recommend a sandy bridge i7 laptop with IPS display??

thinkpad x220 is on the list, but no optical drive and kinda small, also pricey.

dell xps 15 (does this have IPS display?)

staying away from HP for now.

not interested in macs, or running windows from macs

trying to stay portable, so nothing larger than 15" or netbook sized (too small).

uses: mostly for work (non-photog related), some photo editing for personal use.

budget ~$1500 or less.

thanks all.

I really like the X220, especially the Sandy Bridge series processor and USB 3.0, but add a few features, like a SSD, and the price skyrockets. Love the light weight! IF you spring for a X220 with an Intel SSD, be aware current production is the older X25-M, but the newer and faster 320 Series is coming in July.

The new dell precision's should have IPS.

I think the only 2 notebooks I know of that have an IPS display at all (in a decent screen size like 15") are the HP Elitebook and the next generation Dell Precision. I don't know what their prices are though, except that the current generation is definitely more expensive than $1,500 right now. The Dell Precision is somewhat cheaper than the Elitebook, but that might change with an IPS panel...

I know, it seems ridiculous that you cannot buy a more reasonable priced laptop when mostly what you want is just the decent display, right? I recently purchased an Elitebook for $2400 (including tax, shipping etc) just to get the display (and the "older" but in my opinion better 16:10 aspect ratio that isn't on the new models). I got a backlit keyboard and such, but I don't think my "extras" cost more than $100.

I just put in an order for an X220 TABLET!!!

Man, that is THE laptop for photographers who need portability on the go! woo hoo!

Aside from having an IPS panel, the screen has a built in Wacom digitizer! A Wacom 12" Cintiq is $1000, but the X220 tablet starts at $1329. It's like buying a Cintiq 12" and getting a KICKASS laptop for $329. You can edit your photos with the digitizer pen, brushing right on the image itself!

Nobody beats Thinkpad build quality either.

I can't wait to get mine.

I've gotten over four solid years of reliable use out of my Thinkpad T61, with heavy daily use, being stored in temps ranging from -40C to +70C (in my car). And it's still ticking. My previous Dells and Toshibas couldn't handle a day more than 2 years with my abuse.

PaulRivers wrote in post #12348642
I think the only 2 notebooks I know of that have an IPS display at all (in a decent screen size like 15") are the HP Elitebook and the next generation Dell Precision. I don't know what their prices are though, except that the current generation is definitely more expensive than $1,500 right now. The Dell Precision is somewhat cheaper than the Elitebook, but that might change with an IPS panel...

I know, it seems ridiculous that you cannot buy a more reasonable priced laptop when mostly what you want is just the decent display, right? I recently purchased an Elitebook for $2400 (including tax, shipping etc) just to get the display (and the "older" but in my opinion better 16:10 aspect ratio that isn't on the new models). I got a backlit keyboard and such, but I don't think my "extras" cost more than $100.

I found this dell precision model.Is it worth for photo editing?
I know it is 15".

http://configure.euro.​dell.com …e2e647e6f7184a2​f5&vw=icon

Components
English Genuine Windows® 7 Professional (32Bit OS)
One Intel® Core™ I5-2520M (2.50GHz ,3MB cache ,Dual Core™)
Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security Services, 15-months
Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 ( Excel Starter 2010, Word Starter 2010)
Precision M4600 : Standard Base
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel (2x2GB)
15.6in Full High Definition (1920X1080) RGB LCD Panel
750GB (7,200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Drive Tray Load
PowerDVD Software for Vista Home Premium and Ultimate, WIN7 Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate
AMD FirePro M5950 Mobility Pro Graphics with 1GB GDDR5
1x DisplayPort to DVI-D adapter
Internal UK/Irish (Qwerty) Keyboard
Raid Controller : All SATA Hard Drives, Non-RAID for 1 Hard Drive
Accessories
Intel vPro Technology Enabled
OS Media : MUI Windows® 7 Professional (32Bit OS) Resource DVD
Dell Backup and Recovery Manager for Windows® 7
Intel™ Pro Wireless 6300 (802.11 a/g/Draft-n 3X3) Mini Card EMEA
No Carry Case
Services & Software
3Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day
3 Year Warranty - NBD
Windows Live For window 7
English,Danish,Dutch,F​inish,French,Norwegian​,Swedish shipping Docs
Declined Accidental Damage offer
Also Includes
Smartcard and No Fingerprint Reader
Battery : Primary 6-cell 60W/HR
No Integrated Camera with Microphone for Multi Touch LCD
Intel® Core™ Label I5 VPRO
Power Supply And Power Cord : Worldwide 180W AC Adapter with UK/Irish Power Cord

kendzi1 wrote in post #12353077
I found this dell precision model.Is it worth for photo editing?
I know it is 15".

http://configure.euro.​dell.com …e2e647e6f7184a2​f5&vw=icon

15.6in Full High Definition (1920X1080) RGB LCD Panel

I wish I could offer you better advice, but I don't really know for sure. I know that's not the IPS panel, but I imagine you chose it because it costs $370 less than the IPS panel.

I wish I could offer more specific advice about the differences between the different panels and their color reproduction and such, but these are all very new, I'm not sure anyone even has any of these models in their possession yet. If I wasn't getting the IPS panel, I would be tempted to save about $500 (50%) and get a Dell XPS instead...though again, I'm afraid I don't know much about the different panels and am not sure what the difference between the "15.6" UltraSharp™ FHD(1920x1080) Anti-Glare LED-backlit" panel on the Precision would be vs the "15.6 FHD B+RGLED TL (1920x1080)" panel on the XPS would be.

