Thinking of a new laptop

Hey all,

I'm in the market for a laptop (or 2-in-1 or even tablet) to replace my current desktop. I'm looking for something running Windows 10, that's as portable as possible (meaning 14-inch screen max, the lighter the better) but that still has the guts to keep up with photo editing. I'm currently using Photoshop CS6, but I don't mind changing - provided it's not a subscription model, which I will never be ok with.

I'm looking at the Dell XPS 13 series, but they only have integrated graphics so I'm not sure if they'll let me comfortably edit my shots. Anybody using a recent computer that meets all these criteria?

What are you intending to do with this laptop? I ask because a 13 inch display is somewhat limiting for the photo editing you mention. I would be looking for 16 GB of RAM as a minimum. Are you going to be using this with some external drive for your main photo storage?

Dell is having some deals going on until 9/30. See https://deals.dell.com …NXgkbWmjOwCFUpO​DAodaNYIPg for the details. Double check near the top right "Coupons" for anything that might apply.

Dell also runs an Outlet Store, see https://www.dell.com …AvRdEALw_wcB&gc​lsrc=aw.ds. Many of these units are overstock, some are refurbished. I've had a very good experience a few years ago with a refurb. Much like CAnon products I could not tell it from new. Having said that there was one strange profile configured which I just deleted.

This'll be my daily driver, it'll replace my current computer for everything including work, hence why I need portability. I'll get a better screen for my home.

Since I'll be using some gift cards and everything I can't actually just go online, I'll have to get it in November from a brick and mortar store here in France - so really my question is on specs: dedicated GPU or integrated graphics? It's a given that I'll get at least 16 Gb of RAM, possibly 32 even, and I'll also set up a NAS for long term storage.

armis wrote in post #19131581
This'll be my daily driver, it'll replace my current computer for everything including work, hence why I need portability. I'll get a better screen for my home.

Since I'll be using some gift cards and everything I can't actually just go online, I'll have to get it in November from a brick and mortar store here in France - so really my question is on specs: dedicated GPU or integrated graphics? It's a given that I'll get at least 16 Gb of RAM, possibly 32 even, and I'll also set up a NAS for long term storage.

A dedicated GPU is recommended for graphic work, especially video. For what it is worth, you can find reviews stating the dedicated GPU will be about 2-1/2X to 3X faster. At least on this side of the pond, and going with 13 inch, Asus makes several models that have dedicated GPU’s. If you can move to 14 inch, and it fits the budget, then the market opens up.

On laptops I always suggest looking for those that can be user modified with respect to the drive and RAM. Usually the OEM sites charge exorbitant prices for bumping up RAM and drive size.

Integrated graphics have gotten pretty good now: they can decode and stream UHD video in small form factor devices. It seems you're valuing 13" laptops for the small form factor. I would say that they're quite fine if your intent is photography using the laptop screen. You will start hitting more limitations if you need video rendering or displaying to UHD external monitors. 16GB i7 CPU should be good for photography. I have a slightly older 8GB i7 touchscreen Dell Latitude 13" at work that runs CC fine (though I haven't tried 400MB PSD files like I'd use with my personal workstations). I've also actually been surprised that the computer has been able to render HD videos at a decent rate when called for (and with dedicated graphics, will just be snappier with video rendering). It's always about compromises. I know some just want small form factor. From where I'm coming from, 15.6" "slim" models are also very portable from what I had been used to. Over 10 years ago, I was using 17" portable workstations for 3D graphics. It went to smaller (but thick) 15" models that offered professional graphics cards, optical drive, and option for SSD and HD drives. So going from that to a MacBook Pro/15.6" slim PC laptops seem very portable to me (I can still fit the slim laptop, e-reader, and iPad into my front pocket of a carry on).

I just got given an HP Dragonfly. i7, 16gb, integrated graphics, 13" touch screen, folds into a tablet, tiny, light mag alloy body, great keyboard, stylus/pen...

Flies through PS with no issues at all. Not something I'd use for editing 4K video, but no worries with photos. Great for drawing and taking notes on as well

Consider the fact that the pixel pitch of monitors is rather constrained...the vertical pixel count max's out at a given size, so if you want more than 1040 pixels a certain diagonal monitor size is mandated. I have never found fewer than 1024 pixels vertically to be very usable...the need to scroll so much simply to view an entire web page gets bothersome quickly.

