Anyone using the new Apple M processors with SPP?

[JDowning]

I'm in the market for a new computer and I am curious about anyone's experience with working with Sigma Photo Pro on the newer Apple M processors.

I'm not looking for persuasion to go to another platform for I am considering all my options. This question is part of my research as to whether to stay with Apple or go to a PC setup.

I'm currently working off a MacBook Pro from 2013 and I've been limping it along since the batteries don't want to hold charge, but the rest has been holding out. Until yesterday...

I have 4 various brand and sized external mini hard drives connected to a 4-slot USB hub so that I can access all of my works along one USB port. My computer has 2 USB-A ports and 2 Thunderbolt 1 ports, which are worthless to me. I connected the array last night to access a photo from a trip in 2018 that my trip-buddy wanted to see that I haven't published yet. Well, I got a low voltage error for the first time and I now know this is near the end of my workhorse computer.

I'm currently working on a permanent solution to this USB array, as well.

This computer has been absolutely great. I bought it in Florida on a TV job (Catching Hell, Reality TV show that aired on cable, I forget the network; I used to work heavily in reality TV until I couldn't take it anymore) and it traveled with me across the world. I don't travel anymore, so I don't need anything portable. I'm looking at the new iMacs. I had one before I took to the road that I gave to my nephews that is basically a word processor at this point.

Anyway, just looking at anyone's experience. Thanks. And I'll add the image I mentioned. I've been having issues with trying to get the sky from blowing out like that in the X3i file, but nothing I can do will bring the color back. This is not the final edit. I am not happy with it.



View attachment 76c3bf01764d493a87c63e037d0e50b9.jpg
El Capitan; August 2018

 

[Scottelly]

I tried SPP on an M1 MacBook Pro, when they first came out. It was impressive. I'm sure the latest version on an M3 would be fantastic.

 

[Ceistinne]

It seems to me from reading here that SPP works better & more efficiently on PCs.

S

 

[Ceistinne]

It seems to me that SPP works better & more efficiently on PCs.

S

 

[left eye]

I had been using a 2014 MacBook Pro i7 until a month ago. Last year the internal battery had swollen so much I had to replace it - which I did. Though for various reasons I didn’t want to upgrade the OS, due to software on the machine etc.

Anyway, a month ago I got a MacBook Pro M4 Max running the latest OS, SPP works great, of course much faster than before, all good.

 

[applemax]

Hello,

my current MacBook Pro is from 2011 and still works quite well, including the battery.

BUT I haven't used it with SPP since my wife got an M1 MacBook Pro a couple of years ago. It runs just so much faster and smoother on the M series. And the monitor is by far the best I have ever seen with any computer. And you can work on battery power, even using compute intensive applications like photo or video editing for up to ten hours (the latest M4 MacBook Pros claim 14 hours!).

For my image editing, I use an external SSD hard drive with USB-C connection, which Apple calles Thunderbolt 4 with their M4 McBooks. Data transfer is almost as fast as the internal hard disk, totally different from my Intel MacBook with USB 2 or 3. In my view therefore it is not necessary to spend lots of money on internal hard disk capacity when buying a new MacBook Pro. Better spend the money on the "Max" version of the processor if you plan to do any video editing (for which internal hard disks are too small in any case).

And one more thing: If you have the choice, take the "nanotexture" monitor, the standard glossy one is very nice to look at but can be a little difficult to view in certain lighting condition.

Regards

Max

 

[JDowning]

Big thanks to everyone who responded. I'm very surprised by the positive answers. I haven't researched much information about the M processors until now and I'll admit that I have been a little skeptical about them.

 

[Antone]

It runs just fine on my Mac mini M4 Pro. Nice and snappy with 24 GB RAM and 2 TB SSD.