What Laptop Should I Get For Graphic Design? ($600-$700)

[SPAWN of II]

As the title says, I'm looking for a laptop that is adequate for graphic design. Not looking for anything too extreme! I just built a desktop so that is my primary machine, just looking for something that will do the job for when I'm away. I have been looking at this one http/www.microcenter.com/product/487765/Inspiron_13_5379_133_2-in-1_Laptop_Computer_-_Gray

Let me know what you guys think! Thanks!

 

[Solandri]

For art and photo/video work, you really need a screen with close to 100% sRGB coverage. External monitors and TVs all hit this threshold, but most laptop screens do not. The screen on the Inspiron 13 5379 you've linked scores a pathetic 60%-70% of sRGB. Colors will be pale and washed out. Totally unsuitable for graphics design work unless you're doing black and white graphics, or using an external monitor. If you try to get the color saturation "right" while editing on the laptop, they'll end up oversaturated when viewed on a TV or external monitor.

https/www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-Inspiron-13-5379-i5-8250U-UHD-620-Convertible-Review.282878.0.html
https/www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/dell-inspiron-13-5000-2-in-1

Notebookcheck has a list of laptops with the best displays. Unfortunately it's rather short (90%+ is optimal, but 80%+ is passable if you also use a desktop monitor), and most of them will be out of your price range. It's also a German site, so some of the models they review aren't available in the U.S.

https/www.notebookcheck.net/The-Best-Notebook-Displays-As-Reviewed-By-Notebookcheck.120541.0.html

The best advice I can give you is to search for reviews of the models you're considering with "sRGB" and/or "Adobe RGB" added as search terms. You should look for something 90%-100% sRGB (about 68%-75% Adobe RGB), with an IPS-type screen (IPS, PLS, AHVA) so the colors don't shift as you tilt the screen. A TN panel is an immediate disqualification. If you also take photos with a DSLR, you may want to consider a screen with close to 100% Adobe RGB, although that adds a lot more expense and new complications when using the laptop for non-art/photo work.

The "safest" (but not cheapest) choice is a Macbook Pro. Apple specifically caters to the artist and photo/video market, so puts 100% sRGB screens in them and calibrates them at the factory. However, as you say your primary machine is a desktop, you will probably want to get a colorimeter to calibrate your desktop and laptop screens (the Spyder is a popular low-cost choice). So factory calibration would be irrelevant. There's also the problem of your software licenses. Adobe is pretty generous and lets you use one license for both your desktop and laptop (install the software twice), but they must both be PC or Mac, can't have one PC and one Mac. I dunno the licensing situation with Creative Commons as I don't use that.

 

[Lutfij]

I don't know what sort of app's you're going to tax the laptop with but this is a much better deal than your previous link. This should help support why?

The only downside is that you're trading off the i7 for the i5 although both are equipped with an 8th Gen Intel core i mobile processor.

 

[SPAWN of II]

I don't know what sort of app's you're going to tax the laptop with but this is a much better deal than your previous link. This should help support why?

The only downside is that you're trading off the i7 for the i5 although both are equipped with an 8th Gen Intel core i mobile processor.

I'm looking for something 14in or smaller, that's part of my struggle. What do you think of this one?
https/www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1348416-REG/asus_ux430ua_db71_bl_i7_7500u_2_7_8gb.html

 

[SPAWN of II]

For art and photo/video work, you really need a screen with close to 100% sRGB coverage. External monitors and TVs all hit this threshold, but most laptop screens do not. The screen on the Inspiron 13 5379 you've linked scores a pathetic 60%-70% of sRGB. Colors will be pale and washed out. Totally unsuitable for graphics design work unless you're doing black and white graphics, or using an external monitor. If you try to get the color saturation "right" while editing on the laptop, they'll end up oversaturated when viewed on a TV or external monitor.

https/www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-Inspiron-13-5379-i5-8250U-UHD-620-Convertible-Review.282878.0.html
https/www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/dell-inspiron-13-5000-2-in-1

Notebookcheck has a list of laptops with the best displays. Unfortunately it's rather short (90%+ is optimal, but 80%+ is passable if you also use a desktop monitor), and most of them will be out of your price range. It's also a German site, so some of the models they review aren't available in the U.S.

https/www.notebookcheck.net/The-Best-Notebook-Displays-As-Reviewed-By-Notebookcheck.120541.0.html

The best advice I can give you is to search for reviews of the models you're considering with "sRGB" and/or "Adobe RGB" added as search terms. You should look for something 90%-100% sRGB (about 68%-75% Adobe RGB), with an IPS-type screen (IPS, PLS, AHVA) so the colors don't shift as you tilt the screen. A TN panel is an immediate disqualification. If you also take photos with a DSLR, you may want to consider a screen with close to 100% Adobe RGB, although that adds a lot more expense and new complications when using the laptop for non-art/photo work.

The "safest" (but not cheapest) choice is a Macbook Pro. Apple specifically caters to the artist and photo/video market, so puts 100% sRGB screens in them and calibrates them at the factory. However, as you say your primary machine is a desktop, you will probably want to get a colorimeter to calibrate your desktop and laptop screens (the Spyder is a popular low-cost choice). So factory calibration would be irrelevant. There's also the problem of your software licenses. Adobe is pretty generous and lets you use one license for both your desktop and laptop (install the software twice), but they must both be PC or Mac, can't have one PC and one Mac. I dunno the licensing situation with Creative Commons as I don't use that.

I have also been looking at this one https/www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1348416-REG/asus_ux430ua_db71_bl_i7_7500u_2_7_8gb.html
What do you think of it? It is on that list that you just linked me.

 

[Solandri]

I have also been looking at this one https/www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1348416-REG/asus_ux430ua_db71_bl_i7_7500u_2_7_8gb.html
What do you think of it? It is on that list that you just linked me.

That's the model I would've recommended last year. Great features for a budget price.

This year I've been steering people towards laptops with 8th gen Intel CPUs. The i7-8550U is a quad core with 15W TDP. The i7-7500U in that laptop is a dual core with 15W TDP. The quad core isn't necessary for Photoshop, but in my experience it makes things run a lot smoother.