An IPS monitor is better than TFT monitor, as you get more faithful reproduction for photo editing.

John from PA wrote in post #19131586
A dedicated GPU is recommended for graphic work, especially video.

For video editing, film production and any 3D work, yes a dedicated, preferably Nvidia card is almost a must have.
For design and photography work any of the on chip video processors from Intel or AMD are more than capable and will easily drive 2 or in some cases 3 4K monitors.

In a laptop that can mean a big difference in price, and a big difference in weight and portability as well as battery life.

Wilt wrote in post #19131862
Consider the fact that the pixel pitch of monitors is rather constrained...the vertical pixel count max's out at a given size, so if you want more than 1040 pixels a certain diagonal monitor size is mandated. I have never found fewer than 1024 pixels vertically to be very usable...the need to scroll so much simply to view an entire web page gets bothersome quickly.

An IPS monitor is better than TFT monitor, as you get more faithful reproduction for photo editing.

Unless your talking about a CRT screen this makes no sense. 2k, 2.5k and 4k monitors are common in laptops. Pixel pitch is no longer an issue and it's easy now to produce screens with more than 300 pixels per inch. How your software displays on that is all down to scaling and both OS-X and Windows 10 handle scaling extremely well.

And you seem to have confused TFT with TN. IPS and TN are both types of TFT panel.

armis wrote in post #19131581
Since I'll be using some gift cards and everything I can't actually just go online, I'll have to get it in November from a brick and mortar store here in France - so really my question is on specs: dedicated GPU or integrated graphics? It's a given that I'll get at least 16 Gb of RAM, possibly 32 even, and I'll also set up a NAS for long term storage.

Do you have a budget in mind?

I've always had great performance from Lenovo laptops, but only the business level models (E, T and X series)
It's generally accepted that they have the best keyboards and I've found the business level models to be well built and very reliable.

Dell and HP are also popular, but again it's the business level models that are better known for reliability and durability.
I've used several HP and Dell models in different work environments and never had any real issues.

The consumer levels models from all 3 tend to be a bit more compromised to save money, and at that point I would look at other brands like ASUS.
However, price is still the best determining factor for how well it will perform and last.


Note, that 2 laptops can have exactly the same processor and ram, but perform very differently depending on the quality of the cooling and power system and how the bios controls CPU speed to cope.
Generally more expensive systems will have better cooling and power delivery and be able to run the same CPU faster for longer.
You'll find lots of reviews online that benchmark the laptops, and it can be informative to see if there are meaningful differences.

A dedicated GPU is only really useful if your doing any video or 3D work and then only if your using high end software like Premier Pro, Avid etc.

If your doing to have connected to a separate monitor than also consider what docking options there are, or if they can be connected to a hub and support video out put via USB-C

Thanks for your replies everyone. Since this will replace my desktop and I only do that once every ~6 years or so I'm pretty flexible on budget, but I do value portability. If I don't need a dedicated GPU I can just wait for this year's Dell XPS 13 (or equivalent); it looks like I won't need to splurge for an Asus ROG Zephyrus or similar.

I was having a look at the current gen of Intel mobile processors and found this really cool page: https://www.intel.com …s/core/i7-processors.html

At the top right of the list you an refine it.
If you refine by numbers of cores to 4-8 and 8mb or more of cache then it gives a list of capable processors that will handle images from your Fuji, and you can see a list of different computers that use each CPU.

The only down side is I could not find any 12 or 14in laptops that use the 6 core processors. 6 cores be would more future proof, as a 4 core is capable of handling images from your current Fuji X-E2, but if you ever upgrade to something higher resolution a 6 core maybe more suitable, but I suspect that will mean a larger form factor laptop, 15 or 17in that is far less portable.

Ideally you would get something with one of the new AMD Ryzen CPU's. They are currently able to fit more performance into processors that use less power and generate less heat than Intel is.
All I can find is a Lenovo https://www.lenovo.com …-T14s-AMD-G1/p/20UH000CUS

That would be a fantastic laptop, and is small, light and portable, but I have no idea how, or if Lenovo has much of retail presence in France, and you may have to order one online.
I have done this from Lenovo several times, and the service and delivery has been fantastic.