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09/26/2004 09:17:21 PM · #1 |
Thinking about picking up a notebook in the next few months. I'd like something relitavely small that has a decent enough screen for photo editing, as well as good DVD playback abilities. I'm a PC user but I'm not necissarily opposed to using a mac.
Brian |
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09/26/2004 09:47:17 PM · #2 |
There's lots of good notebooks out there depending on your price.
For my latest notebook though, I bought the Gateway M275XL, which is a convertible notebook and tablet. That way, I can sit on the couch and browse the intenret, score photos, etc. with the stylus in tablet mode, or use it with the keyboard available for work which requires a lot of typing. I really like it, and I think the screen is great except in sunlight (most laptops suffer from this.)
However, if I'm at my desk, I use my desktop PC, so I am not a full-time laptop user, and I can't comment on it from that regard. Personally, I could not live within the relatively small screen space a laptop gives you--I have two 19" LCD monitors side by side for 2560x1024 resolution.
However, beware of higher resolution laptops--remember that for a given screen size, higher resolution means smaller pixel size, and default icon sizes and settings (which are usually the cleanest) will be really small.
I used to like Dell laptops--I have a few. But when the widescreen 8500 came out, I bought it, and returned it. It was too big, the keyboard was bad, and I had a bad hard drive problem out of the box. So I returned it. If you want something moderate in size, but big in featurs, look at the M275XL! |
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09/26/2004 09:54:54 PM · #3 |
| LOL - and here I thought you meant the paper kind that you might keep in your camera bag! |
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09/26/2004 10:17:33 PM · #4 |
I have been using a hp zd7000 for a year now and I LOVE it!
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09/26/2004 10:24:30 PM · #5 |
| I have a dell inspiron and I find the colors on it aren't very true. It helps when the laptop is plugged in but when it's not you can't trust it. I do all my editing on my desktop because of this. |
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09/26/2004 10:46:02 PM · #6 |
| I too am reasearching laptops. I don't know whether to get the HP, the Toshiba Satellite P25, or the Sony Vaio. Anyone have any preferences? Any idea which among the three are best? |
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09/26/2004 11:04:38 PM · #7 |
| Gateway's service department is horrible. My laptop cord started smoking on Aug. 11. I reported it to them on Aug 12. After much frustration and many conversations I'm still waiting on my cord!!! All my photo editing software and web site software is on a laptop I can't use!! So don't get a Gateway. I had very good service with my Toshiba. Wish I had stayed with them. |
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09/26/2004 11:12:30 PM · #8 |
I bought a 12" Apple G4 iBook specifically for this purpose in April. The Powerbooks are thinner and lighter, but the iBook is more rugged. All Apple computers ship with iPhoto, which makes downloading from the camera and photo organization a cinch. Full-screen DVD playback works great, and you'll never have to worry about viruses. My highest-rated photo (at the time) was edited and uploaded on-site with the iBook. I've also used it to offload and preview photos at a wedding shoot. For critical photo retouching, you can plug in an external CRT monitor (up to 1024x768 resolution).
The iBook is extremely versatile- our au pair was using it today with an iSight webcam to wirelessly videochat with her boyfriend on a PC in Portugal- for free (you should have seen the grin on her face). The model I have is available refurbished (same warranty as new) in the Special Deals section of the online Apple Store for $949. Just add RAM (and maybe an Airport card) and you're set.
FWIW- the 12" Powerbook is thinner, lighter and faster, with a much bigger hard drive and a pre-installed Airport Card for $1349. The Powerbook's screen is better than the iBook's, and it has a DVI port to drive a larger external monitor (up to a 23" Cinema Display). That was overkill for my needs, but you can decide for yourself. Happy shopping! |
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09/26/2004 11:17:01 PM · #9 |
| I just bought a Dell Inspiron 8600 with the WXGA+ (1680x1050) and the ATI Radeon 9600 Pro 128 mb vidcard, mainly for school and 3D rendering/GIS applications. I swear by CRT displays for photo editing, and have never liked LCD displays in general, but I have to say that this display is excellent. It definitely has the colour reproduction and resolution to meticulously edit photos. The resolution is brilliant, and I think the 1920x1200 would be even better. It doesn't seem to have any of the problems I've read about the 8500. I still wouldn't recommend an LCD over a good professional CRT like the Sony Trinitron 21" I had at work, but it's not bad at all considering what it is. |
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09/26/2004 11:25:10 PM · #10 |
I'm an Apple User, so I'll point you toward either an iBook, or a Powerbook. I personally use the 15" Powerbook. It is small enough to be easily portable, has enough screen to allow me to edit pictures effectively, and plenty of power to spare.
