Something of a spree.

[cdifoto]

Well the Dell has been in my hands since yesterday morning. I had some WiFi issues that seemed to have worked themselves out thus far (knock on wood!). The screen leaves a bit to be desired, to be honest, but it's more than usable. I think I just need to get used to the lower contrast ratio...my viewsonic has punchier colors...and I assume that's because it's 500:1 and this thing is only 350:1 or thereabouts. I might also need to spend some time custom tweaking the colors when I'm not so tired.

At any rate, it's plenty fast. Converted 2 RAWs in DPP in about 4 seconds vs about 12 for my desktop machine. It feels "light" as far as functionality goes and it's not that heavy physically either. Being wide, the weight is distributed nicely on my lap, and it doesn't get too hot. It's not cool, but it's not like the laptops of yore either.

The speakers suck ass though. But when do laptops ever have good ones anyway? This is where the title comes in. I went ahead and ordered a pair of Sennheiser HD-280 Pro headphones. Not exactly top end but MSRP is $200, and B&H has them for $73.15 AND free shipping (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=240764&is=REG&addedTroughType=search). I figure they can't be that bad, and they're noise canceling as well.

The purpose of this thread? I don't know. I don't think there is one. I just felt like sharing I guess.

[forno]

Good news mate, new gadgets are always good:D

Do you tweek the colours by eye or witha calibration tool

[cdifoto]

Good news mate, new gadgets are always good:D

Do you tweek the colours by eye or witha calibration tool

I'm trying both. The purples are blue on this thing, and the Huey doesn't seem to care about fixing it. I'm eyballing but there doesn't appear to be enough control in the software to do it manually and get true results. I may have to buy a better calibration system. I have the purple looking sortof correct, but my browser menus are too as a result. Finding that balance seems to be a bear.

[forno]

Oh, I was thinking of a huey myself, photos look fairly different at work compared to my laptop at home

[cdifoto]

Oh, I was thinking of a huey myself, photos look fairly different at work compared to my laptop at home

Its really wierd cuz the Huey did a good job on my Viewsonic. I'm trying to eyeball this to match it, but that may be my problem. It might not be capable of what the Viewsonic can do.

[forno]

May be as simple as that, can you span/mirror an external monitor?

[cdifoto]

May be as simple as that, can you span/mirror an external monitor?

I'm pretty close right now but I'm going to hook this thing up to the Viewsonic to see how it looks. Eliminate some variables and see where that takes me. Fortunately I didn't really intend to do a lot of image editing on this in the first place, but it would be nice to get it to where I can if I need to or feel like it.

[forno]

A few guys at wok here have got docks for their Dell laptops so they just drop it onot the dock and thats already hooked uptop a muse/kb and Dell 17' LCD

[RichNY]

Fortunately I didn't really intend to do a lot of image editing on this in the first place, but it would be nice to get it to where I can if I need to or feel like it.

I thought that image editing was your primary use; what is this laptop primarily for?

[cdifoto]

I thought that image editing was your primary use; what is this laptop primarily for?

Everything you do with a laptop. Image editing I'd rather do on a desktop with a real mouse and the 19" screen since it has all my printers hooked up to it. This will stand in if the desktop goes down but I'll eventually have a new desktop too when the current one craps out. In the meantime this laptop:
A) lets me get away from my desk
B) offload images from the CF cards
C) run my business
D) check and respond to my email
E) kill time at the laundromat
F) preview images/slideshows/offerings to potential clients (despite the slight color discrepancies...a client wouldn't really know the difference without a reference point)
G) surf the net

etc etc etc.

Could I have gotten away with a slower computer? Probably. Did I want to? No.

[adam75south]

my laptop sucks for editing pictures. they are way too different than my desktop monitor...even though they are both calibrated....colors look the same, just the backlight on this monitor really brightens things up way too much. i'm sure there's a way to fix it, but i just don't know how.

[cdifoto]

my laptop sucks for editing pictures. they are way too different than my desktop monitor...even though they are both calibrated....colors look the same, just the backlight on this monitor really brightens things up way too much. i'm sure there's a way to fix it, but i just don't know how.

