| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
OT-computer decision pending; laptop or desktop?
Phil Hawkins, Photographer
 |
Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 10:34 AM on 12.12.08 |
->> I am facing a paradigm shift in my computer configuration. It's long in the tooth and I'm getting a reeducation in computer specs.
Thinking of getting a laptop as my main computer, as my current laptop took a dive. My desktop desperately needs an upgrade so I'm thinking of killing two birds with one stone. It seems to make sense to me but I'm paranoid I haven't thought of something to consider in using a laptop as a main computer. Have/Are you doing it and how is it going?
Thanks |
|
Nik Habicht, Photographer
 |
Levittown | PA | USA | Posted: 11:07 AM on 12.12.08 |
| ->> A friend of mine uses a bunch of laptops as primary computers and has Network Attached Storage --- think four large hard drives in some sort of raid enclosure, accessible wirelessly over the in home network by any of the laptops. It works for him, but I strongly prefer the large screen and keyboard -- so I'd need at least a docking station for my primary laptop... |
|
George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
 |
Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 11:10 AM on 12.12.08 |
->> Phil,
One option to look at is how well the laptop works with an external monitor -- does it only mirror the laptop monitor or does it power it separately so you can use two screens at once.
I use Macs and on my MacBook Pro I use it as a laptop only out of the office and when I'm at my desk it's plugged into an external monitor. This lets me do my main Photoshop and writing work on the large external and I keep my e-mail and IM running on the laptop's regular monitor making maximum use of screen real estate.
And one reason manufacturers are making laptops with more power, more memory and more connections is that more and more people are opting to have a laptop as their primary machine. |
|
Eric Canha, Photographer
 |
Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 11:10 AM on 12.12.08 |
->> Phil I've been in the same boat as you.
Catch 22, on one hand all my data is with me. On the other hand ALL MY DATA is with me. If the laptop gets stolen do I really want all of the data that I have on my desktop in someone else's hands? Tax records, Quickbooks, personal email, medical records etc.
That's why I was looking to VPN back into my desktop from the road. My notebook, has a minimal amount of personal data stored on it.
I also love that I can sit at my work area and be surrounded by 3 large displays. Not sure that you can even run 2 off a laptop.
Another issue is that until you get to some pretty pricey models most laptops aren't in the same league as desktops in terms of computing power. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but to put all of the horsepower of a desktop into a laptop cost $$$.
In the end Santa brought me a new laptop last year, and the desktop is still my #1 workhorse. |
|
Scott Morgan, Photographer
 |
Rockford | IL | United States | Posted: 11:20 AM on 12.12.08 |
->> I have to agree with George. If you choose a laptop that can power a 30" display, then even the need for multiple monitors is lessened. Obviously, with most computers you can run the laptop display and a second monitor (but check to make sure). Some laptops even let you plug in an expresscard adaptor to run a third monitor.
As for having all your stuff with you all the time, well that's why they make external hard drives. You can think of your external drive as a desktop if you want. You could even boot off a fast one. There is no real need to carry everything with you, and likely you wouldn't want to for a variety of reasons, space being a big one. |
|
Dirk Dewachter, Photographer
 |
Playa Del Rey | CA | USA | Posted: 11:23 AM on 12.12.08 |
->> Phil, the decision is going to be yours whether to get a laptop or desktop but I think your primary decision factor should hinge on how expedient you need to turn your captured images around, meaning how much editioral work with tight deadlines do you produce.
A few years back I did not do much editioral work and was working off a laptop as my sole computer. Most of my business at the time was commissioned work (portraits, weddings and sporting events for individual athletes or teams) which did not require me to transmit to editors so I had a time cushion.
I discovered that as camera file sizes grew and the demand for my services grew that my post event processing time was slow and I was not able to keep up with my shooting schedule. When I began to realize that the laptop's slower processor, restricted memory, the 5400 rpm drives and other factor was the choke point of my post production I began to look for a desktop solution.
