Looking for a Laptop - DPChallenge Forums

12/03/2009 12:37:39 PM · #1

I'm looking for a laptop and am trying to come up with minimum specs. The laptop will be used mainly as secondary backup while traveling but must support Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CS3).

2 GHz processor
Core 2 Duo
4 GB DDR3 memory (if shared with video - will accept less if separate video card with video memory)
250 GB 7200 RPM HD
Win 7 Pro 64 bit

Screen size: 13 - 15 inches (this is for ease of travel)

Anything else that should be on a minimum spec list?

Message edited by author 2009-12-03 17:34:15.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G

12/03/2009 04:25:52 PM · #2

Bump - anyone have any input?

JamesA

Nikon D800

12/03/2009 04:34:47 PM · #3

I run Cs3 (Photoshop and Illustrator) Light room 2 and Capture one from my Toshiba Satalite P300-150.

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

12/03/2009 05:16:08 PM · #4

Screen size? - That's what determines a laptop's category these days.

JamesA

Nikon D800

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G

12/03/2009 05:26:13 PM · #5

Originally posted by JH:

Screen size? - That's what determines a laptop's category these days.

Mines 17"

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/03/2009 05:33:42 PM · #6

I'm looking at ones classified as 15in. I don't need anything bigger especially if I'm just using it for travel. I could probably get away with a 13 or 14 in one.

ETA: screen size added to specs in original post.

Message edited by author 2009-12-03 17:34:35.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

12/03/2009 05:35:13 PM · #7

If you're going to use it for processing, don't go lower than 15 inches. It will drive you nuts otherwise! :-)

Basta

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

12/03/2009 05:41:30 PM · #8

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Anything else that should be on a minimum spec list?

I'm not a computer expert, but you are missing an important detail.

$ amount you are willing to spend. If that is unlimited, your choice should be easy.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

12/03/2009 05:55:07 PM · #9

A couple of months ago. I bought an HP HDX16 that's really nice. Meets your specs....I loaded it to the hilt, including a tuner to get it over $1200, then I had a coupon code which brought it down to $800, with a high res wide screen. Everything about it is great, except the battery life. But we got the long life battery, not the high capacity one.

This was my first HP laptop, and I'd buy another.

Skip the tuner, but make sure you get the fingerprint reader. Very handy (and not expensive).

The current model equivalent is the DV6t series I believe.

HP has great sales, so look for coupons! This is $1200 without coupons (but with a $200 instant rebate, which you'll lose if you apply a coupon--they're not stackable, unfortunately.

Color Espresso Black edit
Operating system Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit edit
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-720QM Processor (1.6GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 1333MHz FSB) edit
Memory FREE Upgrade to 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm) from 2GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm) edit
Hard drive 500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection edit
Graphics card 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 230M edit
Display 15.6" diagonal High Definition LED HP Brightview Widescreen Display (1366x768) edit
Primary optical drive LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support edit
Personalization Webcam + Fingerprint Reader edit
Networking Intel Wireless-N Mini-card with Bluetooth edit
TV & entertainment experience No TV Tuner w/remote control edit
Keyboard HP Color Matching Keyboard edit
Primary battery High Capacity 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery edit
Modem Port No Modem edit
OS and recovery media System Recovery DVD with Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit edit
Productivity software Microsoft(R) Works 9.0 edit

ETA: HP includes a very nice CD/DVD burning and editing suite with it for free, that's a good bonus. You get a nice suite from Cyberlink, which is almost better than the old reliable Nero 6 burning software, and is much better than any of their multimedia software they include. That's good because Nero started to go downhill after version 6. Basically, the suite is a somewhat restricted version of this: //www.cyberlink.com/products/cyberlink-dvd-suite/overview_en_US.html

Message edited by author 2009-12-03 17:59:17.

justine

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/03/2009 06:23:23 PM · #10

Last year 12.09 I bought my HP laptop.
I found all my answers here~
Best of luck in you hunt.

