Seeking Laptop Recommendations - business, photoshop, web dev

[phendyr]

Hey all, first-time laptop buyer here and I could really use some recommendations for a solid laptop. I appreciate your time to read through and respond, so thanks in advance.

1. What is your budget? $1000

2. What is the size of the notebook that you are considering? 15.6"

3. What screen resolution do you want? Great resolution is always nice, but I'm not gaming so if something HAS TO give, I'm fine with dropping the screen resolution if something has to give.

4. Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop? This is replacing a 6yr old homebuilt desktop, and I will need to travel with it.

5. How much battery life do you need? more the better, but minimum 3hrs?

6. Do you want to play games with your laptop? If so then please list the games that you want to with the settings that you want for these games. (Low,Medium or High)? No gaming

7. What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo/Video editing, Etc.) Photoshop, web dev, maybe some minor video editing down the road (for web use)

8. How much storage (Hard Drive capacity) do you need? I will have a lot of image files stored on this thing so 750GB-1TB, preferentially something that is above a 5400 drive.

9. If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post their links.NA

10. How long do you want to keep your laptop? I tend to keep computers for quite a while before upgrading again.

11. What kind of Optical drive do you need? DVD ROM/Writer,Bluray ROM/Writer,Etc ? maybe a DVD writer..meh, not really interested.

12. Please tell us about the brands that you prefer to buy from them and the brands that you don't like and explain the reasons.
I purchased a Sager/Clevo, which I liked, but the keyboard was not for a heavy typists... it would often not register my keystrokes, very frustrating.

13. What country do you live in? 'Merica.

14. Please tell us any additional information if needed. Can't think of anything.

I hope this can help people find their ideal notebook.

 

[ACTechy]

Here are a couple options, per your needs:

http/shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/w-series/w530/

http/shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/ideapad/y-series/y500/

Lenovo makes good stuff, I'd recommend 'em to anyone.

Cheers

 

[jaguarskx]

For Photoshop or any image editing I would only recommend a laptop with an IPS panel. The ThinkPad W530 (link above) would qualify but not the IdeaPad Y500 which can barely give 3 hours of battery life.

Lenovo will be refreshing their entire line of ThinkPad laptops with Haswell based laptops. The first to be available for sale is the ThinkPad L series however, it does not have an IPS panel. The announced but not yet availble ThinkPad T440 will have an IPS panel however, it is unknown what it's sRGB color space will be. I do not expect it to be more than 85% since it is a business laptop not a graphics workstation like the ThinkPad W530 which is more than $1,000 as will be it's soon to be released successor the W540.

Link to ThinkPad T440 and is likely to be available for ordering at the end of October. The expected starting price is $899.

http/shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/t-series/t440/

http/www.theverge.com/2013/9/3/4679848/lenovo-thinkpad-update-smaller-bodies-trackpads-battery


Personally, I am considering the ThinkPad T540p or maybe I'll be insane enough to buy the W540.


EDIT.... Oops, I forgot you were looking at a 15.6" laptop. Don't consider the W540 unless you are willing to rob a bank...

 

[jaguarskx]

You should also google around for what people's general opinion of the keyboard on the Thinkpad series; like for the T430/T530.

 

[IRONBATMAN]

I think what you need is an ultrabook
Check out the HP Spectre13 Ultrabook

 

[phendyr]

thanks everyone for their feedback, the T440 looks promising, as does the Lenovo's.... thanks for the suggested research Jaguarskx, interesting to read.

 

[phendyr]

I've been looking at the spectre 13 ultrabook more and more, and I think I'd pull the trigger on it, but the only thing holding me back is the glossy screen. I've only ever worked on matte screens so I don't really have experience with a glossy screen. Any thoughts?

 

[jaguarskx]

I don't like them because they are very reflective and not recommended for use in bright lit environments. I prefer matte finish / anti glare screen.

See my responses in the following thread regarding glossy and matte screens.

http/www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1847199/laptop-good-gaming.html