I have been searching for a new laptop since my 8 year old dell is dying soon. Right hinge broken (see above), keeps on getting disconnected on the net every 30 mins (internal wireless probably dying too), getting too slow, etc......
Anyway, I'm on a budget and would like advice on which laptop to purchase. I am hoping to pursue this photography hobby........and maybe a business later. So my basic requirement is an HDMI port so I can hook it to a bigger monitor for editing and a decent hard drive so I can save all my photos (other than the back up external drive). If you guys can help me out in my choices and if there's anymore that I need to look out for. I appreciate all the help. :)
I have a Toshiba Satellite, not sure of the model # , got it about 2/half years ago.. and have had no trouble with it. Aside from having to delete some files every so often. I have to much stuff on it.. work and play...
I got mine from Fry's as a package deal.
Package was laptop, wireless mouse, bag, and fan pad all for $500. US.
I dont know all the tech stuff etc.. I just know that I have no problems with this one. and it was a great deal..
We just bought an ASUS Eee pc netbook... ($275) dual core processor, 1GB ram and a 250 GB hard drive. it will easily run all my image processing software at once.
The two you listed seem quite similar - is there any chance you can see them in real life and try the keyboards? It might sound daft but some are just horrible and some are quite good, even in the same price bracket.
I work for a uk electricals company and shouldn't really promote best buy but since your in colorado i cant see the harm :o)
The best buy laptop has an awesome processor one of the newest out and it runs a boost system that only works when you need it so it does not waste power - 4gb is more than enough to run multiple applications and im sure 640gb will be more than enough space to save pics, music etc i would ge for that :o)
The two you have selected are basically identical - both have i3 processor, 640 GB, hard drive, 4 GB memory, and 15.6" display. So go with the seller you are more comfortable dealing with.
@nikkers Thanks! I forgot about fry's. I need to check their site too. I am hoping for a great deal too. I'm glad toshiba works for you. :) @meshinka thanks, chris. i have never had asus before but my friends love it. :) @ukcam that's a good idea. I never even thought of that. I am planning to go out of town and look at laptops physically. Which is a better deal, online or instore purchase? @hdoyle lol thanks! :)
@hjbenson Thank you. They do seem similar. But I still am having a hard time deciding. I don't want to have buyer's remorse. I has happened to me before. I so appreciate your input. :)
@carrieoakey usually online is better value (I'm more used to UK buying but I think that holds true in general). If you go into a store watch out for pushy sales techniques :)
The only counter to that is - if you buy from a very disreputable source online it can be hard to get problems fixed, whereas the local shop is more expensive but you can turn up and shout at someone if there is a problem!
I am a Mac person. Can't go wrong when doing photography and any post production. Most people claim that Mac's are more $$, but when you take a regular PC and load it with what already comes with a Mac, you are in the same ballpark as far as price. Good luck with your decision. My laptop is a MacBook Pro and I swear by it.
Might be a little slow running some editing software, but would be far cheaper and far easier to expand upon in the future. Make sure the netbook has an HDMI out.
This netbook has HDMI out and will run 1080p. Has some good reviews (I read them all beforehand). This netbook and an additional external HDD would be cheaper, more portable, run on battery for longer, and easier to upgrade than a new laptop at the expense of USB ports, computing power, and ~400GB internal HDD that would be more prone to viruses/corruption.
EDIT: Netbook keyboards are small. Try one out beforehand from a friend or a store, or just force yourself to get used to it. I switch between a laptop keyboard (wider keys) and desktop keyboard (narrower keys) and get tripped up all the time, so theres no hope for me.
2nd EDIT: Might need to upgrade memory. Its not that hard of a process, but you might want to stay away if you're completely unfamiliar. Windows 7 Starter limits you to 2 GB of RAM and other restrictions as well. It requires a bit of research though.
I've had Asus and Toshiba laptops, and liked both. I currently have a Toshiba and will probably replace it with another in a few months (it is two years old), but it still runs LR3 and CS5 smoothly, and the screen calibrates fairly well (though you'd never use it for serious editing). I tend to use it, with the HDMI output, to display client photos on their giant plasma TV's, and it has worked excellently for that all but once (older style TV did not like the HDMI signal).
