a beginning digital photography hobbyist, I already have 1000's of photos (some now on an EHD because they slowed down my old computer). I wouldn't rule out getting into digital video in the future but it's low priority. No gaming.

I've read everything that I can find on the 27" vs. 21.5"... so am weighing the higher price, more heat, eye strain of the bigger screen v.s. all the extra space to scrapbook.

I have a specific concern about the bigger screen when using the full screen edit mode in iPhoto as this is currently my favorite way to cull, crop and adjust photos. It seems that it would be a bit alarming and cumbersome to crop close up photos when that large, but the upside is that when you want to design & proof a 12x12 two page spread you'd have nearly actual size.

Would any scrapbookers or iPhoto users share their experiences please or point me to the right forum to find more info?

Thank you in advance.

 

[moneyman118]

My wife uses iScrapbook 3 for scrapbooking on a Mac. She loves it. She also loves the 27" screen size for it allows her to mulitask more easily.

 

[amandaz]

Thanks for the reply. Do you know if she edits fullscreen in iPhoto? Maybe this isn't a concern as I think it might be. We're heading to our local Best Buy tonight to just test drive the new iMacs. (Our nearest Apple store is over an hour away.) I will have to check out iScrapbook, too, as I'm just starting out. Thanks again.

 

[AmyK]

While I don't use iPhoto to edit photos... I thought the 27" was too big... it's not at all.

The thing is, you can adjust the size of the window. I like to use full screen or close when editing photos. For cropping I use a smaller window, maybe it's just me and way I like things. But you won't regret a 27" for scrapbooking. I was looking at iScrapbook but I don't know if I'm ready to switch to digital scrapbooking I still love the feel of paper LOL!

 

[byron_hinson]

Love iphoto on the 27" despite feeling the program is slow and clunky even on a quad

 

[AnimaLeo]

27inch is probably worth it more for the money, but it's just too big for me. 21.5 is just perfect.

 

[MathijsDelva]

I have a question about iPhoto.. Right now, on my unibody MacBook C2D (4GB), editing full size pictures (14 megapixel) is kinda slow.. Is this the case with the new iMacs?

 

[TypeMRT]

I have a question about iPhoto.. Right now, on my unibody MacBook C2D (4GB), editing full size pictures (14 megapixel) is kinda slow.. Is this the case with the new iMacs?

I suggest going for the 21.5" 3.06 and using the money you save for a total of 8GB of RAM, a bigger HD, and maybe a Wacom pen tablet for photo editing. The combination will help make your workflow faster since the speed jump from the laptop will be substantial but it's not much of a performance jump between the new iMac models unless you go for the i7.

 

[moneyman118]

I suggest going for the 21.5" 3.06 and using the money you save for a total of 8GB of RAM, a bigger HD, and maybe a Wacom pen tablet for photo editing. The combination will help make your workflow faster since the speed jump from the laptop will be substantial but it's not much of a performance jump between the new iMac models unless you go for the i7.

Not a bad idea about the ram. You could always buy that a year from now when the ram is cheaper. To me the screen size is the deal breaker. You can have iPhoto open and itunes or the internet running and still have respectable windows. iLife which bears iPhoto should see an update shortly, rumored this week, which should run snappier!

 

[amandaz]

Thanks, everyone, for your input. It's really appreciated. My husband and I really tortured ourselves with this choice for the past week, spent hours trying the different screens side-by-side and came up with a plan of sorts... Since I do have the old tired eyes with headache concern, we bought the base 21.5" iMac which I will use until I'm desiring an upgrade (could be sooner rather than later). Then this iMac will go to the kids. We had planned to upgrade their computer in the next year or two anyway, so thought this would be a good approach to the issue. Hope we're right!

 

[sashie]

sorry for hijacking the post :/ but i want to know what kind of scrapbooking software will you be purchasing? I am really into scrapbooking too (new found interest) but it is not at all common in the place i reside in.. Would be grateful if you could give me some ideas and pop me some software names!

Regardless I just bought a 21.5" mainly for photo editing/scrapbooking and other daily tasks like emailing. I find the screen big enough.. or else i'd have to sit very far away from the screen!

good luck with your decision!

 

[DannyBres]

I watched soem videos on the iScrapbook website last night and it looks very cool and easy to make professional looking pages!

 

[amandaz]

sorry for hijacking the post :/ but i want to know what kind of scrapbooking software will you be purchasing?

Hijack away! It's all good. I'm a newbie too... my friend is big time into Creative Memories Storybook on her PC and gets lots of free/cheap downloads from the web, aside from Creative Memories. I'm a Mac fan and waiting for the CM Storybook for Mac out in November before buying. I currently have iPhoto and PhotoShop Elements. I've only done one book in iPhoto (previous version - very simple, yet elegant ) and look forward to trying some more. I would appreciate any input from the more experienced, too. I think that you will find other forums dedicated to digital scrapping with a google search -- just don't know which ones to recommend at this time. I'm still trying to edit and cull my photos from a 2 week family vacation down to a manageable number before starting a book. Happy scrapping! Amanda

 

[mtbdudex]

My wife is big time into scrapbooking, I made her a dedicated room in our basement. Currently she uses a 2007 24" iMac, and a Klik-n-Kut (via VMFusion/WinXP).

We recently got a 27" iMac that I use upstairs as mt digital photography hub.
I got the i7 processor I use Aperture/CS5 for my digital photography.
btw, I used to use iPhoto and PSE8 like you, and going to Aperture 3 is much-much better for workflow and editing. Everything can be done solely in Aperture.

21.1 vs 27? I'm one to say bigger is better, multiple windows open, etc.
do you need i7? maybe not. I agree on 8GB RAM, also consider the 2TB HD.

good luck.

 

[amandaz]

Hello Mike, from a fellow (SW) Michigander... we went ahead and took the plunge with the basic 21.5" for a variety of reasons. I can see 27" in our future (<2 yrs) & giving this one to the kids but I didn't want to go all the way just yet as I'm a newbie. I appreciate you sharing your set-up. It sounds great! How do you keep your wife on the 24" in the basement? Amanda

 

[mtbdudex]

Hello Mike, from a fellow (SW) Michigander... we went ahead and took the plunge with the basic 21.5" for a variety of reasons. I can see 27" in our future (<2 yrs) & giving this one to the kids but I didn't want to go all the way just yet as I'm a newbie. I appreciate you sharing your set-up. It sounds great! How do you keep your wife on the 24" in the basement? Amanda

Honestly, recently she is upstairs in the loft using "my" 27" iMac more and more, easier to keep eye on kids.
fwiw, we just recently discovered remote hook up and screen sharing, so while the Mail application/storage is on the 27"iMac in 2nd floor loft, now easy to use screen sharing and read email from basement 24" iMac.

 

[talmy]

Since I do have the old tired eyes with headache concern, we bought the base 21.5" iMac which I will use until I'm desiring an upgrade (could be sooner rather than later).

You can easily add another monitor if you find the 21.5" too cramped. It's also surprising how nice it is to spread out ones work on two monitors. It's great to be able to run two applications full screen side-by-side.