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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Using Eee/other cheap ultraportables for photo backup?
Joshua Sy, Student/Intern
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 10:23 AM on 07.02.08 |
->> I'm planning to upgrade my computer systems within the next few months, and have been intrigued with the idea of using an Eee or other similar cheap ultraportable (e.g. HP Mini-Note) in conjunction with a USB hard disk as an inexpensive and portable way to backup and, if necessary, transmit a take.
My budget would allow for either a Macbook Pro, or an Eee/Mini-Note and iMac. The latter actually seems like greater bang for the buck, but I'm a bit concerned about the speed of Photo Mechanic on the Eee or similar inexpensive ultraportable, and of the issues in synchronizing and backing up data on 2 computers that use different OS's. If anyone has some experience with these computers, especially those in the realm of travel photography, it would be greatly appreciated. |
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Jason Orth, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Lincoln | NE | USA | Posted: 11:19 AM on 07.02.08 |
->> I'll start with saying I LOVE my eeePC. I use it for everything.
Except editing photos.
The most I've done with the eee is use it as a "card reader with a screen" to dump to a hard drive.
I would think more in terms of "do I need the eee" rather than "is the eee adequate." Unless the ultraportable is indispensable, then I'd get the MacBook Pro. Even with the eee overclocked and maxed on RAM I wouldn't want to do any real photo editing with it. |
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Jock Fistick, Photographer
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Brussels | Belgium | | Posted: 12:10 PM on 07.02.08 |
->> I got to play with these at CeBit and even though I don't do windoze - I have to say that they are impressive for their size and price point - but I'd opt for the Linux model if you are seriously considering buying one.
The 1000H looks to have the best specs of the bunch - but with only 1 GB of ram I think they will be too slow for anything photoshop related. If you are just going to occasionally caption and send - then maybe - but I think you would quickly tire if you routinely had to do even basic toning in PS for more than a few files at a time.
The models 1000 through the 901 use the Intel Atom processor which is good - but they don't list what the processor speed is and if they are at all upgradeable - the ram being my biggest concern. And the lack of any specific numbers (on their web site) for processor speeds - vram etc... bothers me. If you could stick another GB of ram in it that might make it use able - otherwise I'd consider the Macbook Pro option you mentioned. |
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Landon Finch, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 1:38 PM on 07.02.08 |
->> I find the keyboard on the Eee just too small to be functional.
I like the 92% sized keyboard and a bigger screen on the HP Mini-note. What a great little machine for $750.
If you're using it for portable storage, email, web browsing I think it would be great. Anything that is going to tax the processor is going to be somewhat slow. However, you can get 2GB of RAM in it.
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4352 |
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Charles Gawlik, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 2:37 AM on 07.03.08 |
->> Really I should not input my thoughts into your decision making process as I am neither a MAC user nor have an interest in the eeepc. But I will cause silly moi I always butt in when I should not.
I would recommend going with the MACBook Pro option. My reasoning on this is based on my experience from having purchased a Samsung Q1Ultra UMPC last year. When I saw the Q1U I thought this was the perfect answer to my dreams of being able to shoot and remotely transmit without having to physically be involved. Yep silly moi! I could never get the installed Vista OS to work wireless in adhoc mode with my D2X and WT-1A. Then in order to type captions and email quickly I needed to install a bluetooth keyboard I could have used a USB keyboard but I was using the two USB ports for other devices. Not really paying attention to the recommendations from Adobe I purchased a license for Photoshop CS3 and installed it the first opportunity I had. Only then did the 800MHz processor, 1GB of RAM, and 1024x600 screen limitations become obvious. Working with RAW files the computer took forever to do anything and would hang about a quarter of the time. When I upgraded the RAM to 2GB the system performance improved. The 60GB hard drive was decent for downloading cards but impractical as Vista was such a drag at 1GB or RAM at the time that previewing images about a quarter of the time the system would choke. I ended up picking up an EPSON P-5000 to download cards and have a quick viewer. I never installed/used PhotoMechanic on the Q1U as I had quite a bit of frustration with editing images on the system from Photoshop CS3 and had given up on the system before I upgraded the RAM about four months ago.
After the first three months of ownership I quit using the device due to frustration. After I upgraded the RAM I now use the Q1U to fill a niche as an image viewer that I transmit to wirelessly and connect to a LCD projector for those fussy clients that want to be involved but just not in the same room. When not used in a shoot I will use as an e-mail and e-book reader and it is easy to drop into the bag when I need to take a quick trip. |
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Joshua Sy, Student/Intern
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 5:31 AM on 07.05.08 |
| ->> Thanks for the tips/advice, guys. I think I'm going to go with the MBP for now, and see what happens with the technology. I'm going to be at college for at least 10 months before doing any serious traveling again, and maybe by then the technology will have matured some more and I'll be able to pick up a more powerful compact machine for the same price or less if I find the need for it. I just hate that, for the same price as an 80GB Epson P-5000, you can pick up an EeePC and a 250GB portable USB hard disk, and gain more storage space and (on paper, at least) Internet capability for not much more space in the pack. |
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