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04-06-2013, 02:48 PM   #1
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Best laptop for processing!

Alright. I am a new pentaxian, and like everything I do I dive right in and try to get the most out of the experience.. So after a year of hem and haw I decided on the K-5. Got the 18-55 WR and the 50-200 WR. I love them but know I can get better with better lenses. So, I am going to piece together so,e DA* lenses, I am sure you all know th drill. However, why would I get all that gear and not use the power of RAW and put some horsepower on the backend of processing. I can take the best pictures in the world but if I don't process them right what is the point!

My point, my question, my request...Can someone tell me the best ( but not too expensive) laptop to get the most out of my image processing?

Thank you!

04-06-2013, 03:04 PM   #2
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What software?

You might get some answers from people with preferences for brands but IMHO a laptop is a poor contender for image processing. The key components for good image processing are:
  1. good color calibrated screen
  2. good software that you know how to use
  3. lots and lots of memory, 8gb minimum
  4. good backup and storage system
  5. fast CPU
  6. good GPU
Image processing is not particularly CPU intensive or GPU intensive. The screen is extremely important to get accurate color and really see what you are doing. And in my experience laptop screens just don't cut it.


If you really want a laptop, consider getting a good one with at least 8gb of memory and adding a really good external monitor.
04-06-2013, 03:13 PM   #3
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What about a MacBook with retina display? Thanks for the comments. It's why I ask. Lol
04-06-2013, 03:18 PM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by Gonoles110 Quote
What about a MacBook with retina display? Thanks for the comments. It's why I ask. Lol
You nailed it!

04-06-2013, 03:20 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by Gonoles110 Quote
What about a MacBook with retina display?
LOL, I don't do the apple thing so never even considered it. If the screen is good enough, and it has the memory, go for it.
04-06-2013, 03:21 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by Buschmaster Quote
You nailed it!
+1, if it's a laptop your after, these are about as good as any.

Me, I still prefer to do my serious work on my iMac workstation.
04-06-2013, 03:39 PM   #7
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We have three MacBook/Macbook Pros in our home, so I think they are about the best laptop around. The model with the Retina Display has the processing capability to do what you need. While the screen is excellent in the context of a laptop for photography, do realize that the gamut just about reaches the sRGB colorspace--which shows you how lousy all the other laptops out there are. For a desktop machine or a photo-oriented external monitor, that would be a minimal acceptable gamut.

I favor a monitor encompassing more of the AdobeRBG (1998) gamut. If you don't expect to be printing your images and mostly intend to process shots for web or online delivery, then the Retina Display alone will work for you quite well. If you are going to need mobility and bring your laptop back to a base for serious post processing, then purchase a lower-end IPS monitor. There are threads on all of this stuff, just search.

M

04-06-2013, 03:43 PM   #8
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Thanks for the feedback. yes i do intend on printing but for personal use. i like the idea of a solid engine for portabilit, but for backroom hobby use i can add a little workstation/exteranl display. didnt consider that.
04-06-2013, 03:46 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by jatrax Quote
adding a really good external monitor.
Before getting any laptop, open any image on screen and look at it carefully from all angles. At least 20 degrees from the left, right, high and low. If you see any colour shift you have a problem.
Secondly look at the image with mains power connected and they unplug the mains power. If you see a drop in brightness, you have a problem. The laptop I use for general work fails on both counts. Images are are terrible unless viewed from directly in front of the screen. The slightest angle shows all sorts of weird colour and intensity shifts so it is pretty much useless for editing or even viewing. Even with all power management features off the display is much darker on battery than on mains power. Solution; add external monitor but that negates a lot of the rationale for using a laptop anyway.

I have not had a chance to try out the Retina display models but that might be a solution. I would be interested to know.
04-06-2013, 03:49 PM   #10
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Whatever system you end up buying, make sure it has an SSD.

I just bought an HP laptop for my wife. HP wanted too much for the SSD option so I ordered it with the basic hard disk, a lousy 5400 rpm, then I immediately replaced the supplied hard disk with a 512GB Samsung 840 Pro. The performance increase is amazing.
04-06-2013, 04:08 PM   #11
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I use a laptop as my main computer and don't have a desktop. What I did however was buy an external IPS monitor and calibrated it. Whenever I need to do any photo editing I connect my laptop to the monitor using the HDMI-out port. It's an option you might want to consider.
04-06-2013, 04:11 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by SOldBear Quote
with a 512GB Samsung 840 Pro. The performance increase is amazing.
The difference has to be seen to be believed. Amazing is indeed correct. Just rebuilt my desktop with Samsung 840 pro 256gb
04-06-2013, 06:15 PM   #13
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It all comes down to your budget of course. I have a 13" Macbook Pro Retina, 2.9GHz i7, 8GB RAM, 768MB Graphics and 500GB SSD. The screen and speed improvements over my previous standard dual core, 4GB RAM, 500GB HD Macbook Pro are stunning, and I am very happy with the display for my photography.

The SSD's in the Retina MacBooks are very fast and this has made handling 20MB RAW file off my K5 a breeze.

I travel a lot for work, so the Retina MacBook works really well for me processing images whilst I am on the road.

I am very happy with it - but they aren't cheap
04-06-2013, 07:11 PM   #14
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I really like the asus g75 I got recently. It has a 17" non glare screen (1080) 2 HDD's, 12 GB ram, i7 3630qm processor and some fancy graphics stuff (calibrated w/ spyder express). I do have a 24" monitor also, but would rather sit in the lazyboy with the laptop after working all day and wanted bigger than my old 15" Lenovo.
04-06-2013, 08:51 PM   #15
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I am not up to date but 99% of notebooks are aweful for processing due to the fact that their displays cannot be properly calibrated, and with horrid viewing angles. And if you don't plan to calibrate the display, you will be editing colour blinded. As to the spec, look for IPS display, i5 8GB or better. SSD for boot, 2 or more separate hard drives for at least 2 identical storage.
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