I won't go so far as to say it sucks, but the backlighting differences seem to be where the discrepancies lay. I can fool around with the settings but so far no major revelations to get them alike. Haven't plugged the Viewsonic in to see how it looks though. I don't think this Dell will be unusable, for now I just have to remember to use the same USM/Contrast techniques and not try to make them pop as much as they would on my desktop.

[RichNY]

It's really surprising to hear your comments about the video especially since you didn't order the base model but got their top of the line display.

[cdifoto]

It's really surprising to hear your comments about the video especially since you didn't order the base model but got their top of the line display.

It's the color itself, not the quality per se. I think it should kick butt right out of the box but my Viewsonic didn't look right either until I got it calibrated properly.

[zmikers]

Since you guys are discussing photo editing on your laptops here, thought I'd ask a quick question......If my laptop's colour isn't perfect, what will happen when I try to edit the colour of my pictures then make some prints? Will it mess up the colour of the print. What I'm worried about is changing the colour, and brightness for that matter, of one of my pics to what looks right on the computer screen only to find out that my screen was way off thus messing up the print. Any thoughts? Cheers guys.

[cdifoto]

Since you guys are discussing photo editing on your laptops here, thought I'd ask a quick question......If my laptop's colour isn't perfect, what will happen when I try to edit the colour of my pictures then make some prints? Will it mess up the colour of the print. What I'm worried about is changing the colour, and brightness for that matter, of one of my pics to what looks right on the computer screen only to find out that my screen was way off thus messing up the print. Any thoughts? Cheers guys.

That's the whole point of getting your monitor calibrated and profiled and all that good stuff...

[Rontech1]

Well the Dell has been in my hands since yesterday morning. I had some WiFi issues that seemed to have worked themselves out thus far (knock on wood!). --------

At any rate, it's plenty fast. Converted 2 RAWs in DPP in about 4 seconds vs about 12 for my desktop machine. It feels "light" as far as functionality goes and it's not that heavy physically either. Being wide, the weight is distributed nicely on my lap, and it doesn't get too hot. It's not cool, but it's not like the laptops of yore either.

CDI-BUY,
Congrats on the laptop.
As for the heat, there is a free utility called Fangui that works with most Dell laptops to allow you to control the fans a LOT better than the Dell system. You can read about it/get it here.
http://www.diefer.de/i8kfan/index.html
There is a matrix that tells which Dells are compatible also. I have used it on all my Dell laptops including my new E1705 core duo. Keeps it a lot cooler, but does use up the battery a little faster. But you have MANY options on how to run it. I highly advise getting it.
There is also a forum about Fangui at the Dell websight.
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_bios&message.id=7742

As for the wireless, there is an urgent (from Dell) update avail here posted 11/16/2006 -
http://support.us.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R140747&formatcnt=1&libid=0&fileid=187881
for the wireless that may help any problems. The ftp seems somewhat slow though and it is a 52 meg download. I amtrying to get it now but it is sooo slooow. May want to verify if it applies to yours but I believe it applies to all with wireless. If you want I will let you know how it works on mine before you D/L it.
Ron

[cdifoto]

I don't see the Intel PRO card listed. That's the one I have in my system so I don't think that update would apply.

I haven't had any major problems lately though so it might have been a fluke. *knock on wood*

[aparmley]

Don - I've had my Sennheiser HD 280s for over a year - you're gonna love them, they kick serious ass (enthusiast audiophile speaking). For the money they can't be beat. . . because you can certainly spend upwards of $10,000.00 on a pair of head phones if you really wanted to, but thats mad!;)

[cdifoto]

Don - I've had my Sennheiser HD 280s for over a year - you're gonna love them, they kick serious ass (enthusiast audiophile speaking). For the money they can't be beat. . . because you can certainly spend upwards of $10,000.00 on a pair of head phones if you really wanted to, but thats mad!;)

Good to know. I don't have any good stores that are close enough to drive to. 45 mins is about the closest but for a pair of headphones I'd rather not make a trip like that. I posted a thread over on POTN in General Chat and got some mixed "reviews" on them, but you know how they love to spend other peoples' money...

