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 Photographers, perhaps more than other computer users, have always tended to prefer Apple computers. The graphic interface and powerful imaging programs that debuted on the Mac were key reasons, as was the platform's early adoption of color management. However, improvements on the PC side, and often-lower prices, have chipped away at the Apple imaging mystique over the years.
This may be the impetus behind Apple Computer's new Aperture software, an image organizer ($270, street) on steroids, designed to ease the organizational nightmare faced by today's busiest digital photographers.
Is it right for you? That depends on how often you shoot RAW images, how many you shoot, and how much you've invested-or may want to invest-in an Apple computer system.
Unlike Apple's iTunes software, one of the most popular music-sharing programs for both Macs and PCs, Aperture runs only on a Mac computer-specifically, one running the latest version of its operating system, Mac OS X Tiger (10.4.3) or newer. We found that Aperture will run on Apple's current laptops and more recent desktop models, as long as they have the latest OS.
But the software really shines when running on the latest dual- or quad-processor machines, such as the Power Mac G5 Quad-with four 2.5GHz CPUs, 4 GB RAM, and two 500GB hard drives-that Apple supplied for our review. The company also sent us two 30-inch flat panel cinema display screens for our test. The cost of the whole system: $9,770 (direct). Alas, we have to send ours back.
Why does Aperture require so much power to perform its magic? Because it makes hard-to-handle RAW files behave like little JPEGs. Until Aperture came along, previewing, opening, and adjusting RAW files required either the camera manufacturer's software, standalone programs such as Phase One's Capture One PRO ($500, street), or Adobe's RAW converter plugin for Photoshop. All of these options make working with RAW images tedious and time-consuming, due to the size of the files and the image processing required to convert RAW files into usable JPEGs or TIFFs. That is why many pros and enthusiasts choose to store files in both RAW (for processing later) and JPEG formats (for viewing and sharing now).
Running Aperture on the supercharged Quad system we used, it is now possible to view, categorize, and even perform quick fixes on RAW files at the same speed that other data asset management (DAM) programs and photo organizers handle compressed JPEG images.
The software also seamlessly supports a dual-monitor viewing system, letting you compare several large images at the same time on one screen while displaying dozens of thumbnails and image data files on the other. And, for even more control and specific work-flow requirements, it offers many customizable browser and window options.
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