Notebook for photo editing (D800 RAW)

Ade

The EliteBook is a business-class laptop which is why it has VGA (for projectors). But it also has DisplayPort which is a digital connector supported by many (but not all) of the higher-end monitors.

Most consumer-oriented monitors have HDMI instead on the digital side. You can buy a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter for around $20. Or use the monitor's analog VGA connector but I wouldn't recommend it.

If you want to spend $$$$, that EliteBook is actually one of the very few laptops with an IPS wide-gamut display option -- called DreamColor in HP's marketing speak -- capable of displaying not only all of sRGB but about 97% of AdobeRGB as well. It's probably the finest LCD available on a laptop from any manufacturer.

At $2500 list it's not cheap, but about the same price as a mid-configuration 15" Retina Macbook Pro.

safyre

If you don't mind some extra size, Asus makes some great gaming laptops that are probably the best bang for the buck in terms of specs. The one I have I bought around a year and a half ago for $750 and it has a 2nd gen i7 2ghz processor, 16gb ram, GTX460M vid card, and 750gb hd. The computer can handle pretty much everything I throw at it and really is a great desktop replacement. Another important but overlooked thing is that it has a great cooling and vent system which means it never overheats even when overclocked and running at max power. This is something that I realized happens a lot with smaller compact notebooks since it is easier for the heat to get trapped in. Definitely something to look at if you don't want to shell out a 300% premium for a comparable Macbook.

Yetibuddha

Asus has notebooks with HDMI

kanuck

Now that I have my D800e camera back with my graduate studies complete, I was wondering if anyone here is using a ASUS gaming laptop to process their D800 RAW files? I am really interested in purchasing an ASUS with a 17" screen, 3.4 GHZ I7 processor, 1 TB hardrive, 2 GB video card and 32 GB of RAM. This runs for well over 2 grand I know, but I think it is a solid 5 year investment that can handle almost anything you could throw at it. What do you guys think?

sevencrossing

but I think it is a solid 5 year investment that can handle almost anything you could throw at it. What do you guys think?

my experience of using laptops ( Dell and HP) for photo editing is they last about 3 years
they tend to run a bit hot and need to sit on fan base
but things may have improved and I have not tried an ASUS
lap tops seems to run slower than similar spec towers

proudgeek

my experience of using laptops ( Dell and HP) for photo editing is they last about 3 years

+1
I tend to replace a laptop every three years or so.

Currently editing D800 files using a MacBook Pro with Retina display (+ a 27" external monitor). 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7 with 16 gigs of RAM. Have had no speed or overheating issues.

Golf007sd

5 year time horizon for a laptop is way to optimistic...given the every changing world of camera equipment. I agree a 3 year is about right...at least for me. I'm still hoping for a new 17" laptop from Apple. Will not go to windows and 15" is just not up to par for me.

proudgeek

Golf, if you haven't tried it, I'd highly recommend the Apple 27" monitor. Granted, it's not every portable, but if you do a majority of your editing at a desk it's an awesome solution. I've had one for several years. There is a rumor of a Retina version of the external monitor, but I'm not sure if there's any substance to that.

Golf007sd

Golf, if you haven't tried it, I'd highly recommend the Apple 27" monitor. Granted, it's not every portable, but if you do a majority of your editing at a desk it's an awesome solution. I've had one for several years. There is a rumor of a Retina version of the external monitor, but I'm not sure if there's any substance to that.

I have played with the 27"...it is truly a great display. But I usually do all my edit and stuff while the laptop is on my lap or on my chest while in bed....LoL! Maybe one day I will buy a iMac and get my tail behind a desk. :P

PB_PM

5 year time horizon for a laptop is way to optimistic...given the every changing world of camera equipment. I agree a 3 year is about right...at least for me. I'm still hoping for a new 17" laptop from Apple. Will not go to windows and 15" is just not up to par for me.

You could be waiting a very, very long time. Like, forever.
:P

Golf007sd

@PB_PM: [-O< ] (

sevencrossing

or on my chest while in bed

here at NRF we love spending your money and we have a simple but expensive solution



with a internet TV , an HMDI connection you use a iPod to control the TV

Golf007sd

Ohh my...that is would be cool. Just one problem...I already have a very nice 45" HDTV in my room on the wall...WIFI, Apple TV, etc...etc..

proudgeek

Think about the dust balls under your bed. Now think about them all sticking to the screen via static electricity. I'd call that an engineering fail.

kanuck

Thanks guys, 3 year laptop usage is probably right then I hope 32GB and an I7 3.4 processor would be up to the task. It appears top of the line right now and seriously powerful. I do not play games, I just need the horsepower for post processing because right now it is taking me about an hour to really produce 5 strong RAW images from my D800e files. My good old trusty HP from 2007 is dying a slow death with each passing week...

Parke1953

Kanuck you will not regret any i7 laptop. I had this same problem sometime back and got a i7( mine is a ASUS desktop but i don't think there is any difference) with the same specs you have above in your post. It will fly. I posted in another thread how long it took to download 600+pics NEF+JPGS (90 to 100+meg each). I think it was like 12min. I do download to a external USB 3.0 drive and i think that helps. Drive was cheap $119 at BestBuy on sale.

heartyfisher

I am tempted by an i5 2.5-3.1 Ghz.. is that fast enough ?

Parke1953

heartyfisher I don't know but my wife has a new i5 laptop. I'll wait till she goes to bed tonight and download viewnx2 on it and then download some pics and see what it does. Maybe i can use it when we travel.

heartyfisher

There seems to be several i5 versions .. some low powered long battery life ones are 1.9ghz please see if you can find that spec of your wife's laptop as well .. Thanks.

Parke1953

She has a Toshiba P855-S5312. Got to got out be back in a few hours.

heartyfisher

Thanks! same cpu and ghz ..

Parke1953

heartyfisher just got home and I'll try and remember to try it out tonight.

kanuck

hahaha Parke1953 that's pretty funny how you are waiting until she goes to bed before you download viewnx2. I take it she doesn't want any tinkering done to it or she isn't into performance sapping photo processing apps? ^^

Also I don't seem to have too many problems uploading my images from my SD and CF cards in terms of speed. I am running just 4GB of RAM on a 2007 HP as I mentioned but its still taking around 20 mins which I can live with. Its the Lightroom + CS5 + and occasional Silver EFEX 2 for B&Ws that is killing me. 1 image is around 20 mins for D800e.

I have no problem paying 2 grand for a laptop if it has the current highest specs (ie 3.4, I7, 32 RAM) as long as I can squeeze the longest life out of my computers as possible. Again my 2007 HP is still running very well except it struggles to process my workflow. I will even keep it after I acquire a new system probably to run everything except processing, but then again that would be a waste of money I guess...

Parke1953

heartyfisher I had 77 pics NEF+JPG and they were from 87 to 98 meg each 154 files downloaded to viewNX2 from camera (D800) to 3.0 USB port on laptop to internal drive running off of the battery (battery about 3/4 charge) in just under 3min.

Kanuck yep it's here work laptop but I can take the heat (I'll make up some story). I also have a old laptop i got in 2007 and i still use it when out of town. I just use it to download to a1tb external pocket drive (toshiba). To edit with it, forget it, not happening. Now my ASUS i7 desktop,WOW.

Juergen

I recently opted for upgrading my 2011 Macbook Pro instead of buying a new one. Saved me a lot of money and I am very happy with the performance.
16GB of RAM and I also threw out the disc drive and the hard drive to install two SSD's with 250 and 500 GB.

Upgrading is maybe worthwhile to consider for some of you.

Jürgen