New PC / Laptop Advice

John Young

John Young

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I will soon be replacing my laptop and just wondering what people use for their photo editing ?

At the moment I have a HP ENVY dv7 which is not a bad laptop which has an i7 processor 8GB Ram and is 64bit

I don't really want to go down the Mac route as my software is all Windows based and I am quite looking forward to trying Windows 10

So what PC / Laptop does anyone recommend (and I don't want to be building one)

I personally would think the boxes to tick are

Max RAM possible

A Fast processor

A dedicated fastish graphics card

A large HD and possibly a solid state drive to load windows from for speed.

A very good large screen


Does that sound about right ? should I maybe go for Desktop over Laptop ?
 
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What is your budget? Do you currently like to edit on your desk with your laptop or be mobile from place to place?
 
The HP Envy already has a dedicated graphics card doesn't it? Although, for LR acceleration you need to use the graphics cards software to tell it to always run for LR.

Do you need to upgrade? Why not just slap some more RAM in that one and add a better external monitor?
 
Monitor wise have a look at the Dell UltraSharp U2515H and like mentioned above connect it to the Envy and use as a conventional desktop and put get some fast external hard drives and upgrade the Envy to SSD if it isn't already.
 
What's the full spec of your laptop? As above, sometimes an upgrade of a component or two is better than replacing the whole computer.
 
Thanks for the replies..... I had not really thought of adding a new screen to this laptop

The specs of my current laptop are

Windows 8.1

Intel HD 4000 Graphics + Nivida Geforce GT 630M

8 GB Ram

Twin 900GB Hard drives

CD/DVD Recorder / Player

To be honest it will be near the end of the year if I do replace I am just looking at options early
 
What is wrong with the one you have if you don't mind me asking, windows 10 should download on your PCs July 29th ish
If you have had the notice asking you to reserve it. ( window logo on right hand bottom of screen if you have been notified)
 
John Young said:
should I maybe go for Desktop over Laptop ?
Click to expand...
For the following reasons I would always buy a desktop for photo processing over a laptop.
1. Desktops are not forced to under clock processors to manage heat dissipation issues.
2. Ability to utilise a proper graphics card not one that is underclocked to to manage heat dissipation issues.
3. User chooses monitor not laptop manufacturer
4.A desktop computer allows for better hard disk configurations.
 
Digisatman said:
What is wrong with the one you have if you don't mind me asking, windows 10 should download on your PCs July 29th ish
If you have had the notice asking you to reserve it. ( window logo on right hand bottom of screen if you have been notified)
Click to expand...

Actually the only real reason is the reasons quoted below from redsnappa - but for me mainly for the bigger better display that has better viewing angles than a laptop

redsnappa said:
For the following reasons I would always buy a desktop for photo processing over a laptop.
1. Desktops are not forced to under clock processors to manage heat dissipation issues.
2. Ability to utilise a proper graphics card not one that is underclocked to to manage heat dissipation issues.
3. User chooses monitor not laptop manufacturer
4.A desktop computer allows for better hard disk configurations.
Click to expand...
 
Dell Precision M3800, Dell Dock and 2 x Dell UltraSharp Monitors = Perfect combination for performance, mobility and "office machine"
 
have you considered an SSD upgrade. I just did this and it makes my laptop fly. Mines only a i5 processor Asus, that's about 4 yrs old and its only got 6GB of memory.

also, you could just get an external monitor too.
 
If it were me I would keep the laptop, add an SSD and buy decent external monitor.
That way you can take the laptop with you if needed or it can sit on the desk at home plugged into an external screen.
 
Thanks for the ideas ....... I did try a monitor I had plugged into laptop but it all seemed a little weird with the laptop screen and this big monitor beside it
 
I normally use my laptop closed with an external monitor, keyboard & mouse through a USB hub, so when I get to work I just plug 3 cables in (power, monitor, USB) and it runs like a desktop.
 
John Young said:
Thanks for the ideas ....... I did try a monitor I had plugged into laptop but it all seemed a little weird with the laptop screen and this big monitor beside it
Click to expand...

You can just close the laptop lid and the external monitor will become your actual screen.
You can also use one of the screens as the primary and the other as an extended desktop.
 
Hmmm I never tried that... Supposed the laptop would go to sleep if I closed the lid. Thanks ... So what monitor is good
 
ancient_mariner said:
I normally use my laptop closed with an external monitor, keyboard & mouse through a USB hub, so when I get to work I just plug 3 cables in (power, monitor, USB) and it runs like a desktop.
Click to expand...

When I was working, that is how I used my laptop for probably 90% of the time. Had an HP Elite series on a docking station, with nice screen, Bluetooth keyboard and wireless trackball (don't like a mouse for spreadsheet use, does my elbow in). Most of the time I had my e-mail inbox on the laptop screen and Word, Excel or PowerPoint open on the main monitor.

Since retiring I probably use my iPad most of the time for web stuf and went over to the dark side (iMac 27) for photo, music and office type stuff.
 
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John Young said:
Hmmm I never tried that... Supposed the laptop would go to sleep if I closed the lid. Thanks ... So what monitor is good
Click to expand...
You can configure how the laptop behaves when you close the lid. I think it's in the power options menu..
 
John Young said:
Hmmm I never tried that... Supposed the laptop would go to sleep if I closed the lid. Thanks ... So what monitor is good
Click to expand...

Go into the Control Panel and find the 'Power Options'
Then click on 'Choose what closing the lid does' in the left hand menu.
Finally, select 'Do Nothing' for the closing the lid option.

That way, you can plug your external monitor in, close the lid on the laptop and effectively use the laptop as a desktop with the external screen.

Thanks
 
I like using both screens. Applications on the big one. File manager and side tasks like email and things that take a long time with a progress bar, on the little one.
 
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