No offence to Laurie, but you'll pay twice as much for the same thing in a Mac. Great product, but there is a reason why, every time I've bought a new computer or laptop, I've ended up getting PC - there is no $500-$600 Mac laptop with 4GB RAM, and for desktops I need close to $20K to get what I can get in a $5K PC, spec-for-spec. But if you have the dollars, they are a nice, stable platform. You'll be using the same software though, typically, so it won't make any difference to your photo editing - it will be exactly the same.
Thank you all so much! All of these infomation surely helps me a lot! :)
@ukcam thanks! I think you are right. With an online purchase, I can get free shipping if offered, there are more selections, and no tax. :)
@lauriemct I would love to have a Mac! :) Unfortunately, I can't afford it. :(
@3nder I have never heard of this site before. I just checked it out and they do have fairly decent prices. Thanks! :)
@skorn Wow! You sure did your research! :) I appreciate that a lot. I never even considered a netbook. You ideas gave me new perspective. Thanks :)
@jinximages Thank you! Good thing you mentioned CS and LR. I did notice that my pc started to get slower when I first installed CS. It keeps on pausing for a few seconds in-between editing which can be so frustrating.
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I got mine from Fry's as a package deal.
Package was laptop, wireless mouse, bag, and fan pad all for $500. US.
I dont know all the tech stuff etc.. I just know that I have no problems with this one. and it was a great deal..
Best Buy
The best buy laptop has an awesome processor one of the newest out and it runs a boost system that only works when you need it so it does not waste power - 4gb is more than enough to run multiple applications and im sure 640gb will be more than enough space to save pics, music etc i would ge for that :o)
@meshinka thanks, chris. i have never had asus before but my friends love it. :)
@ukcam that's a good idea. I never even thought of that. I am planning to go out of town and look at laptops physically. Which is a better deal, online or instore purchase?
@hdoyle lol thanks! :)
The only counter to that is - if you buy from a very disreputable source online it can be hard to get problems fixed, whereas the local shop is more expensive but you can turn up and shout at someone if there is a problem!
Pretty much the best site for PC stuff (tho mainly for hardware tbh)
Might be a little slow running some editing software, but would be far cheaper and far easier to expand upon in the future. Make sure the netbook has an HDMI out.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220853
This netbook has HDMI out and will run 1080p. Has some good reviews (I read them all beforehand). This netbook and an additional external HDD would be cheaper, more portable, run on battery for longer, and easier to upgrade than a new laptop at the expense of USB ports, computing power, and ~400GB internal HDD that would be more prone to viruses/corruption.
EDIT: Netbook keyboards are small. Try one out beforehand from a friend or a store, or just force yourself to get used to it. I switch between a laptop keyboard (wider keys) and desktop keyboard (narrower keys) and get tripped up all the time, so theres no hope for me.
2nd EDIT: Might need to upgrade memory. Its not that hard of a process, but you might want to stay away if you're completely unfamiliar. Windows 7 Starter limits you to 2 GB of RAM and other restrictions as well. It requires a bit of research though.
No offence to Laurie, but you'll pay twice as much for the same thing in a Mac. Great product, but there is a reason why, every time I've bought a new computer or laptop, I've ended up getting PC - there is no $500-$600 Mac laptop with 4GB RAM, and for desktops I need close to $20K to get what I can get in a $5K PC, spec-for-spec. But if you have the dollars, they are a nice, stable platform. You'll be using the same software though, typically, so it won't make any difference to your photo editing - it will be exactly the same.
@ukcam thanks! I think you are right. With an online purchase, I can get free shipping if offered, there are more selections, and no tax. :)
@lauriemct I would love to have a Mac! :) Unfortunately, I can't afford it. :(
@3nder I have never heard of this site before. I just checked it out and they do have fairly decent prices. Thanks! :)
@skorn Wow! You sure did your research! :) I appreciate that a lot. I never even considered a netbook. You ideas gave me new perspective. Thanks :)
@jinximages Thank you! Good thing you mentioned CS and LR. I did notice that my pc started to get slower when I first installed CS. It keeps on pausing for a few seconds in-between editing which can be so frustrating.
There are laptops listed on the front page of the site almost every day.