Laptop needed

grahamc

grahamc

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Name
Graham
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Need some suggestions on decent laptops for photography and editing.

I have a desktop upstairs, with a nice big 24" HD screen, but just dont like sitting upstairs working. Prefer the flexability and mobility of the laptop.

I have a home NAS and desktop for all my storage needs, so space is not a big issue. I would also prefer WIN based laptop as all my software is WIN based and I have a MSDN (work) account that lets me use most things at home.

Budget is probably up to £800(ish)....

Suggestions?
 
My usual laptop hunting tactic is to find a decent spec at Dell then hunt for better.

Dell are usually very competitive for laptops so provide a good benchmark from which to search from and know you're not going to get jipped.
 
I am just not sure what I need to look for screen and graphics card wise. Obviously the better the processor and more memory the better... but graphics and screen wise?
 
you dont need a decent graphics card for photo editing. however a card with shared system memory will eat into your system resources.

screen wise, matte is the way forward. you should be calibrating your screen whatever you get really, depends what size you want etc etc.
 
i got the following from Dell

*
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor 2.4 GHz Processor (P8600 with 3MB cache )
*
15.4" WXGA+ 1440 x 900 LED Screen (with .3MP cam and digital microphone)
*
160GB Hard Drive (7200 rpm with Free Fall Sensor)
*
8 x DVD RW (plays and burns CD's & DVD's)
*
2GB 800Mhz DDR2 Ram
*
6 cell battery 56 wh
*
Intel X4500 Graphics
*
2 Speakers
*
Intel WiFi Link next generation card 5100 a/b/g/n
*
5 in 1 card reader
*
4 USB2
*
eSATA port
*
VGA out connector
*
Display port
*
E Docking port on underside
*
54mm Express card slot & PCMCIA slot
*
1x RJ45 Ethernet 10/100/1000
*
Mic in / Audio out
*
4 pin firewire 1394a
*
UK AC Mains adapter/charger/documentation
*
UK keyboard
*
Weight from 2.3Kg with 4 cell battery, 358mm wide x 27mm front/33mm back h x 257mm depth
*

Software and extras included (all software already installed and ready to go with back up discs)

*
Microsoft Vista Business Edition 32 bit
*
McAfee Internet security trial
*
Dell Factory retore - reinstalls the laptop to original configuration
*
Dell next business day on site warranty with telephone technical support until 24.05.2012

i had win xp pro installed as you are allowed to if you buy the Vista Business or ultimate version, the Vista business disks are also supplied with the machine but not the xp discs which are my own

i paid extra for the WXGA+ 1440 x 900 LED Screen which is excellent for editing and extra for the 7200 rpm free fall drive, the faster drive makes a massive difference

its a brilliant machine and cost me £849, i might be letting it go in a couple of weeks if youre interested with the remainder of the warranty which is fully transferrable

Should have added that paid extra and got the 6 cell battery with 90 watt hour and charger which quickens the charge time
 
Gary Coyle said:
i got the following from Dell

*
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor 2.4 GHz Processor (P8600 with 3MB cache )
*
15.4" WXGA+ 1440 x 900 LED Screen (with .3MP cam and digital microphone)
*
160GB Hard Drive (7200 rpm with Free Fall Sensor)
*
8 x DVD RW (plays and burns CD's & DVD's)
*
2GB 800Mhz DDR2 Ram
*
6 cell battery 56 wh
*
Intel X4500 Graphics
*
2 Speakers
*
Intel WiFi Link next generation card 5100 a/b/g/n
*
5 in 1 card reader
*
4 USB2
*
eSATA port
*
VGA out connector
*
Display port
*
E Docking port on underside
*
54mm Express card slot & PCMCIA slot
*
1x RJ45 Ethernet 10/100/1000
*
Mic in / Audio out
*
4 pin firewire 1394a
*
UK AC Mains adapter/charger/documentation
*
UK keyboard
*
Weight from 2.3Kg with 4 cell battery, 358mm wide x 27mm front/33mm back h x 257mm depth
*

