Dell Laptop for Editing

Fuji Dave

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Dave
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My Lenovo z50 is pretty slow when it comes to editing, so I might be getting a new laptop that my mother is treating me too and not too costly either.
The editing software I use is Capture one Pro 11 and Affinity Photo, I only really tweaking photos here and there and might take them into Topaz Studio.
Here is the laptop I`d really like that I think my mother will get.


https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/compu...-1-tb-hdd-128-gb-ssd-silver-10169895-pdt.html
 
Looks OK, at least it has a quad core processor. Check that the screen has good viewing angles (move your head around to see how much it changes colour and tone).

Both SSD and HDD should be easily changed for more capacity later (I'm on 256SSD and 2TB now, and wish I had a 512SSD instead).
 
Looks OK, at least it has a quad core processor. Check that the screen has good viewing angles (move your head around to see how much it changes colour and tone).

Both SSD and HDD should be easily changed for more capacity later (I'm on 256SSD and 2TB now, and wish I had a 512SSD instead).

Thank you Toni, do you think I`d notice a difference in speed too ?
 
Thank you Toni, do you think I`d notice a difference in speed too ?

If your model has the same spec as below then yes, I would expect quite an improvement:
  • Windows 8.1.
  • 15.6-inch (1920 x 1080, 141 ppi) gloss TN LCD.
  • 1.7 GHz Intel Core i3-4010U (2C/4T)
  • nVidia GeForce 820M with 2 GB.
  • 4 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM.
  • 1 TB 5400 rpm SATA HDD.
  • DVD±RW.
  • 1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0.
 
I don't think that model has an IPS screen which is always recommended for photo editing. It's also £20 cheaper to buy it direct from Dell.
 
If your current laptop is HDD, the SSD alone will make such a big speed improvement you won't believe it. I swapped my HDD on my old laptop with an SSD and the performance improvement was like night and day!
 
Yes but it's only a 256GB SSD, not a 128GB SSD and a 1TB HDD.
There's an 0800 number at the top of the page if you want to talk to them. I ordered my first Dell laptop over the phone five years ago so I expect they can still do it.
 
Better storage but a worse screen (and not suitable for editing images). That may not matter if you routinely plug into an external IPS monitor that is of good quality, but will be less than ideal if it's the only screen you use.

Thank you Toni, I will have a look about again, IPS screen.
 
Thank you, might well stick with this one for a while then as the screen is 17in.


https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/lap...on-17-5770-laptop/cn77027?view=configurations

Better storage but a worse screen (and not suitable for editing images). That may not matter if you routinely plug into an external IPS monitor that is of good quality, but will be less than ideal if it's the only screen you use.

As my mother is kindly getting it for me, would it still be better than my slow Lenovo Z50 even screen wise as the Z50 does not have IPS ?
@ancient_mariner as for a good IPS screen the price goes up more.
 
You could upgrade your existing laptop by adding a 1tb SSD and an external 24" IPS monitor; would be considerably cheaper and you would see a noticeable improvement. I'm not "techy" at all and managed to clone my existing drive to SSD and swap it over. You could reuse them on your next laptop so it's not wasted money.
 
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You could upgrade your existing laptop by adding a 1tb SSD and an external 24" IPS monitor; would be considerably cheaper and you would see a noticeable improvement. I'm not "techy" at all and managed to clone my existing drive to SSD and swap it over. You could reuse them on your next laptop so it's not wasted money.

Thank you, I think what it is, I fancy having a 17inch laptop. I never actually look at the screen from angles apart from when I am in front of it is how I stay, so I don`t think non IPS will bother me.
 
Thank you, I think what it is, I fancy having a 17inch laptop. I never actually look at the screen from angles apart from when I am in front of it is how I stay, so I don`t think non IPS will bother me.

The difference of the viewing angle between top & bottom of a non-IPS screen is enough to cause mis-editing of an image.
 
The difference of the viewing angle between top & bottom of a non-IPS screen is enough to cause mis-editing of an image.

Thanks Toni, if you look at my Flickr most have been edited on this Lenovo Z50, so as long as the Dell is faster/quicker then that will do for me again thank you very much though.
 
I had a quick look & I think it's been encouraging you to over-recover the sky in your images, however that could be purely personal taste, & if I'd not been looking for it then probably wouldn't have noticed.
 
I had a quick look & I think it's been encouraging you to over-recover the sky in your images, however that could be purely personal taste, & if I'd not been looking for it then probably wouldn't have noticed.

Yes I do like to over recover an image sometimes, as I love to try new things and if I think it`s not too bad then I am happy even though I am still learning with C1 and AP.
 
I have an old Dell M6600 which is 17.3 the Mobile Workstation range.
lovely piece of kit but very heavy, I just transport it between Yorkshire and Glasgow where I mainly work
 
Always worth checking if they have something you want in the Dell Outlet (It's where they resell any returned machines after refurbishing them) - it's a bit of a lottery what they have at any given time, but you do see some bargains there if you're prepared to wait for the right model to turn up
 
@ancient_mariner Hi Toni I really need your help/advice now as talking to my Mum today she said most she`d spend is £1,049. I want a good SSD 17 inch screen and IPS screen can you help ?
Software will be Capture one Pro 11 and Affinity Photo.

What would be the best one out of these with just normal ssd and hd.


https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/scc...laptops?~ck=mn&appliedRefinements=4,6094,6087


Just saw this one ?

