Laptop recommendations?

defyalllogic · Apr 24, 2010

my laptop is dead...

i need a new one. so far i know it needs to:

be light.
run the Adobe Suite (some time 3 programs at once)
go on line.
run writing software.
travel with me like every day.
...

Margarita Skies · Apr 24, 2010

In that case I recommend a netbook, as a netbook is much lighter than a laptop, and it can run 3 programs at once, but not more than three. Also it can go online and run writing software. Obviously, because of the light weight it can go anywhere with you.

Shadow_Ferret · Apr 24, 2010

What's your price point?

defyalllogic · Apr 24, 2010

no real price point yet. if it's worth it it's worth it.

is an netbook powerful enough to run the adobe suite (photoshop, illustrator, indesign, etc)?

petec · Apr 25, 2010

what Lisa said

Photoshop requirements

ETA.

Lisa

Sevilla · Apr 25, 2010

Mine died about a month ago, and I bought this little baby. It's so lightweight, it doesn't heat up even though I use it on my lap (I know, I know, not supposed to do that) and has great battery life and a supremely long cord for when you do want to plug it in. I got the pretty silver one.

Very happy with it, and a good price, too.

Margarita Skies · Apr 25, 2010

Sevilla said:
Mine died about a month ago, and I bought this little baby. It's so lightweight, it doesn't heat up even though I use it on my lap (I know, I know, not supposed to do that) and has great battery life and a supremely long cord for when you do want to plug it in. I got the pretty silver one.

Very happy with it, and a good price, too.

That is very, very pretty!!

NewKidOldKid · Apr 25, 2010

I have this netbook and I use Photoshop with no problems, so maybe it depends on which one you choose.

ejket · Apr 25, 2010

Sevilla said:
this little baby

That made my "add to shopping cart" finger twitch, but realistically, I just bought an Asus Eee last month, which I love. That looks like a sweet little machine, though.

Margarita Skies · Apr 25, 2010

ejket said:
That made my "add to shopping cart" finger twitch, but realistically, I just bought an Asus Eee last month, which I love. That looks like a sweet little machine, though.

That is one of the prettiest netbooks I have ever seen.

maestrowork · Apr 25, 2010

No, netbooks are not powerful enough and the screen is too small. Get a MacBook. PS suites are perfect fit for it, and it's light and small and spiffy. And hassle free.

benbradley · Apr 25, 2010

Lisa said:
No

NewKidOldKid said:
I have this netbook and I use Photoshop with no problems, so maybe it depends on which one you choose.

That's the "standard" netbook specs, my Toshiba NB-205 is the same (1.6GHz processor, 1G RAM, plenty of hard disk space). The Adobe page linked to shows two things netbooks don't meet: 1024x768 screen (netbooks are 1024x600, that's about an inch smaller in the vertical than "required), and DVD drive (but if you REALLY need that, you can PLUG IN an external DVD drive into a USB port).

maestrowork said:
No, netbooks are not powerful enough and the screen is too small. Get a MacBook. PS suites are perfect fit for it, and it's light and small and spiffy. And hassle free.

Worst case, netbooks (well, mine anyway, I presume others too) have a VGA connector to plug in an external monitor that you can run at higher resolution. When I use my netbook in the office (it's where I have it plugged n to recarge anyway) I use it with a 21" CRT set at 1400x1050. It'll run the monitor at 1600x1200, but only at 60Hz refresh, and I can see that flashing and it about give me fits, but 1400x1050 at 75Hz looks good.

You may well be happier running Adobe Bloatware (woops, did I just say that?) on a larger-screen, more expensive laptop with a faster processor and more RAM, but technically and apparently practically it CAN run on a netbook.

I don't have the latest and greatest of every software package on my netbook (except for Firefox), but it hasn't had a problem running anything I've loaded and run on it.

samoht9 · Apr 25, 2010

I second the Macbook. I used to run PS and DW on mine without a problem. Battery life is great and never had an issue with it. I've owned 2 HPs and a Compaq and had nothing but issues with them, specifically power plug needing to be soldered back after only a year.

