| Kris |
Computer gurus and laptop users. Here is the question.
During my vacations I take a few photos, last time I brought 18GB to be precise! I have been using device called X-drive - a 20GB hard drive with usbI connection. It has card reader so it let me dump the data and later on transfer to my computer. This has served me for 4 or so years now. However, what is annoying is that you cannot preview the photos and you never know if they still are there! So I am in the market for a new laptop. I looked at Dell (have had Dell laptop at work for many years now and they seem to be OK), HP (all my home computers were HP, Gateway. The features and prices seem to be similar. What about quality and support? Any of you have any experience? I need 14 - 15" screen with 120GB drive and at least 1GB, preferably 2BG RAM.
Oh, as much as I love Apple I need to stay with Windows....
;) |
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| dmako |
quote:
Originally posted by Kris
Computer gurus and laptop users. Here is the question.
During my vacations I take a few photos, last time I brought 18GB to be precise! I have been using device called X-drive - a 20GB hard drive with usbI connection. It has card reader so it let me dump the data and later on transfer to my computer. This has served me for 4 or so years now. However, what is annoying is that you cannot preview the photos and you never know if they still are there! So I am in the market for a new laptop. I looked at Dell (have had Dell laptop at work for many years now and they seem to be OK), HP (all my home computers were HP, Gateway. The features and prices seem to be similar. What about quality and support? Any of you have any experience? I need 14 - 15" screen with 120GB drive and at least 1GB, preferably 2BG RAM.
Oh, as much as I love Apple I need to stay with Windows....
;)
My next notebook most likely will be a HP, for the price they seem reasonable. Also if you can purchase from Costco's they offer a good return policy, not as good as years ago but still very good.
Also check out this site for good reviews and comments:
http://www.notebookreview.com/ |
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| bkburns |
quote:
Originally posted by Kris
Oh, as much as I love Apple I need to stay with Windows....
;)
My Apple Macbook Pro runs Windows XP and Vista better than my Dell!
( Once you go Mac, you never go back :D ) |
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| charliedigital |
quote:
Originally posted by Kris
Oh, as much as I love Apple I need to stay with Windows....
;)
Macs can run Windows now(Bootcamp/Parallels), so you can have the best of both worlds.... |
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| zebelkhan |
| Office Depot is selling Toshiba notebooks (about the same specs as you are looking for) for $399 to $449 today. |
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| GripperDon |
| I would make sure it has a built in Web cam for neato video phoning. |
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| nilemann |
| Hands down ... for graphics, pics, video ... Mac. Don't even bother with the others if your main focus is visual arts. |
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| Kris |
Thanks for replies. As I said no Mac for me....I need to stay with Windows as all my software is windows-based. And Mac seems still pretty closed system...
Anyway, I most likely will go with HP. |
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| krush40 |
I'm glad to see I have fellow MAC users here.
But anyways, is there any reason you are getting a new laptop instead of a new transfer device. I currently have a device that allows me to plug camera into Ipod and it transfers photos. Once they are transfered I can view them on Ipod screen (I have 80GB Ipod video, but all you need is atleast Ipod photo).
I carried this around Europe with me as I only have about a Gig and a half of CompactFlash drives and it worked like a dream.
Epson and Olympus also make a similar unit to what you have but with a screen to view photos. |
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| Kris |
krush
I looked at the devices you are mentioning. And they cost quite a bit on money and their usefulness is limited. At least for me. I shoot almost exclusively in RAW format which means I need special software to convert it to jpeg, but it gives me much more flexibility and the quality of photos are much better. So for a little extra I can have a laptop. And it would fit nicely into my photo bag... |
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| Zooropa |
My opinion is if you want something that will last, buy a Dell Latitude. Out of approx. 20 I have worked with the only repairs I've had were two HD failures and one broken plastic cover around the keyboard. Dell's also have great options if you are in the market for a docking station.