[RichNY]

CW- Have you been keeping up translating this thread? ;) :D What are the Aussie equivalents or do you just add 'Mate' at the end of them?

aparmley- "you're gonna love them, they kick serious ass"

adam75south- "my laptop sucks for editing pictures. "

cdi-buy.com: "The speakers suck ass though."

[cdifoto]

We're so eloquent.

[RichNY]

We're so eloquent.

Especially impressive was your ability to weave the words "suck" and "ass" into one sentence- you leave the others in your poetic dust ;)

[cdifoto]

Especially impressive was your ability to weave the words "suck" and "ass" into one sentence- you leave the others in your poetic dust ;)

Yah and I didn't even water it down with words in between the two. ;)

[aparmley]

CW- Have you been keeping up translating this thread? ;) :D What are the Aussie equivalents or do you just add 'Mate' at the end of them?

aparmley- "you're gonna love them, they kick serious ass"

adam75south- "my laptop sucks for editing pictures. "

cdi-buy.com: "The speakers suck ass though."

If I'm not mistaking, all muddy rivers run clear after 3 or 4 ice-cold, tasty ambers. . . . ;)

[noyjimi]

I went ahead and ordered a pair of Sennheiser HD-280 Pro headphones.

The purpose of this thread? I don't know. I don't think there is one. I just felt like sharing I guess.

There was a purpose - did ya get your sennheiser yet? How is it? I have a lower end :o HD-201 coming to replace a generic one I accidentally stepped on and broke.

[adam75south]

Especially impressive was your ability to weave the words "suck" and "ass" into one sentence- you leave the others in your poetic dust ;)

just wait til i bust out with my favorite...shit ass. for example, two nights ago i had to go to court in this little shit ass town i got a ticket in. they suck so bad, you can't just show up whenever you want, they make a court date at 6 o'clock at night. now that sucked ass.

seriously, they used folding chairs, that's how bad they suck. here's a pic.

[cdifoto]

There was a purpose - did ya get your sennheiser yet? How is it? I have a lower end :o HD-201 coming to replace a generic one I accidentally stepped on and broke.

Out for delivery today. I may or may not have a shoot today though, depending how the weather clears up and/or whether we're both feeling peachy enough to bother trying anything in it if it stays. If all signs point to go, that'll kill pretty much my whole day since the plans are to grab lunch, take our time, get some afternoon and evening shots, perhaps with a cheap dinner in between.

So yeah. A package might have to wait on me for once! :eek:

[cdifoto]

The Sennheisers showed up a few minutes ago. I connected 'em up to my laptop and man are they sweet. I'll probably invest in a portable EQ though to get some more from the lows if I can. The clarity is excellent but my laptop offers no controls beyond volume.

[forno]

Out for delivery today. I may or may not have a shoot today though, depending how the weather clears up and/or whether we're both feeling peachy enough to bother trying anything in it if it stays. If all signs point to go, that'll kill pretty much my whole day since the plans are to grab lunch, take our time, get some afternoon and evening shots, perhaps with a cheap dinner in between.

So yeah. A package might have to wait on me for once! :eek:

sOUNDS LIKE A DATE:D

[cdifoto]

sOUNDS LIKE A DATE:D

It wasn't a date, and it didn't even pan out. I drove down there and her simple sounding directions weren't so simple after all. I couldn't even find the place. Pfft. Screwit.

[forno]

You must have been taking directions from a chick:p :p

[cdifoto]

You must have been taking directions from a chick:p :p

Funny you say that. On my way home I was cursing myself outloud for taking directions from a girl.

[adam75south]

Funny you say that. On my way home I was cursing myself outloud for taking directions from a girl.
i feel a new man law is on the horizon.

[forno]

Funny you say that. On my way home I was cursing myself outloud for taking directions from a girl.

Did you use the words, suck & arse ?

Diluted or staight up:D

[cdifoto]

Did you use the words, suck & arse ?

Diluted or staight up:D

I wasn't that restrained. :eek:

[forno]

Lmao

:d :d