Bill Schone
Well-known member
This is a great thread. Kim thanks for starting this.
Travel laptop/options to download and view images
- Thread starter KimM
- Start date
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Thanks Patrick. I actually like working the edits better on the iPad.
John...I found an open box Dell xps 13 with 32 GB Of Ram for a good price and bought it. It is the size and weight I was looking for. It appears that with a dedicated GPU, you jump up to 4.5# give or take and 15" screen. Since I do limited processing, this looks to be a good fit. Ill put it through the paces this weekend and can return it within 14 days if its not for me. Appreciated your comments as this was at the top of my list.
GREAT!! This is probably a good choice. I am very pleased with mine. The 32 GB RAM is a good idea, too...I probably should have gone for that. Depending on the model, the USB 3 and Thunderbolt are amazing advances for peripherals at a time when camera image sizes are ballooning.
I also have the XPS 15 with graphics processor, but it is quite a bit heavier, as you say.
If your XPS 13 is similar to mine, then it is possible to upgrade the ssd, which I did with mine.
Did you get the FHD or the UHD screen? I got the FHD because I wanted the longer battery life, but it is pale in comparison to the UHD screen on my 15". If I had to do it again I probably would do the tradeoff differently.
Me too. I bought it about a month ago. Those tutorials make it look soooo easy! Good Luck!
joe43
Well-known member
I have a lenovo thinkpad extreme 1, but it is 15 inch. Check out the X1's offered by Lenovo that are 14 inch. I believe all come with win 10 Pro. RAM is limited to 16 GB I believe. Some have screen choices and choices on the size of the SSD. And make sure whatever laptop you get has the ports needed or you get the adapter cables you need.
And the open box item goes back today. I was running it through a couple of tests and it is really glitchy and even locked up. This is so disappointing in that this is the top of the line processor with the i7-1185G7 11th gen. Coupled with the 32GB RAM and 1 TB storage, I am thinking this may be a faulty machine and why it was returned in the first place. I am watching the performance screen while it attempted to import images from one external drive to another via a USB A hub with USB C adapter (maybe something wrong with hub or adapter?) It pegged the CPU usage around 50 to 65%, memory usage around 70%. The disk usage was spiking at max for both disks. I tried cng a file to the desktop and importing from there as well and it seemed to drive the CPU even more. Still glitchy. Next I guess I will get another hub - maybe one that is USB C to begin with is the issue.
Could you tell me your experiences with using LR on your XPS 13? Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your choice and the tips! Oh the port situation...with my workflow, I am forced to use a hub as well. Now wondering how many problems that is causing. I have done it this way for years without issues. Ugh.
Replytoken
Well-known member
Did you run enough tests to make sure the issue(s) are with the machine and not the software or your hub? I recently had a very flaky USB 3 hub that got sent back immediately.
--Ken
Jim Ramakka
Member
Weight is always a concern when I'm traveling by air. For the last few years I've used a Surface Pro4, a 4 port usb hub, and 2 Samsung 1TB SSD drives for storage and backup. I do very little LR processing on the road other than reviewing and keywording.
Calson
Well-known member
My first choice has been the netbooks from Lenovo. I have a X-250 with 18 hours of battery life and USB 3, 1GB Ethernet, HDMI, and a SD card reader and with a SSD drive it provides fast boot times. I find it much easier to leave the mouse at home when I can use the IBM touch stick provided on the Lenovo computer keyboards. If I was buying one today it would be the Thinkpad L13 with an i5 CPU that has a 14 hour battery life and is 12.26" x 8.62" x 0.69" in size.
What is unique to Apple and Lenovo is that the customer support people are based in the United States and it is much better than dealing with someone from Dell who is based in Mumbai and following a script. Wth HP is you buy a "business class" computer you get Tier 2 support so service level depends on what you buy from them.
What is unique to Apple and Lenovo is that the customer support people are based in the United States and it is much better than dealing with someone from Dell who is based in Mumbai and following a script. Wth HP is you buy a "business class" computer you get Tier 2 support so service level depends on what you buy from them.
Sorry to hear of your troubles. I have had none with either of my xps's.
I got the xps 13 for travel. It has 2 thunderbolt (TB) ports and 1 USB 3 port. I use one TB port for a Samsung T7 ssd external drive. I used the second TB port to transfer data either directly from the camera or from a dual- slot card reader (Pro-Grade CFexpress Type B and SD USC-II Memory card reader). The remaining USB 3 port can be used to power the laptop.
The raw data files are imported to the T7 ssd and added to my portable LR catalog. I shoot jpegs simultaneously with raw and these are put into a separate folder. If I am lucky, the jpegs will be good enough to quickly upload straight to Facebook or blog.
My portable LR catalogue is also on the T7 hard drive. My main LR catalog is on my main computer at home and the portable will ultimately be merged with it. I carry a second T7 which backs up the first.
Note that it is also the option to just put everything onto the 1 TB hard drive.
I have the Adobe Photography subscription which allows LR and PS to be used on two machines. I have noticed no difference in performance with this system, compared to my main computer for routine tasks, other than the cramped FHD screen and not carrying a Wacom tablet (which actually are big deals, but come with the portability).
Incidentally, at home I have a Dell TB 19 docking station connected by Thunderbolt to the xps 15. This handles the 15's external drives and monitors. I don't use hubs. Almost all my external devices are now USB C or greater.
I hope this helps.
I use my Chromebook. I only view the photos out in the field, no editing. I can also back up my cards on MY PASSPORT Ultra external drive .
And Yes, Chromebook can view RAW files.
I will be using it with CamRanger for remote shutter controls and macro when it arrives next week.
And Yes, Chromebook can view RAW files.
I will be using it with CamRanger for remote shutter controls and macro when it arrives next week.
Yes it does and thanks! Interesting...the XPS 13 I had had only 2 Type C ports one for power the other for a hub/type c device. I really think this machine was bad. Never the less, I decided to go with a system that had a cooling built in with the intensive downloads I do. Heat has always been an issue so this should help. The Asus Zephyrus 14 offered that along with 2 type c ports along with 2 USB-A ports. I will still use a hub. It is running much faster than the Dell. But again, I do think there are issue with this particular machine. When I hear how somebody else moves their data around, I always learn something. Thanks again!
I had considered this...it does sound ultra portable. Thanks!
Good points about service....cause when it's broken, it's a mess. I went through some of this with the LR catalog last Fall. India...I'll just leave that there. What a pain.
I did Ken. It flickered and blacked out without a hub connected to it. When I tried to import a file I copied to the desktop, more of the same. I tried to uninstall the Adobe LR and PS programs I Ioaded to test it. It couldn't get a Wi-fi connection and said it couldn't repair the connection. So....it has problems. I have had a bad hub too. This time, it wasn't the hub. Back it goes.
I did consider this option Jim. I came to the conclusion that there are enough times I am away for extended time and wanted a laptop. But your arrangement sounds nice and light! I have two 1 TB Samsung SSD that I dump to. They are just the right size.
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I use this powered USB hub and have not had any problems at all. The card reader and two Samsung SSDs are plugged in to the hub. Off loading images is smooth. I then re-format the cards for use the next day.
D
Deleted member 115
Guest
I would look at the newest 13 inch macbook pro.
Replytoken
Well-known member
I also use this powered hub and have had no issues with it. I wish I could say the same about an Anker hub I purchased that was defective right out of the box.
--Ken
Replytoken
Well-known member
Thanks for the link! I'm looking at USB C hubs as this is the port with power. Another thing to consider...port with power.