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Laptop suggestion for a beginner?

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Good Morning All (at least where I am),

I've been slowly getting into amateur photography and would like to spend more time on processing. After watching through a lot of tutorials and reading the phase one blog I want to give C1 a try.

My current machine is much to old to run the software (11 year old Mac Pro) so I'm looking to pick up a new laptop to get started. Could anyone suggest a starter Windows laptop for a true beginner?

At this point I have about $6-700 for a laptop (yes I know a desktop would stretch my dollars more, but with an infant I would never use it). I'm willing to upgrade in the future and recognize this wouldn't be the perfect machine for the job, just something that would work for now. Is there something out there new/refurbished/other that you could recommend? I've read that trying to get an accurate screen is important, but I've been struggling to find a laptop that meets that criteria.

Thanks so much, and I'm looking forward to getting involved!
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  • Permanently deleted user
    If you want a small ultraportable, I use a Lenovo ThinkPad X230 from year 2013 at the moment. It was inexpensive and works pretty well. (If you know someone that does serious IT work, they might even have one spare laying around)
    i7-3520m processor, 180GB SSD and 16GB of RAM. Maybe 300-400 bucks for a really good condition one. If you can't find 16, get the 8GB and upgrade later if needed. (from the factory they all came with 2x4GB, so you'd have to upgrade to 2x8GB)

    The quality of the screens can vary. There are 2 or 3 types of screen. I think there is a high quality TN panel (the one I have) and an IPS panel (better image quality). There could be a cheaper TN panel as well, so you'd have to do a little digging on what you find. (if it looks dazzling blue with poor angle of view, that's the lower end screen for sure).

    On color, mine only reaches about 60% sRGB, but it's so small that calibrated it's hard to tell the difference from the 27" 100% sRGB IPS screen I use for editing.

    If you give it a try, get the fully featured docking station as well (25 bucks). Search for "Thinkpad Mini Dock Plus Series 3 with USB 3.0 - Type 4338".


    If you want something bigger but somewhat higher end, look into the ThinkPad W540. I'm sure you can find a neat spec for under $700. (try to get the better screen one that comes with a built-in colorimeter for calibration)

    These are professional grade machines btw. Better than anything you can get new for $700 in build quality and performance.

    EDIT: If you really don't like using the trackpoint (red nipple pointing device on the keyboard; takes a bit of learning but i think it's great), you'll need to carry a mouse as the touchpads are unusable on most ThinkPads.
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  • Robert Whetton
    [quote="gusferlizi" wrote:
    you'll need to carry a mouse as the touchpads are unusable on most ThinkPads.

    Never had trouble with my Thinkpad's touchpad..

    But, yeah get a Lenovo with an IPS panel. And there's no such thing as a high quality TN panel, they all display 262,144 colours, newer panels fool your eye into seeing more, but can't beat an IPS panel.
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  • Permanently deleted user
    [quote="Bobtographer" wrote:
    Never had trouble with my Thinkpad's touchpad..
    Comparing to Macbooks...
    But, yeah get a Lenovo with an IPS panel. And there's no such thing as a high quality TN panel, they all display 262,144 colours, newer panels fool your eye into seeing more, but can't beat an IPS panel.
    Sure, IPS all the way. I said high quality TN because this X230 has a TN panel that is a world of difference from my X220. Remarkably acceptable.
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  • Robert Whetton
    [quote="gusferlizi" wrote:
    [quote="Bobtographer" wrote:
    Never had trouble with my Thinkpad's touchpad..
    Comparing to Macbooks...

    But the OP doesn't have a Macbook. So kinda mute? and what does a Macbook touchpad do that I can't do with my Lenovo one?

    I use an i5 T450 with 16GB RAM and a 250GB SDD, I find it perfectly acceptable to edit RAW files on the road. (I also have a Wacom Intuos that I keep in the laptop bag - because who can't do without pressure sensitivity 😊 )
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