I've also worked with Toshiba, Fujitsu, IBM/Lenovo, HP, Compaq and Apple and every one of them was a piece of junk. They all required repairs at least once. (HD's, Screens, Optical Drives, Motherboards, broken/poor fitting plastic parts) |
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| Corin |
Hmmmmm.... I disagree with the last post. I feel that Dell in general is Hit or Miss. Some are rock solid, some constantly have problems. And that's within the same product line. Just depends on whether you get a Wednesday built one or a Friday built one.
And I avoid HP like the plague. They make good printers, but nothing else. I've had the unfortunate experience of having to deal with them on many occasions and have hated every computer, laptop, monitor, and media drive I have ever had to deal with that was manufactured by HP.
As far as laptops, I'm a fan of Toshiba. They are a bit pricey compared to the dells or HPs, and they don't really have anything spectacular, but the build quality is excellent. Seems people (including myself) tend to keep the Toshibas longer than other brands, simply because it keeps performing very well. I find myself continuously thinking "I want a new laptop, but geez, this Toshiba just hasn't had ANY problems, so why replace it?"
Toshibas aren't going to be the best performance / gaming laptop, they won't be the lightest or cheapest, but they are very good middle-of-the-road machines that will last you a long time.
And my last little disclaimer is that computers are like cars. Many times it really comes down to individual preference. You ask this question to 300 different people, you'll get 300 different responses! :) |
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| GripperDon |
| Sony Vaio's and they were solid I also have a Mac and it is great. |
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| shelland |
I just bought my first laptop a couple months ago, and bought HP. I bought it at Costco when they had a deal with a $100 off coupon. I just got a new coupon book the other day, and saw a few laptop coupons again - although I didn't look at them in detail.
I've been very happy with my HP, although I admittedly don't do anything overly intense with it. Mostly surfing the internet on the couch, and downloading digital pics from the camera. |
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| krush40 |
quote:
Originally posted by Kris
krush
I shoot almost exclusively in RAW format which means I need special software to convert it to jpeg, but it gives me much more flexibility and the quality of photos are much better.
I too shoot in RAW, theres no reason not to these days. My ipod allows me to transfer the RAWs to Ipod and view, then transfer to my laptop when I can. Like you, I usually always have my laptop available, but when backpacking through Europe for a month I had to leave it at home due to space, weight, and fear of stuff getting stolen. This made my Ipod a life saver, although I already had ipod for music listening purposes.
If you don't mind me asking, what camera are you using? |
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| Kris |
your idea of ipod is tempting. maybe this would be the solution. i stil lhave to think about it...
quote:
Originally posted by krush40
If you don't mind me asking, what camera are you using?
Still EOS 10D. This camera has been great for me for last 4 years. Waiting for EOS 30D replacement so I can add a second body to my collection. And maybe 100 - 400/4 L lens.... |
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| krush40 |
Good camera. I have always been a fan of Canon, but when it came time to purchase my camera I couldn't pass up the deal I was getting on my Olympus E300. I worked at Circuit City at the time and got everything straight from Olympus at a dealer invoice cost.
Is any of your photography online where I could see it. I always like to see other photographers work. |
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| UncaDanno |
I have to agree with Corin. Toshiba has had a good rep for years now. My stepson introduced me to the 17" widescreen a couple of years ago. His as been to Central America and to the 'Stans and other sandy places. After all the use and abuse, it finally developed LCD issues.
I picked up a 17"-er a couple of years ago. No problems yet. And that is with daily use as a development system, toting it to/from the client site every day.
Got the boss lady a nice little 12" version for Christmas. And it has all the power of my big one (1GB memory, 100GB HD, DVD burner, etc).
I would HIGHLY recommend getting one with XP installed if at all possible. Vista is just not quite ready for prime time. Especially with its DRM shenanigans.
Vista: what you see as you go over a cliff. |
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| Corin |
quote:
Originally posted by UncaDanno
Vista: what you see as you go over a cliff.
I agree with what you say about Vista. Try to get XP. Just like with ANY operating system, it takes a while to get the kinks worked out. I'm planning to wait until the 2nd service pack, that's when MS products become stable.... :D |
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