Video editing laptop recommendation time again at DVinfo.net

Robert Knecht Schmidt · September 16th, 2004, 01:49 PM

I'm in the market for a laptop, and portability is my #1 priority, but the ability to edit video would be nice as well. $2700 is the high end of my budget.

Any recommendations on small 'n' light puppies that have lots of RAM, big fast hard drives, and FireWire and USB 2?

Ken Tanaka · September 16th, 2004, 03:42 PM

By posting your question here I assume it must also be a Windows-based unit?

Robert Knecht Schmidt · September 16th, 2004, 03:45 PM

Sorry, yep. Those iBooks are tres nifty, and I'd get one of those, except...

Ari Shomair · September 16th, 2004, 03:59 PM

http://www.alienware.com/ makes some mighty powerful and nifty laptops

Glenn Chan · September 16th, 2004, 07:13 PM

alienware seems to use sager laptops...?

In any case, it seems like sager laptops are much cheaper and just as powerful as the alienware laptops.
http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.html
pctorque.com <-- probably the best place to get a sager laptop. Check their resellerratings.com rating
http://go-l.com - Very 'interesting' website. This company sells rebadged Sager laptops. Take a look at their website for fun.

George Ellis · September 16th, 2004, 07:25 PM

Just as a thought, does it need to be a laptop? What about a mini like a Shuttle and a LCD panel? Lots more horsepower for less, but it does need a little suitcase. But, the LAN party accessories may cover that.

Robert Knecht Schmidt · September 16th, 2004, 08:36 PM

I'm looking for something I can pretty much grab in a hurry and use anywhere, not something I have to pack in a crate and have shipped UPS to the local café.

The Alienware laptop looks bigger, more expensive, and less-featured than the comparable Dell.

Rob Lohman · September 17th, 2004, 01:51 AM

I can say that the DELL laptops I've worked with (and am currently
working on) have worked great. However, I'm not sure if your
lightweight and easy to take with you is easily covered with those.
I know mine is a brick, but then again it is what they call a desktop
replacement and not a laptop pur sang.

David Kennett · September 19th, 2004, 03:06 PM

Robert,

I have a Toshiba P3 900 about three years old. I needed something more for HDV, but it served me well for DV. The Invidia video module will show the overlay (video) window full screen on an external monitor while showing a normal view on the panel. A friend's Sony would not even show the video overlay window on two monitors at once. Check out the video capabilities!

I ran a 120 Gig firewire hard drive looped to a DVD burner, then looped to the camcorder. I could capture fine to the external HD - much faster than the internal 20 Gig. That single 4 pin firewire connection certainly expanded the capabilities!

Good luck!

Joe Cirino · September 27th, 2004, 01:46 PM

Powerbook is a great machine and for the price you want to spend, you can get a loaded G4 17 inch. Get it with maxed ram. ...no the iBook is rather school related. ;-)

Glenn Chan · September 28th, 2004, 11:37 PM

Quote:

The Alienware laptop looks bigger, more expensive, and less-featured than the comparable Dell.

Look at the sager laptops instead, they should be the same thing except reasonably priced (Alienware is overpriced). Dell is also overpriced most of the time unless you snag a hot deal.

Sager also seems to make the highest end laptops...
high resolution LCD screen
2 7200rpm hard drives
The top Pentium processors at reasonable prices (Dell upgrades are waaaay overpriced)

Robert Knecht Schmidt · September 29th, 2004, 12:14 AM

Thanks for the recommendation, Glenn. I checked it out. Impressed that they offer laptops with 7200 rpm HDDs. But most of Sager's machines are between 7 and 11 pounds. (Again, I'm going for portability above all else--nothing over 5 pounds. If I can't snag it and take it with me quickly on impromptu journeys out the door, it'll never get used.)

I was also looking at the Fujitsu P7010D. Anyone have any experience with those machines?

David Kennett · September 29th, 2004, 06:13 AM

Robert,

I know two people who have had Fujitsu laptops for several years who have been very happy - no tech problems. They were not editing video, however!

Edward Troxel · September 29th, 2004, 07:40 AM

The Sager with two 7200 rpm 60Gig drives has proven to work very well for me. Yes, it's a little on the heavy side but it has LOTS of power.

