Photographer: i7QM with TN or i3 with IPS?

[JoeyC]

I am looking to purchase a low budget laptop of light editing in the field - nothing hardcore. I will use Lightroom for some batch processing and that will most likely be the extent of my photo editing. My budget is in the $600 range. Lenovo has a good deal - 30% off on Thinkpad laptops which ends today. I have narrowed it down to these two. Either will be getting a total of 8GB ram and a Crucial SSD (afterwards by me).

X220 with IPS display
-great battery life
-great screen (for a laptop), though there have been some noted issues
-my budget only allows for an i3 (2nd gen)
E430 with anti glare TN panel
-great performance with i7 3612QM (3rd gen)
-ave screen (though better than glossy)
-ave battery life (5-6 hrs)
-very little reviews
-slightly cheaper

I am leaning towards the E430 just because of the processor. My desktop and IPS display(s) do the heavy lifting at home, but I just need something more competent than my 3rd gen MacBook C2D which is showing its age. Any thoughts?
Many thanks!

 

[JoeyC]

Specs:
X220
Intel Core i3-2350M Processor (3M Cache, 2.30GHz)
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit)
12.5" Premium HD (1366x768) LED Backlit Display, IPS, Mobile Broadband Ready, 2x2 Antenna
Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor graphics with dynamic frequency
4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
320GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
9 Cell Li-Ion Battery
ThinkPad 1x1 b/g/n
Mobile Broadband ready (no mobile broadband module)
1 Year Depot/Express Warranty

E430
Intel Core i7-3612QM Processor (6MB Cache, 2.10GHz)
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit)
14.0" W HD (1366 x 768) LED AntiGlare, Midnight Black
Intel HD Graphics (WWAN or mSATA capable)
4 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (1 DIMM)
UltraNav with FingerPrint Reader
320GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
DVD Recordable
6 cell Li-Ion Battery 62WH - 75+
ThinkPad 1x1 b/g/n
No Mobile Broadband support
1 Year Depot/Express Warranty

 

[Phynaz]

You have to get the IPS display. You should also calibrate it to your output device.

 

[JoeyC]

You have to get the IPS display. You should also calibrate it to your output device.

If my final edits and anything important were being printed from the laptop, I would definitely concur. However, my desktop and calibrated displays would be used for that. I just don't want the i3 to be a handicap.

 

[Phynaz]

If color accuracy doesn't matter then get whatever you want.

 

[mnewsham]

If you don't need the IPS screen on the laptop and you aren't going to bother calibrating it (not sure how well it CAN calibrate), then just get the better spec'd laptop, it will last longer.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Are you open to buying used? I just got an X220 with an i7 2640M, 8GB RAM, IPS, 9 cell, and about half a year left on the warranty for $680. Only thing it didn't have was the fingerprint reader/Bluetooth, but I don't care about that crap anyway.

Just pointing out the obvious... keep in mind you can only get a dual core with the X220, and that the CPUs are soldered onto the mainboard. If you decide to go for the X220, consider getting the i5 (2520/2540). There's not much difference between those and the i7 except for slightly higher base clock and extra 1MB L3.

You could always go to the Mastercard Marketplace and see what additional incentives they might have. And don't forget to check the Lenovo Outlet... might want to go there everyday at around 12P CST or so.

 

[edit1754]

Unless you have a particular need for a fast CPU, the IPS display will affect you more. Especially for graphical work.