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IPS stands for In-Plane-Switching. This type of display panel ensures that colors, contrast, sharpness are consistent from corner to corner, which is kinda important for editing photos. If your laptop doesn’t have one, it’s not a huge deal, you will need to purchase an external IPS Display and edit off of that. “That means I’m tied to a Desk!! I must be free!!” Yep. It sucks. This is why I really don’t like Laptops being used for Photo Editing, as 99% of them do not contain IPS Screens. I just got tired of arguing since people have a love-affair with laptops.

Recent Microsoft updates have been causing your exact issue. You can return it, but I’m 80% sure it’s going to happen with another unit, as soon as the crappy windows updates happen. It’s a Windows 11 thing Yes, you should routinely run Windows Update Manually, but not right away; meaning, let others be the Guinea Pigs and not you. For example, I just saw a notice that a recent windows 11 update killed access to hard drives. So lots of computers can’t boot. Lenovo updates are almost never automatic and you should run the Lenovo Update Tool every few months or so. I’m not sure what Lenovo calls their software now, just type Lenovo in the start menu and something should pop up.

I think I did, it had me updated and installing a bunch of stuff...or is it something that needs to be a manual thing? they said I can either return or replace but with all my stuff on it already I'm not sure the best option.

And I'm about to cry. I desperately needed a new laptop so I looked at the ram and graphics card etc and it all looked the same so I ordered the one I posted above. What is the IPS / OLED part mean? I honestly don't know about any of this.

The link I just sent...it's in stock. https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpadt/thinkpad-t1g-gen-8-16-inch-intel-laptop/21td000mus?orgRef=https%3A%2F%2Fask.damiensymonds.net%2F I just added one to my cart: It's just the 2025 model, which is fine. I'd buy it directly from Lenovo, sooner...rather than later.

That one is close, but it does not contain a IPS Display Panel. For editing photos and such, it NEEDS to be a IPS Based Display. Those suckers are tough to find in a Laptop, so if it's not mentioned in the tech specs, there is a 99.99999999999999999% chance it doesn't have one. I don't care about how fancy the OLED stuff is...it needs to be IPS, ESPECIALLY if you are editing photos.

Oh, it'll be similar to my other instructions.

Is this one comparable and good enough? https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1888408-REG/acer_phn16_73_95nt_16_predator_helios_neo.html/overview

Oh, that's a surprise! It is the calibration device you recommend in your list. I only bought it because you listed it. You don't have any specific or general advice on the settings then?

No, I'm so sorry.

Otherwise, do you happen to have any other links to laptops that are comparable?

Than you so much for your quick and thorough response. I really appreciate it. I am happy to spend the money on a 'real' computer if it means it will actually do what I need. Mine is coming up on 10 years old so well over due for a new one and doesn't have half the stuff I should have I am sure. The one you sent the link for is saying that it is not available at the moment. As long as I look for something that has those stats I should be good to go I assume?

It should be. At its core, PS is still PS. If you have any weird issues, you can always downgrade and stay at that version. I’m stuck on PS 2023 due to my 2017 iMac. I won’t dare upgrade, no matter how much Adobe Bugs me.

No to either of those! I’m sure money is tight, but a $1000 laptop isn’t going to cut it for today’s modern Photoshop. What is a dead give-away is the “Intel UHD Graphics.” That video card is meant for general computing, wasting time on FB, watching YouTube, Netflix, doing taxes, answering e-mails…everything else BUT Photoshop! Adobe’s products are using the GPU and dedicated Video Memory in order to support all the new AI Slop, fancy tools, and for a performance boost. Hell, even things like ACR use the GPU these days! (Graphics Processing Unit) Photoshop with the Intel UHD Integrated Graphics, will do nothing but complain and give you error after error message, and the lag…the lag will be unbearable. This isn’t CS6, where you could get away with a low-end card; PS has become a REAL Bloated Beast in 2026. Now for the fun part. Since AI is all the rage and companies are jumping on the bandwagon, things like RAM and Storage are going to be priced at a premium since manufactures are catering to them and ignoring the consumer market. Even my beloved Crucial RAM is no more, Micron has shut that part of the business down in order to sell to AI Data-centers. . So expect to pay $3000-$4000 for a Windows Laptop that’s “Good for Photo Editing” in 2026. This is a laptop that you should be looking at for Photoshop in 2026: Lenovo Laptop for Photoshop Now before you ask, no…there really isn’t a cheaper alternative. Everything costs so much in 2026, because things are “Made in China.” So you have Tariffs messing with things. But keep this in mind, Rent is between $1800-$2000 a month, houses that should be $300,000 or less are being sold for $500,000+. A Big Mac Meal used to be $5, now it’s around $14. EVERYTHING IS MORE EXPENSIVE!!! Now with RAM shortages, it’s only going to get worse.

