Graphics Design Machine

Welcome! and I primarily use my laptop for the same reasons as you!. I use Creative suite, Quark, Dreamweaver, etc. Here are some suggestions:

1. Double your memory IMMEDIATELY! You are gonna run out quick. I can exceed my 1GB easily. I repeat... easily.

2. Your screen is a 16:10 screen. When you run the widescreen resolutions (1280x800, 1680x1050, etc) you are not distorting or stretching the display at all. You just get some more screen space on the edges. If you take a pic of 1680x1050 on the lappy and a pic of 1600x1200 on a desktop with the same pic on screen, you will see that the 2 resolutions are pretty much the same. the lappy just has "Extra" room on the sides. I use 1920x1200 (WUXGA). It gives me the hi-rez crispness I desire, and my Graphics tools can be pushed to the side, giving me more workspace.

3. Your display is NOT capable of displaying 1600x1200. You need to iupgrade your screen to WUXGA. The WUXGA (1920x1200) is the widescreen equivalent to UXGA (1600x1200). You just get 160 extra pixels on each side of the screen.

OH! And since when is 4:3 the only ratio utilized in web and graphics design? My teacher is getting a widescreen now after seeing how much nicer it is than a normal "square". Just learn how to use it.

NOW! you have mislead yourself.... My lappy came with the 9700/128 initially. That is a good card. These laptops have a very high "native resolution", in your case 1680x1050. You NEED to run that resolution to maintain pixel accuracy and width. You will run into havok and distortion if you dont (trust me)... That is why, IMO, that the 9700/64 would be underpowered for me. I would have at least got the 128 card for the extra bump the memory will give when using your software. I did upgrade to the 9800/256.... Overkill! but nice!

Or of course, you can use an external monitor.

If you are interested, I am selling my MR9700/128 for $65 + ground fees to anyone in the U.S. (too much of a pain to ship overseas.)

Other than that, your machine will kick arse in graphics design. People will drool.

Hey,
Welcome to our forum. I am a Graphic Designer, so I feel qualified to answer this question. I don't use my XPS for my designing. It is too much of a hassle. I have a desktop for this.
Peace,
Roided

I also do design work, (web and print), and at work I hook my machine to Dual 19" external monitors running a paultry 1280x1024. Its great for web design as I get a realistic picture of what my web pages are going to look like for real people who would never in a million years run 96DPI on a 1920x1280. Sometimes I even run one of the externals at 800 x 600 just to see what the lowest common denominator will see.

That being said Whack is dead on about everything. The most important point being you need a GIG of RAM, period. Your video card is fine for All 2d work and some basic 3D gaming. 64Megs is enough video ram to run your screen and an external monitor at 1600x1200 or less - your 4:3 ratio. My old matrox 32 meg card could do that.

the MR9700/128 will work great. For now.

The MR9800/256 will work excellent. For quite a while.

Here is the answer-
If you do 2d graphics and prepress (brochures, cards, banners, etc) You need not worry so much about the "Powerhouse" cards like the MR9800, as you will not be doing any hardcore 3d work. I would consider the 128M version of the 9700 tho'

If you wish to do 3D in the future, you will regret not having the 9800/256.

I do have a desktop that I use as backup and storage. I love lappy because I can do design work anywhere.... the client, home, office...

Just dont get your ram from Dell... lol.... unless you have an extra arm laying around somewhere. Crucial seems to be an excellent choice.

agree with whack all the way...if u are looking for some performance ram, maybe corsair with the 2.5 timing would also be good for a gander?

I'm sorry, but this was a completely worthelss post, and did very little to help answer the original posters' questions. The XPS is perfectly suited to doing design work, even more so if you have an external monitor. I mean, the thing basically IS a desktop, with mostly desktop parts, so what else do you need? I'm a graphic designer/photographer, and find the XPS just fine for doing almost any of my work.

That's your opinion. It gives me a headache. I prefer doing my design work on a Desktop. The specs in my Desktop are much better than those in my XPS. He asked for an opinion, so I gave him mine without going into a longwinded explanation comparing specs and touting the design capabilities of the XPS. Why is it when somebody posts an opinion different than someone elses, people assume that the post was a waste? I've seen this more than once on here. Your post was a waste.
Peace,
Roided

Um, you might want to try re-reading the orginal post. No where does he ask for people's opinion. He had a question about the LCD screen. I do have to thank you though, for trying to put words into my mouth. I never assumed that your post was a waste because your 'opinion differs', rather than he never asked for your opinion in the first place. But as you say, I'm done 'wasting posts'. Good eve.

if you're going to do any graphics work, I'd highly recommend using your video-out to a high end CRT monitor. I use my 9100 for all of my adobe and macromedia work with absolute ease and would highly recommend it if you need a portable desktop (aka desktop replacement).

I would have gotten the wuxga, but opted to go with the sxga to afford the ati 9800 card (again, since most of my work is video-out with my 21" sony CRT)...so that's an option for you if you want to go with a higher end video card.

No clue what "hassle" roid has. Guess that info is in his sig

The fact that he even had to make a post about the problems he is encountering by trying to use his XPS to do design work....that is a hassle to me. I have no hassles while doing professional design work on my desktop. This leads me to my opinion. Why is everyone having such a problem with it?

Peace,
Roided

Dont you love how people get off topic sometimes....
Then the flame war starts....

I like the spirit of your post. I've been bitten here once when said that games run 3 times better on a desktop, so xps/9100 cannot "kick ass in games"...

try taking that desktop with you... and see how much moving it kicks YOUR ass...

Lappys rule.

Easy, there is no need to touch my behind. I'm well aware that many of you use one notebook for everything. I've bought a notebook especially to carry it with me. But when I'm home I prefer to play games on more powerful computer and watch movies on bigger screen. Different hardware for different purpouses. I'm also well aware that I'm not able to dispute with fanatics and patriots.

I am Roided Up. Lifting desktops is no problem to me. I have an XPS and a desktop. I use the XPS to show my work to clients, but do all of the designing on my desktop. Fewer headaches.
Peace,
Roided

I guess it all depends how youre set up and what kind of peripherals you have too...