Laptops

Photoshopping laptops

Looking for a laptop that can run Photoshop like a pro? Here are a few configurations that should do the trick. By Lori Grunin (July 12, 2007)

Because I spend so much of my life immersed in graphics software, and because I've got the geek creds, I'm frequently asked to recommend hardware that's suitable for digital imaging. Usually, that means laptops that can handle the rigors of Photoshop. So here's my take, circa summer of 2007. First of all, any decent laptop can run Photoshop these days. In fact, I run it--all of Adobe Creative Suite 3, plus Photoshop Lightroom--on a Dell Latitude D420. It's hardly what I'd call a graphics powerhouse, but when I bought it about six months ago, I was looking for the lightest system possible for less than $2,000 to replace my dead-but-still-ultralight Panasonic Toughbook T2. Optimally, however, you want a system with the fastest available dual-core CPU; support for more than 2GB of RAM; a large, fast hard drive (120GB or larger; fastest available); a large, high-resolution display (17 inches or better); and a good, discrete graphics subsystem. If you have to make trade-offs, I suggest you sacrifice size for speed on the hard disk. You can always offload files to a slower USB hard drive, but you need Photoshop's scratch disk to be fast. You don't need to worry about the amount of graphics memory for the GPU--even CS3, which is the first version to take advantage of the acceleration routines in the graphics chip, doesn't need all that much. If you're running CS2 or earlier you may not see much benefit at all to the discrete chip, but it future-proofs you if you want to upgrade. (Oh, and personally, I recommend sticking with Windows XP or OS X and passing on Vista if possible. It just sucks up system resources and adds byzantine security overhead with little added benefit for the high-end imaging crowd. For consumers, it's a slightly different story.) I've put together some suggested configurations for various budgets, plus one for Photoshoppers on the go who prefer a laptop under 4 pounds. Suggested configurations:   CPU Graphics Memory Hard disk Display Price Dell XPS M1710 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 256MB Nvidia GeForce Go 7900 GS 4GB 200GB 7,200RPM SATA 17-inch 1920x1200 $4,388 Apple Macbook Pro 17-inch 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 256MB GeForce 8600M GT 4GB 160GB 7,200RPM SATA 17-inch High Resolution Glossy Wide $3,799 Dell XPS m1330 (ultraportable) 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 128MB GeForce Go 8400M GS 4GB 200GB 7,200RPM SATA 13.3-inch WideScreen 1280x800 $3,144 Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 128MB GeForce 8600M GT 2GB 160GB 7,200RPM SATA 15-inch Glossy Widescreen $2,224 HP Pavilion dv9500t 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 383MB Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS 2GB 200GB 7200RPM SATA (100GB x 2) 17.0-inch WXGA+ High-Definition Ultra HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1440 x 900) $1,650 Read the CNET editor's take Dell XPS M1710 Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch Dell XPS M1330 Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch HP Pavilion dv9500t

Dell XPS M1710 If you're a hard-core gamer looking to play the newest games at the highest settings, this is the best system that (a lot of) money can buy. 8.2 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch Apple's 15-inch MacBook Pro gets a solid under-the-hood upgrade for better performance and longer battery life, allowing the MacBook Pro to put enough distance between itself and the lower-end MacBook to justify its higher price. 8.2 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices Dell XPS M1330 Dell has finally put design first with the head-turning XPS M1330 laptop, emphasizing both the "thin" and "light" aspects of the thin-and-light category without sacrificing features or performance. 7.9 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch Apple's Core 2 Duo 17-inch MacBook Pro is especially thin and light for a desktop replacement, making it an attractive choice for multimedia users on the go. 7.4 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices HP Pavilion dv9500t The HP Pavilion dv9500t is a great choice for home users who don't want to spend a fortune on a large entertainment notebook. 7.9 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices