Laptop for Digital Work Recommendations

[new girl on the bloc]

My trusty old Dell is about ready to be replaced. It has been a great laptop (Inspiron 8000), but it is nearly 4 years old (though i've done some upgrades). Any suggestions on a replacement that is good for digital photo and occassional video work?

thanks :wink:

[iphoto]

Are you thinking of Mac.?
I am a die hard Dell fan but new imacs have been catching my eyes and have heard some good stories about them specially for photo/graphic works

[new girl on the bloc]

Are you thinking of Mac.?
I am a die hard Dell fan but new imacs have been catching my eyes and have heard some good stories about them specially for photo/graphic works

i have always heard that macs are the way to go for media work, and i've come close to getting one but then i get dissuaded. yes, dells are great!

[Belmondo]

There's always a tradeoff on performance/size vs. portability. I have a Toshiba laptop with a 17" screen that is good for on-the-road image editing. It give a bit more display area---Photoshop menus use up so much real estate.

The big problem is (as you probably already know) it's big and heavy. This is not much of a problem because we drive everywhere. If we were flying, it would be another matter altogether.

[jhankins]

I love my PowerBook G4 17". I also bring along my 23" display and the required adapter for display. People naturally gravitate to the displays. Great onsite advertising! I use a Dual 2Ghz PowerMac at home for the bulk of my photowork as well as video. Video rendering is highly Processor intensive so I of course opt for the powermac for that, but editing is fine on the powerbook.

[mikesd]

If you stay with Windows and since you have had the 8000, check out the Dell 8600. I have been using it for photo work since Feb. and highly recommend it.

[kim]

My trusty old Dell is about ready to be replaced. It has been a great laptop (Inspiron 8000), but it is nearly 4 years old (though i've done some upgrades). Any suggestions on a replacement that is good for digital photo and occassional video work?

••••
If you're willing to change, I think you'd be happy with a mac. I use my Powerbook for everything from photos to video to software development. OS X is, without doubt, the best OS I have ever used - it makes using the machine fun.
My day job is system admin where we have an evenly split mac/windows network and I spend about 90% of my admin time fixing windows problems and security issues.
To be honest it doesn't matter to me which way you go, but from ME, life is too short to use Windows. Mind you, if you can hold off, the G5 powerbook will probably be less than 9 months away.

cheers

kim

[tumb]

••••
If you're willing to change, I think you'd be happy with a mac. I use my Powerbook for everything from photos to video to software development. OS X is, without doubt, the best OS I have ever used - it makes using the machine fun.
My day job is system admin where we have an evenly split mac/windows network and I spend about 90% of my admin time fixing windows problems and security issues.
To be honest it doesn't matter to me which way you go, but from ME, life is too short to use Windows. Mind you, if you can hold off, the G5 powerbook will probably be less than 9 months away.

cheers

kim

I somewhat agree, and the Powerbook's are impressive machines, but I decided against mac because of the drawers of software that I already have and will not work on mac.

[new girl on the bloc]

i guess this is my issue with getting a mac, that i have already invested in windows software. but that mac sounds impressive Kim! And yes, I have considered the 8600 Mikesd; I'm wondering about the 9100 too.

thanks for all the comments.

[kim]

i guess this is my issue with getting a mac, that i have already invested in windows software. but that mac sounds impressive Kim!

This will always be an issue but when a lot of people audit what they actually use, they find it's either available for the Mac or something very similar is. the only problem I've ever had has been proprietory stuff - like specialised newspaper classifieds software etc.
For normal use, what comes installed on a new mac serves about 95% of most peoples needs. Mail, Safari (browser), iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, Appleworks, TextEdit etc etc

cheers

kim

[new girl on the bloc]

yes, Kim, it's true. What I use most is Photoshop CS. The rest is probably immaterial.

