laptop for graphic
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- lo4u
hi, is it possible to work as a graphic designer on laptop with second good monitor?
If yes, which configuration you advice.
I'm graphic designer, but I dont like to stay in one place for a long time. So I offten work with my sketchbook, but sometimes its impossible. I need good laptop to work. Could you advice me. Anybody has some expiriences?
- ian0
Yes, its viable what set-up you get depends on what you need it for, print, multimedia, 3d etc.
I've got a 3 or 4 yr old 17inch powerbook, its fine for running indesign & flash etc and does the job. I've never hooked it up to a larger screen but would recommend getting a smaller 15 inch and a big screen as it would be more portable and would probably cost a similar amount.
get a decent windows based laptop if you're doing 3d work as I think theres better options for 3d progs for windows OS and you could get a good laptop for a similar if not less than a macbook.
Key things are though, what OS do you feel comfortable with (mac or windows), what kind of work you'll be doing, and what your budget is.
Whatever you do decide to get, make sure you get the most ram you can cram in there, it'll be worth it in the long run.
- aidiro0
yes.
macbook is good,
it does take a while to get used to if youve been used to windows.. but worth the time spent (took me a few days after the transition - and am loving the workflow..)get a good mouse, good one would be the logitech mx revolution, a bit pricey but well the investment ( keeps your fingers and wrist healthy.. or u can also get the new microsoft mouse which works on any surface.
if you can part with more cash, get the apple cinema display... if no money then get any widescreen lcd.. also good.
and while you're at it, get a notebook display raiser... it should get your notebook screen at eye level... you dont wanna end up with achey shoulders at the end of the day.....
oh hey, if you like to sketch, get one of those mobile wacom tablets.. or maybe not...
- +1 for the mouse, forgot about that. I got the apple wireless, gobbles batteries like a fat guy surrounded with mars bars.ian
- aidiro0
you might be interested in joshua davis' setup
http://www.apple.com/pro/profile…
- lo4u0
hmm, I think about PC, because I bought Abobe CS3 for PC. I need laptop for "flat" graphic design, design logotypes, small prints and multimedia.
- ian0
I thought that the current adobe installers were cross-platform, no?
Well if not, I think yer after a windows based jobbie. Im not sure about those chaps as Im mac based. But Im sure theres people on here that use that kind of set up. We bought a cheap-ass windows laptop for testing sites worked out at around €400, but we're not designing on it, I just use it to swear at IE.
- not cross platform.. unfortunately. my experience of using windows is just that its not as efficient as the X..hmph, same goes for IEaidiro
- ah, thought they were. Oh well. I also hate switching between my mac and windows set-ups, but Im familiar with macian
- ... so i am biased.ian
- people are biased to what their used to doing/having/being... change is hard thing no? but as obama said, its here.aidiro
- aidiro0
you can run windows on macbook ( man am I so over windows.... :p )
99.9% designers use macbook (ok ,i made that up... but still..)
- kelpie0
spec wise, you can get something with a mac spec for a third of teh price on pc. I prefer the os on mac, but I use both and honestly my mac is as buggy and prone to freezing and slowness as any pc I've used, just cost a fortune in comparison
- ian0
On the other hand, I hear that Obama uses a mac.
So choose wisely.
- aidiro0
ok. mac or no mac, i recommend you getting the laptop with loadsa ram, mini external hardrive, a nice lcd display, great mouse, oh also a nice keyboard if youre using the raiser.
- Jordy0
i design on a macbookpro with a 24" monitor connected to it .. use mbp monitor for IA / docs / Mail and big screen for design
apple keyboard + wacom intuos connected to the screen so i only have to plugin one usb cable to my laptop and a dvi cable and im ready to go.
so i have mobilty and a good setup to connect to
- kelpie0
this toshiba is shit hot
http://uk.computers.toshiba-euro…this mac is also shit hot, equivalently so
http://store.apple.com/us/browse…toshiba
£ 879.00 (inc VAT)macbook
£1,824.95- Yeah when you break it down to price apple is taking the piss.ian
- I should point out, I do love macs. not a h80rr or anything. If you want to look cool, love the OS and buy into the 'brand', maybe the extra £1K is worth itkelpie
- ...then maybe the extra £1K is worth itkelpie
- Toshiba has shit battery and low-res display from what I seerafalski
- kelpie0
to be honest, much as I love Macs, I could never in a million years justify the outlay, especially considering the cost of peripherals to complete the set up. It mystifies me that anyone can, I am constantly jealous of the amount of cash the must be earning to do so
- You need to know where to buy and I don't mean the truck around the corner. Refurbs, student discounts do wonders.rafalski
- aidiro0
gosh i couldnt justify myself getting a mac - was on dell then compaq, but once i got my hands on one black macbook and then had to go back to pc (an acer with loadsa ram running vista), pc suddenly became very very old... :(
- Raniator0
the white macbook has just been upgraded to match the spec's of the unibody. ie. 2gb ram, nvidia graphics, newer processor etc.
£719.00
- aidiro0
a friend had no money, but he took on freelance work using his gf's compaq laptop, stuck an apple sticker at the back of it, and act as if it was already his apple laptop... a year later now he works on an actual macbook.... talk abot the power of visualisation...
oh and now he's making even more good money with his mac.. :]
- wow.Raniator
- sound editing just gets easier and easier...FallowDeer
- aidiro0
oh .. here's another story... my boss had a very small sony (that little baby made him fortunes) then he lost it...
then asked me what laptop should i recommend him use.. so casually i said go for a macbook (tho at that time i was on compaq)
so he bought it, and never looked back...
- aidiro0
lo4u, http://www.flickr.com/groups/bb_… has a nice collection of portable setups
- rafalski0
I wonder if the new 17" mb pro's LCD really delivers colours it promises and if it could replace a standalone display.
Just tempted..
- ian0
Hey raf! Got your email, haven't forgotten you. Just been up to me eyes the last few days. I'll send you a reply this weekend.