BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

Looking into a new laptop with strong photo editing capability. No Macs please.

I assume I'm probably looking for a 64-bit laptop with the maximum RAM, and high-end graphics processor (gaming machine?). I currently have a 64-bit with Windows 7, 4GB RAM, basic graphics processor, and 17-inch monitor.

It's OK, but I think my growing Lightroom 5 catalogue is starting to bog it down. I'm having to restart more and more.

I'm researching ads and reviews myself, so am especially interested in personal experience.

Thanks in advance. :mrgreen:

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Is there a strong reason to get a laptop? $ for $ you can get much more power and storage in a desktop. Not to mention the much bigger view for editing on a large monitor. Yes I know people who own a high end laptop and a large monitor or docking station for use at home.
The tower still gets more power/room for the money.
My choice is a powerful desktop (mine is a gamer, though I don't game) and a laptop. Well it was an HP multimedia laptop. I am now retired and my wife uses the laptop for surfing, e-mail etc while watching TV. Her desktop sits idle most of the time. Which is why her desktop is the 10 year old dual core Dell business machine with standard video card plus 24" ultrasharp monitor and mine is an i7 6 core multi threading gamer with a 2GB video card and ASUS HD graphics monitor. 16 GBs of RAM and I am now feeling RAM deprived compared to some machines made in the last 3 years since I first bought this one. It now sports a 240GB SSD and a 4TB data drive plus external drives for back up copies of stuff -mostly photos and my wife's videos. Next upgrade may be more RAM or an improved video card.
Dell owns Alienware brand gamer class laptops, look at them. Or iBuyPower gaming laptops, they made my desktop and it is about as good as it gets for the $2100 I spent.
Get one with pure SSD or dual SSD (apps and work space) + HDD (data storage) and add one or more large external HDDs to hold most of the files and back ups. That will leave the machine free to use it's space to work.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Buy an Acer. They seem to make the lids out of really strong plastic and make an ideal platform for chopping coke and preparing a line. Mine is 4 years old and shows no marks from constantly having a credit card edge bashed into it. Also I find when skinning up for a spliff the finish on the Acer lid allows the papers to slide perfectly.
Way to go bro!

BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

I definitely get what you are saying. I just like the portability of a laptop. I do a lot of post away from home, like during lunch at work, or while on vacation. Since desktops are so cheap now, maybe both, especially if I use USB external hard drive(s).

BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

Umm, I have an Acer, but can't say I know what you mean.

:shock: :roll: :lol:

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Well your photography will be a darn site more fun when you find out lol

Keep safe my man

kubota king Loc: NW , Pa.

Since you are locked in on a laptop . I have a HP - 17" monitor - 8gb of ram - i7 intel processor with auto boast . It holds 2 hard drives .I switched the main hard drive over to a Samsung 840 Pro 256gb SSD to run my operating system . I can be fully started up in 18sec after switching to the SSD drive I mentioned above vs 1 1/2 - 2 minutes using a regular sata drive. I was running windows 7 pro on it with PS CC for awhile with no problems . I do all my photo work on the home built desktop now . I have switched my laptop over to a Linux system .Zorin 9 Ultimate . I have 2 laptops , and 2 desk tops . I use windows 8 , windows xp , windows 10 pro technical preview , and linux zorin 9 ult. Tommy

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I'm curious as to why you would want to limit your monitor size to that of a laptop for photo editing.
--Bob

BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

That's just what I currently have. Certainly don't want smaller.