Software and extras included (all software already installed and ready to go with back up discs)

*
Microsoft Vista Business Edition 32 bit
*
McAfee Internet security trial
*
Dell Factory retore - reinstalls the laptop to original configuration
*
Dell next business day on site warranty with telephone technical support until 24.05.2012

i had win xp pro installed as you are allowed to if you buy the Vista Business or ultimate version, the Vista business disks are also supplied with the machine but not the xp discs which are my own

i paid extra for the WXGA+ 1440 x 900 LED Screen which is excellent for editing and extra for the 7200 rpm free fall drive, the faster drive makes a massive difference

its a brilliant machine and cost me £849, i might be letting it go in a couple of weeks if youre interested with the remainder of the warranty which is fully transferrable

Should have added that paid extra and got the 6 cell battery with 90 watt hour and charger which quickens the charge time
Click to expand...

Thats a decent looking spec, a little low on memory, but decent nonetheless!

neil_g said:
id check to see whether theyll throw in a free W7 upgrade too.
Click to expand...

I get W7 free anyway ;) through works MSDN
 
grahamc said:
Thats a decent looking spec, a little low on memory, but decent nonetheless!
Click to expand...

£30 to get another 2gb but the machine has been set up so good ive not felt the need, to be honest it only gets used maybe for 1 hour once a fortnight to wire some photos from games, its going to Wembley with me this Saturday and im not sure when itll be next used, it was probably overkill for what i needed but i had the money at the time so thought why not
 
thought it might be ... honest!! but is that its real name.. i thought MS was happy with all these funny names they use for new windows... vista, xp and stuff like that... would be much easier if they did go windows 3,4,5,6,7
 
Should have also mentioned its a Dell Latitude E6500 Model, these are business machines with Magnesium Alloy LCD back and base, longer lasting paint finishes and the very robust metal hinges.

And with the Dell Business warranty you dont get messed about, you either get a guy out to see the machine or you get a replacement part shipped to you overnight for self replacement, some parts like the DVD Drive are just slot in and are easy to replace unlike the inspiron and cheaper ranges where you need to physically dismantle the machine.

The Spec ive got now sells for £949 on the Dell website

dell-latitude-e6000-series.jpg


dell_lat_e6500.jpg


dell-latitude-e-laptop-new.jpg
 
KIPAX said:
thought it might be ... honest!! but is that its real name.. i thought MS was happy with all these funny names they use for new windows... vista, xp and stuff like that... would be much easier if they did go windows 3,4,5,6,7
Click to expand...

windows 7 is called windows 7 :)

whether theyll keep this naming scheme going however i dont know..
 
the cheaper studio and inspiron dells are horrible..but the expensive ones are pretty nice imho

for power/money acer are always good, but people have mixed feelings about them
for good customer service avoid Sony
Samsungs are, I think, a great laptop at decent price/spec
HP have great customer service and if you want complete non hassle and don't care about branding, ALDI have a £500 laptop that will do anything you want on it!
 
Those metal Dells look OK, my boss has just had his laptop upgraded to one.

One important thing to decide is what size laptop you want, 13" through to 17" are the general sizes.
 
I just got the Dell Inspiron 1545 with 15.5" screen from PC World for £399 and it runs Vista premium and PS4 just fine...
Pentium Dual-Core thingy-whatsit T4200 @ 2.00GHz
I use external hard-drives to store everything on, but in any case the 150Gb HDD is big enough for temporary storage...

Plus all the usual toys...
 
Arkady said:
I just got the Dell Inspiron 1545 with 15.5" screen from PC World for £399 and it runs Vista premium and PS4 just fine...
Pentium Dual-Core thingy-whatsit T4200 @ 2.00GHz
I use external hard-drives to store everything on, but in any case the 150Gb HDD is big enough for temporary storage...

Plus all the usual toys...
Click to expand...

