Which computer

[pmrid (Peter)]

I have owned a couple of Apple computers over the years beginning in the 80s with the IIe and the like and always been an admirer. Apples always had "style" if nothing else. But I was never able to make the commitment. My work PCs were always Intel-based and all software Windows based. But the attraction has always been there.

And I have the itch again and am wondering how well Macs suit astrophotography.

I'd love to have a fling with a used Mac - like those being sold by the Tech Factory south of Brisbane but before jumping in, I'd appreciate some input on things like which CPU, which peripherals, which software.

[Leo.G (Leo)]

https://www.spaceastronomer.com/en/a...oftware-mac-os


Possibly a far from complete list of what is available.



I'd consider a search for usable software to be a good start Peter. Most programs will/should specify which level hardware I believe (I didn't go through the list).
Many people argue that a Mac runs programs better than their Intel (AMD) based rivals. In my mind it should be expected since software is written to use with specific hardware whereas MS based applications are made to work on hopefully whatever machine little Johnny can slap together with the bargain components he found at the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales. It's always been a downfall with MS based software because anyone can build their own machine out of whatever brands and bits they can slap together.
In that alone I would consider the Mac's should be good at what they do (I know a lot of PhotoShop people who swear by them, I've never had the money and slap junk together out of whatever I can find).

[Tulloch (Andrew)]

Most Planetary AP software is Windows only, so if this is a consideration, stick with Windows.

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

yes unfortunately in terms of capturing data there isn't many programs that support mac - I think going back to intel based macs you had some options but the newer ARM based macs I haven't heard much (happy to be corrected).


Processing / editing mac should be fine - photoshop / pixinsight exist etc.



most things are of course on Windows as andrew mentioned.
you can do everything on linux (which can have the desktop environment looking similar to mac - if the look and feel is important) but you are very limited on the options for software.



You could get a cheap mini pc / nuc using either linux or windows for capture and a mac for processing if you really wanted to buy a mac.
I do shudder at the costs associated with Mac storage though!

[Atmos (Colin)]

For most of the last 10 years I’ve been using a MacBook Pro for doing everything astro related. Processing was done with PixInsight but all image capture was done running either BootCamp or Parallels to run windows.

There are some programs that you can use to capture on a Mac, Nebulosity is one, The Sky X can be used for mount control and image capture. There are some other programs I’ve not used but have heard of but cannot remember off the top of my head. If you rely on ASCOM, forget it.

Over the years I did buy two cheap windows laptops but I never found either of them as capable as running windows on my 2014 MBP. It wasn’t even about computer speed, the MBP has a much better keyboard, mousepad and screen.

18 months ago I bought a mini PC so I don’t have to leave a laptop outside anymore, I connect to it via TeamViewer and can control it from either my phone or desktop.

[pmrid (Peter)]

Thanks for the info gents. It seems that my temptation to go over to the dark side will have to remain unfulfilled. I have, for a while now, been looking for a way to escape the ASIair/ZWO web. But the costs have become prohibitive and that becomes even more so when thinking about going Mac. The software alone would break the bank.

I would put up a bit more of a fight if ASIair was not so darned good at what it does. I used to use MximDL and generally speaking, it did a pretty fair job - particularly with equipment from a mix of sources. But ASIair has seduced me away from that and now I fear I am hooked.

Thanks again.

[AstroViking (Steve)]

Hi Peter,

There is KStars for controlling your equipment - free and regularly updated by the KStars development team. You can even control an entire observatory with it, should you have the need / desire to do so.

How are your IT skills? You can always build yourself a 'Hackintosh' - a modified version of macOS that runs on commodity PC hardware.

My main machine that gets used for everything (email / web / image processing) is a hex-core i5 Hackintosh. All the benefits of macOS and all the benefits of being able to upgrade hardware as I need to.

So 'joining the dark side' need not be expensive.

Cheers,
V.

[pmrid (Peter)]

Well, I have surrendered to temptation and bought a used MacBook Pro 2020 M1 13 inch lappie. Only 8GB of RAM and a 500GB SSD.

I know, a weak will has done me in once again. But I am seriously looking forward to getting to know the Mac.

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Originally Posted by pmrid

Well, I have surrendered to temptation and bought a used MacBook Pro 2020 M1 13 inch lappie. Only 8GB of RAM and a 500GB SSD.

I know, a weak will has done me in once again. But I am seriously looking forward to getting to know the Mac.

you got to scratch the itch every now and then. enjoy your new laptop

[Nikolas (Nik)]

In terms or processing images Pixinsight just works on the modern macs, I have just purchased a m4 mac mini with 64 gb ram and it literally just chews through the imaging as the graphics chips are fully integrated.
As for NINA etc I can't speak for that side of astronomy,y but for what I do it just works and works brilliantly straight out of the boix

[skysurfer]

Originally Posted by pmrid

Well, I have surrendered to temptation and bought a used MacBook Pro 2020 M1 13 inch lappie. Only 8GB of RAM and a 500GB SSD.

I know, a weak will has done me in once again. But I am seriously looking forward to getting to know the Mac.

Same here. I bought it in early 2022, the late 2021 edition with 1TB HDD and 32GB RAM.
Awesome ! I run Affinity Photo for astrophotography editing and when I really need Windows I use UTM (an open source QEMU based virtualizer) which even runs Intel x64 based Win 11 in a VM. Same applies to Linux.

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

good timing Peter, looks like Nebula Photo on youtube is doing a mac astro software video (not out yet) https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxDnQ...HWwK72cnhqC1_v

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

here is the video "Installing Every FREE Astronomy Software on MacOS"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDgnvHST1QE

[pmrid (Peter)]

Thanks Russell. A good source of valuable ideas.

Originally Posted by rustigsmed

here is the video "Installing Every FREE Astronomy Software on MacOS"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDgnvHST1QE

[bxobservatory (Lars)]

For sheer reliability I use intel NUCs, pity they are no longer manufactured in their original guise, there are plenty of substitutes.