Laptop recommendations

[CLN]

Hi,

I'm thinking about getting a new laptop. Most of the time this will be hooked into an external keyboard and monitor on my desk... but not all of the time.

Have just started getting into photography and would like to know if there are any laptops you would recommend that would be best for working with photos and applications?

Should I go with Apple or PC? Is one used more in the photography community than the other?

I'm thinking about a tablet... would this be useful when I'm editing photos - i.e. would a touchscreen feature be a good thing or not? Looking at the Macbook air, Lenovo x series tablet, or a Dell tablet.

Also I'm thinking about getting a graphics tablet... what price range can I expect with these? Would I still need one if I ended up getting a tablet laptop?

Thanks for your suggestions!

[mattdm]

Originally Posted by CLN

Should I go with Apple or PC? Is one used more in the photography community than the other?

In the olden days, anyone doing anything with art and design was definitely using a Mac. But in the dark age of Apple, before the Return of Steve, they let that slip away. There's really no clear advantage now. With Apple, you can use the Apple Aperture RAW workflow software, or you could use Adobe Lightroom on either platform. Or RawTherapee, or whatever.

One thing to look at is the color accuracy of the screen. Apple is usually pretty good here. My Lenovo X200s is awful — way, way too contrasty, in a way that setting a output profile really can't solve.

Originally Posted by CLN

I'm thinking about a tablet... would this be useful when I'm editing photos - i.e. would a touchscreen feature be a good thing or not? Looking at the Macbook air, Lenovo x series tablet, or a Dell tablet.

Also I'm thinking about getting a graphics tablet... what price range can I expect with these? Would I still need one if I ended up getting a tablet laptop?

I have a Wacom Bamboo tablet that was about $60, and I like it very much for photo editing. You can get bigger and more expensive, but bigger isn't necessarily better, since it means you move your hand more.

[ddr]

the screen and build quality and aesthetics would be the main reason to go with an apple. just isn't anything like it with the three things i mentioned. nothing's stopping you from that plasicky HP right? =)

if you do decide on a PC, i vote asus for quality.