I am an advanced amateur photographer looking purchasing a laptop using on all my indoor and outdoor photo shoting, as I shot on the same time picture appear on the laptop monitor to check the quality of each shot and save. What type Laptop? Is Dell a good choice? Which hardware? Which Software?
Thank you
Its funny that these discussions show up on a photo forum and not in a computer tech forum.
I believe that something like this was discussed a while back.... oh yeah... it was here:
http://thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126122
as in that thread that I posted in I will post here..
I did not read any ones reply to this post before writing this because I do not want anyone to feel like I'm bashing their intelligence in any way.
I am a computer tech (hardware, repair, networking) and have been for 12 years. What I will tell you comes only from experience.
There are several questions you will need to ask your self before even considering the questions you have asked us.
1. will this be your only system for photo editing and everyday use?
2. what type of system do you have now?
3. is this replacing/upgrading a system you have now, or is this system only going to be used on sites to display images taken with your camera?
4. How deep are your pockets?
5. and I probably missed a few..
as you have probably read from all the previous posts, that I have not read yet, there are people that will tell you their likes and dislikes and this is better than that and so on.. well.. I am going to do the same, but I will tell you all of this from a technical standpoint and be as neutral as possible.
First thing you will need to know is that a laptop is not the best way to edit or store photos.. it doesn't matter if it is a MAC or a PC.
This is why...
There is this thing called a hard drive in ALL laptops that is subject to damage EVERY time the machine is moved. You have to ask your self.. How important are the items on my laptop.
Now if you are simply wanting a laptop to show off the images after you take them to show your clients and then edit/store them on a DESKTOP machine elsewhere.. then really your pocket book is the limit. I personally would buy a toshiba or a lenovo, but that is personal and I'm not getting into that. From a technical stand point.. I'd stick with a big name PC and ALWAYS get the extended warranty. I would not go with a MAC simply because they are more expensive to work on if need be.. but if cost is no issue then a MAC is s great laptop especially since the screens are calibrated. If you want to go with a MAC you have to think about compatibility with what you are already using, other wise be prepaired to spend more money.
If you just want the laptop to check the quality of the photos before saving.. then you are wasting your time.. get a large memory card and shoot shoot shoot and shoot.. check your images later and toss the ones that did not come out. If you cant seem to get your photos like you want them, then you just need more practice at taking photos.
I could go on and on and on about the subject of what computer system is better and how to manage photos and data and things people probably never think of. Bottom line is.. what works for me will not work for everyone, because people are ignorant when it comes to technology. in fact.. I just recovered all the photos from an external hard drive from a photographer (including our engagement photos), because she did things different. She has now changed the way she does things, but a lot of people are stuck in their ways and will not change unless something catestrophic happens to them to make them change.
Think hard about what you want and ask yourself more questions.. If you have more questions feel free to ask.
..now to go read all the replies to this post.. yay!