Did you by any chance update ALL the Windows Drivers AND Lenovo Drivers?

No to either of those! I’m sure money is tight, but a $1000 laptop isn’t going to cut it for today’s modern Photoshop. What is a dead give-away is the “Intel UHD Graphics.” That video card is meant for general computing, wasting time on FB, watching YouTube, Netflix, doing taxes, answering e-mails…everything else BUT Photoshop! Adobe’s products are using the GPU and dedicated Video Memory in order to support all the new AI Slop, fancy tools, and for a performance boost. Hell, even things like ACR use the GPU these days! (Graphics Processing Unit) Photoshop with the Intel UHD Integrated Graphics, will do nothing but complain and give you error after error message, and the lag…the lag will be unbearable. This isn’t CS6, where you could get away with a low-end card; PS has become a REAL Bloated Beast in 2026. Now for the fun part. Since AI is all the rage and companies are jumping on the bandwagon, things like RAM and Storage are going to be priced at a premium since manufactures are catering to them and ignoring the consumer market. Even my beloved Crucial RAM is no more, Micron has shut that part of the business down in order to sell to AI Data-centers. . So expect to pay $3000-$4000 for a Windows Laptop that’s “Good for Photo Editing” in 2026.

Hi Brian, My laptop is on it's way out and I need to replace. The tech guy in my networking group suggested two options but I honestly don't know if they have everything I need. And also if the graphics card is good enough for the latest version of photoshop. Would you be able to offer any advice on if either of these are good for me? https://www.bestbuy.com/product/dell-inspiron-15-fhd-15-6-touchscreen-laptopintel-i7-1355u32gb-ram2tb-ssdintel-uhd-graphicswindows-11-black/J3K4L94VSW https://www.bestbuy.com/product/dell-15-6-fhd-touchscreen-laptopintel-i7-1355u32gb-ram2tb-ssdbacklit-keyboardfingerprintwin-11-black/J3K4L9W8HP Thank you

Do you have any instructions for this calibrator please? It is the model above the Datacolor SpyderXPro

OK, will do. I guess the setup for PS is the same? The best part of updating!

Hey Brian, thank you, I did buy that one! It just arrived finally the other day. It's great, BUT a few times I took to use at my studio to use, and when I start it up, after I log in with the pin, it stays black screen forever. So I shut lid and after customer left I opened lid and then it came on (after hours with customer) The next day it was black again, and I tucked away for hours and once they left, it was still a black screen (showing mouse arrow though) after the pin log in. I bought it home and then after a few more tries it bounced on again! I called them fri night but they were closed for weekend. I am hoping I didn't get a dud.

Too bad, Adobe says you don't have a choice. Since you have a fairly recent Mac, with the M2 chip, you should be "fine." In your case, I'd update to PS CC 26.11.2. PS CC 27.xx.xx is a whole other version with its own set of quirks / problems.

To the 2026? I don't really care for the AI stuff. In the screenshot, you will see I have a lot to update. But which ones are for 2025 if I do not update to 2026? I will also include screenshots of my storage and mini Mac specs, if that helps any.

That's good news. How about the tiny bit of the girl's missing jeans on the same side?

yes I found a picture with her feet not blocked. I'll try and see if I can do a composite. thanks for the idea!

Okay, that's something. And do you have another photo of mum's feet (in this exact same pose) where they're not obscured by the blanket?