Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati

I am about to lose my travel laptop. Old, like me. I have searched here on the Hog for suggestions. They seem to be dated and as technology moves forward so quickly, I decided to ask this amazingly informative group for suggestions. I use LR and have a desktop (PC) for my post processing and I want to fully work on my photos when we are wintering elsewhere. My budget would be about $1300. I have been looking at Alienware by Dell and Lenovo Legion y520. I would like 32 GB ram, 512 SSD and 1-2 T HD i7core. But graphics card and such, I would like advice. I have looked at some of the sites suggested for “make your own photography laptop” but they are so expensive. And I am not sure I need it all. I will be switching to the Adobe subscript LR/PS when this is purchased. Should I get an external HD to put catalog and photos on to for transfer to home PC? Thank you ahead of time for your assistance. BTW, I travel to a lot of the National Parks and carry a Nikon D750 with some good glass.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Try Dell's outlet site. You can save a lot of money, if you decide on a Dell.

I have a 512 SSD and use external HDs. With Lightroom I work using the previews created for the catalog while importing to my external. The catalog is on my SSD. I do not need to access the original files until export. What I am trying to say is, the way LR works, you are not going back to the external drive very often, so using an external HD for primary storage does not slow the operation down significantly.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

I prefer HP. You can go to their website and customize your laptop to your needs. You may also call them while you are customizing your laptop for live advice. As for the Alienware, I purchased one about two years ago and am very disappointed with it. It is slow and all of the USB ports are 2.0, rather than a faster 3.0. Dell has become a very disappointing product in the past few years, in my opinion.

seagull5

Both but since Dell took over Alienware I feel after using both definitely would pick Lenovo..... been a mainstay for years. I have a Y900 Lenovo desktop.. Came with absolutely top notch parts....Solid extremely fast. Would buy again in a heartbeat. It feels built to last. The Nvidia graphics cards they use are pretty much at the top pier. They should handle about anything you can throw at them....The Y30 has a great graphic card choice and it would be something I would be proud to own.....damn its nice.

sergiohm

Laptop MacBook Pro but it’s over your budget, desktop try https://www.pugetsystems.com/recommended/Recommended-Systems-for-Adobe-Lightroom-Classic-CC-141
But it’s also over year budget.
Don’t despair, this website has a good content on what matters and is affordable

https://laptopunderbudget.com/best-laptops-for-photo-editing/

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

Add a nVidia or Radeon graphics adapter to your laptop and you will find it more capable of handling post processing. I would also check the difference in going up to a 1tb ssd. Also Windows 10 Pro is a better performer without all the junk that comes with home version. I have always recommended Dell to my clients because you can get a next day onsite service contract with US based support for reasonable additional cost. They will remotely diagnose the problem, and dispatch a tech with parts to come to your location the next day and repair.

johnst1001a Loc: West Chester, Ohio

i7 for sure, but be careful there are different i7's. i would get 32 gb ram. for photographers, as you get new cameras file sizes are getting bigger, so ram is important. for me 512 gb ssd is fine, i have external ssds. As for brand, i've had hp, lenova, but i really don't have a preference. asus looks ok to me. but i have a mac. the display is unbeatable, important if you do a lot of photos processing. As for reliability, i look at my computer graveyard in my basement. 2 compaqs, 1 HP, 1 Lenova, 2 Macs. i am a very heavy user of laptops. the are on nearly 10 hours a day. longest life of a individual laptop, mac-10 years. shortest compaq, 2 years, lenova 2 years, i have a mac now which will be three years,
what will be looking at if i need another one, probably just get a non mac, i7. why? well one thing about having a computer that lasts a long time is eventually the operating systems wont run on the old machines. second the capability of the ne machines continues to get better, so makes me want a new on every couple of years. oh, the number of dead machines listed are for 2 users. my wife has now switched to usin a tablet, no longer has a PC.

gsmith051 Loc: Fairfield Glade, TN

It’s all a matter of an opinion. I used HP for years and got tired of crashes; using Dell now and it is very satisfactory. Had a few software jams but it was my fault. Most computers are okay if you take care of them. Like buying a new car!

/George

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

I just go to the Office Supply Store (Staples) and buy one on sale that has the capacity I need and have a graphics card installed by their repair staff and I'm good. I use HP & Gateway/ACER and have had zero problems in 5 years. And the HP printers are dirt-cheap and so very well for the average guy photo works.

NVIDIA & NVIDIA OPTIMUS cards were installed in my laptop. Windows 7 (vista)....and my files are smaller than most folks on this site (320 GB HDD)

I believe the total bill was slightly south of $900.00.......Good luck.

juan_uy Loc: Uruguay

If you want quality, and you can afford it, I would aim for the "corporate" line of bigger brands. They are made to last, and usually have a 3-year warranty or similar.
You are in the correct path specification wise

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Baysitter,

You already have a dozen posts! I'm in the same spot. My 6 year old, daily use laptop has a dead D:\ drive. So I'm forced to shop for a new one too.

