I am thinking about getting a new laptop that is optimized for LR and PS. My current laptop is a ThinkPad Carbon - I7. It has 8 Meg of RAM which is the max it can handle. It has an integral GPU which isn't great. I can only run a single external monitor with it. I'm running Windows 10.
Here are my questions:
1. How much RAM can LR and PS effectively use? Are there other factors to consider? I usually store photos on external hard drives since my current hard drive is only 256G. (But it is a SSD which it nice.)
2. Any recommendations for a Laptop? It has to be a PC (vs. MAC) since I have clients for non-photo work that all run on PCs. Something that has a separate GPU and can max out on RAM. Also can run multiple external monitors. 15 inch screen would be about right - or larger. (Current laptop has a 13 inch screen.) I often run tethered capture for product photos so a good (fast) com port would help. I currently have a Canon 5D3 and download photos with a USB cable to a separate hard drive.

Thanks for the help.

I am interested in the outcome as well. I have a Canon 24 to 105 f4 v1 on my 5D3. I tried a 24 to 70 2.8 v2 Canon a few months ago. I had difficulty seeing much improvement over the 24 to 105. So I didn't by it.

Another vote for Photomatix Pro. And I use the LR plug in.

Also - I often find a fence or something to lean it against for a makeshift tripod.

I have the G1. I mostly use it hand held. Even when on my tripod - I see some vibration - but I am looking to upgrade my tripod.
Having a good camera strap helps as it takes the load off when you are not actively focusing.
I use a Rapid Strap so the camera hangs across my shoulder. I use the lens lock when walking with it.

Books are a tough way to learn PS. (IMHO) I really like Phlearn. (On-line videos - You tube.) Most are free - but you can also sign up for a series. Aaron Nace - the host, is pretty funny.
I have 2 monitors. On one monitor I play the video, and on the other I have PS open. Watch the video for 2 min - stop, then copy the action in PS on your own photo. If you get lost - rewind the video and watch that spot again. Rinse and repeat.
Kelby One has some good tutorials. It has a subscription price with it. I tried it for a year and felt it was worth it. But after a year I had seen all the videos I wanted.
I also use Lynda.com which has some great PS tutorial videos. It's free through my Library system. (You need a library card but all access is on-line - I watch from home.) I particularly like the PS and LR videos done by Chris Orwig. Chris also has some good books.
If you want to use books, I agree with the suggestion to try the library first. If the book works for you, then buy it.

Thanks. Since I'm on LR 6, Adobe may not talk with me. (Good incentive to get on CC)
But I can search for specific video drivers.
I narrowed it down to the profiles generated by X-Rite. If I set both my monitor and laptop to default sRGB profiles, there are no issues. I think there is a conflict between the profile on my laptop and HP monitor.
X-Rite has a copy of my profiles and they are looking at them.

Thanks Gene,
I have attached 2 views. On the left is the Library view - on the right is the Develop view. If I export this to a PDF, it looks like the Library view. In Photoshop, it looks like the Library view. So the Library view looks correct. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes for the Develop module view to "turn red." So I don't think it's a rendering issue. I tried it on another external monitor with same results.

I mainly see this in photos that I have edited in PS - but I see some of it in all of them - once the effect happens. Sometimes the effect is triggered by moving to a different photo - or moving the LR window from the HP monitor to the laptop and back.

I tried taking the monitor back to a standard (vs calibrated) profile, but no difference.
And I don't see (or notice) this in other applications.

This is a tough one.

Dan

Thanks - Tried the driver - it didn't help. It's a laptop so the video card in built in.
When it's working on the HP, I drag it onto my (Lenovo) laptop display, then back to the HP, and that usually triggers it.

I'm running LR 6. All of a sudden it has developed this "bug" where the photo in the Develop module looks very red compared to the view in the Library module. And it's intermittent. So I restart LR and it's fine, then all of a sudden - about 2 minutes later, the issue is back. I have done a factory reset on the monitor (HP Pavilion 27xi), and tried every trick I found on line - but it keeps coming back. It seems limited to this monitor - as I don't see it on the laptop running this monitor. I have calibrated both monitors (HP and Laptop) using X-Rite i1.
Because it's intermittent - it's hard to pin down.
Any suggestions are appreciated.

I have SmugMug.
The pros: I can create a SmugMug collection in Lightroom and just hit publish. So if I edit a photo in LR - it just takes a minute to upload to my portfolio in SmugMug. They have free subscriptions. I pay around $75 per year to have my own URL.
The cons: It can be a little confusing to create and run. Customer service is via email.

I have 2 Einstein's and 2 Vagabond mini battery packs. The battery packs clip to the light stand and serve as a "sandbag" to stabilize the strobe and modifier.

I use Reikan’s Focal System and highly recommend it. It works much better vs. the ruler method.
You can get it at B&H.

There is a lot of good advice here so I will just add a few items:
1. I agree regarding the accounting comments. Get QuickBooks and use it. Cheapest version is OK. You can send an output file to your accountant at tax time. And get an accountant. They are worth it.
2. Get a good portfolio going on your website/FB site. Be brutal and only showing your good stuff. (This is not easy.) Have a pro/other photographer tell you what looks bad and take it down. Better to have 5 good photos vs. 50 mediocre photos.
3. Try some volunteer work to get your portfolio in shape. If it's pets, take photos for the shelter. If it's city shots, take photos for the local chamber of commerce. I do photo for Habitat for Humanity builds and other fundraisers. It gets you contacts, and makes you a better photographer. But..... Don't fall into the trap like I did, which is doing too much volunteer work and not having time for paid work. It's a balance. I have gotten paid gigs after doing volunteer stuff.

I have the G1 - and am interested in the feedback as well.