Help with picking a new laptop for DJing/Photoshop

[David_798]

Hi everyone,
I'm going a little crazy looking at videos, reading reviews all over, and it's just making my head spin.

I'm looking to buy a laptop, I want to get one that is powerful enough to smoothly run photoshop, DJ software also possibly some video editing.

My budget is 650-700 max. I've been saving up for this, hoping I can get something that will last me a good few years. Touch screen and battery life is not important to me as much as power is.

any help/advice would be very much appreciated!!!

 

[Kenton82]

Hi, which DJ software are you gonna be using? I am a laptop DJ too. My Toshiba laptop is about 4 years old now, 4th gen i5 ( I forget the model now) 8GB RAM on windows 10. This was also a re-con laptop. I have had no issues what so ever with these specs, runs Serato DJ with so much ease! Where are you based? (Just for currency conversion)

 

[gopher1369]

100% what Kenton says about DJing software. It's surprisingly non-intensive. I started with Traktor in about 2008 with a Core 2 Duo and 2Gb RAM, ran with no issues whatsoever. Pretty much anything from the last 5 years will work without any issues whatsoever.

I don't use Photoshop myself, but I am aware it loves RAM, I'd certainly look for 16Gb myself, but it's easily upgradeable on many laptops, getting an 8Gb laptop and upgrading it to 16Gb is normally a trivial process. Beware, a few manufacturers do solder the RAM onto the motherboard, making this impossible (Microsoft and Apple, for example).

 

[RazerMoon]

I feel like a Toshiba or a Lenovo laptop would be best (personal experience), if you would like 700 max then consider this one: http/www.elara.ie/productdetail.aspx?productcode=WCEPS571E0C304LEN .It looks like a good suggestion but for photoshop you should find one with at least 8GB of RAM. here's the requirements https/helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html

 

[gopher1369]

RazerMoon, Not enough storage space (128Gb) and not enough RAM (4Gb) on that one.

 

[Airyellis]

Hey all, thanks so much for your replys. (I was on my dad's laptop when I started this thread and I forgot the password) oops lol

I use serato DJ. My main current laptop is a Toshiba satellite, it's slowly dying tho. It's been a great laptop, but it's a good few years old so I'm clueless now adays on what's good.

If anyone could answer at least one of these questions it would be so helpful.

Is Dell a good way to go? I've had bad experiences with HP and Asus. The XPS looks like a dream but the price tag, a nightmare lol

Is touchscreen really useful?

And is SSD really that much better?

Someone also told me the i5 is no good? I forgot the reason, but it stuck with me for some reason.

I'd love a bigger HDD (to store music). But just something that can keep up with heavier programs (like Photoshop, or Vegas). If I just wanted to browse and watch stuff this would be so much easier lol

Again, thank you all! Really appreciate it!

 

[Airyellis]

Oh, and I'm in NJ (USA)

 

[Kenton82]

I have had an i5 (4th or 5th gen, can't remember) for about 4 years now, and i have to say i think its been perfect, coupled with 8GB of RAM. The internal storage with a laptop (in my view) isn't that important, as all my music is on an external 1TB USB3.0 drive, which provides a perfectly adequate speed, and using Serato, the processor is merely ticking over when i am playing out. I do not have any paid for security on it, as i do not use it for any internet usage, just purely a music machine. As you are using photoshop, i would probably look at one with a slightly larger HDD, but speed is not hugely of the essence in this case (in my experience)
The key with a music laptop, is cleanliness, and not filling it up with software, so it can concentrate on performing. The last thing you need when you are playing out is a PC full of unnecessary stuff.

Good luck, and i hope you find something you are happy with mate.
Regards,
K