Using laptop for PS 7 photography

"John Billot" wrote in
news:bv3mie$lnt$:

My computer is 5 years old now and is slowing (Gateway P3 500Mhz with 640Mb RAM)….. Additionally for other reasons I would prefer to use a laptop. (I have PS7 and Wacom Graphire tablet).
I’m aware of the problems vis colour management

They are fairly serious, and will be until someone takes the time to add a decent LCD to a laptop.

The solution is simple: buy an external monitor. Do your accurate color correction on it and use the built-in screen for some basic viewing and maybe a bit of web work. I’ve done so for years.

<snip>

Thank you Eric – its an option I will consider. Do you have any advice re my conclusions for laptop spec?
Thanks
John

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"Eric Gill" wrote in message

"John Billot" wrote in
news:bv3mie$lnt$:

My computer is 5 years old now and is slowing (Gateway P3 500Mhz with 640Mb RAM)….. Additionally for other reasons I would prefer to use a laptop. (I have PS7 and Wacom Graphire tablet).
I’m aware of the problems vis colour management

They are fairly serious, and will be until someone takes the time to add a decent LCD to a laptop.

The solution is simple: buy an external monitor. Do your accurate color correction on it and use the built-in screen for some basic viewing and maybe a bit of web work. I’ve done so for years.

<snip>

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"John Billot" wrote in
news:bv5uds$h8h$:

Thank you Eric – its an option I will consider. Do you have any advice re my conclusions for laptop spec?

Depends on your bank account. I recently had to buy a new one because some worthless individual had found my camera bag and decided to toss it several feet – with a Thinkpad I picked up for almost nothing in it. I spent about $950 after rebates for a Compaq 2195US, and it is just fine for me. However, I have a very muscular desktop to start with and only use the laptop for an unlimited memory card, light layout and image editing work, and remote access to my desktop. The previous P3 based unit was pretty much all I needed.

You can get a killer system – I’ve seen 80 gig internal, 17" screen, 2GB of RAM, 3Ghz P4 – if you have the bucks, but it can run upwards of $5,000USD.

The systems you listed would work pretty well. If you want to play the occasional game, make sure you get one that has at least basic 3D hardware, like the RADEON 9000 or recent NVIDIA offerings.

My recommened specs: 40GB HD (7200 RPM) at least 1GB of RAM, fairly modern processor (mobile Pentium or Athlon, not Duron or Celeron), Firewire, Bluetooth, 54.g wireless, 15" screen (best to see before you buy) CD/R/DVD. At home, a nice, fast, large external drive (Firewire), nice keyboard, nice monitor and whatever other perpherals you might need. A docking station is money well spent, as is a second battery AND second power supply (leave the other one plugged into the station, so you can just grab and go).

PCMCIA card reader for whatever card your camera uses – they run about $12 bucks – unless you are lucky enough to have a camera with firewire.

A small, wireless optical mouse. You can get a Bluetooth version, or there are some for Bluetooth-less machines that run about $40 bucks.

Good luck.

Thanks Eric – I’m grateful for your advice.
John

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"Eric Gill" wrote in message

"John Billot" wrote in
news:bv5uds$h8h$:

Thank you Eric – its an option I will consider. Do you have any advice re my conclusions for laptop spec?

Depends on your bank account. I recently had to buy a new one because some worthless individual had found my camera bag and decided to toss it

several

feet – with a Thinkpad I picked up for almost nothing in it. I spent about $950 after rebates for a Compaq 2195US, and it is just fine for me. However, I have a very muscular desktop to start with and only use the laptop for an unlimited memory card, light layout and image editing work, and remote access to my desktop. The previous P3 based unit was pretty

much

all I needed.

You can get a killer system – I’ve seen 80 gig internal, 17" screen, 2GB

of

RAM, 3Ghz P4 – if you have the bucks, but it can run upwards of $5,000USD.
The systems you listed would work pretty well. If you want to play the occasional game, make sure you get one that has at least basic 3D

hardware,

like the RADEON 9000 or recent NVIDIA offerings.

My recommened specs: 40GB HD (7200 RPM) at least 1GB of RAM, fairly modern processor (mobile Pentium or Athlon, not Duron or Celeron), Firewire, Bluetooth, 54.g wireless, 15" screen (best to see before you buy)

CD/R/DVD.

At home, a nice, fast, large external drive (Firewire), nice keyboard,

nice

monitor and whatever other perpherals you might need. A docking station is money well spent, as is a second battery AND second power supply (leave

the

other one plugged into the station, so you can just grab and go).
PCMCIA card reader for whatever card your camera uses – they run about $12 bucks – unless you are lucky enough to have a camera with firewire.
A small, wireless optical mouse. You can get a Bluetooth version, or there are some for Bluetooth-less machines that run about $40 bucks.
Good luck.

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