Laptop purchase advice

T

Tania

Messages
3
Edit My Images
No
Hi there,

I am looking to buy a laptop to replace my PC.

Specifically I have a growing interest in SLR photography and would like to be able to use Photoshop on it and want to ensure image quality is high and the spec is up to image manipulation.

Other than for photography I will mainly be using it for internet and MS office use. I would also like a built-in camera if available.

I have been recommended getting an i7 intel core processor and have been looking at the Dell Studio XPS 16, which also has a high res Truelife 1920 x
1080 screen.

If anyone can recommend any other good laptop - or advise what they think the minimum spec is for my needs, that would be really helpful.

Many thanks.
 
Hi Tania, :wave: and :welcome: to TP.

Not wanting to sound like a fanboy, but I'd recommend one of the MacBook Pro (MBP) series :shrug:. Office 2011 for Mac is perfect :thumbs:, so too is LightRoom & Photoshop CS5 (but I don't use the latter). These machines are nimble, fast and reliable.

You can get i7 on both the 15" and 17" MBP.
 
Erm budget wise, I was looking around the £850 mark - but want to make sure I get the right machine, so can look slightly higher, if it's going to be a long-term investment.

So - would you say a Mac is preferable to pc?
 
I can't give any imput as to what spec computer to get but I can recommend what ever you do end up getting buying getting it from John Lewis. Most of there electrical goods has 2 year guarantee as standard, and there is no fuss with there returns policy.
 
okay, you definately wont get a MBP for £850.

the whole mac vs pc is purely a personal preference point. theyre both as reliable as each other, they both have pros and cons that the other does not etc etc etc just one looks different to the other. bang for buck though youd do better with a windows based laptop.

the XPS 16 does have a nice spec looking at the dell site, if you go for the £879 model youve got the i7, 64 bit W7 home premium, dedicated graphics memory, 4gb DDR3, 7.2k rpm HD.. the chassis looks the same as the studio 15 my other half has and its pretty sturdy.
 
neil_g said:
the whole mac vs pc is purely a personal preference point.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more :thumbs:


neil_g said:
the XPS 16 does have a nice spec looking at the dell site, if you go for the £879 model youve got the i7, 64 bit W7 home premium, dedicated graphics memory, 4gb DDR3, 7.2k rpm HD.. the chassis looks the same as the studio 15 my other half has and its pretty sturdy.
Click to expand...

That's some pretty impressive specification for that price.
 
Hi guys,

Thanks so much for your help - definitely going to stick with Windows as opposed to Mac and the Dell XPS 16 is looking pretty tempting.

Cheers
 
Are you intending to actually use the laptop's own screen or plug in an external monitor?

I've edited on laptops before but it's never ideal having to use a small 17" shiny screen even if it still has 1920x1080 pixels.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top