Using a Laptop to edit photos etc.

[Mediation]

Im thinking of selling my desktop rig and getting a laptop.

Who uses a laptop to do there photoshop work? Is it any good?

Is the screen accurate?

What do you recommend as a well priced laptop that would do the job.

[Pete]

Yep.. I swapped over o a Viao a few years ago and then moved onto a MacBook Pro.

Never had any problems with anything.

[PhotosGuy]

I have a Dell & don't like the screen, but some are better now. selling my desktop rig Do you think you'll get that much for it? I wouldn't recommend only having one computer.

[Kiddo]

I have a Dell and love it for working on my photos!! Much better than the home computer.

[Roach711]

I also like to do preliminary edits on my laptop, but I do all my final finish work on the desktop because of the variability of the laptop screen. I'll often process an image to my satisfaction on the laptop only to check it on the desktop and find that it's too light or too dark. Small differences in the angle of the laptop screen can make an image look darker or lighter.

I love the laptop for off-loading images when in the field and for doing quick edits while watching TV, but all my finish work ids done on the desktop.

[TheSonofDarwin]

I do all my editing on a laptop, but I use an external dell LCD. I'd have some weird colors if I relied on my laptop screen. The built-in LCDs have gotten much better in recent year or two, but still not reliable enough, in my opinion.

But selling a desktop to get a laptop... unless you need the portability, a desktop is always going to have more power/$ spent.

My lappy is going on 5 years now, but mine is 3.2Ghz HT P4 and 2GB PC3200. I wouldn't go any less than that in the ram unless you want bogged down, and a fast processor is a must. I've seen too many people spend thousands of dollars on laptops for such things only to have it take 3 minutes to start, a minute to load, and forever to do any processing when they could have had a top-end PC for the same price. I bought mine for college/gaming/processing, but would trade it in any day for a desktop. But I don't need the portability any longer - so I'd much rather have a more powerful desktop :confused:

[René Damkot]

Is the screen accurate?

Depends on the laptop and your expectations.
For most laptops, I'd say "barely". (That's when calibrated off course)

I do all my editing on a laptop, but I use an external dell LCD. I'd have some weird colors if I relied on my laptop screen. The built-in LCDs have gotten much better in recent year or two, but still not reliable enough, in my opinion.

But selling a desktop to get a laptop... unless you need the portability, a desktop is always going to have more power/$ spent.

Agree

[FlyingPhotog]

Sports shooters in the field trust their laptops so why not you?

Laptop screens can be calibrated, same as a desktop. I use a Spyder on my 15" Dell and with a screen res of 1440x, it's just fine.

Very little difference between what I see on my laptop and what I see on my 24" Dell LCD at home.

[cdifoto]

I have a laptop. It's a Dell. My prints match my screen, both from WHCC and my Epson R2400. 'Nuff said on that.

I do wish it got brighter for the times I laze on the porch in daylight though.

[Mediation]

yikes. Wavey responses here. May be i should just stick to my desktop.

[cdifoto]

yikes. Wavey responses here.

Go to an audiophile forum and ask about headphones if you think this thread is bad.

[slappy sam]

Go to an audiophile forum and ask about headphones if you think this thread is bad.

Thats so true. I got sr-60s though, those things really rock.

I dunno I haven't used my laptop but I feel like it wouldn't produce as consistent results as my desktop.

[cdifoto]

Thats so true. I got sr-60s though, those things really rock.

I'm quite happy with my HD-280s. They do lack in the low end a bit like most people said, but the clarity I love. I'm not an audio nut though and was coming off a cheap pair of foldable Sony's....the kind that come in a blister pack on the peg board at Wal-Mart. :lol:

[ssim]

The only time that I use my laptop for my editing is when I am on the road and I have a customer that needs images on the spot. Otherwise all editing is done on my desktop computer.

I have always recommended that if you want to have a laptop also have an external monitor. That seems to be the best of both worlds.

[tonylong]

I have a pretty fully-loaded desktop setup, including a dual-monitor DVI setup and a lot of peripheral hardware, and I couldn't imagine getting rid of it and relying on my laptop. As others have said, my laptop is for mobile use and a convenient addition to my living room (mp3s, HD DVD player, plugs into my HDTV and stereo) and is great as a "slide projector" when I want to show pics to friends and family. But, it is not capable of handling either the processing power or storage of my desktop. My desktop has twice as much RAM and three times as much hard drive space, along with the dual-monitor graphics support (plus, for productivity, I much prefer a full-size keyboard and a lot of USB and firewire ports).

All that being said, YMMV. Your desktop may be older/less loaded and, in that case, a new laptop would actually have better performance than your desktop. However, in that case you would get very little selling the older desktop, so, unless you'e in a real pinch for money or space, it might be smart to get the laptop but hold onto the desktop and see how things work.

I'm happy using my laptop for mobile/temporary photo work, and it does have a good screen, but if you do lean toward using it exclusivey you really will want to use an external monitor or you will be hurting.

[cosworth]

I use a dell XPs m1710 with a second dell 2407 monitor. Both calibrated. Both at 1920x1200. Dual external 500gb HDD (1tb).

[shack]

Go to an audiophile forum and ask about headphones if you think this thread is bad.

Or better yet, ask if one can detect audible differences between interconnect cables and speaker cables in an audiophile forum. Add the $ variables to the mix and I've seen threads deteriorate into near WW3 proportions in short order.

And yes I use a Dell XPS laptop for most of my editing, with most files copied to my Dell desktop as a backup.

[sf1]

I have a PC destop at home with a calibrated 19 inch monitor and did all my edits on it. Then about 3 weeks ago, I picked up a 15 inch MacBook Pro 2.4. I now do all my edits on it with no problems.

You just need to calibrate the screen - but that is the case no matter what you are using. Laptops definately have the advantage of working anywhere you have a seat (in your home or on the road). I am now looking at replacing the destop unit with another laptop because my wife likes the new laptop way to much.

[ourlooneyhouse]

If you can budget for it, try the HP HDX series. 20 inch HD screen is great and colurs are accurate for photoshop work

[slimninj4]

I use my laptop. So I can work on photos when I am at work. But since I am moving to a smaller laptop soon I may just use the desktop.