Christina Shires

These are the specs for my current desktop. I'm ready to throw it through a window.

Ack. I was hoping you'd say laptops are just as good if not better. The reality is, I don't want a laptop. I'd much rather use a desktop- it's what I currently have. My issue is that my current sales process in my studio seems to necessitate a laptop over a desktop. My situation: -I edit in my office, above my retail/street level studio. -Prior to a client ordering session, from my desktop upstairs, I edit and export to viewing software (Shootproof) and sometimes additionally Animoto for video slideshows. -Then, I head downstairs to my studio where I have a laptop to meet my clients. I use the laptop, accessing Shootproof and Animoto via wifi and project for the ordering sessions. This workflow has no end of shortcomings and duplicative work. The biggest issue is that I'm presenting from a machine from which I don't do actual work. If I need to adjust any photos, or pull up a photo that I didn't export to Shootproof, I have to run upstairs to my desktop, find it and export, upload to Shootproof and go downstairs to show the client (who I've now left alone for 10 minutes.) Both my desktop and laptop are old/slow and have more than had their day but I'd really like to only replace one. Because I work on one floor and sell on another...seems my solutions are replacing both and continuing with my current clunky process, or buying a laptop and using it for both purposes. Also, I only edit in one place. I literally wont edit anywhere else so a laptop doesn't benefit (or deter) me in this way. Any insight? I'd love a solution where I'm buying a new desktop.

Thanks Brian. One more Q: between a laptop and a desktop PC-- these days, is one considered "better" than the other? Specific to using Adobe products I guess, and also connecting to a larger external display for editing. Am I sacrificing anything by choosing a laptop over a PC?

Brian, I should have read the recent threads where you've covered a lot of this already. You've answered the BenQ monitor question previously- thanks for that. I'll go with a Dell instead. How do you like the 27" Dell option I linked above? For the laptop, I'm thinking it's between these two below. Any preference? They seem quite similar to me. Dell 15.6" Inspiron 15 7000 Series Gaming Notebook ASUS - ROG Strix Scar Edition 17.3" Laptop Thanks, Christina

Hi Brian, heading your way for advice on the advice of Damien. I'm in the market for a new laptop. I've looked at your miminum requirements and tried to select options based on those. My goal-- recommended requirements for efficient/fast workflow, for the least $$$! I don't need/want fancy or extras. Here are two ASUS ROG laptops I'm looking at. Any thoughts about these, or another that you'd recommend instead? Option 1: ASUS ROG STRIX GL703VD 17.3” Gaming Laptop, $978 Option 2: ASUS ROG Strix Scar Edition GL703GE-ES73 17.3” Gaming Laptop, $1,199. The similarities: i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 1 TB primary HD and 4GB graphics (I'm a bit confused about the graphics card requirement, but I believe these both meet your specs) The differences: 1. The cheaper one has a 1TB SSHD Hybrid Drive (8GB SSD Cache) whereas the other has 128GB PCIe SSD + 1TB FireCuda Hybrid Drive. 2.The cheaper one has Windows 10; the other has Chrome OS 3. The cheaper one an average rating of 3.5; the other 4.0 (though the reviews seem significantly more positive on the more expensive one. ) Question 2- a new monitor I need the laptop for portability; however, I'll be editing in one location on a larger screen. Any thoughts about these two options? Dell UltraSharp 27-Inch Screen LED-Lit Monitor - TD5f1 versus BenQ 27 inch 2K Photographer Monitor (SW2700PT) Thanks a ton! Christina