dadcowell Loc: Myrtle Beach SC

I know that this topic has receive some attention and I have searched all of the recent discussion. I'd like some fresh opinions though.

I'm in the market for a new laptop. I prefer using a laptop over a desktop and as much as I'd like to switch to a mac, I tink I'm pretty much locked into a pc because of the software that I use.

I use a computer to keep the church records and of course my own finances. I am a very amature photographer but enjoy taking and post processing photographs.

I currently use Quicken,Quickbooks, Power Church,Excel, Word, PSE 10,LR4, photomatix and Proshow Producer.
My budget is up to $800, but I'll go higher if the deal is really good.
I figure I should get an i7 processor, 8gb or more ram (upgradable) windows 8 64bit, and a 750gb hd. I'm unsure of what to look for graphics or video card wize.

Any suggestions?

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

As the saying goes.........Get the biggest, baddest,
machine available today, 'cause tomorrow it will be out dated.

Before years end, I will have a new laptop. The cost will be three times what your wanting to put out. I will use it for post work and general "stuff".
3.4 ghz processor
16 gig ram
3 gig video board
256 Gig SSD
750 Gig HD

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

Maybe a 1 or 2 TB hard drive

dadcowell Loc: Myrtle Beach SC

Thanks Traveler

pappy0352 Loc: Oregon

I have an Acer and spend about 2 hours a day processing photos and have never had a problem. Also when I print the colors are spot on.

pappy

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Wow Traveler, that sounds like a killer machine! Who makes it and what model are you referring to?

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

It's the ASUS G75VW-DH72 and it's really a gamer laptop, but the need for quick start (SSD), graphic memory (3 Gig) and system memory (up to 32 gig, 16 for me) for processing photos quickly, led me to this.

I am getting this from Powernotebooks.com.
http://www.powernotebooks.com/configure.php?special=1418

I realize some will say that is too much, but I do go by "if you buy the biggest and baddest computer today, tomorrow it will be outdated." I don't have room for another desktop in my house and have found I can do 90% percent of my work on my laptop and do it wireless.

I also have previous experience with Asus, we purchased two Transformer Primes tablets, which I sometimes use to display, onsite, the pictures I've taken.

Questions, feel free to contact me

Crwiwy Loc: Devon UK

Acers perform pretty good at a reasonable price. Check the keyboard suits you as some models are not as good as others.

Graphics card are of main use when you need intensive graphics such as for games. If you do not play action games a computer with integrated graphics is adequate and cuts costs.

Memory - usually more is best if you expect to have a lot of windows open. So 8Gb would be useful especially as some of your programs are memory greedy.

HDD - 500 ~ 750Gb should be more than enough - unless you start loading it with hundreds of films or tens of thousands of big picture files. However, the cost of external drives are so low now that it could be worth getting a separate external drive for backups rather than pay a large premium on the basic computer for extra drive space that you may not need.

Daryl New Loc: Wellington,New Zealand

We use an Asus X50RL series laptop,as we travel around NZ for motorcycle races,have a HP notebook for that,size is of the essence when flying....

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

This is not a laptop if it has a seperate video card. The laptops have on-motherboard video chips like the Radion 560 that either utilize your installed system RAM or some (like the ASUS G series) have seperate 1, 2 or 3 Gig of video RAM dedicated to the video chip set. It has either a 15" or 17" HD display that has excellent resolution and a backlit keyboard for ease of typing.
The ASUS G series also had 2 hard drive slots internally, but typically ships with only one drive installed and you can itilize the other slot for an SSD. Most laptops will not allow more than 16 or 32 GIG of RAM since the BIOS will just not recognize more, but this could change with the advent of downloadable BIOS upgrades in the fufure.
If you search hard on the net, you might be able to pick one up for under $1000 and I've seen a few G-75 models refurbished for even less. Don't expect a high power machine like this to have lots of battery time though, since all that speed and power have to come with some limitations like short battery time. SO, it will probably need to be plugger in for extended usage, but it's a nice high power laptop with all the whistles and bells.

dadcowell Loc: Myrtle Beach SC

Thanks to all for sharing your ideas and suggestions. i have my research work cut out for me.

Bill

Picdude Loc: Ohio

Don't short-change yourself on the video adapter. Photomatix wouldn't even start on my laptop because the graphics adapter was not powerfull enough. Photodex runs but is slow when viewing for the same reason. If you figure you want to perform the best photo editing you are capable of it makes sense you need the best photo display hardware you can afford. Going with the best gaming computer you can afford is not a bad option. As others have said, external drives are getting more and more affordable and are actually more desirable for mass storage incase of on-board HDD failure.

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

I suspect that your laptop is too old to have a seperate graphics chipset and that it uses the Intel Integrated graphics sceme where the graphics shares your RAM with the CPU. The gaming machines and many newer laptops have dedicated graphics chip sets and utilize their own RAM memory.
I also suspect that your machine doesn't have the max RAM memory that your BIOS will allow or the BIOS is accomplished with a hardwired chipset that is not FLASH upgradable. The required amount of RAM has increased drastically since the advent of the 3rd generation of CPUs with multiple cores has been released. Newer laptops can accommodate up to 16 or 32 GIG of RAM and some gaming machines even go up to 3 GIG of dedicated video RAM.

Picdude Loc: Ohio

You are absolutely right on all counts (except the RAM, it is maxed out) :D. Just trying to make the point that the graphics adapter is not an inconsequential consideration when looking for a new machine.

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

Sounds to me like it's about time to upgrade and trade in that old clunker. Did you use an abicus before this machine? LOL just funning with you.