[blinking8s]

if i didnt have a budget...

powerbook (http://www.apple.com/powerbook/) - I like the size, feel and style of them, great for going to class, fitting in a backpack, and looking cool...not to mention stable as hell and virus free

voodoo (http://voodoopc.com/systems/notebook.aspx) - customize it! Id get a digital photo workstation from hell! I have a e class desktop...3 years old and the most amazing investment I have ever made...AMD all the way!!!

dell (http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/notebooks?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs) - to tell you the truth, i hate dell, but their higher model laptops have amazing displays...i love high res laptop displays

[shiningstardv]

I have a new 12" iBook G4. I absolutely love this thing. Sure, it's the lowest end of laptop you can buy in the modern Apple world, but man does this thing work! I use Photoshop CS, Final Cut Pro HD, plus all the other software that comes loaded already on the Mac. This thing can even edit video fine. Sure rendering it takes a little longer than on faster computers, but it can still do it!

Plus the computer is small as anything, and really cheap! Not to mention that OS X 10.3.5 is the best and most stable OS I've ever used. I come from the PC world, and I'll never go back!

[geoff brown]

Just to be different I have a Sony Vaio A115m, with built in photo and video applications. Bit heavy but quality build and it delivers the goods. :wink:

[jhankins]

I have not been a long time Mac user but a convert. Until last year, the last time I owned an apple was 1986. (dating myself a bit here).

Having also been in the support side of the technology business supporting fortune 100 companies as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and then moving on into Networking (I now work for a large networking company as a chief engineer for a fortune 5 company), I've come to agree that life is too short to be frustrated with things that others just accept. I have less lockups (no system wide lockups in a year). Things just work. I even use my powerbook for work even though I'm furnished with an IBM T42 Notbook because I think it makes me for efficient. When I made the switch, I was able to get software license swaps for much of my software, some for free others a small charge. Macromedia was the only one who didn't want to work with me but I suspect in time they'll come up with a policy that works. My wife is still on the windows platform but will soon be converted as having a mac user in the house is a bad thing. I'd suggest looking at what comes with the MacOSX operating system, to include iLife which is a great suite of utils (I don't use iPhoto as I have outgrown it's usefulness but the other utilities are a great!) http://www.apple.com/ilife/

Watch the silly movie they have on this page.

[jhankins]

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/

Check the link above. There is a link to a demo of the latest version of Virtual PC for Mac (version 7). Make sure you add extra RAM to allow for using this effectively but it works for things where you have apps that just don't have a mac version. It also covers MS Office for Mac, don't forget Microsoft produces Mac software too!

[waynejgilbert]

The Voodoo *Envy* laptop M780 series is what I would choose if I were to have that type of budget.

[ahmadof]

if you are considering Virtual PC as posted above, i would consider using a cheap PC desktop in conjunction with a Mac laptop. If you don't need the ability to use windows on the move (there are very few applications that do not have a mac counterpart), get a old pc box ($250) and use a VPN network to control it using the powerbook. the software is free from microsoft and it will be much, much ,m uch more satisfying than VPC. VPC is very slow even with massive amounts of RAM. I haven't tried to new version, but i have heard it is just as slow.

[new girl on the bloc]

ah, that mac is looking tempting...i'm not aware of the virtual pc. i'll be doing some research on all your great advice :wink:

[PacAce]

yes, Kim, it's true. What I use most is Photoshop CS. The rest is probably immaterial.

For what it's worth, I had Photoshop CS on my PC. When I upgraded from the PC to the Mac G5, I called Adobe about making a lateral upgrade from the PC version of PSCS to the Mac OSX version and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Adobe would send me the Mac version for only $6.00 which is what it costs them to ship a new PSCS CD to me.

So, if PSCS is your only software concern regarding a PC to Mac switch, then you really have nothing to worry about.

[johnleveritt]

i guess this is my issue with getting a mac, that i have already invested in windows software. but that mac sounds impressive Kim! And yes, I have considered the 8600 Mikesd; I'm wondering about the 9100 too.

thanks for all the comments.

If you are talking about major software manufactures (Adobe (Photoshop, Elements), Microsoft (Office, Word, Excel), Intuit (Quicken, TurboTax) etc.), then they will trade your Windows software, for Mac software for a small fee from around $7.00 and up, sometimes just for the shipping. Some of these you have to upgrade yearly any way (Quicken, TurboTax), so no big deal.

If you do have some Windows only software, then I've only found one package (Great Planes RealFlight RC flight simulator), that won't work under Microsoft's Virtual PC (Windows emulator for the Mac).

