Ready To Buy The Laptop: So I'm ready to buy. Have only about a $500 limit, but could possibly go as high as $1000. Obviously wanting the "best bang for the buck". The goal is a...

busted_shutter

So I'm ready to buy. Have only about a $500 limit, but could possibly go as high as $1000. Obviously wanting the "best bang for the buck". The goal is a mobile(laptop) for photo editing. What are the specs I need to worry about? Faster processor, more memory, but what else? the HD(s) I can go with externals, the screen I can interface with my new 32" Samsung. Coming to the "Hog"...what do I look for?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Is there a major reason for a laptop?
For photo editing you can get much more for the money in a desktop.
Editing is speed, RAM and video intensive. Not a whole lot of those in laptops in the 500-1000 range.

busted_shutter

not just for editing(in the field), but mobility in general. In the field, 500 miles from home, might not get back for "who knows how long" if ever sort of thing. What to do then? Desktops tie you to a grid, where laptops can do both.

Might possibly go desktop. So convince me...lol

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

I have been very happy with my Mac Book Pro. But the prices are pretty high for you budget. Maybe a refrubed one tho.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

busted_shutter wrote:

not just for editing(in the field), but mobility in general. In the field, 500 miles from home, might not get back for "who knows how long" if ever sort of thing. What to do then? Desktops tie you to a grid, where laptops can do both.

Might possibly go desktop. So convince me...lol

Don't have specifics on hand, haven't had a current laptop since I retired 7+ years ago. Have browsed off and on, usually on PC Mag site's lists.

If you really need/want a laptop then check out their recommendations.

But along the line of desktop vs laptop. Find the top rated laptop on their lists that matches your budget. Then find the top rated desktop on their lists that matches your budget. Print out specs and compare. The desktop should be quiet a bit ahead of the laptop.
Check this site: http://bestlaptopforphotography.net/
You will have to look up the prices elsewhere, but the site gives you the specs and recommendations.

This site has links to prices, note only a couple under $1000 and they are fairly big heavy models. And you will need external drives to store a lot of photos.
http://www.techriggs.com/5-best-laptops-for-photo-editing-or-photoshop/

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Samsung 500GB SSD(Solid State Device) card as your C:\Drive. Large enough to load programs, plugins and filters, provides room for caching and oh, it's fast. No less than 8 GB of RAM, 16 GB is better, anything more than that is icing on the cake. Ensure you have USB 3.0 on the device.

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

I just got a refurbished Dell E6410 from Wal-Mart about a week ago with an Intel I7 processor at 2.7 ghz, 4 gb of ram (will upgrade to the max of 8 gb), and a 750 gb 7200 rpm hard drive with Win 7 Pro (I need that so I can install the XP Compatibility Mode to run older versions of AutoCad).

It came with a 1 year warranty and cost $328 with tax. I had it shipped to the local store (free).

It looked new and runs great so far.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

busted_shutter wrote:

So I'm ready to buy. Have only about a $500 limit, but could possibly go as high as $1000.

Oh, I love your reasoning. I do the same thing. I can afford about $500, but in reality, the sky's the limit! :D

An SSD will transform your computing. 16GB of memory would be the minimum I would get. I like the Core i7, or equivalent, processor.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

flip1948 wrote:

I just got a refurbished Dell E6410 from Wal-Mart about a week ago with an Intel I7 processor at 2.7 ghz, 4 gb of ram (will upgrade to the max of 8 gb), and a 750 gb 7200 rpm hard drive with Win 7 Pro (I need that so I can install the XP Compatibility Mode to run older versions of AutoCad).

It came with a 1 year warranty and cost $328 with tax. I had it shipped to the local store (free).

It looked new and runs great so far.

That's an amazing deal. I remember when DVD burners cost more than that.

ralphc4176 Loc: Conyers, GA

Good luck finding a machine that will do what you want for $1000 or less. For photo processing, you don't need the latest/greatest processor. Get a bare minimum of 8 GB of RAM (12 or 16 GB is better) and get one with dedicated (not integrated) video with a video card that has at least 1.5 GB of its own video RAM. I just bought a computer like that for my daughter for about $1200.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Bob Yankle wrote:

Samsung 500GB SSD(Solid State Device) card as your C:\Drive.

Right, and the price has been dropping.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Maybe you might want to hold off a while.
Seems intel is close to Gen 6 realease this summer and that will drop prices on the current Gen 5 machines.

This from Fox News technews people. It is a Consumer Reports article, I just found it on the Fox News site.

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2015/03/27/why-should-wait-to-buy-new-laptop/?intcmp=ob_homepage_tech&intcmp=obnetwork

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

I just got a new HP from Costco for $899.99. Its 17.3 inch Envy model. Has 16 GB Ram 2 Terabytes Hard Drive and is 4th generation Intel I7 Processor, 2.50 ghz. Has built in Web Cam and DVD/CD drive. It also has a slot for SD cards and 2 USB 3.0 slots. Came with Windows 8.1. It has a one year mfg warranty and Costco covers it for an additional 2 years for free. So far I'm very happy with it.

zuzanne

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

robertjerl wrote:

Maybe you might want to hold off a while.
Seems intel is close to Gen 6 realease this summer and that will drop prices on the current Gen 5 machines.

This from Fox News technews people. It is a Consumer Reports article, I just found it on the Fox News site.

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2015/03/27/why-should-wait-to-buy-new-laptop/?intcmp=ob_homepage_tech&intcmp=obnetwork

Interesting. Here's a link to the guide.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/computers/buying-guide.htm?EXTKEY=AFOXDIG01

meatyore

zuzanne wrote:

I just got a new HP from Costco for $899.99. Its 17.3 inch Envy model. Has 16 GB Ram 2 Terabytes Hard Drive and is 4th generation Intel I7 Processor, 2.50 ghz. Has built in Web Cam and DVD/CD drive. It also has a slot for SD cards and 2 USB 3.0 slots. Came with Windows 8.1. It has a one year mfg warranty and Costco covers it for an additional 2 years for free. So far I'm very happy with it.

zuzanne

Zuzanne- I bought this exact outfit at the local office max, and I still have it in the box. Interested in knowing how it's working for you. I have read that the Windows 10 will be available as an upgrade for all Windows 8.1 users for 'free', just in case anyone here is not a fan of the 8.1. This is my second HP desktop-E