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Author Using laptop for PS 7 photography
John Billot

2004-01-26, 3:28 pm

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 but this is only a hobby (I
take about 20 pics per day average) and I'm prepared (I think) to put up
with some minor differences in colour reproduction on screen and some
tweaking of the printer.
So, having done some research it would seem I should look for something,
say, P4 2.6Ghz + or Centrino. A graphics card 64Mb +. Say 512Mb RAM min. and
15inch screen SXGA or UXGA 1600 by 1200 Min?? (I confess I'm not too clear
on this last item).
I've looked at the Dell 8600 or 5150 which seems to fit the bill.
I would appreciate the Group's views on my conclusions and any advice you
may care to give.
Many thanks in advance.
John B UK

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Eric Gill

2004-01-26, 3:28 pm

"John Billot" <john.billot@socksbtinternet.com> wrote in
news:bv3mie$lnt$1@titan.btinternet.com:
quote:

> 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>
John Billot

2004-01-27, 11:28 am

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" <ericvgill@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns947C87B674941ericvgillyahoocom@24.93.43.119...
quote:

> "John Billot" <john.billot@socksbtinternet.com> wrote in
> news:bv3mie$lnt$1@titan.btinternet.com:
>
>
> 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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Eric Gill

2004-01-27, 7:28 pm

"John Billot" <john.billot@socksbtinternet.com> wrote in
news:bv5uds$h8h$1@hercules.btinternet.com:
quote:

> 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.
John Billot

2004-01-28, 6:28 am

Thanks Eric - I'm grateful for your advice.
John

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Remove SOCKS to reply
"Eric Gill" <ericvgill@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns947D99736BF17ericvgillyahoocom@24.93.43.121...
quote:

> "John Billot" <john.billot@socksbtinternet.com> wrote in
> news:bv5uds$h8h$1@hercules.btinternet.com:
>
>
> 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
quote:

> 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
quote:

> all I needed.
>
> You can get a killer system - I've seen 80 gig internal, 17" screen, 2GB


of
quote:

> 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,
quote:

> 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.
quote:

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


nice
quote:

> 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
quote:

> 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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