Having been a somewhat accomplished DOS user who ventured into the Windows and PC world with 12 years of work with PC's I began to look to a higher end PC for my computing needs. I kept my options open and consulted with an Apple rep at my local CompUSA store and in the end decided to go with a Mac G5.
Since then I have upgraded to a Powermac with 9GB of RAM, that power combined with the use of a Wacom tablet allows me to fully process images as fast as I need. It allows me to process large volumes of images in a short period of time.
As I ventured more into editorial work, I added an Apple laptop model to my equipment to be able to handle location work.
Phil, you probably need to evaluate your overall needs and make a decision based upon that, a laptop has more flexibility BUT you give up speed and expansion capabilities.
Hope this helps.
The very last major expense I invested in for my business I acquired |
|
Alan Look, Photographer
 |
Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 11:30 AM on 12.12.08 |
->> I'm running a laptop only, but all my critical data is on 500g externals. Soon as I get done working on a folder of images, they go to the external. Same with any personal data.
The laptop can go with me, but the external always stays home. To keep me in that practice, I purposely didn't oversize the internal drive. I spent the extra money on extra ram.
External monitors in the PC world aren't normally a problem with today's offerings. If you get one with ATI or NVidia built in, it's very simple to set up the external monitor. That software generally lets you choose clone mode (mirror) or extended mode. You also get the option of which screen you want to be the primary if you choose extended mode.
The biggest benefits of a desktop over a laptop are: less apt to get damaged due to getting banged around, larger drives available internally, quicker processors and more ram space.
Of course the biggest reason to get a laptop is portability.
Question to ask yourself is - do I need that portability. If the answer is yes, you'll find the right combination to make it work for you. |
|
Phil Hawkins, Photographer
|
Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 8:05 PM on 12.12.08 |
| ->> I use my laptop to process images when in Yosemite and for sending up to Cal Sport when shooting basketball, although I have not been sending shots recently due to slow and unreliable laptop. So I think I am going to get a laptop with my existing (very good) desktop monitor and existing array of external HDs and existing large keyboard. Great food for thought, guys, thanks so much. |
|
Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
 |
Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 8:16 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> I'll admit to being a computer geek long before I was a photo geek; but in this day and age with everything digital, your computer "camera bag" is almost as important as the gear in your actual camera bag.
At the "day job," I have an employer-provided laptop with docking station and 2nd monitor (24"). It works pretty well, but only because I am fortunate enough to have an employer that values technology and keeps our equipment up-to-date. It's not bleeding edge, but I've got a pretty high-performance laptop.
For my freelance and personal use, however, I use a THREE computer setup: an inexpensive (~$1,000) but good-performing laptop for travel and on-site use; a self-built quad-core desktop for serious use; and a low-end, self-built, massive-storage file server for data backups. I document the whole setup here: http://sportsphotoguy.com/computers/. |
|
Jim Pierce, Photographer
 |
Waltham | MA | usa | Posted: 8:52 PM on 12.12.08 |
->> Phil,
My experience is very similar to Chucks and I was in a similar situation as you are last year regarding my "old" laptop. It just wasn't fast enough for what I was doing.
My current set up is:
Two desktops in my home office and a sub $1000 dell laptop.
1. a very low end Celeron desktop used for all financials, internet surfing, E-mail and MS Office, etc. a low end computer but does more than what I ask of it.
2. This is a P4 with 4 HD, analog and digital canopus video capture card, video editing software, PS, 4 printers and all my photo storage and back up capabilites
The above two were bought at http://www.ctscomputer.com. This is a great family owned build to order shop that I have been working with the past 12 years or so.
Eric, they have a store in Raynham and I can't recommend them enouugh. I have purchased /upgarded 10 or so computers with zero issues.
3. I just purchased a Dell laptop Inspirion 1520, last year for field work that is very well equiped for photo work. I customized it for fast file transfer by reducing the HD size but getting a 7200RPM version as well as more RAM. This can be had for well under $1000 now.
