Laptop or desktop

[Roy Mathers]

First of all, I'm assuming that this is the right place for this thread.

Laptop specifications are advancing very rapidly and, in many cases, have a spec similar to a desktop (tower) computer. I know that probably most of the contributors to this forum use both laptop and desktop. My question is, in view of the good specs of laptops nowadays, how many of you only use a laptop - and, if not, why not?

[basroil]

Specs raise quickly, but so do desktops. If you are considering iMac vs MBP, no real difference. But any other desktop vs a laptop, 9/10 times the desktop will be at least twice as good. In the case of an i7 desktop vs a core 2 duo laptop, you are looking at at least four times, up to six or more times the power. And with Windows+LR2, that means a lot of 5dmkii files a minute

[MaxxuM]

First of all, I'm assuming that this is the right place for this thread.

Laptop specifications are advancing very rapidly and, in many cases, have a spec similar to a desktop (tower) computer. I know that probably most of the contributors to this forum use both laptop and desktop. My question is, in view of the good specs of laptops nowadays, how many of you only use a laptop - and, if not, why not?

Actually, laptop specs have been pretty much stagnant for the last year. Prices are not even going down. What you're likely seeing is old technology being cleared out of inventory (for the last year and a half). If it's under $800 then it's either old or is skimping on frills. At Best Buy for example, look closely at CPU speeds - 80% or more are under 2.2GHz. Memory is hovering around 2GB on sub-$600 machines. Serious laptops start at $1000 IMO and for professional photographers, again my opinion, $1400+ is a good start.

[basroil]

Actually, laptop specs have been pretty much stagnant for the last year. Prices are not even going down. What you're likely seeing is old technology being cleared out of inventory (for the last year and a half). If it's under $800 then it's either old or is skimping on frills. At Best Buy for example, look closely at CPU speeds - 80% or more are under 2.2GHz. Memory is hovering around 2GB on sub-$600 machines. Serious laptops start at $1000 IMO and for professional photographers, again my opinion, $1400+ is a good start.

Guess you didn't read the news in the last few days. i7 920m and other i7m chips are cleared for release, and several computer makers are already set to ship new i7 laptops. Hopefully in two-four weeks we will see the i5 laptops ready for release as well.
And guess what else? these laptops are 1.6gh to 2gh base speed as opposed to 2gh to 2.93gh...

[ChasP505]

I haven't bought a laptop for myself since 1999 when I retired from selling real estate. I still have it, loaded with Linux, and occasionally use it for reading email. I HAVE bought many laptops for my 4 kids to use in college (2 graduated, 2 still in school).

When you're on a budget, a desktop is the way to go.

[_aravena]

I need a new laptop but I've had mine for 3yrs now and it still works great and everything is up to speed, tech side wise. I broke the CD burner and the frame around the screen is falling apart but like I said, it keeps up with photography work and the bit of gaming I do.

It really depends more on how you plan to see it. If you need something to take everywhere, get a laptop obviously but if you're ok with just sitting at a desk, always, get a desktop. Really that's where you are.

[In2Photos]

I use both, but for different things.

For everyday use (internet & email) I use a laptop.

For my Home Theater PC I use a desktop (my old photo desktop).

For my Photo PC (and some video rendering) I use an i7 desktop.

When I am on vacation I will take the laptop and use it if needed, but mostly just for extra storage if I fill up all my CF cards.

[MaxxuM]

Guess you didn't read the news in the last few days. i7 920m and other i7m chips are cleared for release, and several computer makers are already set to ship new i7 laptops. Hopefully in two-four weeks we will see the i5 laptops ready for release as well.
And guess what else? these laptops are 1.6gh to 2gh base speed as opposed to 2gh to 2.93gh...

No, actually work has been very involved right now with all the upgrades we are doing. All I want to do is sleep when I get home these days :(

Last I herd is they are due out soon (Octoberish?), but large numbers wont be available until near Christmas and those will be more expensive than current midrange offerings. It will push current machine prices down of course.

[xMClass]

Laptop only for now until I get an iMac.

[Roy Mathers]

Thanks for all your comments folks.

[Headshotzx]

Depends on whether you want the convenience of mobility of your pictures and picture editing software. I got a macbook 13" unibody for school use and I find that it really helped me when shooting studio style shots for example.

[bohdank]

A laptop with similar "specs" to a desktop will be noticeably slower. Slower hard drives and bus speeds etc. The screens, no matter how good are inferior to what you can and should get for a desktop. Screen real estate makes life coinsiderably easier. Try calibrating a laptop screen. Usually not an easy thing to do, if at all.

I used a laptop for my photo editing for many years. Never again.

