New Macbook want Pictures not Photos

Hi - I have a brand new Macbook Pro and I want to import all my travel photos for easy reference.

However in my last laptop I only used Pictures - and had separate folders inside the Pictures section.

I have never used iPhoto and am not keen to try and learn something completely different.

I then used Picasa for editing.

Should I just delete Photos and then import to Pictures instead so I can begin installing them and editing them in my usual way?

What is the best way to go about deleting Photos folder/section so that it doesn't predict that is where your photos should go and allows them to go into the Pictures folders.

Thanks

MacBook Pro

Posted on Apr 1, 2016 10:18 AM

32 replies

Apr 2, 2016 9:36 AM in response to Vicki Johnston

With all modern laptops that use solid state memory for their hard drives (SSD) you have to choose the size carefully when you purchase as most are not easily upgradable. In your case if you have the option to return and upgrade now would be a good time.

If not then you need to manage your data and offload old or infrequently used photos to an external hard drive. If you don't want to keep plugging in a drive then look for network attached storage (NAS) or an Apple Time Capsule, which can also be used as your time machine backup.

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Apr 2, 2016 9:45 AM in response to xxMikeBxx

Note this is the Photos for Mac forum and you can not have your Photos library on a NAS or any wireless drive - it must only be on a locally connected drive formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) and that drive can not be used as the TimeMachine bakcup volume

And also you need a minimum of 10 GB (20 GB is better and 10% of your drive is good) of free storage at all times for normal operation - with only 5 GB free you are in danger of losing data and creating other problems

Apr 2, 2016 9:45 AM in response to LarryHN

I was not suggesting moving the Photos library to a NAS, simply to archive some of the photos to an external drive. As you say you can't keep a Photos library on a network drive. To some extent this is a real pity since the internal drives on Macs seem to be getting smaller! Then again maybe Apple want you to use their iCloud service for all your photos?

Old Toad

Level 10

216,160 points

Apr 2, 2016 9:51 AM in response to Vicki Johnston

You could get a portable external HD to put the less frequently used files on so you will have more room on the current boot drive. These drives are small and work very well: OWC Mercury On-The-Go Pro FireWire 800 + USB 3.0/2.0.

With a new Mac you'll have USB 3.0 ports and the USB only options are inexpensive, $100 for 1TB of storage.

Apr 2, 2016 10:19 AM in response to Vicki Johnston

Thanks all for your comments.

An easy mistake made and after using the old Macbook Pro for five years needed to replace it urgently as keyboard was ruined and the cost to replace was expensive so upgraded to this laptop. I wasn't able to use it immediately and just starting to so I have had it for about two months so I don't think I can take it in now.

The problem is I work on huge amounts of images and videos with my work, art and also travel folders. I don't want to split them all up and can't believe I had so much memory on the old laptop. May have to try and get the keyboard fixed after all. Although the image quality on this new laptop is much more enhanced.

$100 for 1TB is great I have already filled two of those with backups but at that price I should have upgraded!

Oh - another silly question. As I am used to viewing in Picasa and not in Pictures or Photos - can you please tell me how I can view photos one after the other at large screen or full screen size and just click next to go to next image? Rather than finding the image small size and double clicking to view then clicking to close and scrolling through again?

You have all been most helpful and it is a huge learning curve for someone who likes it pretty simple.

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Apr 2, 2016 10:23 AM in response to Vicki Johnston

Picasa is Google product and has nothing to do with Photos for Mac - you need to ask Picasa support questions in a Google forum for Picasa users or read the Picasa manual or use the Picasa help system

Apr 2, 2016 10:47 AM in response to LarryHN

I understand that Larry if you see the beginning of the discussion I found out on this query that Picasa is to be no longer hence why I am looking at Photos and storage for Picture folders etc.

The actual question I asked above is regarding Photos - (not Picasa)

can you please tell me how I can view photos one after the other at large screen or full screen size and just click next to go to next image? Rather than finding the image small size and double clicking to view then clicking to close and scrolling through again?

Old Toad

Level 10

216,160 points

Apr 2, 2016 10:49 AM in response to Vicki Johnston

Rather than finding the image small size and double clicking to view then clicking to close and scrolling through again?

Double click on a thumbnail to bring up the full sized image and use the arrow keys on the keyboard to scroll forward and backward thru the photos. If you enter the Edit mode via the Return key you can do the same but with a black background.

It sounds as if you have a SSD drive in the MBP. That will give you very fast booting and application launching. With an external HD you'll still have very fast performance. You don't need to limit yourself to just 1 TB drives. You can get a 2 TB drive for just $133. There are several options on how to proceed.

Apr 2, 2016 10:52 AM in response to Vicki Johnston

If using Finder to look at the Picture folder highlight a picture and press the space bar on the keyboard, this opens the image in quick view. Now just use the left right cursor keys to move through your images.

In Photos switch to full screen mode (Green dot at top left) and then `gain use the keyboard arrow keys to move through your photos.

Apr 2, 2016 11:05 AM in response to xxMikeBxx

Aah thank you that worked.

Brilliant worked in Photos too.

Thanks so much very helpful, simple things I know but when used to different system it is a little difficult.

Appreciate your help.

Apr 2, 2016 11:09 AM in response to Old Toad

Thanks it worked!

Yes I am disappointed have to rethink the way I work everything.

Have already had to delete one large photo folder because I ended up with only 1GB of storage left. 'Other' takes up 30GB alone (not sure what that is comprised of exactly) Backups 8GB (?) and Apps 16GB - so before I even get started I only have about 50GB for photos which I do admit for most people would be more than enough but not for our industry.

Thanks again

Old Toad

Level 10

216,160 points

Apr 2, 2016 11:13 AM in response to Vicki Johnston

OS X: What is "other" space in About This Mac? - Apple Support

Be sure you maintain a minimum of 10 - 15 GB of free space on your boot drive to facilitate optimal system and application performance. More is better if you use apps like Photoshop which needs large temp cache/swap files.

Apr 2, 2016 11:25 AM in response to xxMikeBxx

Actually Mike on using it only allowed me to view about four photos in this way and then stopped altogether.

Also seeing as I have to use externals to go through all my images - I did try the same method - space bar and then arrow keys but only showed about 3-5 pictures and stopped.

Otherwise a great option but need to view hundreds.

Apr 2, 2016 11:27 AM in response to Old Toad

Yes it told me to delete folders because I only had 2GB left. Which has basically left me having to use external storage for the most part.

I think I may have to look at other options and void the warranty because it isn't workable for the situation I need it.

I only started using this laptop two days ago - only uploaded Photos and MS Office.

Very little else on it, no documents etc.

Apr 2, 2016 12:14 PM in response to Vicki Johnston

Well we certainly aren't on good terms this laptop and I. After deleted a folder of about 30GB of photos and videos to free up space because it is so limited, now I can't access any photos - when looking through images to try the methods recommended here to see next image ...

a video came up as part of a folder and once clicked on realised it was from a folder that had just been deleted.

"videos with unavailable original files cannot be opened" - so I clicked on Cancel but it wouldn't go off the screen and nowhere to close the Photos other than Quit, which didn't work, then ended up Force Quit. Waited a while, reopened Photos and the same image and message came up.

So then again quit, force quit - then restart computer - assuming by then it would realise the folder doesn't exist any more and reboot itself.

Now I cannot use Photos at all because it won't clear that message.

Any advice?

EDIT: Just hit Cancel button about twelve times and finally the frozen image cleared. Back to square one.

HOWEVER - the recently deleted folders are STILL in Photos - when will they disappear?

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New Macbook want Pictures not Photos