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Any recommendations on a midsize laptop for CS2

post #1 of 15
2/19/06 at 5:16pm
Thread Starter 
Hello everyone. I am in a bit of a dilema right now. I am looking to get a new laptop and I have around $1500 to spend. I will be using it for light to moderate photoshop and indesign CS2 work. I had three Thinkpad T43s before that died when I put in a 7200 RPM hard drive (the drive was listed a compatible by IBM/Lenovo as well). I am thinking about three computers right now...

Thinkpad T43
2GHz Centrino
512MB DDR2 (plus a 1GB chip I have around from the last one)
CDRW/DVD Combo Drive
14.1" 1400x1050 Display
60GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive
64MB Radeon X300 PCI Express
Windows XP Pro
3yr Warranty

Dell Latitude D610
1.86GHz Centrino
512MB DDR2 (plus a 1GB chip I have around from the last one)
Dual Layer DVD/CDRW Drive
14.1" 1400x1050 Display
60GB 7,200 RPM Hard Drive
64MB Radeon X300 PCI Express
Windows XP Home
3yr Warranty

Apple PowerBook 12"
1.5GHz PowerPC G4
512MB DDR Ram (the 1GB chip would go to waste)
Superdrive DVD Burner / CD Burner Combo (Single Layer)
12" 1024x768 Display
80GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive
GeForce 5200 64BM Graphics
Mac OSX 10.4.4
1yr Warranty

All three computers are very close in price with the IBM being the highest at $1499. Which of these would suite me best for my needs (Photoshop, InDesign, Internet, E-mail, Office and some gaming)? I look forward to your opinions. Thanks!
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post #2 of 15
2/19/06 at 5:18pm
ALIENWARE SENTIA!
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post #3 of 15
2/19/06 at 6:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrispy
Hello everyone. I am in a bit of a dilema right now. I am looking to get a new laptop and I have around $1500 to spend. I will be using it for light to moderate photoshop and indesign CS2 work. I had three Thinkpad T43s before that died when I put in a 7200 RPM hard drive (the drive was listed a compatible by IBM/Lenovo as well). I am thinking about three computers right now...

Thinkpad T43
2GHz Centrino
512MB DDR2 (plus a 1GB chip I have around from the last one)
CDRW/DVD Combo Drive
14.1" 1400x1050 Display
60GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive
64MB Radeon X300 PCI Express
Windows XP Pro
3yr Warranty

Dell Latitude D610
1.86GHz Centrino
512MB DDR2 (plus a 1GB chip I have around from the last one)
Dual Layer DVD/CDRW Drive
14.1" 1400x1050 Display
60GB 7,200 RPM Hard Drive
64MB Radeon X300 PCI Express
Windows XP Home
3yr Warranty

Apple PowerBook 12"
1.5GHz PowerPC G4
512MB DDR Ram (the 1GB chip would go to waste)
Superdrive DVD Burner / CD Burner Combo (Single Layer)
12" 1024x768 Display
80GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive
GeForce 5200 64BM Graphics
Mac OSX 10.4.4
1yr Warranty

All three computers are very close in price with the IBM being the highest at $1499. Which of these would suite me best for my needs (Photoshop, InDesign, Internet, E-mail, Office and some gaming)? I look forward to your opinions. Thanks!
NO apple if your gaming, suposed to have very few games, I can only think of WoW and Quake ...

IDK about the others..
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post #4 of 15
2/19/06 at 6:17pm
The Sentia isn't going to be of much use for gaming due to its integrated graphics. If you want something in a 14-inch form factor that can handle light gaming, try the Asus W3v, MSI MS-1022, or Compal FL30.

If you want something a bit larger that can handle heavier gaming, I recommend the Quanta KN1-PM.

That being said, the IBM is a very good system, with excellent durability.
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post #5 of 15
2/19/06 at 8:22pm
Thread Starter 
Gaming is the last in the list of priorities. I'm more concerened about CS2 performance and overall business apps as a whole.
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post #6 of 15
2/19/06 at 8:40pm
iwould go with the ibm because 1.5 ghz and 1.86 ghz isn that fast but 2.ghx is fast. but the dell also has a fast harddrive.i would go with what you want.to save money get the lowest amount of ram then buy alot from newegg
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post #7 of 15
2/19/06 at 9:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by boomheadshot45
iwould go with the ibm because 1.5 ghz and 1.86 ghz isn that fast but 2.ghx is fast. but the dell also has a fast harddrive.i would go with what you want.to save money get the lowest amount of ram then buy alot from newegg
The difference between 1.86 and 2 ghz is virtually none at all.

Out of those, go with the Dell. However, the Dell screens are crap--I suggest you look into some nicer units in terms of that like Toshiba (which I own) and Sony. Or Fujitsu, if you can find them.
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post #8 of 15
2/19/06 at 11:02pm
if you are going to be using it a lot for design work then i would recommend getting as high resolution screen as possible along with if possible dedicated video. Are there any companies that offer high resolution 14 inch widescreens? Because these would probably be your best bet.
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post #9 of 15
2/19/06 at 11:31pm
Since CS2 is capable of using dual core processors, I would suggest getting one of the dual core processors that are now being introduced.

Several manufactures of notebooks are now incorporating these processors into there lines. I know that Dell has introduced at least one model. I think I read somewhere that Leveno will be introducing these processors as well.

Most of these computers are also being equipped with the new ATI video cards and these should handle most of your gaming requirements.

The best part is that prices for the notebooks with the dual core processors are right in your price range give or take a couple hundred dollars.

I would also suggest that if your primary concern is photo editing, to get a glossy screen instead of a matte screen. With a glossy screen, the colors are richer and produce more depth than that of a matte screen.

Hope this helps.
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post #10 of 15
2/20/06 at 12:04am
id buy that sony 13.3" laptop that has the 9700, cant remember the model . . . but it seems to suit your needs well
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post #11 of 15
2/20/06 at 4:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pflanagan
id buy that sony 13.3" laptop that has the 9700, cant remember the model . . . but it seems to suit your needs well
That was an older model of the Sony S series, no longer available. The most recent version has the Geforce Go 6400 instead (with TurboCache). The SZ series that replaced it has both integrated graphics and the Go 7400, which is a nice setup for something that small.
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post #12 of 15
2/20/06 at 10:37pm
Thread Starter 
What is a good brand that I can walk into a store like Best Buy or Staples and pickup? I have had bad luck with mail order stuff lately and I would rather not have another bad laptop that I have to wait 30 days to get my money back on.

I'm also considering just building my own computer for this and getting a really cheap laptop for random uses. What would be a good cheap laptop if I should choose to do that? Thanks all!
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post #13 of 15
2/21/06 at 12:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrispy
What is a good brand that I can walk into a store like Best Buy or Staples and pickup? I have had bad luck with mail order stuff lately and I would rather not have another bad laptop that I have to wait 30 days to get my money back on.

I'm also considering just building my own computer for this and getting a really cheap laptop for random uses. What would be a good cheap laptop if I should choose to do that? Thanks all!
Sony SZ series if you want to go the retail route.
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post #14 of 15
2/23/06 at 12:03am
Thread Starter 
I'm trying to decide between the Sony FJ270P/B and the Thinkpad T43. The Sony I can have now and the Thinkpad will take a few weeks. The Sony has a larger hard drive and better looking display but the Thinkpad is thiner and has a 2.0GHz processor. I don't know which one to go with.
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post #15 of 15
2/23/06 at 7:15am
I'd bet that IBM has better long term durability and better service, but I don't know how things have changed after Lenovo took the reins.
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