If you are more a fan of PC computers my friend swears by Toshiba. I bought a Toshiba netbook on his recommendation and am very pleased. I know a netbook won't work for you, but I would assume Toshiba's laptops have as good a build quality as their netbooks.

defyalllogic · Apr 26, 2010

Thanks you guys! very helpful suggestions!

I'm not a Mac person though...

I found a great Samsung that's in the running. i do like that Asus.

maestrowork · Apr 26, 2010

The OP asked about a portable solution, so I think suggesting an external large screen monitor is kind of beside the point, since you can go with any computers then. And the problem is not just the screen size. It's RAM, etc. 1GB running Windows 7 Starter is not going to leave you much for the Adobe Suites.

maestrowork · Apr 26, 2010

defyalllogic said:
Thanks you guys! very helpful suggestions!

I'm not a Mac person though...

I found a great Samsung that's in the running. i do like that Asus.

Too bad. The Mac really is your best choice for running Adobe Suite.

espresso · Apr 27, 2010

Macbook. Wouldn't go back.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 27, 2010

maestrowork said:
The OP asked about s portable solution, so I think suggesting an external large screen monitor is kind of beside the point, since you can go with any computers then. And the problem is not just the screen size. It's RAM, etc. 1GB running Windows 7 Starter is not going to leave you much for the Adobe Suites.

Oh lord, no. What Ray said is right.

Adobe CS will work much more happily and much faster with around 4 gigs *for it*, in addition to the OS needs.

And I can't imagine a pro using it for any length of time on a laptop without and external monitor and something other than a trackpad or mouse as a pointing device; mostly I see artists favoring a graphic tablet and a trackball.

mario_c · Apr 27, 2010

Don't downplay the CPU speed because you can always upgrade RAM or tweak it easily, but your CPU cannot be updated realistically. Luckily, the kind of hardware Adobe demands is quite cheap, although Samsung is a premium brand - IOW you pay a lot more for the name.
When you say Adobe Suite "etc." are you running Flash, Premiere, After Effects? I have Flash CS4 on the Windows half of my computer (1.83 Ghz Dual core, 1GB RAM, 12GB HD partitioned off my Mac) and it doesn't exactly chug along. It runs fine but it chokes and crashes after a few hours. But then again, it can't handle the SP3 it insists it needs. Stupid updates...Anyway, if you do that work, particularly for a job, you may want to buy a second dedicated laptop.
Giving 2 cents from my top Mac (which also runs Windows XP if I have to

),
Mario C

Margarita Skies · Apr 28, 2010

I would get a MacBook if I could afford it.

I've used like 5 or 6 Windows operating systems without a problem (except Windows ME) so I'm sure I will have no problem getting used to a Mac.

I think you should try it.

Tirjasdyn · May 16, 2010

defyalllogic said:
no real price point yet. if it's worth it it's worth it.

is an netbook powerful enough to run the adobe suite (photoshop, illustrator, indesign, etc)?

HP tmt2...I just got one a few months ago and if you need adobe suite you do not want to be using a netbook.

The tmt2 is a convertible tablet pc with a wacom digitizer and touch screen. You can use both at once. Starts at $899 and there are coupons on the internet.

Adobe Suite is interchangeable from Mac to Pc anymore....it really doesn't matter which you use it on. And I use it on both daily in case you're wondering where I get this opinion from.

Laptop recommendations?

defyalllogic

i'm a girl. (i have tendonitis)

Margarita Skies

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

defyalllogic

i'm a girl. (i have tendonitis)

petec

Lurking

Sevilla

Margarita Skies

NewKidOldKid

diplomat

ejket

Noobus Perpetuus

Margarita Skies

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

samoht9

defyalllogic

i'm a girl. (i have tendonitis)

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

espresso

figuring it all out

Deleted member 42

mario_c

Your thoughts are not real...

Margarita Skies

Tirjasdyn

Outline Maven