PC users will tell you to get a PC, Mac users will tell you to get a Mac. It really all depends on you. If you're willing to spend the money to get a Powerbook, I can't imagine you finding a laptop you'd be happier with. Nothing looks better, and nothing approaches the size/features ratio. And with the new CoreImage feature being built into the next operating system release, who knows where it'll be going. I returned HP's top of the line laptop after seeing the Powerbook, and I've never looked back. Do some research and decide what best fits your needs. Feel free to PM, or email me if you have any questions. |
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09/26/2004 11:30:58 PM · #11 |
| I'd love to get a Powerbook, but the GIS software I use doesn't support Mac. That's the way it goes. If I were photo editing and had to get a laptop, I'd probably get a Mac if I didn't have to do anything else with it. Not everyone has the luxury. |
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09/26/2004 11:33:05 PM · #12 |
| What GIS software? Just about any application worth having is available on both platforms. Ironically, the Mac version of Microsoft Office is widely regarded as superior to the PC version. |
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09/26/2004 11:51:31 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by scalvert:
What GIS software? Just about any application worth having is available on both platforms. Ironically, the Mac version of Microsoft Office is widely regarded as superior to the PC version. |
The entire Microsoft Office for Mac blows the PC version out of the water. Sadly, there are a few specific software titles that do not cross platforms, but 99% of the time there is an equal, or superior program that performs the same functions. But if it's a matter of being compatable with an office software, that has to be the same, then that's that. Yeah, that's why I say, it all depends on your needs. It's worth looking into though. |
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09/27/2004 12:26:02 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by kyebosh:
I have a dell inspiron and I find the colors on it aren't very true. It helps when the laptop is plugged in but when it's not you can't trust it. I do all my editing on my desktop because of this. |
I have a Dell 5100 Laptop with the same problem. Colors sucks to an awesome degree.
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09/27/2004 12:50:16 AM · #15 |
| I really suggest that you look at iBooks and Powerbooks since graphics are your main concern. I support wholely Livingfiction and Scalvert's advice. I have been using Powerbooks for four years now and basically changed my desktops to Powerbooks - at home, at the two jobs I am working at, and I carry a 12" inch Powerbook around. I also purchased iBooks for people working for me. They just work. (I work at an arts and communication school and at a hospital.) I have no problems with compatibility issues - files are read without any hitch. If I need a program that is solely PC, I installed Virtual PC that run XP in one of the Powerbooks - no problem there. |
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09/27/2004 01:51:39 AM · #16 |
I agree. I have the original 1GHz 17" 'Book and it's amazing. Screen is HUGE and wonderful to work on Photoshop while away from home (even though I use it at home). I have it loaded up with Creative Suite CS standard, Office vX, AOL, Toast, and Wingnuts (for fun). The 15" 'Book is probably a better bang for the buck, IMO, as it has nearly the same screen real estate and it has the same backlit keyboard which is the main reason I got the 17" and I also couldn't wait for the 15" Aluminum. Anyway, it's been said many times, it really boils down to the specific apps you need, how much you want to pay, and personal preferences. I just happen to prefer Macintosh over the PC and there are many who feel the same about a PC.
One last item, I have yet to see a PC laptop screen equal a PowerBook's screen in terms of color and overall sharpness. Granted, I haven't looked at a PC laptop since a Compaq Armada P3 so maybe they are better now.
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09/27/2004 06:30:15 AM · #17 |
| I use a Sony Vaio with a black onyx screen. I specifically bought this laptop because I found out after a bit of research that many professional photographers use it out in the field because of the excellent quality of the screen. Also, I've worked in IT support for quite a few years, and Sony Vaios are the ONLY laptops I've seen that haven't broken down. |
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09/27/2004 10:02:47 AM · #18 |
I owned a VAIO once and it was ok. Sold it to a friend of mine and a month later the screen would work intermittently. According to Sony techs, that particular model was prone to that problem. I forget the model # off hand. I'm sure they've improved since then.
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09/27/2004 10:09:17 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by livingfiction:
Originally posted by scalvert:
What GIS software? Just about any application worth having is available on both platforms. Ironically, the Mac version of Microsoft Office is widely regarded as superior to the PC version. |
The entire Microsoft Office for Mac blows the PC version out of the water. Sadly, there are a few specific software titles that do not cross platforms, but 99% of the time there is an equal, or superior program that performs the same functions. But if it's a matter of being compatable with an office software, that has to be the same, then that's that. Yeah, that's why I say, it all depends on your needs. It's worth looking into though. |
I believe some versions of the Office Suite also come bundled with Virtual PC (probably still available separately too), which lets you run almost all Windows programs on a Mac in emulation mode ... even so probably faster than when we were running W-98 on Pentium II's or whatever ... |
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09/27/2004 10:11:01 AM · #20 |
LOL...me too!
Originally posted by digistoune:
LOL - and here I thought you meant the paper kind that you might keep in your camera bag! |
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09/27/2004 01:34:40 PM · #21 |
I use a dtp Mac, but have access to a Powerbook G4 in the field. If I was in the market, I wouldn't consider anything smaller than a 15 inch, even for travelling, backpacking etc. No doubt, I'd pick up an iBook, if on a limited budget, a Powerbook G4, if I could afford it. I would want sufficient space to store my images, i.e. a minimum of 60GB. I woul need one with a Superdrive, too, so I could burn to DVD.
Simple.
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