In the past I have gotten obnoxiously oversatured colors from some of the Dell higher end panels that was way worse than just buying a "regular" panel, requiring me to buy a color calibration tool in order to fix the colors for photo editing (something I did not feel any need to do with any of my previous monitors, that's how bad it was). However, they could have definitely fixed these problems by now on the latest gen of displays after all the complaints as well...

With HP you can get more of a discount if you ask the sales rep as well. If you noticed the coupon code on the page and entered it you got 18% off, if you asked a rep you could get 25% off. I do not know if it works that way with Dell.

Sorry I can't be more helpful - the only display that I know seems to display consistently good colors and everything is the one on the Elitebook, and you can't get one new for under $2200 (well...unless you went with a refurbished model...).

To play devil's advocate against myself (lol), on the other hand you have to ask yourself - how is anyone going to be viewing my photos? If all your photos are posted online and sent through emails, they'll likely just be viewed on other people's cheap monitors, in which case is it worth it to spend a lot of money on a more expensive display?

If you don't need the IPS display but want a nice laptop look into the Latitude line. I just got an e6520 a week ago and really like it.

PaulRivers wrote in post #12354195
I wish I could offer you better advice, but I don't really know for sure. I know that's not the IPS panel, but I imagine you chose it because it costs $370 less than the IPS panel.

I wish I could offer more specific advice about the differences between the different panels and their color reproduction and such, but these are all very new, I'm not sure anyone even has any of these models in their possession yet. If I wasn't getting the IPS panel, I would be tempted to save about $500 (50%) and get a Dell XPS instead...though again, I'm afraid I don't know much about the different panels and am not sure what the difference between the "15.6" UltraSharp™ FHD(1920x1080) Anti-Glare LED-backlit" panel on the Precision would be vs the "15.6 FHD B+RGLED TL (1920x1080)" panel on the XPS would be.

In the past I have gotten obnoxiously oversatured colors from some of the Dell higher end panels that was way worse than just buying a "regular" panel, requiring me to buy a color calibration tool in order to fix the colors for photo editing (something I did not feel any need to do with any of my previous monitors, that's how bad it was). However, they could have definitely fixed these problems by now on the latest gen of displays after all the complaints as well...

With HP you can get more of a discount if you ask the sales rep as well. If you noticed the coupon code on the page and entered it you got 18% off, if you asked a rep you could get 25% off. I do not know if it works that way with Dell.

Sorry I can't be more helpful - the only display that I know seems to display consistently good colors and everything is the one on the Elitebook, and you can't get one new for under $2200 (well...unless you went with a refurbished model...).

To play devil's advocate against myself (lol), on the other hand you have to ask yourself - how is anyone going to be viewing my photos? If all your photos are posted online and sent through emails, they'll likely just be viewed on other people's cheap monitors, in which case is it worth it to spend a lot of money on a more expensive display?

I found this
HP EliteBook 8560p Notebook PC (ENERGY STAR) (LQ589AW)
39,6 cm (15.6") diagonal LED-backlit HD+ WVA anti-glare
for about £1200
Is it a good screen?

jimbob85 wrote in post #12354773
If you don't need the IPS display but want a nice laptop look into the Latitude line. I just got an e6520 a week ago and really like it.

It is look good but I can't find in UK.

kendzi1 wrote in post #12360512
I found this
HP EliteBook 8560p Notebook PC (ENERGY STAR) (LQ589AW)
39,6 cm (15.6") diagonal LED-backlit HD+ WVA anti-glare
for about £1200
Is it a good screen?

Other people where I work have the Elitebook laptops. While not as good as the top end IPS displays, they do look like good screens with decent viewing angles.

picturecrazy wrote in post #12348716
I just put in an order for an X220 TABLET!!!

Man, that is THE laptop for photographers who need portability on the go! woo hoo!

Aside from having an IPS panel, the screen has a built in Wacom digitizer! A Wacom 12" Cintiq is $1000, but the X220 tablet starts at $1329. It's like buying a Cintiq 12" and getting a KICKASS laptop for $329. You can edit your photos with the digitizer pen, brushing right on the image itself!

Did you get it yet? I want a better editing laptop for a road trip next week and found the Thinkpad X220 Tablet 42962YU on Amazon for $1,649.29

There's not much information on Amazon's site (Thinkpad x220 tablet 42962yu ( 12.5 multitouch hd (1366x768) led backlit display mobile intel 6 series chipset intel hd graphics integrated 720p hd camera integrated bluetooth wireless integrated fingerprint reader intel core i7-2620m processor 320 gb / 7200 rpm hdd 4 gb memory integrated mobile broadband - upgradable intel centrino advanced-n 6205 (2x2 agn) genuine windows 7 professional 64 dvd recordable 6 cell li-ion battery - 52+) so I'm making a few assumptions.

What do you think? Is this a reasonable configuration?

if you sign up on the lenovo website, they will email you a 10% discount code. I think I've decided on the x220; just thinking whether I want SSD or just install a 750gig hd.

I may be wrong, but from what I understand:

• Thinkpad W520 with 1920x1080 screen
  
• Thinkpad X220 with Premium screen
  
• HP Elite 8740 or 8540 with DreamcolorII
  
• Dell M4600 with Premium UltraSharp
  

just ordered the x220 almost maxed out.

upon further research, this laptop can only take 7mm height hdd/ssd (most laptop hdd are 9.5mm thick), which limits capacity, so I decided to stick with the 320gig 7200 hdd offered. I can however add an mSATA ssd and have two drives total, but will lose WAN; the mSATA ssd drive I want is also backordered.