Good laptop for Photography student?

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MongooseMan

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Look, I'm a huge Mac fan, but if you read the OP you'll see that he was looking for something cheaper than the ACER Aspire 5742 (currently retailing for ~R8000).

You're simply not gonna get a Mac in the price range he's looking for, therefore all rantings and ravings about how "much better they are" are moot.

Also, Nikon ftw ;)
 
Quantum Theory

Quantum Theory

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I don't see why you need anything more than an i3 for something like PS CS5. I've got a HP ProBook 4520s i3 with 3 Gb RAM and a LED backlit LCD. It is more than enough for any photo editing. I ran out of memory a couple of times when trying to save 60 MP, 10 image panos... but then I started using an SD card for virtual RAM and I never had issues after.
 
BigAl-sa

BigAl-sa

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smtgra011 said:
Look, I'm a huge Mac fan, but if you read the OP you'll see that he was looking for something cheaper than the ACER Aspire 5742 (currently retailing for ~R8000).

You're simply not gonna get a Mac in the price range he's looking for, therefore all rantings and ravings about how "much better they are" are moot.

Also, Nikon ftw ;)
Click to expand...

It's got nothing to do with processing power to run PS, but all to do with colour accuracy of the monitor. Most win-based laptops are pretty useless in that regard, and the cheaper the machine usually means the cheaper the LCD panel.
 
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MongooseMan

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BigAl-sa said:
It's got nothing to do with processing power to run PS, but all to do with colour accuracy of the monitor. Most win-based laptops are pretty useless in that regard, and the cheaper the machine usually means the cheaper the LCD panel.
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I'm sorry, but I fail to see how your comment is relevant to the quote?
 
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James

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surfs-up said:
I would go for the Apple core i7 MacBook Pro 15 inch. Excellent, in all respects. If it is too expensive, I would go for one of the cheaper (and smaller) 13 inch MacBook Pro's
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You dont need a Pro, a Macbook is more than ample!
 
BigAl-sa

BigAl-sa

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smtgra011 said:
I'm sorry, but I fail to see how your comment is relevant to the quote?
Click to expand...

Apologies, I meant to include QT's quote with yours:

Quantum Theory said:
I don't see why you need anything more than an i3 for something like PS CS5. I've got a HP ProBook 4520s i3 with 3 Gb RAM and a LED backlit LCD. It is more than enough for any photo editing. I ran out of memory a couple of times when trying to save 60 MP, 10 image panos... but then I started using an SD card for virtual RAM and I never had issues after.
Click to expand...

Cheap shouldn't fit into the equation (especially after paying close to R10k for Photoshop [hahaha] and a whole lot more for the camera equipment)
 
Quantum Theory

Quantum Theory

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All I'm saying is that my relatively "cheap" laptop, is actually doing a very decent job (screen too). If you've got budget for a Mac... get one, but you don't have to have it!
 
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MongooseMan

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BigAl-sa said:
Apologies, I meant to include QT's quote with yours:
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No worries, was a tad confused ;)

Cheap shouldn't fit into the equation (especially after paying close to R10k for Photoshop [hahaha] and a whole lot more for the camera equipment)
Click to expand...

Ah, but if they're a student they can get CS5 for about R1500 (as I recently found out to my delight)
 
BigAl-sa

BigAl-sa

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smtgra011 said:
Ah, but if they're a student they can get CS5 for about R1500 (as I recently found out to my delight)
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You're flipping lucky with that. When I looked into it a while back, the skelm SA distributor wanted your institution (whether student or staff) to buy an 80-pack educational license for a horrific sum of money before they'd sell you the educational package :mad:
 
Hemps

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The Acer's have crystal brite screens - are these good enough?
 
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HJF

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Hemps said:
The Acer's have crystal brite screens - are these good enough?
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I have one and short answer is no. Pretty much the only laptop screens I have found to be OK are the Apple screens.
 
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Elimentals

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HJF said:
I have one and short answer is no. Pretty much the only laptop screens I have found to be OK are the Apple screens.
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The screens come out of the same factory?

Apple dont make their own.
 
O

oober

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You don't really need to spend an arm and a leg on a laptop. I think for 10k you should get something decent.
 
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HJF

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Elimentals said:
The screens come out of the same factory?

Apple dont make their own.
Click to expand...

Different model cars can also come out of the same factory.

I'm speaking from experience. My sister uses a 15" Macbook pro. When comparing the two screens side by side it's shocking. The biggest problem is the Acer screen is glossy.

Viewing angles on the Macbook pro are WAY better than the Acer.

If screen quality was the main thing in the laptop I would get a Macbook Pro. If however you are on a budget and you can live with a crappy screen while on the road like I can, get the Acer and a good screen at home. Works out way cheaper than just the Apple laptop. One day I'll get the Apple :D
 
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