Thats a decent spec for the money. I did a quote on Dell last night, and looking at a 16.x" screen, 4gbs memory the dual core (2ghz), 150gb for 600 which is not bad.

Had another look at Macs and I just cannot justify the price for the machine that you get. Just not worth it!! IMO

neil_g said:
the new dell latitude E series are lovely, we're rolling them out at work. to phase out the older D series.



their support sucks, even their sales guys will tell you that.
Click to expand...

Most places have rubbish after-sales support... They dont get any money from it, so why do it.
 
grahamc said:
Thats a decent spec for the money. I did a quote on Dell last night, and looking at a 16.x" screen, 4gbs memory the dual core (2ghz), 150gb for 600 which is not bad.
Click to expand...

What model, anything less than a Latitude or Precision is a waste of money, the studio and inspiron ranges are so plasticy i really dont know how they get away with calling them "mobile computers" just try bending the lid/screen and you will shreek, keys drop off, screen trim bends and most use the horrible XGA CCFL screens.

Buying a "business" based machine like the Latitude and Precision gets you business warranties which means whatever the problem it will be fixed next working day unlike the warranty on "home" based laptops which means you might actually be put through to someone who speaks english within 7 days only to be told to do a system restore.
 
neil_g said:
theyre not all bad to be honest.. for example:

dell business support = good
hp business support = bad
Click to expand...

I deal with HP here at work, and have no issues with them.

Gary Coyle said:
What model, anything less than a Latitude or Precision is a waste of money, the studio and inspiron ranges are so plasticy i really dont know how they get away with calling them "mobile computers" just try bending the lid/screen and you will shreek, keys drop off, screen trim bends and most use the horrible XGA CCFL screens.

Buying a "business" based machine like the Latitude and Precision gets you business warranties which means whatever the problem it will be fixed next working day unlike the warranty on "home" based laptops which means you might actually be put through to someone who speaks english within 7 days only to be told to do a system restore.
Click to expand...

Its the Studio 17, which you dont seem to be a fan of ;) Now the info about the screen is the stuff that I need to know!!
 
grahamc said:
Its the Studio 17, which you dont seem to be a fan of ;) Now the info about the screen is the stuff that I need to know!!
Click to expand...
There are several choices for the type of screen you get, they vary massivly in quality, from the top they are in order of quality

WXGA+ LED Screen, best resolution on screen size between 14-17 inch is 1440 x 900, matte screen and when calibrated is just as good for image editing as my 24 inch Dell 2407M this screen also has the inbuilt ambient light sensor which auto adjusts the screen when working under different light, ie, in doors or outdoors.

WXGA TrueLife Wide Screen LCD, basically a poor screen given the "true life" tab by simply making it a glossy screen, looks so so indoors and quite contrasty but put it near any light and you'll regret buying it, massivly reflective and barely useable in good/strong light. usually supplied with whats described as "high definition resolution" which simple means its over 720 pixels on the short side and is usually about 1280x800

WXGA Anti Glare CCFL Screen The cheapest of the cheap, not even an LCD screen and one to avoid at all costs.

XGA Anti Glare CCFL Screen Forget it

Ive done all the homework, i always do before i buy anything, i can spend months researching products before making the leap to buy and when choosing a laptop i actually bought 4 different ones before i settled with the Latitude ive got now.
 
gary is it possible to spec a computer on dell and then save/send someone the link and it shows the same spec?
 
Dunno mate, i suppose you could do a screen grab though, the detailed specs are usually in a "tabbed" view so might need more than 1 screen grab.

Just tried to copy and paste a link for the spec below but because its frames based it doesnt keep the pricing or upgrade information
 
KIPAX said:
gary is it possible to spec a computer on dell and then save/send someone the link and it shows the same spec?
Click to expand...

Just trying to price up my system and its now £850 plus VAT and delivery as far as i can get but the Dell website seems to be going tits up for me using Firefox or IE

dell.jpg
 
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