Rev C MBA & Aperture 2.0

[vraxtus]

Anyone have experience with this combination? Considering picking up an MBA to replace my Oct 06 MBP, but was wondering if I'm going to run into issues with the 200mhz clock loss and move to non-discrete graphics.

That or if I should just wait and pray an Arrandale MBA version comes out that doesn't suck

 

[ltsching]

I use Aperture with my Rev. A MBA (with RunCore 128G SSD). No problem at all. I assume Rev. C will work as well.

 

[ayeying]

Anyone have experience with this combination? Considering picking up an MBA to replace my Oct 06 MBP, but was wondering if I'm going to run into issues with the 200mhz clock loss and move to non-discrete graphics.

That or if I should just wait and pray an Arrandale MBA version comes out that doesn't suck

No problems on my air either. However, it would be slower due to the lack of ram and the screen size would probably be a problem

 

[iPave]

No problem. Despite Air's processor clock is 200mhz less than 06 MBP's, it is surely faster. 9400m is more than enough for Aperture. I've got MBP 15 with 9400m and 9600gt, and I can say 9400m can easily fulfill Aperture's horse power needs when editing 13 megapixel raw images from my camera. Only thing I'm concerned is the screen. It might feel a bit tight if you have big images.

 

[vraxtus]

Thanks guys! This is great to know.

I've actually got my current MBP rigged to my old DVI-based 24" Cinema Display, so I could conceivably do the same. Aperture however does run pretty sluggish on my computer now, and making edits does sometimes take a LONG time. I'm not expecting lightning speed with it on the MBA obviously, but good to know that it'll work.

Now I guess my biggest decision is whether to wait until Rev D

 

[hooly]

I use Aperture on a 2.8Ghz MBP and a rev B MBA.

If you are shooting RAW I suspect you won't be very happy with the performance. My MBA is *very* snappy for internet, office editing etc, but runs slow for RAW photo editing in Aperture. It works ok but edits are slow to respond, spinning beach ball is common.

If you shoot jpeg I guess it is just fine. With large RAW files it slows down my workflow and is not particularly well suited. If I go on a trip where I expect to do heavy photo editing, I lug my MBP.

 

[vraxtus]

Thanks hooly, that's actually really good to know.

I shoot entirely RAW on my 5D, and I do get some subpar performance at times on my current MBP, mostly with load times. Edits are usually alright but can be choppy also.

I was doing some reading on the 9400M and specwise it actually is a rough equivalent to the old X1600 that's sitting on my old MBP. I was hoping I'd at least see some similar performance, but not a complete chokehold.

 

[hooly]

I shoot d700 so file sizes are probably similar.

On my 2009 MBP: small delay while images load/render around 1 to 3 seconds. This 'annoys' me a bit but apart from that editing is very responsive. My 'dream machine' would solve these issues but nothing on the market in notebook form will do that.

On my rev b MBA: Files take even longer to render and then adjustments like levelling (tilting the image), cropping, adjusting the tone curve are slow and can result in beach balls.

Bottom line I can sort, process, adjust and tag images on my MBP in a swift and painless workflow. On my MBA it is 'picture by picture' editing and I have to be patient. Ok for fiddling with the occassional shot but if I have an entire batch from a large shoot I wait until I can get the files on my MBP.



Overall the MBA is great. The SSD makes it snappier than my MBP for boot/reboot and launching apps like firefox, safari, word etc. But for Aperture it let's me down and it also occasionally overheats and becomes stuttery when e.g. on a youtube marathon.

I am interested to see what they manage with rev d, but sometimes I think about getting a 13" MBP instead for a more portable photography tool. Saying that, the weight difference between the 15 and 13" MBP is marginal, whereas the MBA is awesome for business travel. Just a shame it doesn't deliver for RAW editing.

I am pretty much convinced that anyone telling you MBA is great for aperture is shooting jpeg from a compact camera...