Not too sure what specs I need to scan for when starting my shopping spree. I need something fast, powerful, good for rapid and lengthy viewing of detailed photography. The more resolution, the better, and I need to be able to switch between photos without lag time in front of clients. I also need something that I can put a heckuva lot of data on, 120 gigs or more I do back up, but I don't want to sort through and load sections from my archive for a small file retrieval - my info is backed up on CD-R at the moment as I am in the market for another hard drive. I'm looking for a good price of course.

I am very particular about not purchasing a unit with Vista. I prefer Windows XP. I already own Windows XP so if I can legally (key word, here, I'm running my own business and need to be straight up) transfer the OS from one computer to the other, please let me know?

7/21/2008 2:32:13 AM

Particularly for your backup purposes (Apple's Time Machine software included with OS X is excellent), I think a Macbook or Macbook Pro with a 7200RPM drive would be perfect.

But if you really can't use Mac OS, the main things you're looking for is a fast hard drive, lots of RAM, and a higher-quality screen (the screen is what's going to cost you in a good laptop though).

[Edited on July 21, 2008 at 3:39 AM. Reason : ]

7/21/2008 3:38:50 AM

How would a fast hard drive translate in specs? Gigahertz? I might need more than 2 gig ram, 1 gig is not cutting it at the moment.

7/21/2008 6:19:07 AM

fast hard drive = RPM's. 5400 is standard, 7200 is fast

7/21/2008 7:01:24 AM

Why don't you go with a desktop. You can get an incredibly good system for a much better price. Also it would have a good graphics card in it.

[Edited on July 21, 2008 at 8:46 AM. Reason : ]

7/21/2008 8:46:18 AM

Quote :

"The more resolution, the better, and I need to be able to switch between photos without lag time in front of clients."

this has virtually nothing to do with the resolution (i say virtually because, technically, resolution DOES pay a small part, but it's insignificant)

Quote :

"I am very particular about not purchasing a unit with Vista. I prefer Windows XP."

good luck with that...if you don't want vista, your only real option is mac OS...i think dell still sells computers with XP, but i think that's only their desktops (i can't say for sure)...is there any particular reason you don't want vista, other than the fact that it's new to you and you're not used to it? you can make it look and behave a lot like XP

all that said, 2gb RAM is bare minimum (regardless of OS), and i would suggest 4gb for good measure (do that after-market, though, because you'll come out much cheaper than way)...and the 7200rpm drive is a good idea, but don't let it hold you back from the purchase...i don't think you'll see noticeable performance gain overall with it (though this is another thing you can pick up after-market for much cheaper if you want it in the future)

for what you're doing, look for a 15.4" screen...i, personally, like the 14" size, but you may like the larger one for displaying images to clients

^ i think it needs to be portable, so she can take it along to client meetings

[Edited on July 21, 2008 at 10:42 AM. Reason : .]

7/21/2008 10:41:59 AM

Get a Dell Precision M4300 laptop.



High end processor, high end graphics card, comes with XP as a downgrade option, WUXGA (1920x1200) screen available


same size as any other commercial laptop you'll get out there (15.4", ~6lbs)



if you want to be able to show your clients full resolution images (or close to full resolution), you're going to be hard-pressed to find a better screen to do it on, even with a 17" consumer grade lappy

7/21/2008 10:47:06 AM