12/03/2009 06:36:36 PM · #11

Originally posted by Melethia:

If you're going to use it for processing, don't go lower than 15 inches. It will drive you nuts otherwise! :-)

Mainly on the road for quick adjustments in Lightroom. Nothing major but I do get your point.

12/03/2009 06:39:13 PM · #12

Originally posted by nshapiro:

Thanks for the specs Neil.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

12/03/2009 08:05:49 PM · #13

Anyone have any opinions about Acer or Asus laptops?

//www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX25941%28ME%29.aspx

(this doesn't quite meet my spec but it is close)

This one is closer but it's only a 5400rpm hard drive.

//www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX26012%28ME%29.aspx

Message edited by author 2009-12-03 20:08:30.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

12/03/2009 11:08:10 PM · #14

Asus makes good motherboards. But one bit of advice: I like to buy a laptop from someone who is responsible for the service/repair/refund of it...for example, Dell, Gateway, HP, etc.

If you have a problem, there's an advantage to dealing with them directly, rather than have the seller say, "sorry, you have to go to the mfr (like Sony)", who didn't get your money directly.

I've never had a problem with any of my laptops over the years that required service, but, for example, I did return a Dell that I bought that I thought was poorly built. Dell, Gateway, HP, etc. usually give you a money back guarantee period with no restocking fee. In that case, I returned the Dell and bought a Gateway. I liked that one so much, the next one was a Gateway too.

I haven't been paying Gateway as much attention since they supposedly got out of the direct sales business, but last time I looked, to my surprise, I think they were still selling direct.

ETA: Here's something worth noting:

//www.geckoandfly.com/2009/11/18/the-most-reliable-laptop-survey-best-netbook-reliability-comparison/

HP didn't fare to well there; this is my first HP laptop, so we'll see. My two last Gateway notebooks (both convertible tablets) are still going strong though!)

Message edited by author 2009-12-03 23:14:42.

12/03/2009 11:24:06 PM · #15

The store I deal with has a good service department. They also have a service plan you can add to the cost of the laptop and then if anything goes south, they replace it. If there's compatability issues with the replacement then the upgrade everything so it works. The plans are a bit pricey on laptops but I've actually made use of the plan for a video card (plan was $12 for 4 yrs) in my desktop that overheated.

These guys mentioned that HP tends to underpower their laptops so components burn out and that their components are proprietary so only they can service the laptop. Hopefully, you don't have those kind of issues.

Thanks for the comparison info by the way.

Message edited by author 2009-12-03 23:25:00.

benfica

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/03/2009 11:35:15 PM · #16

Well I work in the computer distribution business so let me tell you what to avoid first. STAY AWAY FROM ACER, DELL and LENOVO with the exception of thinkpads.

One word ASUS. They can't be beat. They have the best service record. They offer two way paid shipping for any problems. They also offer one year total damage warranty. So if you accidently sit on the thing they fix it no charge. Should you have any questions feel free to PM me and I can't point you do some dealers in your area.

For size i wouldn't go smaller than a 15.4 and i would recommend a 17in for working with photo's. Also try to get a model the has a seperate video card. Look for a Nvidia 240M 1GB card or a 220M 1GB card. If you can get either a Q9000 or a I7 CPU you will be more than happy for many years to come.

Heres a couple of great links on there service records.

//www.tomshardware.com/news/apple-asus-lenovo-computer-reliability,7364.html

//www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/08/19/asus_tops_reliability_test/

Memory Express are great. If you got the bucks look at this model its amazing.

//www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX26041(ME).aspx

Look at the N71 VN series or the N51 Series from Asus.

BTW they also have the lowest RMA rates.

Message edited by author 2009-12-03 23:42:56.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/04/2009 06:14:19 AM · #17

Let me just add one thing...

//a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/null__17/null-433611030-1258568892.jpg?ym9CdOCDx4zfPH74

This basically seconds

benfica, and adds HP and Gateway to the list of DO NOT BUY. Although I gotta say, those new Gateways seem pretty tough and I haven't heard too many complaints about them. HPs still suck, though.

ETA: It looks like

benfica's link also includes HP. I still like my chart more.

