Desktops vs. Laptops for photo editing

Decided it's finally time to replace my 6yo iMac with a new Mac. I've always used desktops but I don't like being confined to my desk when editing photos. Considering getting a Macbook Pro (with Retina display) but I've never owned a laptop before and I'm worried that photo editing on a laptop will be too cumbersome. Plus I'm afraid that the 15" screen size will be too small for me.

Who here edits their pics exclusively on 15" laptops and how do you like it? No problems or wish you had a bigger screen?

Since even iMacs are basically laptops, the difference is the screen size and you can always hook up a big screen to the laptop. I disliked editing photos on a 20" screen so doing it on a 15" one would drive me nuts. Get the biggest screen you can.

Either way, get yourself a nice monitor for the bulk of your editing. I recently upgraded to a nice, custom laptop and even with the onboard, 4000 series video chip, it's got more than enough power to push pixels around my 30", 2560x1600 monitor.

I'll back up what the others say. If you want a laptop for "serious" photo editing, get one with good graphics capabilities and high-quality outputs for an external monitor, then get a good monitor -- photo editing goes better with a good "dedicated" monitor. If you use programs like Lightroom or Photoshop you can actually split your display between the two monitors, having tools and such on your laptop screen, then having your image display on the bigger, better screen.

I use a laptop but it's basically a flat tower hooked to a larger screen and wireless keyboard, mouse, & Wacom. The laptop screen is garbage so I don't do serious work on it.

tonylong wrote in post #15415267
I'll back up what the others say. If you want a laptop for "serious" photo editing, get one with good graphics capabilities and high-quality outputs for an external monitor, then get a good monitor -- photo editing goes better with a good "dedicated" monitor. If you use programs like Lightroom or Photoshop you can actually split your display between the two monitors, having tools and such on your laptop screen, then having your image display on the bigger, better screen.

The laptop I'm considering is a 15" Macbook Pro with Retina display (2880 x 1800). So the screen resolution should be fine. It's just the 15" screen size that I'm worried about. Is that still too small to edit pics on despite the 2880 x 1800 display?

That would be too small for me.

Norkusa wrote in post #15415343
The laptop I'm considering is a 15" Macbook Pro with Retina display (2880 x 1800). So the screen resolution should be fine. It's just the 15" screen size that I'm worried about. Is that still too small to edit pics on despite the 2880 x 1800 display?

Besides size, you might have problems with color & density, too. https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=709019

we have a 24" iMac and newer MBP laptop. I much prefer editing on the larger screen even though the laptop is my photo dedicated computer. When we finally do some renovating in the house I want to add a large monitor to attach to the MBP. Our intention is use the MBP for photo editing on the fly when traveling. Work in progress

Norkusa wrote in post #15415343
The laptop I'm considering is a 15" Macbook Pro with Retina display (2880 x 1800). So the screen resolution should be fine. It's just the 15" screen size that I'm worried about. Is that still too small to edit pics on despite the 2880 x 1800 display?

For serious, extended editing, yes. You'll wind up sitting and staring at something, roughly 2 feet away or less and trying to see fine detail, etc on a small screen. It's really a recipe for headaches. It'll be fine for spot editing or doing small batches in short sessions; but if you're going to be at it for 30min or more, you're really going to want a larger, external monitor.

If I didn't have to use the screen for anything other than the edited image, 15" would be barely useable.

But there are menus, pallettes, nav screens, et cetera, that are necessary for efficient editing. Considering all the other elements I have to view, I've never seen a screen that has been too large.

Ive managed on my 15" laptop but given the choice i always use my desktop monitor. 27"

Thanks for the replies, guys. I've decided that the 15" is going to be too small for me. Ordering the 27" iMac instead this week. : )

Norkusa wrote in post #15415343
The laptop I'm considering is a 15" Macbook Pro with Retina display (2880 x 1800). So the screen resolution should be fine. It's just the 15" screen size that I'm worried about. Is that still too small to edit pics on despite the 2880 x 1800 display?

The problem with laptop screens generally is the inability to adjust contrast and brightness via dedicated hardware controls, so that those can be set correctly before proceeding with using calibration tools, which make software adjustments for accuracy of hues being displayed.

You might also want to consider the comments within this post, made only about a week ago
https://photography-on-the.net …p=15394273&post​count=5832

Wilt wrote in post #15416681
You might also want to consider the comments within this post, made only about a week ago
https://photography-on-the.net …p=15394273&post​count=5832

Thanks for that link, Wilt. Searched the forums before posting but didn't see this.