Pentium 4 OR Mobile Pentium 4 Centrino

[javbotello]

I'm in the market for a new laptop. I'm trying to decide between a P4 or a Mobile P4 Centrino type processor. I'm mainly going to use the laptop for school, which means Word, Excel, some internet...etc. But, I do plan on using it for some limited picture editing (photoshop 7), RAW file conversion... BTW, I have a 10D and I love it!! This is a hobby of mine, so I wouldn't consider myself a full pro, just like taking pictures. Oh, one more thing, does the video RAM make a huge difference when it comes to photo editing? I really don't game very much, so I'm not looking for a gaming machine. But for system RAM I'm planning on getting 512 Mb. Anyway, I would appreciate any input as far as what type of processor I should get with my laptop. (Battery life is not a priority).

Thanks,
-JB

[IanD]

JB,
I just switched to a Centrino based laptop to get better battery life and for the intergrated Centrino wireless package. A pure Centrino package uses the Intel Video processor which is not great. Not bad for 2D Spreadsheets and Word but lacks for photos and is a dog at any type of 3-D game. But then again, Centrino was not developed for gamers.
If battery life is not important (I'm getting 5.5 hours average on a charge using Excel and Word) and built in wireless is not important, go for a P4 based laptop and get a good stand alone graphics card with a lot of onboard memory. Easy to go wireless from there if you need by using a card. Make sure the screen res is up there too. LCDs are not the greatest for viewing and working in PhotoShop but of all the nmakes out there, I have found that Toshiba's screens are excellent. Now of course there is the other route and that is to buy a Mac G4.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Just make sure you get a MOBILE P4 if you go that route..

there are laptops out there with desktop P4s,.. they are loud, hot and have poor battery life..

[IanD]

Forgot to toss in the Mobile P4 thing. Thanks CDS.

[javbotello]

Would 64 Mb for the video card be enough?

[Scottes]

Would 64 Mb for the video card be enough?

For 2D photo editing it's more than enough. 32 is enough for 2D.

[javbotello]

Thanks for the tips...