Message edited by author 2009-12-04 06:17:20.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

12/04/2009 06:19:39 AM · #18

I think it is a case of "your mileage may vary" - I've had great success with HP laptops (and desktops for that matter). I currently have a Toshiba laptop - nice screen!

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/04/2009 06:22:19 AM · #19

Originally posted by benfica:

Memory Express are great. If you got the bucks look at this model its amazing.

//www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX26041(ME).aspx

$50 cheaper for that on Newegg
I don't know how different the prices are with S&H

ETA: This model may be a better choice, for $300 less than the above. It's a downgrade to a Core 2 Duo (from Core i7) w/DDR2 (from DDR3) and a 320GB HDD (from 640GB) if you don't have $1500 to spend. Same graphics, still 4GB memory (as noted above, DDR2), still 15.x" screen, but $1200. There's also a model similar to this one, but with a crappier Radeon HD 4650 and a slightly bigger hard drive, for $900 after rebate.

Message edited by author 2009-12-04 11:23:26.

dahkota

Canon EOS-7D

12/04/2009 06:40:51 AM · #20

At the company I used to work for, we were all issued Dells. They were constantly having to be sent in for repair or replacement and, in my department of 35, I think one may have lasted more than 18 months. Granted, it was heavy daily usage and traveling, but the laptops became a joke around the office, where we had piles of them laying around to be scavenged for parts.

For the last two and half years, I have been using my HP DV-6000. Pretty nice when I bought it as far as specs are concerned. I can simultaneously run firefox, cs4, lightroom, and bridge with no loss of function or memory overload. The thing travels well but weighs a lot. The only problem I have had - after the warranty expired my wireless card died and my screen developed a weird flicker. Two weeks later, I got a message on my screen from HP - they had issued a recall on my system due to an overheating situation that caused (you guessed it) the wireless card to die and the screen to flicker and die. Even though the system was over a year old and out of warranty, they paid to ship it both ways and repaired the problem, doing additional cleaning and maintenance while they had it. Total turn around - ten days.

Considering my previous experiences with laptops, I am quite pleased with my HP.

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

12/04/2009 07:16:36 AM · #21

Here's my experience of laptops;

Dell - If you don't have any hardware problems, great. Otherwise you're screwed. (This is relating to 2 bad customer service experiences I had about 8 years ago with Dell. I don't buy Dell anymore)

HP - Returned two of them due to hardware issues - Trackpad broken on one, hard disk issue on another.

Asus - I currently have the eeePC, lovely machine, no issues, well built

Lenovo - The Thinkpad R60 is my main laptop at the moment. Very pleased with it. It's well built and has survived being hauled through a number of airports.

12/04/2009 11:22:32 AM · #22

Originally posted by JH:

Dell - If you don't have any hardware problems, great. Otherwise you're screwed. (This is relating to 2 bad customer service experiences I had about 8 years ago with Dell. I don't buy Dell anymore)

8 years? Irrelevant.

12/04/2009 11:34:52 AM · #23

Originally posted by george917:

Originally posted by benfica:
Memory Express are great. If you got the bucks look at this model its amazing.

//www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX26041(ME).aspx

$50 cheaper for that on Newegg
I don't know how different the prices are with S&H

ETA: This model may be a better choice, for $300 less than the above. It's a downgrade to a Core 2 Duo (from Core i7) w/DDR2 (from DDR3) and a 320GB HDD (from 640GB) if you don't have $1500 to spend. Same graphics, still 4GB memory (as noted above, DDR2), still 15.x" screen, but $1200. There's also a model similar to this one, but with a crappier Radeon HD 4650 and a slightly bigger hard drive, for $900 after rebate.

Thanks for the links and suggestions.

BTW, MemoryExpress is in CDN dollars. I went to newegg.ca and found that their prices are generally higher than memory express.

Message edited by author 2009-12-04 11:35:20.

12/04/2009 11:41:17 AM · #24

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

BTW, MemoryExpress is in CDN dollars. I went to newegg.ca and found that their prices are generally higher than memory express.

Wow, I need to get a brain. Or a better set of eyes.