I need a very light and small, but capable, laptop for traveling.
I'm just dragging too much equipment weight around when I fly.
It will be used only for photo editing, email, and net searches. I'll have an external HD connected to save photos. Also needs to have a very good display. $500-600 if possible?
I share your pain; specifically, the cramping in the lower back as you walk through the obnoxiously long hallways at LAX.
This is above your price range, but I adore my MacBook Air. Feather light, high powered, excellent graphics; I've taken it to Antarctica and to Ecuador now, and it has performed superbly. Because it has a solid-state drive, there are no moving parts to break. It runs Aperture and Photoshop CS5 without any fuss.
But to get a full-powered model, you'll spring for more than twice your budget.
Posted by Richard Ditch on March 25, 2011 at 4:02 PM
I don't have one but I'll second Jim's suggestion of a MacBook Air. I've handled them on many visits to the local Apple Store adn am amazed by their light weight and excellent screen. The weight of my old 17" PowerBook G4 is very noticeable in comparison after a visit.
Posted by Bill Chambers on March 25, 2011 at 4:10 PM
Have you tried looking at Puget Systems - I haven't looked at laptops, and don't know if they have something for that price range, but they seem like nice folks. Might be worth a look/see.
I bought a PC-based web book last fall, and I guess the ultimate commentary is that when I set off on my current two months of travel I left it home and am carrying (lugging!) a 15" MacBook Pro. Next on my list will definitely be a MaBook Air. The little web book is a joy to carry and its 14-hour battery life is a wonder, but after that it's all downhill. The extra buxx for an Air will be well spent for my needs.
Posted by Carol Hyman on March 26, 2011 at 1:37 AM
Yep, MacBook Air or 13" MacBook Pro. More expensive than you want but the sticker shock evaporates as soon as you plug and play!
Posted by Lindy Martin on March 26, 2011 at 8:06 AM
Hi Sandy'
The macbook air is great and I have to admit I use the Macbook Pro15 inch. Too big for most stuff. If you are just looking at the shots in your first run of editing -ie: what to keep vs what to pitch, consider the ipad as well as the 13 inch mac. THere will be alot of macbooks on ebay/kijiji due to the recent upgrades. Figure out exactly what you want the machine to do and then hit the Mac store. THey have a good refurbished sale too that you may want to consider.. Same guarantee as new. Good luck
Posted by Dottie Short on March 26, 2011 at 8:57 AM
Sandy, Wish you had posted this a couple of days earlier. My old Mac needs replacing before I head to Alaska with my hubby for three months, and I ordered another one yesterday. I didn't think about the Macbook air, but not sure it would be fast enough to sort through and edit while on a three month trip. While it's out of your budget and my budget too, I bought the MacBook Pro 15". I added a faster processor (i7) because there will be days that I arrive back at the RV and I need to sort through maybe a thousand images and I want to make sure that the LT can do that as fast as possible. I don't want to return from Alaska with 500 GB of images (good ones and bad ones) that I haven't been able to sort through because of a slow LT. I also plan on using mine to the degree that you plan to use yours, but I will be gone three months. I just compared the MacAir and MacBook Pro, and for the $200 difference the Pro offers much more. I noticed the Air has 2GB RAM, but it can be upgraded to 4 GB for $100. The MacBook Pro starts with 4GB and can be upgraded in the future to 8GB. The bottom line, before you buy anything go to the Apple website, and select support to check out their products. After looking at the MacAir, I'm glad that I purchased the MBPro. My thought is that it won't become obsolete too soon. Happy Hunting Dottie
Sandy,
I am a PC guy cause that is what every thing in my home is set up for and my wife would go crazy at our ages(mid 50s) trying to change. But I have converted one of my sons to Apple and am working on my daughter. Let me second Apple Mac Book Pro...son has the 13" model with 4 RAm and you can set it up to dual boot in Windows or Apple OSes. Strong, pretty light, just works. HOWEVER...look at the display and get a matte display and not the glossy as far as editing. And be very careful plugging things in as all the ports connect directly to the motherboard so if you mess up a port you are looking at a 500-600 motherboard replacement. Son had something plugged into one of the two USB ports and the computer dropped about 6 inches,,,everything works except one USB port and that was too pricey to get fixed. Shouldn't really be a problem but I'm just saying.....bite the bullet, spend the money, you will not be sorry.....if you go PC I am a fan of Toshiba laptops and ACER as far as price/features
Posted by Scott Fricke on March 26, 2011 at 12:33 PM
To follow up on Bob's post and his comment about the anti-glare screen. None of the MacBook's have anti-glare, they are all glossy. Only the 15" and 17" MacBook Pro's have the option for an anti-glare screen if that is important to you.
Discussion
11 repliesI'm just dragging too much equipment weight around when I fly.
It will be used only for photo editing, email, and net searches. I'll have an external HD connected to save photos. Also needs to have a very good display. $500-600 if possible?
Suggestions from you computer-saavy guys please?
Thanks -
Sandy
I share your pain; specifically, the cramping in the lower back as you walk through the obnoxiously long hallways at LAX.
This is above your price range, but I adore my MacBook Air. Feather light, high powered, excellent graphics; I've taken it to Antarctica and to Ecuador now, and it has performed superbly. Because it has a solid-state drive, there are no moving parts to break. It runs Aperture and Photoshop CS5 without any fuss.
But to get a full-powered model, you'll spring for more than twice your budget.
Carol
The macbook air is great and I have to admit I use the Macbook Pro15 inch. Too big for most stuff. If you are just looking at the shots in your first run of editing -ie: what to keep vs what to pitch, consider the ipad as well as the 13 inch mac. THere will be alot of macbooks on ebay/kijiji due to the recent upgrades. Figure out exactly what you want the machine to do and then hit the Mac store. THey have a good refurbished sale too that you may want to consider.. Same guarantee as new. Good luck
I am a PC guy cause that is what every thing in my home is set up for and my wife would go crazy at our ages(mid 50s) trying to change. But I have converted one of my sons to Apple and am working on my daughter. Let me second Apple Mac Book Pro...son has the 13" model with 4 RAm and you can set it up to dual boot in Windows or Apple OSes. Strong, pretty light, just works. HOWEVER...look at the display and get a matte display and not the glossy as far as editing. And be very careful plugging things in as all the ports connect directly to the motherboard so if you mess up a port you are looking at a 500-600 motherboard replacement. Son had something plugged into one of the two USB ports and the computer dropped about 6 inches,,,everything works except one USB port and that was too pricey to get fixed. Shouldn't really be a problem but I'm just saying.....bite the bullet, spend the money, you will not be sorry.....if you go PC I am a fan of Toshiba laptops and ACER as far as price/features
Sandy