Which laptop do you think is the best out of these for me ?

Question

I need a laptop mostly for school and then maybe college if i go , i also do a lot of photography . Right now i have a old sony desktop computer . I have about 500 dollars in cash that i got for my birthday , though my parents decided they will pay maybe a couple more hundred dollars extra because i already got a lot of things for my birthday.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9375115&st=apple+laptop&type=product&id=1218093608530

I've never had an apple before though apparently it's good for photography .

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9375927&type=product&id=1218094583196

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9366688&type=product&id=1218092151066

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9366651&type=product&id=1218092150636

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9369925&st=pink+laptop&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1218093004712


If you have any other suggestions the only things i care about is nothing over 1500 and its good for photography .


Thank you for your help :)

Answer 1

"I've never had an apple before though apparently it's good for photography ."



What make a Mac any Different Than A PC in regards to photography?

Both platforms will use the same software for the most part. Apple's 'Aperture' photo editing is of course for Mac only but Software families like Adobe's Photoshop and Microsoft Office will work on both.If your not firmiliar with apple's Operating System then that would be an obstacle between you and getting down to business with your photos.



What your likely to require is a computer with a fast processor,adequate ram, a large screen,a video card, and lots of hard drive space to store photos(don't let it be your only storage method). The Chocolate Sony Vaio Seems to beat out the others as far as ram is concerned.Also The pink sony does not have a dedicated GPU.



Each laptop will also have its own feature sets that you may or may not find useful. For example: The HP touchsmart has a touchscreen(oooh!) while the sony vaio has a the ability to play blue-ray disk(Aaah!) Go to the manufacturer's web site and look each model over carefully. There may also be additional models that you have not considered and special discounts/deals from each manufacturer. I know some manufacturers will preload purchased software or personalize computers with special colors/finishes/engravings. On the manufacturer's site you can also make specific changes to your potential laptop's hardware(Maybe you want a larger screen with a gloss finish or a faster processor?) .Check it and compare.



Bah, I haven't experienced or heard any serious issues with AMD's processors. They are just as reliable as intel's and are tough competitors in both graphics and CPus. Individual processors might have issues that are usually resolved but that does not mean an entire brand is bad.

Answer 2

hi Fur!



I'd go for an Apple. The main reasons are that Windows has had some poor upgrades, which users including professional consultants tell me are very time consuming and troublesome, especially when you are unable to get on with your work.



I believe there are less than 50 viruses for the Mac, but over 100,000 for the PC, which means almost constant upgrades / downloads, which also takes time.



I understand that the basic security on a Mac is tighter, due to its Unix core.



I like to spend my time working, with as little maintenance and troubleshooting as possible, because time is money, also I dislike 'managing' my computer... I want it to work when I need it to and otherwise not have to think about it.



I suggest you look at a Macbook instead of a Pro as they are far more accident proof, less sexy, but better value for money. I've never regretted moving to a Mac about 15 years or more ago.



I'd also consider a rugged external HD and use Time Machine, which is supplied on the laptop to back it up regularly, just to make sure you're covered:

http://www.testfreaks.com/external-hard-drives/freecom-toughdrive-pro-250gb/



What makes a difference to me is all of the above and the fact that photographers hammer their machines day in day out with unusually large files, we need speed and reliability.



Educational discount:

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa?routing=eduind&cid=AOS-US-Edu-EdMkting-01162009 :-)



It's worth asking for a recon model, calling is better than using the website as reconditioned stock moves fast. It will be guaranteed, 'as new' and better value for money... so if you're going to go Mac, now is a good time to do it!



;-)



Happy birthday and good luck!

Answer 3

Hey, i seriously recommend you do not get a laptop with an AMD processor... It's commonly known for overheating after short period of usage. Intel processors are top and won't give you any problems :)

Answer 4

I seriously think you should get one from dell.



You can even chat with a dell representative and they can recommend one to fit your needs =)

Answer 5

http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/notebooks/inspiron-15z/pd.aspx?refid=inspiron-15z&s=dhs&cs=19