my laptop is about to die and...

since i'm a translator, it's basically my only work tool.
i'm looking for a new laptop, and this one seemed reasonably priced:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8032531&st=A105-S4284&type=product&id=1157067806867

do you guys think it will be decent enough as to process raw pictures? i'll be using it mostly for word documents, and i'm sure it will be more than enough for that, but i don't know that much about processors.
thanks
--

the processor is a little slow for my taste, but with it being a dual core and all of that ram....it'll do the trick. nothing lightning fast or anything...but it will work.

Have Fun - - Be Safe

thanks, let me ask you this, then.
i have a toshiba now too, and the processor is 2.0 (celeron), not duo core, etc.

right now, aside from the problems the laptop is having, it's pretty good at processing/editing pictures. do you think i should expect about the same performance - do you think they might be comparable?
thanks
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When processing pictures what you really want to look at is memory. The 1GB the new laptop has should be adequate.

I looked over the other laptops in that price range and I'd pick between the one you posted and the Gateway at the same price. The Gateway is pretty much identical but with a 160GB hard drive over the Toshiba's 100GB. If you plan on storing lots of pictures that could be a consideration.

I like the style of the Toshiba better, but I know Gateway has good support.

--
~ Suddenly I See ~

This will completely blow your celeron away - especially if you are using photoshop or another app that makes good use of multiple processor cores. You will find it noticeably quicker with any apps with the processing power increase and quicker/more memory.

That laptop is probably better than most people's desktops (mine included and I am a bit of a hardware geek).

Have fun with it!

Hi again!

You may want to check out Dell, they are running some great holiday specials:

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspn_e1505?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

This one is a real Core Duo processor and would be better than the Centrino.... I added a larger hard drive and a DVD burner for fun and still came out $79 less than the toshiba you mentioned.

Might be worth a look... you could add a better warranty and still come out less. Just a suggestion.

I don't remember if you are in the states or not? Couldn't judge on shipping.

Good luck.
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Dave Sutton
http://dlsutton.zenfolio.com

I just look at the memory this one is expandable to 4gig great but money, this one has two 512 sticks so you have to dump them to upgrade. also hard drive rpm speed is important, this one seems the norm. You will see a great improvement over you celron that is on the lamb. I think you will be suprised how fast the difference is. I hate shared video cards but this is not a big deal the way you may use it anyways.
--
Really I am smiling

I have a MacBook Pro with a Core Duo 2.16ghz and it's very fast. Even the lower clocked Core Duo's are very fast.

Looks pretty good to me, but I recommend ordering it with at least 2GB DRAM.
--
Roger (W6VZV)
Huntington Harbour, California
Surf City, USA

'I want to die peacefully, in my sleep, like my Grandfather...'
Not screaming, and in terror, like his passengers...'

I have an HP with the 17" screen- That was the selling point for me - the dual processors give it enough speed (Only one snag..Elements has a problem with the dual processors and crashes when loading RAW files so I use Picture Project for that) - I run Capture NX, Picture Project and Elements 4 (for final processing -cloning, etc..)
The laptop is an nx9420

Also, I'd not recommend 17" laptop if you travel alot. It's larger=heavier; and due to it's larger screen it'll drain battery much faster.

As far as widescreen goes, do you edit a lot of text documents? If so, you may like regular screens better, they are taller and fit text pages better.

Have you considered a MacBook? Great for photos and creativity...runs MS Office if you must as well as windows if you need to. Really great notebook.
--
Dan
D80

I was advised to not chose Centrino for pictures and video work.
gk
--
'I'm not as smart today as I will be tomorrow.'

If you get a dell Laptop you had better get a 3 year on sight warentee. They don't last like Toshiba.

Morris
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http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/~morris/POD

Hey Morris,

For the first time actually I disagree

I have a ton of them in service at work and havent' had much issue at all. I have friends that have bought Toshibas for personal use and of the two I know both have been back to Toshiba for major repairs... one has been back twice. They have both since moved to other brands... one to Dell and the other to Apple.

Both Dell, IBM, and Apple have had battery issues, but in terms of standing up we have had zero issues with Dell. We shot in the jungles of Panama for 6 months on our last film with them too. In my book IBM, Apple, Dell, and HP are the cream of the crop if you can afford them.

I can't say the same of the Toshibas that I know of in use. Your experiences may be different.

A major differentiation between the vendors is how the handle service and support. Something to think about.

My ten cents.
--
Dave Sutton
http://dlsutton.zenfolio.com

btw, I highly recommend anyone purchasing a laptop to get a great warranty plan regardless of the manufacturer - especially if you are going to be traveling out of country.

--
Dave Sutton
http://dlsutton.zenfolio.com

I recommend you check out the notebook's display for color accuracy.

Most notebook computers I've seen are rather lacking in this area -- including my own. Despite using a display calibration device on my notebook, the colors and tonal range do not compare to my desktop displays.

Of course you can always use a separate desktop display with the laptop if needed.

Steve

If you only work at home buy a desktop, if you actually work outside of the house with your laptop now buy another one. Convenience costs you almost twice.

For my desktop I use

AMD 3800+ dualcore
2GB ram
ATI 1800XT video card
160GB HD
17 inch Dell Trinitron flat CRT (LCD flat panels don't show you true black)

For my laptop I use

AMD 52 dualcore
2GB dual channel ram
120GB space
ATI 1100 video card

I would recommend a look at newegg.com if you live in the US, same with tigerdirect.com. I would only use 2GB ram because filling up your system slows down your ram so you lose your speed burst

Don't worry about the harddrive being so large if you would rather save hundreds in the future by getting CD or DVD's to burn to.

I would look at an ACER, their higher end brands have the best screens on the market, they are almost unbelieveable they are that good.

On my desktop I can edit photos faster then my laptop but not many. I can open 16 raw files at 300DPI and 3008X2000 without problems but the processing is a shade slower then my desktop.

Intel runs hotter and is more expensive, AMD is the professional computer gamers choice and I do both that and photography and would never consider an INTEL for so many reasons.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bmmckinney

Dave,

I think it depends on whch models you get. In any case if you want good samples take a look at the anual reveiws for repairs in PC Mag. It is scary and your advice to get a contract is very good unless you know how to fix laptops and not many of us do.

Morris
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http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/~morris/POD

if you can afford it, buy a macbook, unless you have alot of money invested in windows software like photoshop, but otherwise it will be alot easier and hasslefree to use a mac. i have a dell and love it, but if i was to do it over again i think i would buy a mac.