Laptop advice - screen res

elven

So, I use a Lenovo R500 at work and it's time to get my own laptop. (Windows user, don't try to change my mind...!)

I'm looking around the €800 mark.

It's for photo processing (mostly lightroom with a bit of photoshop, files from my 5dii come out at about 30mb each and I'm working with 10-20gb in each import), so I figure I'm prioritising processor, ram and graphics card. I'm not against the concept of buying something with 4gb and installing an extra 4 myself, if it works out cheaper.

I'd rather not go smaller than 15", although I will be using an external monitor too.

I've been looking at this sort of thing or the E530 and what confuses me is that the resolution is listed as 1366 x 768 even though the R500 I'm using just now I've got at 1680x1050and it's a good few years old?! And that seems to be as good as it gets until you fork out €2k for a full HD screen.

What am I missing here? Is it because we've switched from TFT to LED?

Alanstrainor

For whatever reason laptop screens have failed to advance in the last 5 years or so. The resolutions are for the most part crap in the sub 1000 price range. I honestly don't understand it but it's just a fact of life at this stage.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than I will be along with some actual suggestions, just thought I'd rant a bit!

elven

Ah, well, I haven't been in the market for one personally so I wondered if I was missing something, at least now I know I'm not going mad...

Torqay

The ThinkPad L530 is available with a 1600x900 display. ~ €1,000 with 8 GB RAM.

Torqay

Cheaper to configure the Optimus IV to your needs.

Full HD 1920x1080, Core i7 Quad, 8 GB RAM, GTX 660M GPU w 2 GB, 128 GB SSD. 807 Sterling and it has a 2nd bay to fit an additional HDD.

elven

Not sure if I can push it up to a grand, I might have to compromise elsewhere if that's the story with teh screens these days. Or, go for something with a mediocre screen butw ith a graphics card that can support a higher res on an external monitor.

That pcspecialist site is rather addictive, but far too easy to rack up the components - and the price!

Torqay

elven wrote: »

Not sure if I can push it up to a grand, I might have to compromise elsewhere if that's the story with teh screens these days. Or, go for something with a mediocre screen butw ith a graphics card that can support a higher res on an external monitor.

That pcspecialist site is rather addictive, but far too easy to rack up the components - and the price!

If you don't need an operating system, the same config is £99 cheaper. It's probably cheaper to buy Windows OEM separately anyway.

But it doesn't get much better for under 1,000 yoyos.

Stark

Alanstrainor wrote: »

For whatever reason laptop screens have failed to advance in the last 5 years or so.

Probably because 5 years ago people didn't expect laptops for €500. Unfortunately it's like talking to a wall when you're recommending a laptop to someone and trying to explain that they're getting a **** screen for their money.

Thanks for the recommendations Torqay, have been tearing my hair out trying to find a non-Mac laptop these days with decent screen.

elven

Yep I understand that I might not get absolutely everything I want for the price that I want, so I get that I might have to compromise somewhere else if I'm set on a decent screen. Or hold out until I have the extra money for the full spec. I'm not even sure how much difference the processor will make for the stuff I'm doing, it could be better to budget more for ram and less for a quad core i7 whatever...

thenightrider

Would you give any thought to a desktop you would get a lot lot more for your money ? They are great for the type of work you want to do

Torqay

Well, may that as it be, but you're about to spend a lot of money and rather than saving at the wrong end you should consider spending a few quid more.

You mentioned image processing, when working with big RAW material, you'll embrace all the processing power (i.e. CPU cores) and system memory you can get. With this budget, you shouldn't settle for anything less than a Core i7 Quad and 8 GB RAM. A decent GPU is a bonus as Photoshop benefits from AMD and Nvidia hardware acceleration.

elven

I keep thinking about it but I'm just too used to having a laptop already, and there are situations where I'd want to be able to process photos on location...

elven

Torqay wrote: »

Well, may that as it be, but you're about to spend a lot of money and rather than saving at the wrong end you should consider spending a few quid more.

I know, but you could say the same about anything, you do get what you pay for and I just have to decide if I'm willing to compromise on performance - you're right that it is a lot of money - and a grand is even more, so I won't be throwing it around lightly!

When I originally posted the thread I just wondered if there was something I was missing about the whole screen resolution thing - now I know that's just what you get for the money and I have to make a call on it...

Torqay

Well, if you don't mind a 1366x768 display, then have a look at this 15.6" Tosh at Komplett.

70 Euro cheaper than the Lenovo Z580, much faster processor (the 3612QM in the Lenny is a low power CPU, easier on the battery but slower than the 3610QM) and a better GPU. Considering the specs and the price, it's the better deal.

elven

Torqay wrote: »

Well, if you don't mind a 1366x768 display, then have a look at this 15.6" Tosh at Komplett.

70 Euro cheaper than the Lenovo Z580, much faster processor (the 3612QM in the Lenny is a low power CPU, easier on the battery but slower than the 3610QM) and a better GPU. Considering the specs and the price, it's the better deal.

How did I miss that one on my trawl through komplett before? Looks like the graphics card can handle up to 2560x1600 on an external monitor which could do the job, and that's got the 8gb ram and a decent processor, it might be the overall solution that works.

Thanks for the advice, I've been there with recommending cameras to people and I know it's hard work...

Torqay

And if your want to treat yourself to something really nice with all the money you have saved, get this SAMSUNG 830 SSD.

Don't forget a 2.5" enclosure for the spare HDD.