Tablet or Laptop: Which is best choice or editing photos based on mobility. I've read articles on how great tablets are but I have reviewed so many I've not come up with a choice. I...

jchristian Loc: Baker, OR

Which is best choice or editing photos based on mobility. I've read articles on how great tablets are but I have reviewed so many I've not come up with a choice. I still am of the opinion that a laptop is the answer but the travel aspect makes a tablet mighty appealing. Over 1K$ is not an option so what do the opinions say? Really appreciate the experiences of those that have used a tablet.

jdb Loc: Texas

I have three tablets. iPad, zoom, windows . I find that the laptop I have is 100% better for photo editing and many other things. Each of my tablets all have something impossible one difficult to accomplish. But, my desktop computer is best for me when I edit my photos.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

For travel, a laptop or netbook is much better for photo related activity. You can get netbooks with 300+GB hard drives, or a netbook plus an external hard drive.

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

jchristian wrote:

Which is best choice or editing photos based on mobility. I've read articles on how great tablets are but I have reviewed so many I've not come up with a choice. I still am of the opinion that a laptop is the answer but the travel aspect makes a tablet mighty appealing. Over 1K$ is not an option so what do the opinions say? Really appreciate the experiences of those that have used a tablet.

The Wacom tablet is the only photo editing tablet that I am aware of that is designed for real photo editing, but you said your budget doesn't cover it. You are left with a laptop. Wacom makes tablets without screens you can use with a laptop. It is what my daughter uses for her artwork. I prefer to edit on the desktop upon return.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Wahawk wrote:

For travel, a laptop or netbook is much better for photo related activity. You can get netbooks with 300+GB hard drives, or a netbook plus an external hard drive.

Having traveled with laptops and traveled wih IPads, for me the choice has been simple since an app called " Go to my PC" is availablefor he iPad and for downloading in my Dektop PC back home (which MUST BE LEFT TURNED ON WHILE YOU ARE TRAVELING.)
You also need a Dropbox account withaccess by both your iPad and your desktop PC.
So....
make your pictures,

download image files, (jpegs or RAWs)from camera or SD card to iPad,

Do your first edit in iPad, and discard your throw-aways,

Upload the keepers from iPad to Dropbox.

With " Go to My PC" get your P.C.'s desktop visible on your iPad ( you are now controlling your PC back home from your iPad...as well as all its applications, files, and attached hard drives)

Using your P.C. download the keeper images from Dropbox to P.C. and put them into whatever back-up files in hard drives that are accessible from your PC.

AND, if so inclined, start PP on images you made that day.

yeah...it's a whole new world for the traveling photographer!

and be aware that there are IPads with 128 Gb !

Dave in SD

Rongnongno Loc: FL

First when I saw tablet I tought it was a toss up between a great accessory and a laptop too then... oops, damned tablet thingies that are, in my opinion, not useless but cost too much for what they do!

doduce Loc: Holly Springs NC

jchristian wrote:

Which is best choice or editing photos based on mobility. I've read articles on how great tablets are but I have reviewed so many I've not come up with a choice. I still am of the opinion that a laptop is the answer but the travel aspect makes a tablet mighty appealing. Over 1K$ is not an option so what do the opinions say? Really appreciate the experiences of those that have used a tablet.

My thought--you need a computer to edit photos. Despite the hype, a tablet isn't a computer. So my options have always been either take the laptop or use something like GO TO MY PC as suggested earlier. If weight is an issue look at an ultrabook--I tote a Samsung that is sweet and one heckuva lot cheaper that a Mac book of any flavor with equal or better performance.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

doduce wrote:

My thought--you need a computer to edit photos. Despite the hype, a tablet isn't a computer. So my options have always been either take the laptop or use something like GO TO MY PC as suggested earlier. If weight is an issue look at an ultrabook--I tote a Samsung that is sweet and one heckuva lot cheaper that a Mac book of any flavor with equal or better performance.

Wrong. The Microsoft Surface IS a full implementation of Windows 8. And runs any Win 8 software. Including PhotoShop.

doduce Loc: Holly Springs NC

Wall-E wrote:

Wrong. The Microsoft Surface IS a full implementation of Windows 8. And runs any Win 8 software. Including PhotoShop.

Not to start a battle, but Surface is well beyond a mere tablet and OP should probably consider it. But to suggest it has the same capabilities as a pure tablet is not quite correct, wouldn't you agree?

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

doduce wrote:

Not to start a battle, but Surface is well beyond a mere tablet and OP should probably consider it. But to suggest it has the same capabilities as a pure tablet is not quite correct, wouldn't you agree?

You're right. It has WAY MORE capabilities than a 'mere tablet'.

The price puts it in the iPad Air territory.

doduce Loc: Holly Springs NC

Wall-E wrote:

You're right. It has WAY MORE capabilities than a 'mere tablet'.

The price puts it in the iPad Air territory.

:)

firtree Loc: Florida, USA

We have 1 of each (Laptop, desktop and a tablet) I still prefer my desktop to the others. The only way my tablet really works with photos is by using a special card with the smaller chip inset as they don't make an external cord for my particular gadget. Something to keep in mind. (But none of my dang machines work worth a goshdarngibblygook anyway so what do I know.)

Opus Loc: South East Michigan

I take two long (10-20 day) photo trips every year. I used to lug around a large (17 inch) laptop but stopped three years ago. I prefer to edit on my desktop (bigger screen) so now I just take a boatload of memory cards.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I edit on a 17" Alienware machine and that's minimal for photo editing in my opinion.

If you are running Lightroom or Photoshop you need the horsepower unless you just like sitting around watching cursors spin.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Wall-E wrote:

Wrong. The Microsoft Surface IS a full implementation of Windows 8. And runs any Win 8 software. Including PhotoShop.

To be fair...it "is" but probably what was meant is "it's not as beefy in the specs dept as a computer" which is valid.

MS Surface tablets with any specs at all are 1000.00 and then the specs are wimpy compared to a laptop of the same price.