Looking for a new Laptop

[Daisy14'sDH]

What do you all use? I dont have the budget for a Macbook, so strike that off the list.But I wnat something that wont bog down and take me 20 minutes to process on PS5,

What do you look for in a Computer?

I want a good screen for calibrating, I find a lot of my printed photos to be all over the map.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I use a Dell desktop with a 19" LG monitor for processing all the photos. Its a few years old. I don't use my laptops for processing, but I do have two, a Dell 17" and a real old Dell 15" ( I think it is but could be a 14"). The old one is small, compact and perfect for travel. I bring it to WDW and other places for transferring my photos from the cards to the HD, to my portable external HD and reviewing the JPEG version of my photos. For processing I would look for something with a lot RAM and as large a hard drive as I possibly could afford. When you are looking at HD's, they come in two speeds, 5800 RPM and 7200 RPM. The 7200's are faster but tend to be smaller in capacity so there is a trade off. There is some newer HD technology out there, but it is beyond the reach of my checkbook. I would look for good chip speed. As far as brands, they are like cameras. All the name brands are producing good computers. I have been using Dell's for years and have been very happy, but when I was working I used all different brands. To be honest there was only a "nickels" difference between them.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

I'm a Dell guy, have 2 of their Laptops.... but want more opinions before I leap into another system! lol

I should get a desktop I know, but love the portability of the ;aptop. Mybe I should save for a Macbook?

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I'm a Dell guy, have 2 of their Laptops.... but want more opinions before I leap into another system! lol

I should get a desktop I know, but love the portability of the ;aptop. Mybe I should save for a Macbook?

LOL, we have five computers in the house and four of them are Dells. I got an unbelievable deal on a Toshiba for the 9 yoa DGD (Gianna), otherwise it would probably be a Dell. I just like their product and really haven't had a problem I couldn't fix.

Terry

 

[ukcatfan]

Over the years in laptops we have had a Gateway, and Acer, two HPs, and one Sony. The only one I would buy again is the Sony, which happens to be my current one My wife is on her second HP and she has hated both. Don't ask me why she got a second one...

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Walmart had A Vaio on sale last weekend for $408!!! UGH! How is the screen resolution? Have you calibrated it?

 

[ukcatfan]

Walmart had A Vaio on sale last weekend for $408!!! UGH! How is the screen resolution? Have you calibrated it?

No, but I do not do much printing. The pics I post look consistent between different computers though.

 

[photo_chick]

I've got one of the HP Performance series. This is my second one, the first one was stolen, and while I liked the keyboard and touch pad better on the first one (last year's model), I'm happy with my new one. I got the best video processor you can get (it's got switchable graphics so you can save power when you're running off battery), the fastest processor they had and maxed out the memory. It's a little overkill really for straight photo editing, but I do a lot of video work as well as play games, too. I've put this laptop next to comparably spec'd Macbooks (that cost twice as much) and it more than stands up to them. I wouldn't buy one of HP's lower end machines for image editing, but the Performance and Envy lines are great.

One word on screen calibration... you can calibrate but with a laptop you will always have issues with the screen simply because it's a laptop. It's not in a fixed position so the angle changes and we tend to take them into different rooms with different lighting and all of that makes a difference when it comes time to print. I edit for the web on my laptop but I take it to the desktop if I'm printing.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Thats great advice. Maybe I should just look at getting a good desktop, but we dont really have a place for one right now darnit!

 

[photo_chick]

Thats great advice. Maybe I should just look at getting a good desktop, but we dont really have a place for one right now darnit!

I have been known to hijack my husband's 27 inch monitor and plug my laptop in. It's an option if you want the best of both worlds.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

hmmmm, thats a great idea! Thank you I think I know my path to enlightenment....

 

[cmwade77]

Here are my guidelines for any new computer (excluding Macs, I do let them get away with slightly less, but not by much):
2.0 Ghz Core i7
8GB RAM
1GB Video card
500GB/7200 RPM Hard Drive AND 120GB SSD Drive
DVD-RW drive

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

wow, that doesnt quite meet my budget....

 

[cmwade77]

I know it might sound high, but I usually keep PCs for 3-5 years and Macs for 5-7 years prior to needing to replace them, because I buy higher end to begin with, which means a lower overall cost. Note that the machine should be upgradeable to at least 12GB RAM (preferably 16GB+ RAM).

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

I know it might sound high, but I usually keep PCs for 3-5 years and Macs for 5-7 years prior to needing to replace them, because I buy higher end to begin with, which means a lower overall cost. Note that the machine should be upgradeable to at least 12GB RAM (preferably 16GB+ RAM).

a laptop?

 

[cmwade77]

Yes, it's the technology lifecycle. If you don't keep them that long, you are paying too much; however, keep any longer and you are spending more money in the extra time it takes to do anything.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

wow, you are hardcore! lol, I just want to operate LR3 and CS5 at a decent rate... they are more than enough program for me to learn and dont think I will be upgrading on them for 4-5 years

 

[singjenn]

What do you all use? I dont have the budget for a Macbook, so strike that off the list.But I wnat something that wont bog down and take me 20 minutes to process on PS5,

What do you look for in a Computer?

I want a good screen for calibrating, I find a lot of my printed photos to be all over the map.

I have a Toshiba...right now. This is my thrid laptop in the past 10 years. My husband "does" computers and he knows what to get.

I just got this one for Christmas and there is one thing that makes me hate it....
The mousepad is not centered. It makes it difficult to use and hard to get used to. I'm still not used to it. Although I appreciate him buying this as a gift.... I HATE that about it. I would have exchanged it, but it would have hurt his feeelings.