Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Main Photography Discussion
Advice on purchasing a quality laptop
Page <<first <prev 3 of 4 next>
Jun 12, 2019 15:51:36   #
Doc Barry Loc: Huntsville, Alabama USA
 
TriX,

Most laptops have a pair of slots, so if you start with a pair of 8 GB sticks and want to go from 16 GB to 32 GB, you have to swap out the memory sticks. Easy to do.

Reply
Jun 12, 2019 16:23:15   #
RichLacey Loc: Atlanta
 
Alienware is my choice due to its discrete NVIDIA graphics card. IMHO.

Reply
Jun 12, 2019 16:55:01   #
RolandComfort Loc: Saint Louis
 
Check out Discount Electronics. They sell mass quantities of used and refurbished computers that they get from corporate sources. Get a nice i5 of i7 for a few hundred dollars. I just did and am completely satisfied.
https://www.discountelectronics.com/used-laptops/?utm_source=email&utm_featured

Then sign up for idrive backup services for $6 a month to automatically preserve all of your pictures securely in the cloud. Next time your laptop poops out just throw it in the trash and get another one.

Reply
 
 
Jun 12, 2019 17:00:58   #
Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati
 
RolandComfort wrote:
Check out Discount Electronics. They sell mass quantities of used and refurbished computers that they get from corporate sources. Get a nice i5 of i7 for a few hundred dollars. I just did and am completely satisfied.
https://www.discountelectronics.com/used-laptops/?utm_source=email&utm_featured

Then sign up for idrive backup services for $6 a month to automatically preserve all of your pictures securely in the cloud. Next time your laptop poops out just throw it in the trash and get another one.
Check out Discount Electronics. They sell mass qua... (show quote)



Been scouting the web site .Definitely some amazing deals there to consider. Thank you.

Reply
Jun 13, 2019 00:45:24   #
lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA
 
Baysitter11 wrote:
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.
I am about to lose my travel laptop. Old, like me.... (show quote)


My first computer was a Gateway i486-DX2-66 back around 1993. I later tried a couple laptops, Lenovo and HP, and I mean a long time ago initially, Windows XP and Vista. Both machines were junk to me. So I've gone back to Towers, Dell XPS9800 i7, and a Dell Inspiron i5. Both now with Windows 10 and will never look back. Though I am confused about one thing you are saying. I thought AlienWare by Dell were high end gaming PCs that could very well be used for photo processing, but very pricey. I had considered it. Also from what I've heard having custom made computers can be less expensive than a "brand" name and give you more bang for your buck. Small screen are OK for viewing photos, I use a TAB for that, but notice how many serious photo editor are out there using 32" monitors.

Reply
Jun 13, 2019 01:27:30   #
BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan
 
I'd go for a Dell. Over the years I've found them to be highly reliable, and they're always coming out with new models for better speed, better graphics, some specialized for gaming, some for the type of use that we photo people need, and sometimes you can find a good one in their outlet store. For me, when I looked last month the laptop model I wanted was $1699, which to me was reasonable considering that 25 years ago I bought a Gateway pc for over $2000 and computers have gotten much better and come way down in price since then. The laptop I have right now has been great for about five years. I had a Dell laptop before that, my husband's old one from work, but had to trade up when I needed wifi. Now I need a faster one with a bigger hard drive and better graphics. Maybe I'll use the one I have now for a backup drive.

Reply
Jun 13, 2019 08:59:59   #
dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia
 
Haydon wrote:
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
Here's a Sager custom built up-gradable for b $13... (show quote)


It looks like the price quoted is for a 8GB no drive system. Is that right?

Reply
 
 
Jun 13, 2019 09:36:45   #
NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island
 
Join the Mac community. You’ll never regret it and you’ll never go back. Besides, I own Apple stock, so I’m always pushing.

Reply
Jun 13, 2019 10:23:57   #
Haydon
 
dsmeltz wrote:
It looks like the price quoted is for a 8GB no drive system. Is that right?


Go the the following page, that's not what I'm reading.

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

16GB DDR4 at 2666MHz
500GB Western Digital Blue SN500 M.2 NVMe

The confusion may come from the ability to expand the system (customize)

Reply
Jun 14, 2019 07:08:31   #
Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati
 
NoSocks wrote:
Join the Mac community. You’ll never regret it and you’ll never go back. Besides, I own Apple stock, so I’m always pushing.


I have thought seriously about it but I don’t want to have to learn another system. 🤔😬

Reply
Jun 14, 2019 07:09:44   #
Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati
 
BlueMorel wrote:
I'd go for a Dell. Over the years I've found them to be highly reliable, and they're always coming out with new models for better speed, better graphics, some specialized for gaming, some for the type of use that we photo people need, and sometimes you can find a good one in their outlet store. For me, when I looked last month the laptop model I wanted was $1699, which to me was reasonable considering that 25 years ago I bought a Gateway pc for over $2000 and computers have gotten much better and come way down in price since then. The laptop I have right now has been great for about five years. I had a Dell laptop before that, my husband's old one from work, but had to trade up when I needed wifi. Now I need a faster one with a bigger hard drive and better graphics. Maybe I'll use the one I have now for a backup drive.
I'd go for a Dell. Over the years I've found them... (show quote)


I will. My tower is. Dell xsp. Thanks

Reply
 
 
Jun 14, 2019 07:46:29   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
I bought this one last year. Only 16gb of ram but does what I need. I also have a desktop for most of my pp.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GZW5MJ9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Although their pictures seem to hide it, it does have a full sized keyboard.

--

Reply
Jun 24, 2019 11:11:49   #
dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia
 
Haydon wrote:
Go the the following page, that's not what I'm reading.

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

16GB DDR4 at 2666MHz
500GB Western Digital Blue SN500 M.2 NVMe

The confusion may come from the ability to expand the system (customize)


Those figures were not in your original post.

Reply
Jun 24, 2019 11:26:58   #
bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA
 
Two weeks ago I posted here that I bought a Lenevo laptop at Costco for $1200. It has been a good two weeks. Everything is working well. It boots in 12 seconds! Another 10 and Lightroom Classic is running.

A surprise is that the instruction manual says I can run a 4K external monitor. I may have to try that someday!

Reply
Jun 24, 2019 17:07:14   #
Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati
 
Thanks to everyone that made suggestions. I had to rule out the Mac crowd as I just did not want to learn a new OS at my age. I decided on. Dell XPS. 32GB ram and 1T ssd. Had it a few days. It screams! Love it so far. You Hoggers are great. You give me lots to think about a direction for research. Until next time.

Reply
Page <<first <prev 3 of 4 next>
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Main Photography Discussion
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.