Top 5 Laptops for Designers
If you’re a designer, you have a few primary needs for a laptop. It has to display colors accurately. It has to have a large enough resolution for you to be able to work without constant scrolling. It has to have enough power to run your applications without slowing down. And if it could look good while doing it, that wouldn’t hurt either. The following is a list of the top 5 laptops for designers that fit these needs.
5. Dell Studio XPS 16
Most of the laptops on this list boast screens 1-2 inches larger than the XPS 16, since in general we want to view things on a high resolution without squinting. But the Studio XPS 16 is not just any 16” notebook. Aside from sporting an excellent and full 1080p 1920×1080 resolution, it claims to display more of the color gamut than any other laptop. We’re not so sure, but the wide gamut RGB LED backlit screen, capable of displaying near 100% of the Adobe color gamut, is without a doubt the best you’ll find in a 16” package. Throw in a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, up to 8GB RAM, a 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3670 GPU and a 500GB HDD, the fact that Dell has designed it stylishly, and remembering that it’s cheaper and lighter than the behemoths listed below, and you’ve got quite the attractive package.
4. Lenovo ThinkPad W700
Getting big and bulky, we move onto the desktop replacement W700. The 17” display features a 1920×1200 resolution and the retooled LCD manages a well above average 72% gamut representation. One thing that is unique about the W700 is that it comes with a built in color calibrator and Wacom digitizer – it was clearly built with the designer in mind. If you need more evidence of that, its cousin, the W700ds, has a secondary sliding screen literally built into the display for added real estate. Specs are impressive too, with Intel Extreme Quad-Core options combined with 8GB RAM, a 1GB GPU, and up to around 1TB of HDD.
3. MacBook Pro 17”
Now that Apple has added a non-glossy version of the MacBook Pro to its sales floor, we can comfortably talk up one of our oldest favorites again. Apple proudly boasts that the new MacBook Pro can display 60% more of the color gamut than previous displays, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a thinner and lighter 17” model. The resolution is a healthy 1920×1200, the swappable graphics enhances the improved battery life, and the optimal specs of a 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, 4GB RAM and a 320GB HDD in concert with the expected Apple good looks will more than satisfy.
2. Dell Precision M6400
The Precision M6400 is built for power as well as for design. First things first, the 17” 1920×1200 LCD can display 100% of the Adobe color space. As for the power, the M6400 can come with an Intel Extreme Quad-core CPU, a 1GB GPU, 1TB of HDD space and up to a wonderfully excessive 16GB of RAM. It’s most certainly a desktop replacement and hits the scales with a thud, but this laptop will give you just about everything you could ask for as a designer.
1. Sony VAIO AW
There are a few other notable 18+ inchers on the market, but none are as superior as the 18.4” Sony VAIO AW. The advanced 1920×1080 LCD is capable of displaying a whopping 137% of the color gamut, for starters. This Sony laptop is one of the lightest 18.4” laptops around and the specs – Intel Core 2 Duo, 8GB RAM, 512MB GPU, 1TB HDD – are right in line with the rest of the pack. Sony is almost as well known as Apple for style in its VAIO line, so the package is complete. And with that impressive gamut display, there isn’t a better laptop out there for the serious designer.
This is a guest post from LaptopLogic.com – a well established laptop resource where you can find laptop news, reviews and how to’s.
Awesome roundup you have here.
I def second your opinion on the Vaio.
An1ken
I am gonna pretend that I don’t see a Dell Beast at #2 when Mac is at #3. Nice Round up and are a few models on there I didn’t know about.
[...] News Sources wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIf you’re a designer, you have a few primary needs for a laptop . It has to display colors accurately . It has to have a large enough resolution for you to be able to work without constant scrolling. It has to have enough power to run your applications without slowing down. And if it could look good while doing it, that wouldn’t hurt either. The following is a list of the top 5 laptops for designers that fit these needs. 5. Dell Studio XPS 16 Most of the laptops on this list boas [...]
It’s nice to see that there is life out there outside of macs. Thanks to Laptop logic for the great guest post!
[...] Top 5 Laptops for Designers | Denis Designs (tags: laptops) [...]
Thanks for this great information.
[...] View post: Top 5 Laptops for Designers | Denis Designs [...]
