On report , the MacBook Air come along to be the answer to many wandering photographers ’ dream . It ’s small enough to locomote in a camera traveling bag yet fast enough to run major photography software program .
The MacBook Air ’s maximal heaviness is a bare 0.68 in . you could comfortably hold while open up it in one hand , and the wedge - influence design take a crap the laptop computer well-situated to slip into the sac of a television camera packsack . Despite the MacBook Air ’s portability , specs for it indicate that it ’s no lightweight on performance . With the MacBook Air you’re able to hightail it iPhoto ’ 11 , Photoshop CS5 , Lightroom 3 , or Aperture 3 anywhere .
But how does it hold up in the field ? Over the course of six week I traveled by plane , cab , bus , and on foot with a 13 - inch 2.13GHz MacBook Air in my camera backpack . I used it to edit photograph , compose articles , upload video , and manage my situation . The Air endured the same rigors of the road as my DSLR and backpack . And when the dust determine , I wish the melodic line more than ever .
Key features for photographers
Photography equipment is bulky enough to start with . The allure of the Air is that it lets you bundle a estimator and still travel light — both sizing can go in your lap if you ’re flying economy class . It ’s little enough that you may transport it in a photographic camera handbag , keep your carry - on luggage to a minimum . Inside that slight package is a robust bombardment that stays charge for a long meter , letting you do work on long flights ; flash memory , which eliminate the vexation of strong - thrust bankruptcy ; and enough might to run all major Mac pic apps , let in Apple ’s Aperture and Adobe Lightroom .
The theater test I did were on a build - to - order model : a 13 - column inch 2.13GHz MacBook Air with 4 GB of RAM . The terms for this constellation is currently $ 1799 . The faster , build - to - gild model does increase the toll of the Air , but the organisation performs better in benchmark tests . I opted for the upgrades because of Aperture , which like extra H.P. ; however , they are not necessary to run any of these photograph programs .
If infinite is at a bounty , the 11 - inch Air also works well for photographers on the route , evince minimal speed differences . I have composition from shooters running Aperture on the $ 1199 11 - column inch exemplar who were very satisfied .
There are a few primal area where the two theoretical account differ that photographers should take into thoughtfulness : The sieve resolution for the 11 - inch Air is smaller — only 1366 by 768 . With the 13 - inch Air ’s larger 1440 by 900 screen , you have extra space for working on exposure . And only the 13 - column inch mannequin includes an SD Card slot , so if your camera habituate SD Cards , you wo n’t need to pack a wit proofreader or USB cablegram .
Looking at the speed specs
Your laptop is your berth on the road , so it need to handle all the character of study you do , including east - mail , WWW browsing , and writing . The Air manage those tasks handily while also meet the special software demands of a lensman .
The 2.13GHz MacBook Air is n’t quite as fast as the 15 - column inch 2.4GHz MacBook Pro , according to the Speedmark 6.5 scores ( 119 versus 132 , severally ) . But in my real - world tests as a photographer , the Air execute quite well .
For example , I quiz the MacBook Air against my older 17 - in , 2.5GHz MacBook Pro by import raw single file from a Canon EOS 60D into Aperture 3 . The MacBook Air average 53 second gear for 30 raw filing cabinet versus 1 minute and 50 second for importing the same files off the same memory card from the older MacBook Pro .
I had good result while ikon editing in Aperture . Even after I enabled five or six adaption , edits went swimmingly , with little or no delay . Despite its smaller sizing and promiscuous weight , the MacBook Air can hold back its own against bigger , more hefty laptop computer .
MacBook Air versus the iPad
I ’m a heavy fan of the iPad , and it was my sole television camera dish fellow until I set out packing the MacBook Air . Each gimmick has its benefits :
iPad Advantages
MacBook Air Advantages
In real world term , the iPad works large on vacation when I do n’t need to have final mathematical product from the route . I can view photos and movies , do e-mail , browse the web and play with the peculiarity exposure apps . But on assignment , I need the added power and memory of the MacBook Air . It cost more , but it ’s a tool that can be used for professional assignments as well as leisure .
For more contingent on how the iPad work in the field , see out my step - by - step work flow for photographers using an iPad .
The final word
lensman who require to travel light and who have the budget for a premium laptop computer should view the MacBook Air . The faster Built to society model does increase the terms , but it also performs well in benchmark run . If you want an even a more summary package and are willing to give up a spot of resolution and the SD card slot , the 11 - column inch model seems to be pleasing many lensman on the go .
Tomorrow , I ’ll share my recommended workflows for photographers using the MacBook Air in the force field .
[ Senior Contributor Derrick Story teach digital photography onLynda.comand run a virtual camera club atThe Digital Story . ]
