Laptop for photo culling and storage: I am looking for a new laptop/notebook. What I want is the lightest, smallest machine that I can find. All I want to do with this machine is run...

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

I am looking for a new laptop/notebook. What I want is the lightest, smallest machine that I can find. All I want to do with this machine is run Canon DPP 4.6 to cull/delete photos with. I travel a lot, hence the weight issue. I often shoot 1500-2000 shots a day and usually delete 90% of them (this includes my wife's photos too). Once I delete the photos I then want to store the raw files on 2 external HDs. Storing them temporarily, until I get home, on the laptop/notebook would be great, but not necessary.
I currently use a high end ASUS with 32G RAM, 1 TB SSD, etc; works great but weighs a ton. The small airplanes I often fly in have strict weight restrictions, so it can boil down to a laptop or another lens. I would like to bring both.
I am not interested in other conversion/culling programs. I like DPP 4.6.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I have a small Lenovo with a 512GB SSD that probably weighs 3Lbs or less. I use it just for portable photo use - tethering, CamRanger control, etc. Excellent, reasonable cost solution.

krashdragon

Totally got that. Have a gaming Asus thats great, but just the 17" computer weighs 10 lbs.
Bought an HP, 13",convertible, ssd, touchscreen, drawing tablet, 4000k.flips, about a half inch thick. Also carry a 4g hd, tiny BT mouse, card reader and usb extender. Only ss 1 usb port and 2 type c ports. Also have a dvd player and printer if I need then. Lots of parts but total fit in a smaller backpack and weigh much less.
Now...if I could downsize my Canon lens weight... no, not buying all new ones. 😁

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

TriX wrote:

I have a small Lenovo with a 512GB SSD that probably weighs 3Lbs or less. I use it just for portable photo use - tethering, CamRanger control, etc. Excellent, reasonable cost solution.

What model? Does it run Windows 10?

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

krashdragon wrote:

Totally got that. Have a gaming Asus thats great, ... (show quote)

How long have you had the HP? Dependable (or at least as dependable as laptops can be)? I do not need any other peripherals, but if it runs Windows 10, I might be interested.

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

I use a MacBook Air 13" that weighs less than three pounds. It is not the cheapest laptop, starting around $1000.00. However, its battery life is 12 hours and it is super thin and light to carry around. It comes with up to 512 SSD and has a backlit keyboard. I wasn't a Mac user until about 4 years ago, but since using one, I don't really want to use anything else. The multi-touch trackpad is the best.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

bajadreamer wrote:

What model? Does it run Windows 10?

It’s a Lenovo Thinkpad X240 running Windows 10. Here’s a refurb one from Newegg with 128GB SSD for $349: https://flash.newegg.com/Product/9SIA3TX5A14075?nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwordsNF-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwordsNF-PC-_-pla-_-Laptops+%2f+Notebooks-_-9SIA3TX5A14075&gclid=CjwKCAiAqbvTBRAPEiwANEkyCNOGMSeanX20NUp7B6WRYSerErIdyhab0VmlECBIJ3rYTyBc_l8I3hoCUpUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I’ve had a stack of Dell’s and Thinkpads (was IBM, now Lenovo), and can recommend both. For lightweight travel, a MacBook Air is great (had one also), but not inexpensive.

Joe Blow

For DPP 4 you will need 4 GB RAM minimum and preferably more. Many of those smaller notebooks will come up short on the RAM.

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

Joe Blow wrote:

For DPP 4 you will need 4 GB RAM minimum and preferably more. Many of those smaller notebooks will come up short on the RAM.

I am curious about DPP 4.6. Specs are for minimum of 2 GB of RAM with 4 or more recommended. I am not interested in editing photos on this machine, only using the preview functions to cull photos, then I will copy and paste them to an external HD. I will edit them when I get home on my desktop with 32 GB. I wonder where the RAM is needed-just loading the file or editing?

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

TriX wrote:

It’s a Lenovo Thinkpad X240 running Windows 10. He... (show quote)

Thank you. That price is within my budget.

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

jdub82 wrote:

I use a MacBook Air 13" that weighs less than three pounds. It is not the cheapest laptop, starting around $1000.00. However, its battery life is 12 hours and it is super thin and light to carry around. It comes with up to 512 SSD and has a backlit keyboard. I wasn't a Mac user until about 4 years ago, but since using one, I don't really want to use anything else. The multi-touch trackpad is the best.

I have certainly heard good things about the MacBook Air. All my other computers are PCs with Windows 10. Hate to have to relearn stuff (not that I am all that skilled with Windows). I have a lot (for me) invested in my custom desktop and ASUS laptop. Just looking for a cheap method of sorting, culling, and then transferring RAW photos to external HDs.

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

bajadreamer wrote:

I have certainly heard good things about the MacBook Air. All my other computers are PCs with Windows 10. Hate to have to relearn stuff (not that I am all that skilled with Windows). I have a lot (for me) invested in my custom desktop and ASUS laptop. Just looking for a cheap method of sorting, culling, and then transferring RAW photos to external HDs.

There is a small learning curve using the MacBook Air. I have learned to switch back and forth using a Windows desktop for work due to software needs, and then the MacBook air as a laptop. it doesn't cause too much stress (I'm not nearly as tech savvy as my millennial kids). I was a skeptic at first, but now I love it.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

bajadreamer wrote:

I am curious about DPP 4.6. Specs are for minimum of 2 GB of RAM with 4 or more recommended. I am not interested in editing photos on this machine, only using the preview functions to cull photos, then I will copy and paste them to an external HD. I will edit them when I get home on my desktop with 32 GB. I wonder where the RAM is needed-just loading the file or editing?

8GB is adequate, 16GB is better. Remember that you will need a 64 bit version of Windows installed to access more than 4GB of RAM.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Macbook. 500GB at 2 pounds, 2 TB at 4 pounds and just about everything in between.
https://www.apple.com/mac/compare/

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Look into a i7 or i5 Surface Pro. Under 2 Lbs and plenty of power.
Mark

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/d/surface-pro/8nkt9wttrbjk?s_kwcid=AL!4249!10!79783329463000!79783337083815&cl_vend=bing&cl_ch=sem&cl_camp=290153515&cl_adg=1276533038878063&cl_crtv=79783329463000&cl_kw=surface+pro&cl_pub=bing.com&cl_dvt=c&cl_mt=e&cl_gtid=kwd-79783337083815%3aaud-805999909%3aloc-71249&cl_dim0=WmpT-wAAAGM9dhOf%3a20180130125653%3as&invsrc=search&OCID=AID620866_SEM_WmpT-wAAAGM9dhOf%3a20180130125653%3as&ef_id=WmpT-wAAAGM9dhOf%3a20180130125653%3as&activetab=pivot%3atechspecstab

bajadreamer wrote:

I am looking for a new laptop/notebook. What I wa... (show quote)