I found a laptop that meets your criteria at Costco this week. Costco has an extended return time if you don't like it and an extend warranty. The clerk at Costco says it is a "new item". I tried to find the same model online at other sources and it is marked as "new with shipments coming", so I can't find any reviews.

Everything about it suggests it is fast and capable. It has two "faults". The RAM is 16GB and there is no SD card slot so you have to use a SD card reader. Since I have several, it is not a problem for me.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

That is not bad. 32gb would be better, but, at that price, a 1tb HD for data and an SSD for programs is hard to beat. Better is not having to cope with Lenovo's sales web site.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

I’d stay away from HD configurations. They will crash. SSD is latest technology. I have a 1TB in my Mac and it makes it much faster.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

You might want to watch this video if you are thinking about a Mac.

https://petapixel.com/2019/06/11/this-is-why-macs-are-slower-than-pcs/?mc_cid=6fd9383ceb&mc_eid=94411c48bf

Haydon

Here's a Sager custom built up-gradable for $1350:

https://www.sagernotebook.com/Notebook-NP8961.html

What I like is the number of ports this laptop has which many name brand seem LIMITED.

Notebook|NP8961

Processor
8th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-8750H Processor ( 2.2GHz ), 9MB Smart Cache
Core Logic

Intel® HM370 Express Chipset
Memory

Supports Dual Channel DDR4
Two 260Pin SODIMM sockets, support for DDR4 2666MHz / 3000MHz (Real operation frequency depends on processor)
Expandable up to 64GB, depends on 8GB/16GB/32GB SODIMM module
Display

16.1” Full HD (1920x1080) 144Hz, Wide View Angle, 72% NTSC Display, Matte Finished
Graphics
Processor Switchable GPU by Microsoft Hybrid Graphics - NVIDIA® GeForce™ RTX 2060 GPU / Intel® UHD 630 Graphics
Support 4 active displays
Support NVIDIA® Surround View via via HDMI x1, mini DP x1 and DisplayPort over Type-C x1


NVIDIA® GeForce™ RTX 2060, 6GB GDDR6
- Real-Time Ray Tracing
- NVIDIA® CUDA™ Technology
- Microsoft® DirectX® 12 Compatible
- Battery Boost Technology


Intel® UHD 630 Graphics (Integrated in Intel Core i7-8750H processor)
- Microsoft® DirectX® 12 Compatible
- Dynamic frequency
- Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology
Storage

One changeable 2.5” 7.0mm(H) HDD/SSD, SATA interface
One M.2 2280 SSD, SATA / PCIe Gen3x4 interface or Two M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3x4 interface (RAID 0/1)
Audio System

High Definition audio interface
S/PDIF Digital output
Built-in Array Microphone
2 Built-in Speakers
SoundBlasterX® Pro-Gaming 360°
Pointing Device

Built in Gamma Secure pad with Microsoft PTP multi-gesture and scrolling function
Keyboard

Full color RGB illuminated full size keyboard with numeric pad
Fully programmable macro capability - customize individual key as hot key / multiple keystrokes in one key
W/A/S/D gaming key
I/O Ports

1 HDMI output Port (with HDCP)
1 Mini DisplayPort 1.3 output Port
1 DisplayPort 1.3 over USB 3.1 Gen 2 (Type C)
1 USB 3.1 Gen 2 Port (Type C)
2 USB 3.0 Ports (1 x powered USB port, AC/DC)
1 2-in-1 Audio Jack (Microphone / S/PDIF Optical output)
1 2-in-1 Audio Jack (Headphone / Microphone)
1 RJ-45 LAN (10/100/1000Mbps)
Slots

6-in-1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD/Mini-SD/SDHC/SDXC up to UHS-II)
Three M.2 Card Slots
- 1st for WLAN Combo M.2 2230 Card with PCIe and USB interface
- 2nd for SSD M.2 2280 Card with SATA / PCIe Gen3x4 interface
- 3rd for SSD M.2 2280 Card with PCIe Gen3x4 interface
Communication

Built-in Gigabit Ethernet LAN
Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC + Bluetooth, M.2 interface
Security

Kensington® Lock
Area Fingerprint Reader under Glass Surface
Intel® PTT (Platform Trust Technology)
Power System

Embedded 4 cells Polymer battery pack 62WH
Full Range AC-in 100~240V, 50~60Hz, 180W AC Adapter, DC output 19.5V, 9.23A
OS Support

Windows 10 (64-bit)
Certificate

Windows 10 (64-bit) Logo
HDMI™ Logo
Physical Characteristic

4.6 lbs. including bare bone and 62WH Battery Pack
14.96" (w) x 9.92" (d) x 0.78" (h)
Other Features

Al-alloy top, Palm rest and bottom case
Built-in 1.0M HD Video Camera
FlexiCharger
Virtual Reality ready
Support Windows 10 Cortana with Voice Technology
Intel® Optane™ Technology
Windows Mixed Reality compatible