Laptop capable of RAW photos and HD video

Are there any good deals...or can anyone at least suggest...a good laptop that can easily handle photo processing and HD video from a dSLR? My old laptop from 2 years ago takes 5 seconds to load, and the video chugs shamelessly. I desperately need a high quality laptop, but know nothing of brands, processors, etc. TIA!!!

What are the specs on your current machine, and what's your budget for a new machine?

If your current machine is only 2 years old, you might just need to clean up the software to make it run faster.

Quote from Jeffbx : What are the specs on your current machine, and what's your budget for a new machine? If your current machine is only 2 years old, you might just need to clean up the software to make it run faster.

My current laptop isn't used for much, it's pretty clean. I got it at WalMart's BF several years ago. I googled it because I'm not home, and I think this is it:

Intel Celeron Processor 575
2.00 GHz, 667MHz FSB, 1MB Cache
2048MB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Expandable up to 3072MB with 2 accessible memory slots
15.4" Diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen (1280 x 800) Display
Viewing is enhanced with the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD (shared) with up to 765MB Total Available Graphics Memory
160GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive (SATA)
Store all of your digital media on this expansive drive
Genuine Windows Vista-Home Basic with Service Pack 1 Makes your computing experience more efficient, more secure and more fun
SuperMulti 8X DVD-R/RW drive With double-layer support

I don't really have a price ceiling, but I want to be reasonable. I'd love to see something that would work well for $600, but that's probably wishful thinking? IDK.

Yeah, you're going to want to upgrade, as you first thought. Video processing definitely benefits from a discrete graphics card; still images don't. What programs are you using? For $600, you can get a decent machine, but you definitely get your money's worth when upgrading.

This deal:
http://slickdeals.net/forums/show...&t=2620735
Is definitely worth the money, if you can increase your budget. Your best bet is if you are a student, or have a child that is, because then you can get Windows 7 for less than $40.

The HP deals that often show up in hot deals are worth keeping your eyes peeled for. Also, there are periodically Dell 25% outlet coupons which make picking up a decent laptop for a good price very attainable.

Keep in mind that laptop screens absolutely suck, even compared to the most basic TN desktop screen. So, your colors will be off when you try to do editing work. I use a Macbook with a Core @ Duo processor, which does fine with Photoshop CS4, but I plug in to an IPS panel when I am doing more serious graphics work. Even displaying video to the panel sometimes becomes choppy.

Quote from shnitz : Yeah, you're going to want to upgrade, as you first thought. Video processing definitely benefits from a discrete graphics card; still images don't. What programs are you using? For $600, you can get a decent machine, but you definitely get your money's worth when upgrading. This deal: http://slickdeals.net/forums/show...&t=2620735 Is definitely worth the money, if you can increase your budget. Your best bet is if you are a student, or have a child that is, because then you can get Windows 7 for less than $40. The HP deals that often show up in hot deals are worth keeping your eyes peeled for. Also, there are periodically Dell 25% outlet coupons which make picking up a decent laptop for a good price very attainable. Keep in mind that laptop screens absolutely suck, even compared to the most basic TN desktop screen. So, your colors will be off when you try to do editing work. I use a Macbook with a Core @ Duo processor, which does fine with Photoshop CS4, but I plug in to an IPS panel when I am doing more serious graphics work. Even displaying video to the panel sometimes becomes choppy.

Thanks for the response. The way you make it sound, maybe a desktop would be better, if I should have a monitor that handles colors well. I plan on using this computer nearly completely for my photography. I have a great 22" monitor already that's awesome. My desktop is also old -- probably 5 years old now, and it's a slimline HP, not very upgradeable, I put an extra 1GB of memory in there, but it still sucks.

I have Windows 7 already. Still doesn't help, that's how much these computers suck now. I'm always looking for slickdeals on laptops, but I never know if the deal will be good enough. Can you maybe give me some minimum specs I should be looking for when I do come across a deal? Seems like $800 is what I'm shooting for with a laptop. Maybe $600 or less for a desktop sans monitor?