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/lap...n-17-5000/spd/inspiron-17-5770-laptop/cn77028
 
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OK, from the list, the 17 5000 (https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/lap...n-17-5000/spd/inspiron-17-5770-laptop/cn77031) appears to have an IPS screen. The info just below the title bar says that it comes with a 128GB SSD, but in the tech spec further down is says a 256GB SSD is included. If that's the one you order then make sure both those assumptions are true.

Other differences against the more 7000 version (https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/2-i...00/spd/inspiron-17-7786-2-in-1-laptop/cn78602) are that they have a slightly faster processor (not a big deal) the more expensive model folds flat, has a bigger battery (56Wh vs 44Wh) and more modern set of ports. The 5000 model has a DVD drive and a network port which the 7000 does not.

IF I could afford it then I'd go for the 7000 model (comes in just under budget). Reasoning: faster SSD port (NVMe is faster than SATA) bigger battery, modern port set and a more recent generation is likely to be supported a bit longer and become obsolete less quickly. If the extra £75 were an issue then the lower cost machine should still work OK, but will benefit from upgrading with more memory etc later (the 7000 will benefit from upgrading the SSD later, to 256GB or even 512GB).

Also just checked out your second link again (https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/lap...n-17-5000/spd/inspiron-17-5770-laptop/cn77028) and realised it's not the same as the first machine I linked to, and is a lot cheaper. That would also be fine, same caveats as the slightly more expensive 17 5000 model. 8GB is enough RAM for lightroom & photoshop, but I'd advise more for editing movies. This is £200 cheaper than the 7000 and a bit of a bargain, although I'd probably want to upgrade SSD and RAM in a couple of years - the 7000 is more 'futureproof'.
 
OK, from the list, the 17 5000 (https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/lap...n-17-5000/spd/inspiron-17-5770-laptop/cn77031) appears to have an IPS screen. The info just below the title bar says that it comes with a 128GB SSD, but in the tech spec further down is says a 256GB SSD is included. If that's the one you order then make sure both those assumptions are true.

Other differences against the more 7000 version (https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/2-i...00/spd/inspiron-17-7786-2-in-1-laptop/cn78602) are that they have a slightly faster processor (not a big deal) the more expensive model folds flat, has a bigger battery (56Wh vs 44Wh) and more modern set of ports. The 5000 model has a DVD drive and a network port which the 7000 does not.

IF I could afford it then I'd go for the 7000 model (comes in just under budget). Reasoning: faster SSD port (NVMe is faster than SATA) bigger battery, modern port set and a more recent generation is likely to be supported a bit longer and become obsolete less quickly. If the extra £75 were an issue then the lower cost machine should still work OK, but will benefit from upgrading with more memory etc later (the 7000 will benefit from upgrading the SSD later, to 256GB or even 512GB).

Also just checked out your second link again (https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/lap...n-17-5000/spd/inspiron-17-5770-laptop/cn77028) and realised it's not the same as the first machine I linked to, and is a lot cheaper. That would also be fine, same caveats as the slightly more expensive 17 5000 model. 8GB is enough RAM for lightroom & photoshop, but I'd advise more for editing movies. This is £200 cheaper than the 7000 and a bit of a bargain, although I'd probably want to upgrade SSD and RAM in a couple of years - the 7000 is more 'futureproof'.

Great and thank you very much too Toni, now too make up my mind as it will be ordered tomorrow, will remember to ask if the 256 GB does come with that one but I really am tempted to go for the 7000 model.
 
Before I went out this morning I got on the Dell Chat to ask about the 1st if it did have the 256SSD and the bloke said it comes with 256SSD and 2TB plus IPS screen, Mum has said she will order the one I want but the storage one is cheaper so I have to really think now and make up my mind for Tuesday.
 
Before I went out this morning I got on the Dell Chat to ask about the 1st if it did have the 256SSD and the bloke said it comes with 256SSD and 2TB plus IPS screen, Mum has said she will order the one I want but the storage one is cheaper so I have to really think now and make up my mind for Tuesday.

@ancient_mariner Thank you for all your help so far, I know this is older but do you think it is worth it ?


https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/lap...n-17-5000/spd/inspiron-17-5770-laptop/cn77031

It does come with 256SSD and 2TB
 
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Just to quickly throw in the mix, how important is portability? Would a 17" be too big physically (put in a backpack etc). Perhaps a 15" screen version with a good external monitor, using both together

The 7000 series is an excellent laptop.

I bought my son the equivalent of this: https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/lap...n-15-7000/spd/inspiron-15-7580-laptop/cn75804
although it was £850 last year, with a 24" IPS monitor, total cost was around £1000. Things have gone up a little it seems
 
Just to quickly throw in the mix, how important is portability? Would a 17" be too big physically (put in a backpack etc). Perhaps a 15" screen version with a good external monitor, using both together

The 7000 series is an excellent laptop.

I bought my son the equivalent of this: https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/lap...n-15-7000/spd/inspiron-15-7580-laptop/cn75804
although it was £850 last year, with a 24" IPS monitor, total cost was around £1000. Things have gone up a little it seems

I am not really fussed about portability as once I re download Capture one and Affinity Photo onto it, it will stay on my desk as it is only a small flat I live in.
 
I am not really fussed about portability as once I re download Capture one and Affinity Photo onto it, it will stay on my desk as it is only a small flat I live in.
Why then spend on a laptop, with it's limitations of disk space, processors, graphics, cost etc.Tthey are usually a compromise for the portability. If it's just going to sit on a desk... (just devils advocate)
 
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