 John M. Markus Jr. |
What is the best laptop for a photographer? I am about to purchase a new laptop. I'm wondering if there is a "best" laptop for a photographer. My current laptop and desktop system are Windows based. Any suggestions?
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Stan Lubach |
I've been trying to make the same decision. The biggest problem with laptops for photography is the LCD screen. With some screens, the viewing angle is very narrow and so the gamma can change drastically depending on how you are facing the screen. Right now I'm kind of leaning toward the Apple Powerbook G4. It's a little pricey but Apple has always catered to graphics designer type work and the Powerbook screens seem very clear and hi-res. Has anyone out there used a Powerbook for photo stuff? I'd been very interested in any opinions.
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Brendan Knell |
I've also heard that a lot of photographers use Macs. If you're worried about changing to Mac, don't worry, it's not hard, it's just different. We had IBooks in school a few years back. It took a little bit to learn, but like I said it wasn't really hard. Also another plus about Macs is that they don't get a lot of the viruses that Windows gets.
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Chuck Sanchez |
I use a mac and as for the viruses(knock on wood) I have never gotten one virus in 5 years and I have never had virus protection. They don't write viruses for macs...right now, but they are solid, secure and fast computers. They have a great workflow about them and they are great for graphics. Check out Aperture at the Apple store. It is there new RAW processing program. That alone will make it worth the purchase. Chuck
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Stan Lubach |
I myself have been primarily using the Linux operating system; ditto on the virus front. For general RAW processing I've been using BibblePro and for the finer details, I've been using the Gimp. As luck would have, they both can be used on Mac OS X systems. That's one of the reasons the Powerbook is on my short list.
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Nobu Nagase |
Macs are definitely known for their superior graphics. They are generally more expensive than windows based systems, in both hardware and software fronts. But they are more fun to use. (Can be considered as an expensive hobby. Apple has a large Mac User's Group, national and regional) As far as Windows based systems are concerned, I do not think there is not so much difference between major computer brands. Just make sure it has large disk capacity to store images and over 1GB of memory. As far as processor is concerned, I have always used Intel's Pentium processor and I do not have any experience with other types of processors that are now available (they are less expensive). If you will be travelling with the PC, get the one with Mobile Technology. They are designed for lighter weight and less heat generating technology. As far as the customer support is concered (this may be important for some), Dell and IBM are the top in the industry.
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Joanna Pecha |
I've had an IBM, a Dell and now a 15" Powerbook. By far, the powerbook outperforms the other two, but mainly because the Powerbook is the newest. The Dell was the worst computer I ever owned. Apparentley their desktops are highly rated, but I've read several articles that advise you to steer clear of their laptops. IBM is a great name in windows based laptops. Sony Vaio also had some good write ups. Make sure you have at least 2 gigs of RAM, whatever your choice is.
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Nobu Nagase |
Btw, the majority of IBM PC division has been sold off to a Chinese Lenovo Group Ltd. I do not know how much this transistion will change to IBM PC's standard and quality, but I do not think it should so much in the short term. Prices should become more competitive in the future.
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John P. Sandstedt |
One that sits comfortably on your lap!
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