Setting up a photo editing computer

Although we take computers much for granted these days, using such a machine to store, process, and edit high resolution stills and video data requires a totally different set of features compared to a machine that's only used for web browsing, social media, emailing, or downloading music.

Although the compatibility of Windows and Mac computers used to be very minimal, their operating systems are now far more user-friendly, both in the way third-party hardware interacts (such as external drives) and in the similarity that most software is now shared between the two systems:

Is there a difference between running Elements on Windows or a Mac? The answer to this often-asked question can get you into a lot of hot water, depending on the technical leaning of the person being asked. To be honest, I have used Windows and Macs, desktops and laptops, for a long time and find that, when editing images, there's no difference in performance between the two...