Laptop for editing?

Columbo · 28 Feb 2012 at 11:50

So I'm probably going to swap my desktop and get a laptop as I'm gaming less and less these days and simply doing more editing, browsing, streaming etc.

One of the main uses will be for Lightroom so what sort of spec should I be looking at for about £500.

I'll also be outputting to my existing Dell 2407WFP for a good portion of the time but would like something with a non-glossy display for when I'm not..

Any advice?

Derek W · 28 Feb 2012 at 13:17

ManCuBuS said:
So I'm probably going to swap my desktop and get a laptop as I'm gaming less and less these days and simply doing more editing, browsing, streaming etc.

One of the main uses will be for Lightroom so what sort of spec should I be looking at for about £500.

I'll also be outputting to my existing Dell 2407WFP for a good portion of the time but would like something with a non-glossy display for when I'm not..

Any advice?

do you need the portability of a laptop? Add an extra 8gb if required to your current desktop? Other than the portability of a laptop I cant see the advantage of changing from your current setup?

Dangerous · 28 Feb 2012 at 17:37

I'm currently editing on my Dell XPS 17 L701x, upgraded to 16GB RAM and SSD.

Probably pick up one from Dell Outlet.

Seems to handle my pictures/videos fine

Russinating · 28 Feb 2012 at 21:16

My Dell XPS 15z is great for editing too.

Amp34 · 28 Feb 2012 at 21:32

MBA (i7). Not the fastest or the most RAM (annoyingly) but it seems pretty good and is very portable. Depends if you want the portability.

Columbo · 29 Feb 2012 at 12:42

As I'm beginning to spend a few nights a week away from home with work and would like something I can take with me for the hotel while also being powerful enough to replace my desktop (minus gaming) while I'm at home.

It wont be coming with while shooting so I'm not too worried if it big and heavy.

I'll check out the XPS's mentioned above.

Also how much difference would an SSD make to editing?

Alpherah · 29 Feb 2012 at 13:05

Amp34 said:
MBA (i7). Not the fastest or the most RAM (annoyingly) but it seems pretty good and is very portable. Depends if you want the portability.

.. didn't he say £500 budget?

Russinating · 29 Feb 2012 at 16:48

ManCuBuS said:
Also how much difference would an SSD make to editing?

On a laptop probably not a huge amount as the CPU will most likely still be the bottleneck.

I edit every day at work and I've never bothered with SSD as I don't have a single drive installed that's under 1TB

.

theheyes · 29 Feb 2012 at 17:31

My advice would be to not go mental on RAM. Yes, more is better, but I've managed with 2GB for ages. If you're on a budget then an SSD is probably best avoided.

Ksanti · 29 Feb 2012 at 18:43

My advice would be a Dell XPS 15 or 17.

I've found 1366*768 isn't enough for editing as all the panels either have to be hidden which is irritating, or the image you look at is tiny; the XPS 15 is I think the cheapest decent 15" laptop with a 1080p screen, you can get them on Dell Outlet for not too much over your budget. £640 for an XPS 15 with an i7 2670qm, 8Gb of RAM, 750gb hard drive with the 1080p screen is actually tempting me a bit.

Amp34 · 29 Feb 2012 at 19:29

Alpherah said:
.. didn't he say £500 budget?

I completely missed that...

On the other hand the two above me appear to have as well.

Amp34 · 29 Feb 2012 at 19:32

theheyes said:
My advice would be to not go mental on RAM. Yes, more is better, but I've managed with 2GB for ages. If you're on a budget then an SSD is probably best avoided.

My desktop is 2GB and it is horrible to use now for photo editing. 4GB at a minimum (and by that I'll use the dreaded caps lock - MINIMUM), 8GB would be a reasonable amount, however depends how future "proof" you want the laptop, if you plan on keeping it for 5 or 6 years (I guess not as normal in the laptop world) then 16GB would be my recommendation.

For £500 the OP is going to struggle with 4GB I think.

Ksanti · 1 Mar 2012 at 08:26

Amp34 said:
I completely missed that...

On the other hand the two above me appear to have as well.

I saw the budget but he's better off saving a little more as an i7 2670 and 8gb of ram are far more futureproofed than any i5/4gb combo.

Columbo · 1 Mar 2012 at 12:46

Although above my budget, I've just seen this one at a few notes over £700.

It seems to be priced reasonably and has what looks to be a very decent spec.

Should I pull the trigger?

neil_g · 1 Mar 2012 at 12:49

link no worky.

personally id go for nothing less than i5-2500 and 8gb memory for LR3.

Columbo · 1 Mar 2012 at 12:56

Wierd its working for me.

Screenie below.

Amp34 · 1 Mar 2012 at 19:52

Guess you're not planning on actually using it as a laptop then? In which case why don't you just do an mITX build?

Columbo · 1 Mar 2012 at 20:43

Amp34 said:
Guess you're not planning on actually using it as a laptop then? In which case why don't you just do an mITX build?

I'd like to able to take it with me while I'm away on work.

Maxem · 1 Mar 2012 at 22:55

Well, I was in a quandry for days seeing a Dell Q15R with these specs -
Intel i7 2630QM processor
8GB ram
750gb HDD
768 screen
**NO** Grafix card ( not needed as not gaming )
Blu Ray reader / DVD re writer driver
1mp webcam
W7 64bit
15 inch screen

Yes it was a refurb, but my god, it ticked all the boxes for me for my new photography business - I hesitated.................................. and now there's none in stock........ advert pulled & none left. You snooze / you lose !
There is a similar one on the D3ll website "now" for the same price..........
GUTTED at missing the original offer !!!
Foz