I’m still another year away from an upgrade I think, but already looking around. Current HP Pavilion SE has been a really good servant, and I like the styling. Thinking of possibly going in the Mac direction next time around, no doubt I’ll change my mind on that about six times before I come to buy my next laptop.
Sony VAIO? What? Awful choice.
Did I just see the Appleat #3??? Pleeeaaase!
Great roundup! I own a Dell XPS, it’s pretty solid for web design.
That sony vaio looks damn sexy: ) I own the original vaio and it’s badass!
All of the Graphic Designers I know, me being one of them wouldn’t use anything but a Mac.PERIOD
3 out of 5 is Dell, not so bad since i could get good deals from them.
I don’t have a laptop at home, I have a custom build PC. I would like to get my hands on a mac but since I’m used to design on a PC, it can wait.
[...] Top 5 Laptops for Designers [...]
With my bad experiences using Sony and Dell, I wouldn’t touch either one again.
It’s a good perspective, but I’ll stick with my 17″ Mac. :)
You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog.
I have been searching for a new laptop with focus on web design and some audio/video editing. Overall, I have discovered, that Mac is not building the better machine anymore, except if you need to work with StudioPro … I currently work on a Mac at home and Dell at work — all the Adobe Web Design Suite and AfterEffects work better on the Dell, the Mac is amped up with RAM, still hot, still noisy … I love my iTouch, but Mac is dying in the laptop market due to high pricing.
A Mac not being #1 for designers is totally insane.
Love the site, your graphics are amazing. <33
Lovely blog! Thanks for the useful information.
[...] Top 5 Laptops for Designers | Denis Designs http://www.denisdesigns.com/blog/2009/04/top-5-laptops-for-designers – view page – cached If you’re a designer, you have a few primary needs for a laptop. It has to display colors accurately. It has to have a large enough resolution for you to be able to work without constant scrolling. It has to have enough power to run your applications without slowing down. And if it could look good while doing it, that wouldn’t hurt either. The following is a list of the top 5 laptops for designers that fit these needs. — From the page [...]
I use a Dell XPS for all design. It’s fast, easy to use. The battery sucks reeeally bad and there are some other issues. I’d have to check the reviews of the dell battery for the laptop if i were to buy another. But i’m probably gonna switch to mac if they have a better display / customer service.
This has been an interesting article, thanks for taking the time to cover it, it’s really helped me! :-D
Loving all the Mac people who think you can’t do graphic design on anything else.
I’m currently looking for a lightweight design laptop for when I travel and there’s no way I’m dishing out an extra grand for the apple logo.
mac people are stupid. why. it’s just a machine guys, the software is mulit-platform. get over it. really.
Nice post mate!! Keep up the great writing and we’ll keep coming back for more :)
I have to agree. Dell has some solid computers, but be prepared to do some trouble shooting on your own if anything happens. Just stay away from Alienware(we don’t like to talk about that side of Dell).
I’ve had a Dell E1705 for 3 1/2 years, and it is still a workhorse.
If Mac would cut costs and stear away from the elitism that has grown around the brand then it would be a more attractive choice.
As it stands PC’s are begining to out perform Mac’s at a much cheaper cost.
I am a interior designer,, seeking a laptop which is suitable for operating designs software smoothly viz.. CAD, Photoshop, etc..
Should be economical also.. As i’m still a student.
I typically don’t leave comments!!! Trust me! Yet I enjoyed your web site…especially this post! I have a Laptop Battery Commentary site of my own at Laptop Battery Depot… Would you mind terribly if I threw up a return link from my blog site to your web site?
Nice review, I use a Dell Studio XPS 16, bought over 14 months ago, I must say I am impressed. As a designer working with large files Dell screen and colour gamut is awsome. I have been looking for a new Laptop (not mac because of personal preferences).
first of all i’d like to thank you for the effort you’ve put in this article.
second: i draw stuff at lovely paperrrr tho i’d like to scan them in and work them out. for this univerity i’m looking for i’ve got to be professional (i’ve got a few years to kill) so can someone please tell me.
what notebook should i get…?
(mac is kind of expesive.. so i’m going to drop that one..)
i think i’m going for the sony..
sugestions?
thankyou!
Daniel