Laptop for work/home moderate graphics

[frysad]

So I've started a new job, moved from a very small company to a very large one. I have a Dell 700m which I really love and considered adding docking and some ram and using that. Boss says don't bash up your own laptop, pick something out for $2500 and use that instead.

First off I've already got a Dell 2005FPW widescreen monitor ordered for my desk, so anything I get has to be capable of 1680 X 1050 to an external monitor. I have no idea if that's a big deal or not. The 700m won't do it as near as I can tell.

So I need a laptop that can handle some moderate Photoshop work, maybe a little After Effects, decent video playback. Now it doesn't have to be a powerhouse at those applications, I am a manager and the place is chock full of G5's to do the real work. I just need to be able open the assets and won't need to do a lot of rendering type operations.

If there is no laptop that can cut it I'll have to go with a desktop at work and my 700m at home but I'm really hoping to be able to take my work home with me.

$2500 is not a strict ceiling by the way, but I'm trying not to call attention to myself so I'd need a really good resaon to go much over that.

Any suggestions?

 

[jdiddy]

Thinkpad T43 sounds about right.

 

[ShellGuy]

Right now they only offer the T43 with an X300 64mb card i would go with the T42p Model 2378RVU. it runs the ATI Fire card with 128mb ram and comes in under your price. I would suggest adding ram and faster Hdd when you get it...


Will G.

 

[fbrdphreak]

I'll second a Thinkpad T4x model. They are some of the toughest laptops out there and IBM's support is top-notch.
I'm not clear on whether you need 3D capabilities or not?
If you do, get either a T42 with the 128MB FireGL T2 or a T43 with the 128MB FireGL V3200; although the T43 w/that video card will break $2500 I'm afraid.

I configured a T42p with a 15" UXGA, 1.8GHz Pentium M, 256MB RAM, XP Pro, 128MB FireGL T2 graphics, 60GB 7200RPM, CDRW/DVDROM, 9-cell battery, IBM a/b/g wifi, and 3 year onsite repair for $2562. Spend another $100 for 1GB RAM to add-in yourself and you've got one HELLUVA machine that will get ~5 hours of battery life.

For an idea on what performance and battery life to expect: Thinkpad T43 Review
Keep in mind that the T42's get better battery life than the T43's

If you don't need any kind of real 3D capabilities, just get a T42 w/the Radeon 9600 or a T43 w/the X300; the FireGL cards would be overkill for you.

 

[AmigaMan]

Why not run dual monitors? I've done it with a Latitude C840, HP NC8000, and now my Inspiron 9200. When I run in Windows, I have the DVI port of my 9200 hooked up to the DVI on my 2001FP. 1440x900 and 1600x1280 rocks! Under Linux I have to use the VGA port since the ATI linux driver doesn't support DVI yet (or I just can't figure it out yet).

 

[imported_Kensai]

Holy god, 2500$. Gimme.
As everyone else said, go IBM T4x, they're great.

 

[trikster2]

Originally posted by: frysad
So I've started a new job, moved from a very small company to a very large one. I have a Dell 700m which I really love and considered adding docking and some ram and using that. Boss says don't bash up your own laptop, pick something out for $2500 and use that instead.

First off I've already got a Dell 2005FPW widescreen monitor ordered for my desk, so anything I get has to be capable of 1680 X 1050 to an external monitor. I have no idea if that's a big deal or not. The 700m won't do it as near as I can tell.

So I need a laptop that can handle some moderate Photoshop work, maybe a little After Effects, decent video playback. Now it doesn't have to be a powerhouse at those applications, I am a manager and the place is chock full of G5's to do the real work. I just need to be able open the assets and won't need to do a lot of rendering type operations.

If there is no laptop that can cut it I'll have to go with a desktop at work and my 700m at home but I'm really hoping to be able to take my work home with me.

$2500 is not a strict ceiling by the way, but I'm trying not to call attention to myself so I'd need a really good resaon to go much over that.

Any suggestions?

Sounds like you are an Apple shop.

Have you checked out the powerbooks? Very slick laptops and if work is paying and you already have the 700m for home why not?

If you are anti-PB, I'd find out what the rest of your company uses/supports and go with that. PC laptops are commodities, there is not much to distinguish the different brands (despite what the Lenovno Fan girls here say), get whatever your company will support, just make sure it supports a true docking station if you want to make taking your work home easy......

(does not really sound like a "large company" if they don't have standard IT equipment?).

