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cpopham · 08-13-2008, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by daacon

I think my eyes are just not good enough for a 13.x or 14.x so I am leaning towards a 15.4.

Be aware most laptop screens aren't suitable for accurate photo proofing due to poor colour accuracy / compressed dynamic range. You'll probably be wanting to attach an external monitor for photo editing.

Originally Posted by daacon

My current thoughts are Dell XPS or the newer Studio (which from I understand is between the Inpiron and XPS). I have configured a few and a decent one looks to be around $1.6k give or take.

I have an XPS M1530 and love it. It cost me the equivalent of about $1.5K CAD, for a 2.5GHz processor, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB hard drive. I understand the Studio is basically a 'cheapened' version of the M1530. You may also want to look at the Dell Vostro and Latitude lines, in the small business section of their site.

Originally Posted by daacon

I want it small enough for travel - run work stuff (none of which is erally resource intensive). Probably lightroon or CS3 would be the most demanding app. Big Hard drive 4gb ram nice screeen is what I am after.

15.4" laptops are really getting too heavy for travel. I used to regularly fly between Auckland and London (about 22 hours flight time all up), and I would not carry a 15.4" laptop with me in a shoulder bag. I used to carry a 14.1" then, and it was much lighter. If you're talking about just taking it with you in a shoulder bag on a car trip that's probably okay.

4GB of RAM in 32-bit laptops (e.g. all consumer laptops today) is, for all intents and purposes worthless. You'll only be able to use about 3.2GB of it, depending on the other hardware in the machine. It isn't worth the purchase price, unless it's included in a package with other upgrades.

Originally Posted by daacon

In all liklyehood whatever I get I will trash the factory set up and install XP as most of the stuff I need for work is iffy on Vista.

If possible, I'd rethink that. I really like almost everything about Vista, and I use it daily. Using XP at work feels like a step back for me. Also, most manufacturers aren't supporting XP with their newer models, meaning they offer no drivers for XP. You can sometimes scrape them together yourself from various sources, but honestly it's not worth the pain.
(The Dell M1530 is an example of this)
Vista is a lot better following Service Pack 1, and some compatability issues are resolved. Many vendors have also fixed their software. Most people forget what XP was like pre SP1, and it was at least as bad.

Originally Posted by daacon

Oh yeah one more criteria build like a rock - I am not very gentel at times not worried about drop technology just built well as I tend to grap it with one hand kinda thing.

You may want to look at business laptops then, the M1530 is fairly solid, but it's still a consumer laptop and therefore not as well built as many of the business models. Take a look at Dell Latitudes. You can also usually get XP preinstalled.

08-13-2008, 07:39 PM	#6
cpopham Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Gallery Photos: 0 Posts: 294	Originally Posted by daacon I think my eyes are just not good enough for a 13.x or 14.x so I am leaning towards a 15.4. Be aware most laptop screens aren't suitable for accurate photo proofing due to poor colour accuracy / compressed dynamic range. You'll probably be wanting to attach an external monitor for photo editing. Originally Posted by daacon My current thoughts are Dell XPS or the newer Studio (which from I understand is between the Inpiron and XPS). I have configured a few and a decent one looks to be around $1.6k give or take. I have an XPS M1530 and love it. It cost me the equivalent of about $1.5K CAD, for a 2.5GHz processor, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB hard drive. I understand the Studio is basically a 'cheapened' version of the M1530. You may also want to look at the Dell Vostro and Latitude lines, in the small business section of their site. Originally Posted by daacon I want it small enough for travel - run work stuff (none of which is erally resource intensive). Probably lightroon or CS3 would be the most demanding app. Big Hard drive 4gb ram nice screeen is what I am after. 15.4" laptops are really getting too heavy for travel. I used to regularly fly between Auckland and London (about 22 hours flight time all up), and I would not carry a 15.4" laptop with me in a shoulder bag. I used to carry a 14.1" then, and it was much lighter. If you're talking about just taking it with you in a shoulder bag on a car trip that's probably okay. 4GB of RAM in 32-bit laptops (e.g. all consumer laptops today) is, for all intents and purposes worthless. You'll only be able to use about 3.2GB of it, depending on the other hardware in the machine. It isn't worth the purchase price, unless it's included in a package with other upgrades. Originally Posted by daacon In all liklyehood whatever I get I will trash the factory set up and install XP as most of the stuff I need for work is iffy on Vista. If possible, I'd rethink that. I really like almost everything about Vista, and I use it daily. Using XP at work feels like a step back for me. Also, most manufacturers aren't supporting XP with their newer models, meaning they offer no drivers for XP. You can sometimes scrape them together yourself from various sources, but honestly it's not worth the pain. (The Dell M1530 is an example of this) Vista is a lot better following Service Pack 1, and some compatability issues are resolved. Many vendors have also fixed their software. Most people forget what XP was like pre SP1, and it was at least as bad. Originally Posted by daacon Oh yeah one more criteria build like a rock - I am not very gentel at times not worried about drop technology just built well as I tend to grap it with one hand kinda thing. You may want to look at business laptops then, the M1530 is fairly solid, but it's still a consumer laptop and therefore not as well built as many of the business models. Take a look at Dell Latitudes. You can also usually get XP preinstalled.