Latest Adobe software on an older mac

[wizzo63]

I'm currently using the latest Adobe software on my old PC which is very slow.
I want to buy a faster (hopefully) but older used/refurbished imac/macbook to do my print work on.
Only wanted to spend up to around £400.
Will an older mac of any type be able to use the latest adobe software which I use via the cloud?

Thanks

 

[DeltaMac]

The system requirements are pretty clear on Adobe's web site - https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/creative-cloud-desktop-app-system-requirements.html.
Basically, Adobe actively supports the current macOS, and two versions older. With Sequoia soon to be released, that would make the two older systems to be Ventura and Senoma, so get a Mac that will support Ventura or newer, and the other recommended requirements. I think a primary choice would be "8 GB or more", with the emphasis on "or more". Adobe apps, as always, like as much RAM as you can provide.

 

[ChrisA]

I'm currently using the latest Adobe software on my old PC which is very slow.
I want to buy a faster (hopefully) but older used/refurbished imac/macbook to do my print work on.
Only wanted to spend up to around £400.
Will an older mac of any type be able to use the latest adobe software which I use via the cloud?

Thanks

Save up a little more money and buy an M2 based Mac Mini. 16GB RAM would be much better than the standard 8GB.

If you need to keep the price down upgrade the PC somehow, perhaps with SSD or more RAM.

If you are buying a Mac for Adobe, you want Apple Silicon and 16GB RAM. It you don't get at least that, then you don't see much of an upgrade.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you want to use "the latest" Adobe software, you're gonna need a new or recently-made Mac.

And it's going to cost more than £400.

I suggest you try Apple's online refurbished pages.

Consider an m2 (or better yet, m2pro) Mini.

Again, if you want to use "Adobe's latest", that's what it's going to take.

 

[Ben J.]

Which parts of the adobe suite exactly?
Can make a difference; A large Lightroom catalogue will put more stress on both memory and cpu/gpu than working on a few images and printing in Photoshop.

 

[benwiggy]

"Does it have to be Adobe...?"

The yearly subscription is £656.21 -- more if you pay monthly. Add your £400, that just about covers an M3 MacBook Air.

The Affinity suite (that's a perpetual licence for 3 apps -- Designer, Photo, and Publisher) costs £160 outright. DaVinci Resolve is free. There are other much cheaper or free products, still with Pro-level features.

 

[wizzo63]

"Does it have to be Adobe...?"

The yearly subscription is £656.21 -- more if you pay monthly. Add your £400, that just about covers an M3 MacBook Air.

The Affinity suite (that's a perpetual licence for 3 apps -- Designer, Photo, and Publisher) costs £160 outright. DaVinci Resolve is free. There are other much cheaper or free products, still with Pro-level features.

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to upgrade the PC, a cheaper option.

Which parts of the adobe suite exactly?
Can make a difference; A large Lightroom catalogue will put more stress on both memory and cpu/gpu than working on a few images and printing in Photoshop.

If you want to use "the latest" Adobe software, you're gonna need a new or recently-made Mac.

And it's going to cost more than £400.

I suggest you try Apple's online refurbished pages.

Consider an m2 (or better yet, m2pro) Mini.

Again, if you want to use "Adobe's latest", that's what it's going t

Save up a little more money and buy an M2 based Mac Mini. 16GB RAM would be much better than the standard 8GB.

If you need to keep the price down upgrade the PC somehow, perhaps with SSD or more RAM.

If you are buying a Mac for Adobe, you want Apple Silicon and 16GB RAM. It you don't get at least that, then you don't see much of an upgrade.

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to upgrade the PC, a cheaper option.

 

[gilby101]

The yearly subscription is £656.21

Depending on which Adobe apps. The LR/Photoshop bundle is a lot cheaper at US$10pm. But I agree with your point that if you are spending a lot on software, it is counterproductive to penny-pinch on hardware.

 

[benwiggy]

But I agree with your point that if you are spending a lot on software, it is counterproductive to penny-pinch on hardware.

My point was not "if you're spending lots of software, you should spend lots on hardware as well"; but rather "spend the money more wisely on software, giving you more for hardware". Sadly, spending is usually a zero-sum game!