On Location Laptop computer preferences?

[flyingdogguitar]

Hi,
Hoping to get into Portrait/Location photography, what would people suggest for Laptop requirements i.e. Hard-Drive size/Processor speed etc?

Many Thanks

Dave

[PeterS45]

Buy the biggest and fastest you can get, but more inportant: add memory! Laptops often carry a minumum of memory, and unfortunately it's a pretty expensive type of memory.

[John_T]

I bought a Sony VAIO GRT896HP for traveling. It's big, 16", relatively heavy with power adaptor, P4 2.8, 1GB, 80GB HD, Firewire & USB2, nVidia graphic card (ATI would have been better) etc.

I used it five weeks on a location where others had Mac G4s. All said they would have preferred to work on the VAIO because of the display just whipped the G4s. It's big, expensive and heavy, but I feel worth it for any photo work.

[SnJPhoto]

I use a 12" Apple Powerbook. My take on this issue was more focused on a small portable package to be used while on travel, and didn't need anything large for image stirage. My images are all worked on my desktop machine. If you want a desktop replacement size computer you can also checkout the 17" Powerbook. I'm not sure about the Windows based machines, as I don't use them.

Apple products are priced a bit higher than others. Its really a personal preferrence.

Scott

[jimtfoto]

whataver you decide on, make sure you've got a burner on board ... DVD burner preferably .... ours was invaluable on a recent shooting trip ... able to keep laptop images, plus burn backup copies to DVD ... we have a 40 gig hd .. speed not all that important since I'd not doing retouching on the laptop, only basic editing a viewing ... final edits pre-printing done on our homebased desktops ... by the way, we also carry a SmartDisk Flashtrax digital wallet (30 gig capacity) which is handy when you're out in the field and away from your laptop.
jim

[John_T]

What Jim says. I leave the laptop in the hotel and take a FlashTrax on site. Laptop for viewing, weeding and burning to DVD in the evening, Flashtrax in the camera bag for the day. You can view on the FlashTrax too, though the screen isn't stellar.

[dwc]

I think the resolution of the screen in combination with its size matters.
I use a Sony GRX670 with 1600 x 1200 resolution on a 16" screen. My screen looks better than any 19" with 1280 x 1024. I have a DVD burner on board. I wish I had usb2. I have delorme Street Atlas 2003 software installed with thier small USB - GPS receiver for marking locations and finding new ones! :)
40 gig is good enough for location. At home I keep a 200 gig lacie harddrive with firewire connection.

Scott W.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I look at this with tow possible answers..

1. Weight: I HATE all heavy laptops .. which seem to be the norm. 7 pounds is NOT portable... My only laptop right now is the very old but still very portable fujitsu 690TX... under 4 pounds... These days I would be looking at the ultra slim Sony's, toshibas, the well engineered Japanese laptops as opposed to the big trucks that we seem to make in the states... Although I understand that Dell is finally making a lightweight model.. (Dell use to = "Boat" )


2. Durability: If "take it with you" means cambat duty out in the environment.. then you have to add the xtra weight of a Panasonic ToughBook... these laptops are designed to go up everest with you.... Not neccesary for all of us.. but they are certainly suited to the travel photogs needs.. but they add weight :(