Using Photoshop on Laptop

[optical]

I am looking for a laptop for photography and going for at least 1 gig RAM, a large HD, and a big screen, at least 15".

Is the screen on the laptop suitable for Photoshop in terms of color and resolution? Do I have to get a certain type of screen, like UXGA?? or certain level of resolution?? or type of graphic card??

I am wondering wheter it is better to get a small protable laptop to carry around and hook it to a large LD screen at home for Photoshop processing, or just to get a large laptop and do everything in it??

Any advice.....

[PacAce]

...I am wondering wheter it is better to get a small protable laptop to carry around and hook it to a large LD screen at home for Photoshop processing, or just to get a large laptop and do everything in it??

Any advice.....

An external monitor is the way to go if you're going to do some serious Photoshopping. A 14" or 15" is still good to have when you're on the road and need to check the images so don't get too small a laptop either. And while you're at it, you might as well get a docking station, too, so that you can also attach an external keyboard and mouse. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to work on a laptop in "desktop" mode and having to use the built-in keyboard and the finger pad or that itty-bitty joystick that looks like an eraser. :)

[CyberDyneSystems]

For Monster fast laptops with oodles of RAM look to AlienWare and or Dell...

Avoid HP/Compaq!

[Conk]

For Monster fast laptops with oodles of RAM look to AlienWare and or Dell...

Avoid HP/Compaq!

After much research I found that Dell is to be avoided also. The components such as memory and hard drives are proprietary.
I would consider a Toshiba for the service. Sony has a incredible screen but you'll also pay for it.

[PacAce]

For Monster fast laptops with oodles of RAM look to AlienWare and or Dell...

Avoid HP/Compaq!

After much research I found that Dell is to be avoided also. The components such as memory and hard drives are proprietary.
I would consider a Toshiba for the service. Sony has a incredible screen but you'll also pay for it.

Just out of curiosity, why do you say that memory and HD for DELL laptops are proprietary? I know the DELL desktops are not so I'm wondering why the laptops should be. I know memories for the DELL laptop can be had from sources other than DELL, such as Crucial, and I would imagine the same would apply for the HDs.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I like the Japanese laptops for there ergonomic designs (Sony, Toshibs and especially Fujitsu) but I'm not sure any fo them can be configured with boatlaods of RAM... I suppose as long as there are slots open you can do it yourself.. but Sony especially allways seems behind on the performnace curve... on the other hand it's a balancing act as Sony happens to be my favorite designs these days.. (fujitsu is "slipping")

Personally,. I alwway buy a laptop fpor it's portability and ergonomics.. knowing that I have the "power" in the desltop system.... Thus Sony, Fujitsu.. etc...

But If I needed my laptop to be my "Powerhouse" I think I'd go whith an American assembler.

[DocFrankenstein]

I know that dell laptops are horrible at customer service and their build and component designs are far below acceptable.

Its not my opinion, a guy who worked with them for 5 years recommended me to go with IBM.

[ndh]

Anyone use an Apple notebook for photo processing? I know a few people who have them and the screens are gorgeous. Great colour and the range of angles from which you can view them without the colour changing is wider than most LCDs I've seen.

[who10]

Anyone use an Apple notebook for photo processing? I know a few people who have them and the screens are gorgeous. Great colour and the range of angles from which you can view them without the colour changing is wider than most LCDs I've seen.

I have a 15" Titanium G4, it has been my on-road work horse for three and 1/2 years - even aging it's the best laptop display I have used (but as other's have said - I never judge final color prior to print on any LCD). What's nice is I can download my compact flash cards on the road, preprocess the images I intend to keep and then mount the laptop as an external drive over Firewire when I get home. I find the 15" screen a comfortable size to tote around - the 17" systems are beautiful, but I would personally find it hard to travel with... my 2cnts.

[sGu]

for photography, i'd recommend Powerbook G4, beautiful colour, so much more compact and better performance when it comes to photo editing, very reliable too.

for windows users, IBM is a very good choice. Most pros i've seen are using Mac, either ibook or powerbook, or IBM.

[optical]

Thanks for the info.

It looks like getting a good laptop for mobility and a separate screen is the way to go for "serious" photoshop processing. I assume that the CRT screen is better LD???

[PacAce]

Thanks for the info.

It looks like getting a good laptop for mobility and a separate screen is the way to go for "serious" photoshop processing. I assume that the CRT screen is better LD???

I guess the answer to that question would depend on which CRT and which LCD you are talking about. The are CRTs better than LCD but the converse is also true. It all just depends on which models you select.

[RickInHouston]

Gateway M675XL.

It has the same screen as on the 17 inch apple. You can add a second hard drive for use as scratch disc for Photoshop. I have 200 Gig of accessible INTERNAL storage.