Samsung or Lenovo

[4ftersh0ck]

Hi Guys

Please can someone give me some advice. I am looking to get a laptop for my wife. She will be using it for basic office stuff for now. In the near future she is wanting to do a DTP course and start using Photoshop etc. I am therefore wanting to get her something decent that will be a bit future proof. Unfortunately I can't afford a Dell Alienware.

I have 2 choices. Samsung or Lenovo. Both with an i5 processor, 6 GB RAM and 1 TB Hard Drive. The Samsung has 1 GB dedicated graphics and 2 year warranty, R5,999. The Lenovo has 2 GB dedicated graphics and 1 year warranty, R5,899. My mind says Samsung as it is a good brand and 2 year warranty. However the Lenovo has better graphics and we are hopefully moving to the UK early in 2013 so the warranty probably won't count. What do you guys think? Thanks for reading

Samsung:- http://www.mitabyte.co.za/pNP300ESC-S02ZA/Samsung-NP300-i5-32103rd-Gen-25GHz-6GB-1TB-DVDRW-BT-nVidia-GT630-1GB-156-LED-Win7-Home-Premium64.aspx

Lenovo:- http://www.mitabyte.co.za/p59-344691/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Z580A-i5-3210M3rd-Gen-6GB-1TB-BT-nVidia-GT630M-2GB-Win7-Home-Basic64.aspx

 

[dj_jyno]

I'd go with the Lenovo, but the only problem is the version of Windows that they include with it. Ask whether they can upgrade it to Home Premium like the Samsung.

 

[Pada]

The Lenovo with Home Basic x64 should be find for up to 8GB of RAM.
Alternatively you can upgrade it to Windows 8 Pro for like R125.
If you do go with the Lenovo, please try to get an extension on the warranty.

As far as I can tell the Samsung has the same graphics card, except that it has fewer memory. IMO you won't need 2GB of graphics memory in Photoshop. You may need more when doing CAD/3D rendering, but then you should rather go for a workstation class graphics card.
IMO the Samsung one is the better buy. Those prices at Mitabyte are pretty amazing!

Is your wife going to use an external screen? If not, then I really can't recommend any of these laptops with such low resolutions!

I'd then rather recommend that you spend more and get like a 2.5yr warranty on a Dell XPS with an i7 and 1920x1080 resolution screen: http://www.webdirect.co.za/pICDELLX...With-2Gb-Nvidia-GeForce-GT-540M-Graphics.aspx
PLEASE just take note that I'm not sure what they meant on that site by 'Ex-Display', so please contact them first before just placing an order! So make sure that it has a working 1920x1080 display!

 

[NomNom]

If it came down to brand I would go with Lenovo. But if you want to play it safe go with the Samsung.

 

[skimread]

You dont need a monster machine. My core 2 duo handles Photosop fine.

You need a GPU (not intel onboard graphics)to run some advanced functions like 3D or those features will be disabled.
Photosop files are large and can be slow to load so a SSD would be preferable
Try for at least 6Gb ram.
1680 by 1080 resolution is fine for the laptop If you have an HDMI/ display port or even use the VGA out you can connect to a large LCD desktop screen which will allow you higher resolutions.
Mouse

 

[Pada]

1680 by 1080 resolution is fine for the laptop

Exactly! These 2 laptops doesn't even have that resolution! They're a measly 1366x768.
You can do with such a low resolution if you just just PS every now and then for a hobby, but even then you'll just get frustrated with how little workspace you've got left due to all the toolbars & toolboxes.

There's a reason why people buy iMacs: 2560x1440 resolution on the 27" one!

 

[skimread]

Exactly! These 2 laptops doesn't even have that resolution! They're a measly 1366x768.

Looking at the GPU I would have never thought it only supports that low resolution. I would definitively go for at least 1680 by 1050 for the laptop screen.

There's a reason why people buy iMacs: 2560x1440 resolution on the 27" one!

If she gets serous with photoshop she can connect at least a 24" LCD (1920 by 1080) to the laptop. I would rather have a 15" laptop screen and a big ass secondary LCD than have a bulky 17" laptop.

 

[4ftersh0ck]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

@Pada that's a great find. I was thinking of deciding on the model to buy and then trying to play Game or Incredible Connection off against each other. I have done lots of research and the prices I had found were much higher than this. I just happened to be browsing a paper when I stumbled upon a Mitabyte ad, really great prices.

I will see if I can find something with a better resolution. The only issue is if I keep adding a bit here and there and then find something a bit better, the R6k I was going to spend becomes R8k or R9k. I like the idea of FHD res...

 

[Pada]

Looking at the GPU I would have never thought it only supports that low resolution. I would definitively go for at least 1680 by 1050 for the laptop screen.

It is just these laptops' screen resolutions that are 1366x768. Their graphics cards should be able to drive a screen up to 1920x1080
and perhaps even up to 2560x1600 if they come with DisplayPort or Dual-Link DVI outputs.

You do get lots of 15" laptops with FHD (1920x1080) resolutions, but they usually start at around R8k

Lastly, I can't say with 100% certainty that those 2 laptops that you posted have such low screen resolutions, because I can't find more detail on the site.

 

[skimread]

if you're budget conscience looking in the 5k range you could wait for after Christmas when retailers i imagine want to get rid of Windows 7 stock.

 

[xumwun]

It is just these laptops' screen resolutions that are 1366x768. Their graphics cards should be able to drive a screen up to 1920x1080
and perhaps even up to 2560x1600 if they come with DisplayPort or Dual-Link DVI outputs.

You do get lots of 15" laptops with FHD (1920x1080) resolutions, but they usually start at around R8k

Lastly, I can't say with 100% certainty that those 2 laptops that you posted have such low screen resolutions, because I can't find more detail on the site.

1920x1080 on a 15" screen seems somewhat silly. You would need a microscope to read anything on that.

 

[Pada]

1920x1080 on a 15" screen seems somewhat silly. You would need a microscope to read anything on that.

It's not so silly. MacBook Pro 13.3" Retina models come with a resolution of 2560x1600 !

If the text is too small, then you just increase the font size from 100% to like 125% or 150%. Granted, Windows doesn't do it as well as OSX!