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Author Topic: Windows 7 Laptop  (Read 3230 times)

BruceGordon

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Windows 7 Laptop
« on: March 22, 2011, 06:01:37 pm »

Hello,

I'm considering a photo workshop in Scotland this fall and would like to get a new notebook for image editing.

I would like some feedback on what people are using in the Windows world and how they find the displays.

Ideally I would like:

Windows 7 Pro 64-bit
16 - 17" display
4 - 8 GB RAM
500GB - 1TB Disk
Bluetooth & Wireless N
Webcam

I'm using CS4 now but may be upgrading.

I'm partial to Toshibas and other brand names (Lennevo, Dell but not too fond of the current crop of HPs)

Regards,

Bruce
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John.Murray

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Re: Windows 7 Laptop
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2011, 09:36:41 pm »

I work on all types of laptops - by far the best build quality right now would be the Lenovo's.  the also happen to ship with a lot less "crapware" than the others....

That large of a display will really affect your battery life, Lenovo's T510 or 520 are really nice - good battery life / core i7 CPU....

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/products/professional-grade/thinkpad/t-series/index.html


If price is not a overiding concern - consider a MacBook Pro - they make *great* win7 machines!  I'm very happily running both Win7 / OSX on a 13" - I'm amazed at the battery life.
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Thomas Krüger

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Re: Windows 7 Laptop
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2011, 03:17:12 am »

Check the Clevo barebones notebooks. One of the resellers is www.Eurocom.ca in Canada. You need to be careful checking the prices of the various option, just look at the article of Anandtech: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4223/eurocom-racer-radeon-hd-6970m-rocks
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Steve Weldon

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Re: Windows 7 Laptop
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2011, 03:28:22 am »

The two I would be interested in for Photo Editing would be the Dell M6500 Mobile Precision Workstation, and the Lenovo W710.
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BruceGordon

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Re: Windows 7 Laptop
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2011, 10:43:00 am »

Clarifications,

Battery life or price (within reason - $1800 - $2500) are not big factors.  I don't plan on using this on battery for the most part rather I'm looking for a "luggable" desktop with some muscle.  Fitting inside my LowePro CompuTrekker AW (12 x 1.5 x 15") would be a plus but I'm considering replacing the LowePro with a Crumpler.

I would, however, like something with a display that can be calibrated and is fairly good out of the box.
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Steve Weldon

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Re: Windows 7 Laptop
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2011, 12:14:08 pm »

Bruce -

Your post prompted me to go the specifications sheet of the two models I recommended.  And then others.  While I stand by my choices because they are everything you're asking for.. I noticed that both these models and almost all others are not using the newest Sandy Bridge CPU platform.  Usually I'm not that interested in having the latest CPU, but some recent tests in Photoshop I've done with a friend and Sandy Bridge laptop.. show they're 40-50% more powerful, use less power, and frankly worth waiting for. 

Now is just a bad time to buy a laptop, IF the laptop you want hasn't yet been upgraded to Sandy Bridge.  I say give it a month or two and watch as all the new Sandy Bridge models roll out.. it will happen pretty fast.  For instance Dell just upgraded their Studio XPS 15 and this review shows their enthusiasm for the Sandy Bridge CPU..

My guess is that within 6-12 months all the major manufacturers current lines will be upgraded to Sandy Bridge. 
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BruceGordon

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Re: Windows 7 Laptop
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2011, 12:19:49 pm »

Thanks Steve,

I'm just starting to look at notebooks and won't be purchasing until mid summer for a trip in the fall.

I did read some of the stuff on Anandtech about the Sandy Bridge performance boots as well as the issues with some of the revisions.

Typically I don't like laptops as they tend to be expensive to maintain but in this case I will need hardware with me as I'll be in locations I won't be able to get back to for a while so being able to check my captures will be important.

I'm pretty comfortable with the hardware & software side being a professional geek but I'm looking more for peoples opinions about usability (the whole Mac/Windoze/Linux thing aside) and screen quality.
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Steve Weldon

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Re: Windows 7 Laptop
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2011, 12:30:49 pm »

Considering all said so far, I'd keep an eye on the Lenovo W701ds and the Dell Mobile Precision Workstation M6500.. When either of those upgrade you'll get the best current screen, tons of power, and solid support from either.  I own both and I purchased both because of their screens and performance.

Another laptop that had an exceptional screen as far as color gamut goes (though it was a glossy screen which is why I never bought one) is the Dell Studio XPS 16.. I think this screen had the widest gamut of any laptop to date.  The Lenovo W701 and Dell M6500 consistently have the best screens (for image processing) of anything out there.

Good luck.
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lt4z51

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Re: Windows 7 Laptop- No more Lenovo 17"er's
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2011, 06:39:12 pm »

Unfortunately, the Lenovo 17" W-series laptops are no more. I understand the W-series weren't real big sellers due to price (and weight - mine weighs on at close to 10 lbs.) Maybe Lenovo will introduce replacements later on. The Clevo's are available tho, as are models from Maingear and Alienware.
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