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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
PC Laptop Question
Chris Stanfield, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Atlanta | GA | USA | Posted: 5:50 PM on 01.17.09 |
->> Is it possible to get a PC laptop capable of running Photoshop and Lightroom with a built in wireless card and plenty of memory for $600-$800?
There are several forums and opinions out there, but I'd like to hear from people using the above configuration to edit in the field and transmit within this price range. I simply trust your opinions more than the strangers I keep reading in various forums. |
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Stanley Leary, Photographer
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Jeff Martin, Photographer
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wellington | OH | usa | Posted: 9:30 PM on 01.17.09 |
| ->> Chris, check www.bradsdeals.com . |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 9:53 PM on 01.17.09 |
->> Chris,
I am a MAC user and wanted a really small laptop. I ended up getting the ASUS 901 HA and I am running all the above plus photo mechanic. I upgraded to 2 gig of RAM (the max), it has 160 gig HD-no burner so you would need to use an external.
I have been quite happy with it-the worst part is learning how to use a PC. I do find the wifi isn't as good as on my MAC laptop but I have a Verizon USB adapter just in case
Hope this helps
Of-with all the upgrades, paying the store to ad my software, and an extended warranty is was well under $600. I think all in all it was around $450
Debbie |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 2:12 AM on 01.18.09 |
->> Dell Outlet Store:
http://outlet.dell.com/
Here's one grouping:
http://tinyurl.com/ab4vy
From that listing just now I found an Inspiron 1420 with a 14.1" screen, dual core 2.0GHz processor, 3GB of RAM, 250GB HD and a Wireless card for $559 (tag EJP818ZZ).
I've bought at least a half a dozen systems from the Outlet store over the years and have never had a problem with any of them. |
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Michael Springfield, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Smyrna (Atlanta) | GA | USA | Posted: 7:42 AM on 01.18.09 |
->> Chris,
A friend of mine picked up a 14" Gateway at BestBuy with a 320 gig drive, 4 gig of RAM, wireless, etc, running Vista X64 for $700. I picked up a 15.4" Toshiba with 3 gig, 320 meg, Vista 32 for just over $600. Although I do all of my editing on a Mac I am sure that either of these is more than capable of running PS and LR. |
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Richard Middleton, Photographer
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Charleston | SC | USA | Posted: 10:07 AM on 01.18.09 |
->> Chris;
Check out the Dell Studio at Best Buy http://tinyurl.com/7kwrf3
I'm running one exactly like that - Intel Core 2 Duo, 320gb 5400rpm drive, 4gb of memory and I have both Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom on it and have no problems. It also has Vista 64bit so you are running/seeing all 4gb of RAM. It would be nice if the drive was 7200rpm. And just to add to this, I'm also running Virtual PC on it with XP and Windows 7 and the performance hasn't dropped (granted I haven't tried using PS while using a Virtual PC session). |
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Chris Stanfield, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Atlanta | GA | USA | Posted: 1:09 PM on 01.18.09 |
->> Richard,
Do I have to purchase 64 bit versions of Lightroom and Photoshop? I'm running versions on Vista 32 bit on my desktop. |
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Michael Springfield, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Smyrna (Atlanta) | GA | USA | Posted: 6:46 AM on 01.19.09 |
->> I don't think that there is an actual 64-bit version of the apps. My friend with the Gateway installed the latest Photoshop Elements on her Vista x64 and its works fine. Download the trial version and see how they work before buying.
Michael |
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Karsten Moran, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Richard Middleton, Photographer
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Charleston | SC | USA | Posted: 7:29 AM on 01.19.09 |
->> Chris;
Lightroom (I have the first edition) runs fine of 64bit. I did a quick Google search for Lightroom 2 and it appears it runs fine on 64bit OS.
As for CS4, it will run fine on Vista 64.
Cnet article I found on Adobe's 64bit roadmap: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13580_3-9909725-39.html |
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Stanley Leary, Photographer
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Roswell | GA | USA | Posted: 8:27 AM on 01.19.09 |
| ->> There are many programs that will not run on 64bit, so beware if you go downt that road. |
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Mark Davis, Photographer
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Decatur | AL | USA | Posted: 9:11 AM on 01.19.09 |
->> I have a 64 bit system ( 6 months old) and haven't run into any problems with programs that will not run on 64 bit, those programs will revert to 32 bit if not supported with 64. This could be an issue if using software that is 2 years old, but many have 64 bit updates at no charge.
Mark Davis |
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Chris Stanfield, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Atlanta | GA | USA | Posted: 9:53 AM on 01.19.09 |
| ->> Any thoughts or suggestions regarding 32bit vs 64 bit? |
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Mike Stone, Photographer
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Dallas | TX | USA | Posted: 11:32 AM on 01.19.09 |
| ->> ecost.com is a good site for purchasing refurbished equipment. I have always had a good experience with them. |
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Mike Stone, Photographer
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Dallas | TX | USA | Posted: 11:34 AM on 01.19.09 |
->> just to add, they are not strictly refurbished equipment, but offer new as well.
http://ecost.com |
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Richard Middleton, Photographer
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Charleston | SC | USA | Posted: 4:21 PM on 01.19.09 |
| ->> The only "programs" that I've had problems with is the Cisco VPN client (Cisco does not support 64bit OS). But I solved that by running Virtual PC and running a session with XP whenever I need to use VPN to the office (I'm a sys admin during the day). Google apps (toolbar, calendar sync) say they are not 64bit compliant, but I'm running calendar sync without any problems. |
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Hassel Weems, Photographer
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Locust Grove (Atlanta) | GA | USA | Posted: 5:40 PM on 01.19.09 |
->> I run Photo Mechanic and CS3 on Gateway laptop I bought over a year ago at Best Buy for $800. It runs both apps just fine.
32bit Vista, by the way. |
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Jason Johns, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Biddeford | ME | USA | Posted: 6:06 PM on 01.19.09 |
->> Office 2007, CS3, Lightroom, PM all run well on a 18 month old Gateway that cost me $850 back then. I upgraded the HDD & maxed out the RAM & haven't had any problems aside from Vista quirks.
Check to see what the max RAM supported by the motherboard is. Even if the laptop is running x64, the mobo might not be able to hold much more RAM. (Mine maxes out at 2 gigs on Vista x32) |
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Richard Middleton, Photographer
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Charleston | SC | USA | Posted: 6:29 PM on 01.19.09 |
->> Jason;
The studio I have maxs at 4 (I'm running 4, btw). One option is also to use the ReadyBoost option in Vista - but I think you are only limited to a 2gb USB device. I've never tried it so I'm not sure what benefit, if any, you'd see.
Even though I'm running 4gb of RAM I still stick by the theory of minimizing the applications I have going when in Photoshop (usually only Outlook 07 and maybe iTunes - sometimes a FF session as well). |
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Chris Stanfield, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Atlanta | GA | USA | Posted: 12:02 PM on 01.21.09 |
| ->> Thank you for all of your help. Ended up going with an HP, AMD Dual Core, 4GB Ram, 350 GB HD, dedicated ATI graphics and Vista 64 bit. |
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