Laptop for Graphics ???

[Dash1]

My Kid is studing animatin in 4 yr collage overseas. She is working there with mostly
Adobe premium package [inc. Ilustrator, after effects, 3D, premire, Photoshop etc.]
I wanted to get for her a good [15.4" ?] quick [should I wait for the new 45 CPU's]
laptop that can be chained [stealing from dorms].

Is there a package deal [like a Dell/ what Models ?] or can you supply me with a full
list of all needed items to have someone put it togather for us ? BTW, I think she will need
firewire and 2 7200 speed HD's.

[rallynavvie]

What you're describing is the idea scenario for a MacBook Pro. Aside from that I'd look to Sony Vaio and Lenovo models. Unfortunately you can't go cheap on a laptop for that sort of work unless you want to get a new one every year. I high-end one now will last at least 2-3 years in that field.

I also recommend getting a separate LCD monitor, like a 19", to be left at home so you can work on a bigger screen. Most LCD monitors and almost all laptops have the locking slot for a security cable. You can get the cable at almost any computer store.

[lordsmurf]

No, you don't want a MacBook Pro -- not unless you get the CS3 version for OS X, and I don't know that I suggest that just yet.

What you require on a computer for using CS3 is this:
- SSE2-capable CPU, and CS3 is optimized for Intel CPUs -- Get an Intel Core 2 Duo system (maybe a Intel Core 2 Quad).
- 1GB RAM minimum -- minimum to even install CS3! -- and I suggest 2GB or 3GBs (no more, no less) of good DDR2
- large hard drive setup, maybe dual drives in the laptop, at least 100GB per drive, probably 250GB each to be safe -- video editing takes a LOT of space
- dedicated ATI or nVidia graphics card -- not an embedded Intel or VIA display
- Intel motherboard chipset is suggest, and most likely anyway if buying an Intel Core 2 system

The Dell laptop are running hot as all hell. I don't know what their problem is. Toshiba has had some issues with poor construction. I suggest you buy an HP system.

Try your best to get her a Windows XP system. Vista is just going to suck up all the resources that would have been better spent on the video and creative software. You'll have to call and ask, most often to the "for business" side and not the "for consumer" side of the house.

A separate monitor, 19" non-widescreen (4:3) is a great idea too. I suggest a good LG monitor, as it has excellent color quality, and that is important when doing creative work intended for print or display elsewhere. You'd hate to make something on a bad monitor, and find out your color correction was all wonky and now it looks awful everywhere else.

You can buy laptop security stations, and there is also a lo-jack service for laptops.

[Dash1]

the more I look into it , the more I see that She'll[ and my wallet too] will have an e-zier
time with a desktop...

And If so, I will be happy to get your comments for an XP and 22" Samsung or LG...for Animation and graphics work [no OC]

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (S775) - 2.4GHz 1066MHz 8MB Shared Cache 64bit Box - 3Y Warranty (G0 Stepping also available) Or should I wait for Q9300/9450 ???
Arctic Cooling Freezer AM2 64 PRO
igabyte GA-P35-DS3L Intel Socket 775 ATX Motherboard and 1394 connect..
DDR2 3GB Dual Channel kit 2X2048MB PC6400 OCZ\G. Skill etc... - Life Time Warranty
250GB - SATA-II - 7200RPM - 16MB - Western Digital WD2500AAKS - 3Y Warranty
160GB - SATA-II - 7200RPM - 8MB - Western Digital WD1600JS - 3Y Warran
Samsung DVD-RW S203B Sata Black X20
ty PCX - Quadro FX1500 256MB 256BIT DDR III - Leadtek Professional 3D Card- 3 Year Warranty.
do I need It or 8600 is OK ?
Antec Sonata 2 + 450W smartpower PSU - Silent Case
Logitec G5 and keyboard

Thanks a lot

[rallynavvie]

The Quadro may be a bit overkill for design/layout. It'll help with Illustrator when working with tons of vectors but otherwise its gains are felt more with 3D design. The cost of the Quadro just isn't worth those gains for a student. You'd certainly have bragging rights over your fellow students if you did have a Quadro though 8)

I'm glad to see the two HDDs and no mention of RAID. Use the smaller drive as your boot drive and install applications there but keep all your documents on the second drive. For graphic design use I'd even recommend a third drive to use as a dedicated scratch space. The Adobe apps use temporary disk space in addition to RAM for working with multiple documents/layers. I use a two 18GB 15krpm U320 SCSI drives in RAID 0 (the only time I'd ever recommend RAID 0) for my scratch disk. This is only because I have the equipment sitting around to do this with, otherwise a third small drive will work fine. Maybe if you can get a small WD Raptor 10krpm SATA drive that'd help as access times are just as important as data bandwidth for scratch space.

Everything else looks pretty good.