[SuzyView]

For anything with my work, I use two laptops. The main one is a 17 inch Dell with 22 inch Samsung external monitor. I have 2 fantastic screens and it works great for me. My son and hubby use desktops with large screens because they don't need mobility but lots of HD and speed. I travel with my gear, so I like having what I need on the laptops. Speed is much better for less on laptops these days. I got my Toshiba for under $800 and it's not the best out there, but much faster than my 2 year old Dell.

[jetcode]

I use only laptops for engineering and imaging. I bought a Gateway (Acer) gaming machine for $1100 with 17" 1920x1200 HDMI out, dual core 2,2G (25w) 1000mhz front bus, 4G 800mhz ram, 1G video ram, 320g 7200rpm, esata, firewire, usb, camera.

I have it connected to 24" gateway FHD2401 1920x1200 monitor, wireless keyboard / mouse, 750g esata drive, and laptop cooler, loaded with open source and professional tools, and flac audio.

Works great ...

[Roy Mathers]

A laptop with similar "specs" to a desktop will be noticeably slower. Slower hard drives and bus speeds etc.

Isn't that a contradiction in terms? If they have slower hard drives and bus speeds etc, then the specs aren't similar are they?

[basroil]

Isn't that a contradiction in terms? If they have slower hard drives and bus speeds etc, then the specs aren't similar are they?
Yup...
A laptop with similar "specs" to a desktop will be noticeably slower. Slower hard drives and bus speeds etc. The screens, no matter how good are inferior to what you can and should get for a desktop. Screen real estate makes life coinsiderably easier. Try calibrating a laptop screen. Usually not an easy thing to do, if at all.

I used a laptop for my photo editing for many years. Never again.

There are a few noticeable exceptions to that, namely the iMac and nettops. Those both use the same components, except for swapping out the 2.5" drives to the 3.5" type. However, laptops can use the same speed (7200RPM) drives as desktops. Perhaps a smaller cache on some laptop drives, but that's about it. Main thing is that laptop chips at the same price tend to be less than half the flops.

[Bobster]

off site i use a laptop, i also use it to shoot tethered..

[Tigerkn]

ThreadJack (one time) - It is useless without picture/s :) Please show your HT :D.
.......
For my Home Theater PC I use a desktop (my old photo desktop).
.............

[MaxxuM]

Isn't that a contradiction in terms? If they have slower hard drives and bus speeds etc, then the specs aren't similar are they?

I think he was speaking mainly of the the mobile CPU which can be misleading even within the Core2Duo line. Also, on paper at least, a 2.5" and 3.5" drive can seem similar to the untrained eye but bit density (say one platter vs two platters) could put either on top of the other if everything else is the same. Also, in mobile technology certain bus functions are purposely restrained to lower heat thresholds and deal with smaller capacitors. It also does not help [accuracy] that many mobile chipsets are subsets or modified versions of the desktop versions.

Much of this can be seen just browsing your local big box store and looking at the price tags. Generally, when you see cheap laptops and no speed is mentioned people only see T5300, not 1.7GHz. Conversely, when there's a bigger price tag there will likely be mention of true speed. But, then there's the twist. AMD's Turion X2 2.0GHz (I think - if not it's at least as fast) is slower than the 1.7GHz C2D, but people don't necessarily understand that.

Anyway, I think that's what the previous poster was getting at.

[In2Photos]

ThreadJack (one time) - It is useless without picture/s :) Please show your HT :D.
Well, my "Home Theater" is in my living room so not a true theater (although I have plans for one if money ever allows ;)). But if you would still like pics I can try to provide them.

[basroil]

But, then there's the twist. AMD's Turion X2 2.0GHz (I think - if not it's at least as fast) is slower than the 1.7GHz C2D, but people don't necessarily understand that.


Most people don't understand that because they don't read up on what they are buying. For example, the new i7 720qm for laptops is rated at only 1.6gh, yet it is easily four times as fast as the c2d 1.7gh AND the turion combined. And it's not really their fault, clock speeds were highly overused between 2002 and 2006, up until intel hit the 3.2gh barrier it just can't seem to get over without systems running hot (that 3.8gh p4 was probably the last of the 3.8 base clock speed chips we will see for ages), but the damage was done, and everyone things higher numbers are better. The series marking is better, but a Q6600 is usually faster than a 8000 series duo chip, so yea, they do need to fix that up.

[F-117HWK]

Laptop for off-site work and custom self-built i7 desktop for all my organizing and post processing.

There really is no comparison between laptops and desktops in terms of price, speed, use, etc. Its apples to oranges. Desktop is gonna be a stationary, cheap, processing beast. A laptop is going to give you portability, higher cost (yes you can get cheap laptops, but generally sacrifice options), and less processing power, assuming similar costs.