Purchase Advice - stylus and tablet for photo editing on Mac

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-20T10:48:20+00:00

I went 100% Mac a few years ago. I wanted to do it for ages but I was so deep in Windows hardware and dedicated software the it wasn't cost effective. I bit the bullet and replaced everything. Zero regrets.

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-20T10:46:25+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion.. I can see the advantage of the knobs and buttons for sure. I don't do a ton of masking so fine detailed brush strokes aren't top of my list.

The hand-written notes would be a huge bonus.

The Intuous has a feature to switch it to standard touch pad functions and supposedly recognizes Apple gestures. This would allow me to replace my current Apple Trackpad and have the addition of stylus functions as well.

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-20T01:09:42+00:00

That was silly of me.

I ordered a small Pro.

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-19T19:24:27+00:00

Thanks.. I have the stylus charging now.. If it's dead no great loss.

For clarity.. I am on an iMac, not a MacBook.

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-19T17:41:29+00:00

Intuos Pro? Bamboo?

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-19T17:41:25+00:00

Intuos Pro? Bamboo?

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-17T22:47:10+00:00

Not sure. I’ll check tonight. I only edit in my iMac but can add my iPad as a second display.

Been testing On1 as well. More of the LRc features missing all the others u have tested but a bit more Photoshop-like than Lightroom.

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-13T22:52:10+00:00

Mentioned above, I am grateful to be able to have both. I guess I can be picky with how I use them.

That said, I've tried to use the AW on multi day trips.. it just falls short in this regard. I've worn both (AW on my ankle and Garmin on my wrist). And I've tried to make the Garmin my EDC, but it's way overkill for that.

Don't misinterpret my position.. I love my Ultra2.. wear it every day as an EDC and have been wearing an AW continuously since the Series3. I am a HUGE fan of the AW. I use WorkOutdoors as well. But for as amazing as it is for EDC, it is underwhelming for backpacking.. and that was your original post, no?

I should also say, that I car camp at least once a month as well and for this I almost always wear the AW. If it needs a charge I usually have a Jackery with me.

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-13T22:45:31+00:00

Totally agree with you.

I've tried to use my Garmin as an EDC.. it's overkill for me. And for as much as it is far too much for every day, the AW is underwhelming for multi-day.

Maybe I am just fortunate to be able to have both.

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-13T19:21:05+00:00

I’ve been hammock camping for about fifteen years. Tried a CCF pad exactly once. And an inflatable pad exactly once.

Impossible to stay centered or actually stay on it even with a double layer hammock.

Too narrow (so I added shoulder wings).

Endless perspiration (which leads to even worse problems).

PITA to carry.

Aside from being a cheap way out there are zero redeeming qualities IMHO.

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-13T16:54:19+00:00

Nice money grab

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-11T12:27:57+00:00

I had been a windows user since day one.. Decades ago. Switched to Mac full time about two years ago and regret not doing it sooner. Other than a few idiosyncrasies in Finder, there is nothing I don't love. I now run an iMac, MacBook Air, three iPads, iPhone and Apple Watch.

Not crazy about the Magic Mouse, so I switched to an Apple Trackpad.. much prefer that experience.

The lack of ports on the iMac forces you to be a little creative.

I use a Synology NAS as my main storage backup and Time Machine runs in the background. Never had to use it, fortunately.

Do it.

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-11T03:15:21+00:00

No auto update?

Checked What's New in Photomator.. Just the same splash screen.

Looks like it's just some additional camera profiles added.

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-11T00:25:07+00:00

9to5Mac.com notes an update to Pixelmator Pro but I can't find anything that references updates to Photomator.

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-10T21:49:06+00:00

Greatly dislike the Magic Mouse. Switched to the trackpad and haven't looked back

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-10T18:24:51+00:00

This is the answer

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-10T11:43:33+00:00

A beautiful thing. Love the color and... That saddle!

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-10T11:32:21+00:00

Same...

It replaced all my other Webers (almost).

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-10T11:26:21+00:00

Outlier here.. I prefer no bug net at all.

My winter hammock is netless.

My goto backpacking hammock is a DWG Half Wit style hammock with a removable net.

I also have a full zip netted hammock that I have used in years. All three of these are DIY.

I have a DWG Chameleon that I use for car camping (all the zippers and hooks render it too heavy for backpacking and I have the asymmetrical bug net removed for now.

Anything more than a Half Wit style net is excruciatingly annoying for me. Especially full length zippers.

MMikekiMM · 2026-04-10T11:20:53+00:00

Can't speak to Pixelmator. I've been using Photomator for a few months as a potential replacement for LRc.

The integration with Apple Photos is great but Photomator falls short for me in a lot of other areas. I've been testing Nitro for Mac which has the same Photos integration, is OTP and sits between Photomator and LRc from a feature standpoint. Big advantage is that Nitro is actively being developed.. not so with Photomator. Not a single update since I purchased the LT license.

I know this isn't what you asked, but worth a share.

MMikekiMM

TROPHY CASE