Laptop computer advice needed!

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Bill16

Senior Member
OK I've been avoiding this subject for nearly a year now. How much will it cost me to get a good laptop setup for my photo needs? What brand should I get? And lastly what else do I need to go with it?
I need to have some idea of how much I'll need to save up, and where and what to look for! I've avoided this subject because I have practically no experience using a computer! My tablet has been my only tool I've had, except for smartphones.

So any advice welcome and appreciated! :D
 
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Phillydog1958

Senior Member
You can get a Windows 8 system with touch screen for $800. My daughter recently got one at Bestbuy. She went with a Dell. I know you said, "Laptop," but they do have some reasonably priced desktops, with large, bright screens.
 
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DraganDL

Senior Member
Any laptop/notebook with 64bit Win 7 or 8.1 will do. But, if the budget allows for it, let it be the one based on an Intel 4-core, with at least 8 GB of RAM. SSD is NOT a must - better get a machine with a huge capacity (1TB or more) HDD. An external mouse is recommendable.
Most important additional software: Photoshop CC, Nikon's ViewNX (it's free of charge), Farstone image viewer (free of charge), and Pot Player ("Daum") for watching videos/movies...
 
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Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
If you can give me an idea what your budget is I could make some specific suggestions. I would say, though, that $800, really, is pretty much a baseline. Yes, you can get something for less but you'll be far happier if you don't go below the $800 mark. If you can break into that fourth digit you can get something pretty sweet.

I wouldn't want anything less than an Intel i3 processor, with an Intel i5 being MUCH preferred. I'd also want nothing less than 8GB of system RAM and preferably 16GB. You simply can't have "too much" system memory.

If you just want some brand suggestions I'm particularly fond of Lenovo laptops, personally, but Dell, HP, Toshiba and Acer also make some good machines.

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Phillydog1958

Senior Member
I forgot to mention that you can also be conservative in storage, which will keep you at that $800 price point, and later add on a 1 TB external drive for about $100. Don't skimp on RAM.
 
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nickt

Senior Member
$700 to $850 is a good target 'on sale' price for Best Buy, Office Depot, etc for a laptop. That should get you everything you need. I have had great luck over the years with Toshiba, HP, and Dell. I dislike windows 8, but it seems less frustrating with a touch screen. I don't have my own Windows 8 system, so I really shouldn't say I hate it. Just helping out family with their win 8 machines, I found the touch screen is nice when you can't figure out what your mouse needs to do. A wireless mouse is a nice addition too, its hard to mess with pictures using the touch pad.
 
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Daniel Aegerter

Senior Member
That may be so. I`ve got an iMac at home but have to use Win at the office and my work-laptop is a Dell.
But I like the iOSX (Mavericks right now which was a free update) ways better than any kind of Windows.

sent from my prototype iPhone 6
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
Saving will take quite a while, so unfortunately price has to be a consideration. I should be able to save up around the $1,000.00 mark, but it will take a while( likely a year or so). Depending on future medical issues, maybe two years. :(
 
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Phillydog1958

Senior Member
Bill16 said:
Saving will take quite a while, so unfortunately price has to be a consideration. I should be able to save up around the $1,000.00 mark, but it will take a while( likely a year or so). Depending on future medical issues, maybe two years. :(
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Time is on your side, Bill. Prices on laptops seem to drop. I was having small talk with a client. We were griping about the economy and how EVERYTHING is going up. He tells me that there is only one thing that seems to be dropping in price. I ask him what? He replies. "Laptops." He had just bought his son a laptop for about $300. I had to agree. As components become smaller, we're seeing laptops for as low as $300, or so. I can't think of anything else that compares to the decline in laptop prices.
 
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Steve B

Senior Member
It really depends as well on how portable you want it. There is always a tradeoff between screen size and portability and don't forget about the transformer block. Some of those are literally a "brick".
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
I've never owned or used one. I've been on a tablet as the biggest screen device I've really used. So I don't have a clue on what is better. I'd be using it on my lap, but not really going anywhere with it much, likely. Does that info help narrow it down much?

Steve B said:
It really depends as well on how portable you want it. There is always a tradeoff between screen size and portability and don't forget about the transformer block. Some of those are literally a "brick".
Click to expand...
 
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Steve B

Senior Member
Since you are used to working on a tablet the screen size is probably not as big a deal as if you were used to working on a 23 inch monitor. Personally for photo editing I like a larger screen so the laptop I use is a 17 inch HP Pavilion dv7.
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
How much did your laptop cost you my friend?

Steve B said:
Since you are used to working on a tablet the screen size is probably not as big a deal as if you were used to working on a 23 inch monitor. Personally for photo editing I like a larger screen so the laptop I use is a 17 inch HP Pavilion dv7.
Click to expand...
 
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randyspann

Senior Member
Enduro_SL said:
C`mon guys, a good laptop doesn`t run on Windows :D. It`s got to be a Mac.

sent from my prototype iPhone 6
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This is the TRUTH!! Get a Mac PowerBook 15" for about $1700. Sounds expensive, but it will outlast a WinDoze computer 3 to 4 times over! And Lightroom runs so good on a Mac!
 
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