See Ya,
John

[Stooge_UK]

Mac v Windows is always a big decision.

Dont forget some of the other things you should consider(including):
Battery Life
Weight
Screen size/Resolution
Hard drive size
CD or DVD Writer
RAM (Decide what you need and then double it ! :lol: )
FireWire
WiFi

Hope I have not confused you even more :shock:

Good luck with what ever you choose

Stooge

[Jyoti]

I use a G4 Powerbook 1.25GHz with 1gig of ram for all my photo and web stuff. I find this plenty powerful enough to sort and process my 10D pics. The four magazine shoots I've done were all processed on my PB, no probs.

BUT

Even though I love my Powerbook, I don't think the display is as lovely as the new Sony laptops, the ones with that crazy pitch-black screen. The contrast on those models is stunning!

My ideal machine would be a Powerbook with a Sony screen! :)

[kim]

Even though I love my Powerbook, I don't think the display is as lovely as the new Sony laptops, the ones with that crazy pitch-black screen. The contrast on those models is stunning!
My ideal machine would be a Powerbook with a Sony screen! :)
I would warn against thinking brighter is better.

I've never cared how bright the screen is - only that it's properly calibrated - for me that's far more important.

regards

kim

[new girl on the bloc]

so much to consider! good to know about the conversion from pc to windows costing little. yes, my Main concern with re to the screen is proper callibration, which i do not have currently on my dell. my photos print out darker than what i see on my screen.

[shiningstardv]

so much to consider! good to know about the conversion from pc to windows costing little. yes, my Main concern with re to the screen is proper callibration, which i do not have currently on my dell. my photos print out darker than what i see on my screen.

In Mac OS X there is a utility built RIGHT INTO THE OPERATING SYSTEM that lets you calibrate your screen to your printer. There's probably some equivilant in the Windows world, but this is so easy, and you have it built right into the OS!

I would never go back to the PC world now that I have experienced the other side!

[new girl on the bloc]

so much to consider! good to know about the conversion from pc to windows costing little. yes, my Main concern with re to the screen is proper callibration, which i do not have currently on my dell. my photos print out darker than what i see on my screen.

In Mac OS X there is a utility built RIGHT INTO THE OPERATING SYSTEM that lets you calibrate your screen to your printer. There's probably some equivilant in the Windows world, but this is so easy, and you have it built right into the OS!

I would never go back to the PC world now that I have experienced the other side!

now this is a serious vote for the mac, because this is a huge issue and concern!

[davkenrem]

oops

[davkenrem]

Check these two websites.

www.pctorque.com
www.powernotebooks.com

they both sell notebooks made by Clevo, who is the same company that makes the Voodoo. great price and very good laptops.
Also check www.talknotebooks.com they have a real good discusion forum on different notebooks.

Bottom line: NO company makes their own laptops. They are all sourced out to makers in Taiwan.

Some companies , like Dell spec laptops that are unique to them and have them made only for them.

Makes them unique but more expensive to build.

Others like Voodoo, Sager, ProStar, (last-gen Alienware),HyperSonic and many others all buy the same models and have them badged under their own brand.

It's much eaiser for the manufacuter to offer the above companies a better deal than they can offer DELL.
You'll spend less money and get a better notebook from a company like Sager or Pro-Star.
Check it out.

[Jon]

Have you considered a tablet PC? You'll get a built-in sketch-pad for more precise selections when you're editing. I have a Toshiba Portege M205 which has a screen/digitizer resolution of 1400 x 1050 pixels. Hard to beat working directly on the image you're editing rather than trying to coordinate that mouse with the on-screen image.

[JX]

Hi new girl on the bloc,

What ever laptop you get, try to load up on the ram. Find out what the maximum amount of ram the laptop takes, and then order it with the laptop. I don't know what type of camera you are using, but if you shoot a lot in raw format then make sure you invest in a large hard drive also.

[new girl on the bloc]

thanks for all of the new add'l info. i've never even heard of voodoo laptops and know nothing about the tablets. seems i have a lot to learn from you all. and yes, lots of ram and harddrive space are critical for this girl!