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: trikster2
If you are anti-PB, I'd find out what the rest of your company uses/supports and go with that. PC laptops are commodities, there is not much to distinguish the different brands (despite what the Lenovno Fan girls here say), get whatever your company will support, just make sure it supports a true docking station if you want to make taking your work home easy......

(does not really sound like a "large company" if they don't have standard IT equipment?).

The point about company support is a good one. But if you go with a Thinkpad or Dell Latitude, you've got good support backing you up anyway. And mind you, IBM/Lenovo's support is better and will be for the next 5 years. And yet I still ask, does trikster own a Thinkpad or is he just jealous? No one here ever shoved Thinkpad down his throat and yet he berates those who recommend them.............

 

[frysad]

Thanks for the suggestions. Gives me a lot to think about. I do like the T4x models, my only slight hesitation is lack of widescreen. I did look at T43 at a local computer store today and I really like the solid build.

As far as the company being really large, I knew right after I wrote it I should have qualified that. It is really large compared to my previous employer. I worked for a company with about 75 employees, this one has about 4,000 worldwide. It is owned by an even larger $30b co.

We are neither a Mac or a PC house, just use whatever works best with each app. I need to run a specific app that is only available for PC so that's the way I need to go.

The company does not prefer any specific brand, although a lot of the execs seem to favor Vaios, perhaps they have some sort of price deal with Sony, but I made it clear right off the bat that I needed performance, not looks. Again, in my business the application often determines the hardware, Mac, PC, or SGI so we can't be pro or anti anything.

One other strange requirement I forgot about is that I need a parallel port for a dongle, either on the laptop itself or on the docking station. Of course I need to find out if the dongle will work through the docking station.

I also found the HP nw8240 which seems to be perfect in every way, it's native resolution even matches the Dell monitor. Of course, at a little over $3,000 it's really stretching the budget.

 

[fbrdphreak]

HP makes some great machines in general, and I hear their business line is awesome. I don't think you could go wrong w/HP (except for price of course).
And Thinkpads do still have a parallel port on the back, but no serial ports. I'm not sure about the docking station, but you can look that up on IBM/Lenovo's website.

Personally, I would still go with a Thinkpad. There's a reason why they've been the choice of companies for many years now

 

[niggles]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
There's a reason why they've been the choice of companies for many years now

IBM used to be the company of choice, but 2 years ago the Dell Latitude has become the choice for most of the companies I work with. IBM quality control has been going down hill and it's showing up in the output. Still, IBM is still highly thought of and despite my own personal IBM issues they seem to produce a good product for the most part. According to the last Consumer Report on Laptops Apple has the highest customer appreication and the technical issues. Followed quickly by Toshiba for their PCs. Then it goes to Dell and then to IBM, then HP. Compaq is at the bottom of the list.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: niggles

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
There's a reason why they've been the choice of companies for many years now

IBM used to be the company of choice, but 2 years ago the Dell Latitude has become the choice for most of the companies I work with. IBM quality control has been going down hill and it's showing up in the output. Still, IBM is still highly thought of and despite my own personal IBM issues they seem to produce a good product for the most part. According to the last Consumer Report on Laptops Apple has the highest customer appreication and the technical issues. Followed quickly by Toshiba for their PCs. Then it goes to Dell and then to IBM, then HP. Compaq is at the bottom of the list.

Great summarization. Dell has definitely improved over the years and the support with their Latitude line is also quite good. We use primarily Dell's at the IT job I work and I haven't been disappointed yet.

That said, I still prefer Thinkpads to Latitudes or Inspirons. The build quality is a notch or two above Latitudes (which are built rather well) and way above Inspirons. You also get unique features like biometric security, spillproof keyboard, etc etc that Dell doesn't offer. Unfortunately most of Dell's laptops are kind of generic, there isn't much that separates them. If you want to look at a Latitude, check out the 14" D610 or the 15"(?) D810. Both are good machines

 

[ND40oz]

Get a precision laptop, Dells workstation models. The m20 with the ATI firegl should have no problem supporting your monitor nor should the m70 with the fx Go1400. They don't have DVI on them but their docking stations should.

 

[frysad]

Just an update. This is the one I finally ordered...

ThinkPad T43p 2668 - Pentium M 770 2.13 GHz - 14.1" TFT
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=775950

Waaaay over budget but oh well. My first Thinkpad and let me tell you it is sweet. I like the Dells I have owned in the past but as far as build quality, I am sorry but no comparison. IBM is far superior.

The keyboard is just incredible, the screen is extremly thin but still has far less flex.

I have only had it for a few hours so can't say much about performance yet but so far I am ecstatic.

Thanks to all here for the advice, It was very helpful.