This computer stuff is so intimidating. :-/

Quote from MAK1981 : Thanks for the response. The way you make it sound, maybe a desktop would be better, if I should have a monitor that handles colors well. I plan on using this computer nearly completely for my photography. I have a great 22" monitor already that's awesome. My desktop is also old -- probably 5 years old now, and it's a slimline HP, not very upgradeable, I put an extra 1GB of memory in there, but it still sucks. I have Windows 7 already. Still doesn't help, that's how much these computers suck now. I'm always looking for slickdeals on laptops, but I never know if the deal will be good enough. Can you maybe give me some minimum specs I should be looking for when I do come across a deal? Seems like $800 is what I'm shooting for with a laptop. Maybe $600 or less for a desktop sans monitor? This computer stuff is so intimidating. :-/

For HD editing, I recommend you to build a desktop. An i7 only costs around 200 dollars. And about the statement above, Nvidia's CUDA supports Photoshopping, and yes a nvidia graphics card will help rendering video on Adobe after effects and premier pro. (but not as much) You could always get a low profile nvidia graphics card.

If you have the option to get a desktop, then one will absolutely DESTROY a laptop for graphics work. In my case, the paper I worked for used Macs exclusively, along with Adobe CS Suite. I decided to get a desktop as my main computer, since files carry over easily between Macs and PCs, and then get a Macbook laptop to use as my on-the-go computer, and also to learn OS X for work. I bought an HP quad core desktop, 3gb ram, tons of HD space, discrete decent graphics, discrete sound, TV tuner card, blu-ray player, etc etc for $600. Loaded to the gills, you couldn't get a laptop that would come near it for the price (Thank you slickdeals!) It was cheaper to build a workhorse desktop and get myself a laptop (Macbook was $800, thanks again SD) than to try to get a laptop with decent enough specs.

You really want a desktop if you're serious about doing photo work, not the least of which is the necessity of IPS monitors. The current go-to panel for decent IPS quality right now that are showing up in hot deals are the Dell 2211H and 2311h. The u2410 is slightly better, but not considering the cost. The NEC IPS panel shows up frequently enough as well. Get yourself a decent laser mouse. I got the Logitech G5. I like corded mice just fine, plus it has on-the-fly button adjustments for sensitivity, so when I'm making a mask or cutout in photoshop, I can quickly change the sensitivity to suit my needs. My Macbook works in a pinch, or can even do some light subbing if I plug into my IPS panel, keyboard, and mouse, but you notice the difference when you're using a desktop.

I use my Sony Vaio I7 which does a decent job with RAW from my 5DM2. Now keep in mind, no laptop will touch my 4.4ghz 24gb i950 desktop, but for a laptop, it works fine. I even use it for HD video from time to time. For $1300, a nice deal IMO

I think I'll be going for a desktop, then. I do my editing at home, I dump all my pictures and work on it in the comfort of home I have a nice mouse, and monitor, and printer, all that good stuff. Just need the computer. So what should I be looking for? i9 4Ghz or better, 8GB RAM, Windows 7, 2TB HD, etc.? I don't want to skimp and have something that still pi$$es me off by running slow when I'm editing hundreds of pictures. But I also don't want to spend $2K on a desktop that's being half-wasted because I'm not gaming or doing anything with it besides pictures.
So I'm set on a desktop. Help me with brands and specs I should shoot for in the next couple months. I know prices will be coming down every day, so I'll worry about the prices if I have the specs to price to. Thanks again, everyone!

look at the i7 processors from intel, check if you have a microcenter near you (as they are $100 less then the online prices), if you decided to go the "new" sandybridge route, only amazon sells the motherboards since they have issues with some sata ports (but if you only use 1 or 2 hard drives, that won't be an issue), 6-8gb of ram would be recommended, go for the nvidia 460 graphics card that is cheap after rebates right now, that will boost photoshop + video editing, get a 7200 rpm hard drive for your main drive, and then a slower larger hard drive for storage if you need more room (this you need to decide: how much room do you need?), then finally grab a decent 500-600W PSU, look for brands like seasonic, antec, corsair, ocz, etc.

this should cost you around $1000 or so