Personally I could not work without a desktop AND laptop.
My day job work computer is a VERY HIGH end workstation customized for 3D modeling (soldiworks/PROE), rendering, and Finite element analysis. The video card has more RAM than any of my computers and cost as much. I have more troubles with this than I do with my home desktops, but also have a great IT department.
Depending on your budget you may look into both a laptop and a mid range PC that is not a brand name but assembled by a local company like the one I use http://www.ctscomputer.com. I bet you could get a laptop and desktop for what you need for around $2,000. The desktop is also easily upgradable.
Just another option/opinion
Jim |
|
Jeff Martin, Photographer
 |
wellington | OH | usa | Posted: 9:12 PM on 12.12.08 |
| ->> Phil, my 2 cents is it depends on your work volume. Right now I'm using a Macbook. I'm getting ready to buy a dell desktop, 6 gb ram 500 HD, for about $450 and a cheap back up extra laptop. Off brand, past Xmas sales, I figure about $450 for 3 gb ram 250 HD. Not glamorous or blazing fast but it will do the job and can be replaced in a couple of years with the next greatest thing. |
|
Paul Nelson, Photographer
 |
Temperance | MI | USA | Posted: 11:48 PM on 12.14.08 |
->> I've been on the extreme sides of both - and finally settled down after many years and have two good ones of each. I'm not paranoid or anything, but I did run for some time on a single laptop and the reason I moved away from that idea is the downtime associated w/repair or anything that breaks. In 99% of cases with a desktop, you can in-a-pinch run down to a local store and buy compatible gear. With a laptop, if you don't have spare parts, you could be out a few days or weeks depending on the issue. Sure the vendors have great turn-around time, but since I've also worked on the vendor side during various phases of my IT career, I've seen things go wrong from all angles. It's really easy for a "rare" part to fail and have difficulty w/replacement. Some manufacturers really do run on the "just-in-time" process, which sometimes means "whenever the next one can get here".
Laptops are also very restrictive with upgrading. Unless you sell within a year of using it, expect the market value to plummet to nothing, so you can either play the upgrade game (gets $$$ fast) or buy one for the long haul. Desktops on the other hand can be modified and tweaked until you hit the max standards (usually takes 3/4 years on average). By that time you've got your money's worth and should move up again.
It's always been nice to control my own destiny with downtime (and sometimes I do create my own by mistake!), but I always want to be able to work whenever.
Again, the biggest thing I've learned over the last decade in regards to computer systems is to never get caught with your shorts down...so two of everything (within reason) is a good way to hedge against risk. Things will fail at the absolute worse time. |
|
Scott Thornton, Student/Intern
 |
towson | md | usa | Posted: 12:29 AM on 12.15.08 |
->> Phil,
i run on a mac book pro and a home imac 24'. it seems to keep my workflow chug n along...i can get work out when on the road and when i am home i set infront of a giant hd screen and do the same thing.
it all good. how did things work out with my contact at national geo a few months back
scott thornton |
|
David Seelig, Photographer
 |
Hailey | ID | USA | Posted: 7:02 PM on 12.15.08 |
->> Hi Phil
I have a different take like going out on an assignment always have a a backup, so I would continue to have both a desktop and a laptop. What happens if something goes down? |
|
|| Sponsor Special Deals
We BUY & TRADE you OLD Gear
|
Available from:
Adorama Camera
|
Price: $0.00 |
Notes:
We all have some cameras & lenses sitting around collecting dust right?...Or you work at a Newspaper that has downsized?...What to do with your excess photographic equipment? Adorama's Used Dept is looking for your used gear to purchase or take in trade. Contact me directly jsnyder@adorama.com or 1-800-223-2500 X2435 and I can fill you in on the details. Cash in your pocket is better than sitting on the shelf, right?
|
|
-- More Info -- |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|