Gear Talk > Processing & Publication
Windows 10?
Matthew Currie:
I find for my relatively minimal and non-intensive work (like processing the occasional image for web, making CD's for relatives, etc.) a Win 10 computer works all right. I have a little Samsung Win 7 "netbook" that I use for traveling, and for the Nikon programs mentioned, it's dead, dead slow. To time the loading of a D7100 Raw file in Capture NX-D you'd do better with a calendar than with a clock. Copying files is best done before you go off for dinner in hope it will be done when you get back. It works, but I only keep this computer going because it's very small and very rugged, unscathed after over ten years much of that traveling the world in a backpack, and it handlers file transfers and saves easily if slowly, and it's just fine for email.
By comparison, the same programs work reasonably well even on my bottom-line 3-core Win 10 laptop. This one, a Dell, also has a pretty minimal display, but it's well ahead of the old Samsung. I'm not a serious tweaker of subtle colors, and I can be fairly sure that an image that looks OK on this screen will look OK just about anywhere.
I think many people here do a lot of heavy-duty processing, and for that I'm sure such a rig would be a no-go. But for the kind of thing the OP seems to be looking at, I think nearly any Win 10 computer now available would probably be a good step up, and at least usable with the software mentioned as well as other programs.
I've used Linux too, and that has the advantage that you can put it on just about anything, and can even boot from an incorruptible DVD. The open source programs like Darktable and Raw Therapee and Gimp (which also work well on Windows) are fine, but installing Windows software, though theoretically possible, can be a pain, and I had poor success.
benzen:
Appreciate the responses thus far. As mentioned....I am not computer savvy nor am I unfamiliar particularly in a world that cannot function without them. However, I am no fan of Windows and am indifferent to Apple. I have used both platforms though I think the Samsung Win 7 laptop computer I have at home would be horrible to view photographs. I may just use the Mac mini I have at work with a reasonable Samsung older 21" monitor to start.
Matthew, I suspect you are right. For my limited needs, just about any Windows 10 computer will serve my purpose. I would be looking at laptops for mobility and use at home. The Macs are just too expensive even refurbished. They are cleaner in that there is much less manure baked into the device.
JJChan:
The world is not cheap and technology costs are a big part of that.
There are some must haves if you buy any computer today and compromises will have to be made eg longevity with build quality, smaller batteries, replaceable parts, uncomfortable keyboards, USB ports
For windows 10, I think the minimum is 8Gb ram, SSD and IPS screen. Quick google search: https://techmoguide.com/best-budget-laptops-with-ips-display/
Good luck!
Wannabebetter:
--- Quote from: Birna Rørslett on January 26, 2022, 14:08:54 ---Windows 10 is here to stay -- at least until 2025. So you really have no choice unless you wish to splurge heavily for a Win11-capable machine, or another Mac.
However for the computer savy, a modern Linux can do almost the same and there are more or less free alternatives in terms of image processing software. Even some of the Windows-based programs (PhotoNinja, for example) will work. Linux runs happily on less than state-of-the-art machines as well.
--- End quote ---
If you're the hands-on sort, adept at using Linux and well versed in all things Windows, you can load Windows 11 on most any machine currently running Windows 10 without issue, and to the inclusion of those machines not "officially" supported or currently whitelisted by Microsoft. In fact, if you dig around enough, you'll find the page where Microsoft admits as much - in fact providing the proper ISO/image to download (for free) as well as all the usual admonishments and security warnings etc. (As stated: if you're the Linux sort you can do all the security patchwork yourself.) Presently, I can't think of any practical reason or need to upgrade my six year old Lenovo workstation - like they say, if it ain't broken - but could see a day past 2025 when Windows 11 might afford an aging i7 quad-core a few more years use. Who knows?
Incidentally, I rescued a nine year old Dell Inspiron i5 from a dumpster one rainy night a few weeks back, which took to Windows 10 Home without issue (it had a legal license on file), and is currently seeing service as a digital jukebox and wide screen Zoom conferencing platform, tethered to a family room TV. And the slide shows! My crap, never looked so much like - well - crap. Though (again) not officially supported I plan on loading Windows 11 and use this machine as something of a test platform. So long as I handle all the security fixes myself, in theory, all should go well. The 8 gigs of RAM and 1 terabyte HDD, which I scrubbed until it bled, made this a great salvage and destined for a needful friend.
Gone:
Why would anyone want a Windoze machine? The same hardware loaded with Ubuntu (Linux) will run faster, load faster and you will not be annoyed by waiting for the OS updating every time you start.
There are many similar if not better software packages, Shotwell for image store and GIMP for photo editing. Long term support versions last 4 years with the option to update every 6 months if you want to.
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