Question:
Budget notebook for grafics and audio
My girlfirend is looking for a notebook. She's a webdesigner so she'll need a decent screen and has to be able to run Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, preferably all (or at least 2 of those) at once. She does 3D design from time to time, using 3D Studio Max, so that should be able to run on it also.
Besides her grafics stuff she's also into music production, using Reason and Ableton Live. She'll probably also start using Cubase or another sequencer with VST(i)-plugins. She already has an external (USB) soundcard, so no need to consider sound quality. Enough USB ports (at least 3, preferably more) and at least one Firewire are needed.
Enough batery-life to do some surfing (about 3h) at a hotspot would be nice.
We're on a budget, €1000/$1200 is about all we can spend.
General Questions
1) What size notebook would you prefer?
c. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen
2) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
Grafix design, audioproduction, WiFi surfing
3) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
Will be taking it around
4) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
Prob. just this one --> http://www.tale-of-tales.com/TheEndlessForest/
5) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
No preferance realy
6) How many hours of battery life do you need?
3 would be nice
7) What is your budget?
€1000/$1200
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
Online is OK
9) What country are you buying this in?
Belgium, Europe
Screen Specifics
10) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
at least SXGA I guess, more = better; has to be enough for photoshoppping and the likes; preferably no widescreen though
11) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
Don't know, what's best for grafic work and has good visibility in dark suroundings (lives in clubs and stuff)
Build Quality and Design
12) Are the notebook’s looks and stylishness important to you?
Yes, but less important then processing power, quality and price
13) How long do you want this laptop to last?
3-5 years
Notebook Components
14) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 120GB?
more is better :) at least 60
15) Do you need a DVD, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-R drive?
At least a CB-writer+DVD-reader, preferably a DVD-writer
Answer:
Re: Budget notebook for grafics and audio
Thanks for completing our FAQ ;)
Your budget is a bit tight... Since you're going to do graphics design, I would go for something with an OpenGL video card. The Dell Precision M20 is the only notebook I can think of that might fall into your price range.
Acer has a nice model lineup in Europe. I would take a look at the Aspire 1690 series or the 5020 series.
Answer:
Thanks for the recomandations!
I looked up the Dell Precision M20 on the Belgian Dell website (http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...l&s=dhs&~ck=mn) and it starts at € 1604 ($ 1907), so that's well above our budget.
I found an Acer Aspire 5024WLMi for € 1106 ($ 1315), so that isn't too much over the budget we had set. But that one doens't have OpenGL. Do you think the ATI X700 would be good enough for some not too complicated/heavy 3D stuff in 3D Studio Max? I'm guessing that photoshop, illustrator and flash shouldn't pose a problem.
Answer:
Re: Budget notebook for grafics and audio
Well, it doesn't look like you are going to be able to get an OpenGL card for your budget. I don't see why an X700 wouldn't work. Nvidia has better OpenGL support than ATi does - I would look for the Asus Z71V with the 128MB Go6600. If that is too much or you can't find it over there, then the X700 will be alright.
THe 5021WLMi is a lower priced configuration of the 5020 series, you may want to check that out.