Dan Euritt · September 29th, 2004, 10:10 AM

i have the fujitsu n5010, which is probably too big for what you want, but it rocks! i do edit video on it.

take a look at the lcd screens on the fujitsu's and the sony's... as of earlier this year, no other laptop manufacturer had comparable screen technology... i think that it's called the x-bright on the sony?

fujitsu even makes a screen that is designed specifically to be used outside... be sure and check out the speed of the hard drive that you are getting, a lot of laptops come with 4200 rpm drives.

September 16th, 2004, 03:42 PM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	By posting your question here I assume it must also be a Windows-based unit? __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

September 16th, 2004, 03:45 PM	#3
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Sorry, yep. Those iBooks are tres nifty, and I'd get one of those, except... __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 16th, 2004, 08:36 PM	#7
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	I'm looking for something I can pretty much grab in a hurry and use anywhere, not something I have to pack in a crate and have shipped UPS to the local café. The Alienware laptop looks bigger, more expensive, and less-featured than the comparable Dell. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 17th, 2004, 01:51 AM	#8
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I can say that the DELL laptops I've worked with (and am currently working on) have worked great. However, I'm not sure if your lightweight and easy to take with you is easily covered with those. I know mine is a brick, but then again it is what they call a desktop replacement and not a laptop pur sang. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 19th, 2004, 03:06 PM	#9
David Kennett Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Ridgeville, Ohio Posts: 407	Robert, I have a Toshiba P3 900 about three years old. I needed something more for HDV, but it served me well for DV. The Invidia video module will show the overlay (video) window full screen on an external monitor while showing a normal view on the panel. A friend's Sony would not even show the video overlay window on two monitors at once. Check out the video capabilities! I ran a 120 Gig firewire hard drive looped to a DVD burner, then looped to the camcorder. I could capture fine to the external HD - much faster than the internal 20 Gig. That single 4 pin firewire connection certainly expanded the capabilities! Good luck! __________________ Dave

September 16th, 2004, 01:49 PM	#1
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Video editing laptop recommendation time again I'm in the market for a laptop, and portability is my #1 priority, but the ability to edit video would be nice as well. $2700 is the high end of my budget. Any recommendations on small 'n' light puppies that have lots of RAM, big fast hard drives, and FireWire and USB 2? __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 16th, 2004, 03:59 PM	#4
Ari Shomair Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: LA, California, USA Posts: 224	http://www.alienware.com/ makes some mighty powerful and nifty laptops

September 16th, 2004, 07:13 PM	#5
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	alienware seems to use sager laptops...? In any case, it seems like sager laptops are much cheaper and just as powerful as the alienware laptops. http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.html pctorque.com <-- probably the best place to get a sager laptop. Check their resellerratings.com rating http://go-l.com - Very 'interesting' website. This company sells rebadged Sager laptops. Take a look at their website for fun.

September 16th, 2004, 07:25 PM	#6
George Ellis Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Suwanee, GA Posts: 1,241	Just as a thought, does it need to be a laptop? What about a mini like a Shuttle and a LCD panel? Lots more horsepower for less, but it does need a little suitcase. But, the LAN party accessories may cover that.

September 27th, 2004, 01:46 PM	#10
Joe Cirino Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: United States Posts: 101	Powerbook is a great machine and for the price you want to spend, you can get a loaded G4 17 inch. Get it with maxed ram. ...no the iBook is rather school related. ;-)

September 29th, 2004, 12:14 AM	#12
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Thanks for the recommendation, Glenn. I checked it out. Impressed that they offer laptops with 7200 rpm HDDs. But most of Sager's machines are between 7 and 11 pounds. (Again, I'm going for portability above all else--nothing over 5 pounds. If I can't snag it and take it with me quickly on impromptu journeys out the door, it'll never get used.) I was also looking at the Fujitsu P7010D. Anyone have any experience with those machines? __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 29th, 2004, 06:13 AM	#13
David Kennett Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Ridgeville, Ohio Posts: 407	Robert, I know two people who have had Fujitsu laptops for several years who have been very happy - no tech problems. They were not editing video, however! __________________ Dave

September 29th, 2004, 07:40 AM	#14
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	The Sager with two 7200 rpm 60Gig drives has proven to work very well for me. Yes, it's a little on the heavy side but it has LOTS of power. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

September 29th, 2004, 10:10 AM	#15
Dan Euritt Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Carlsbad CA Posts: 1,132	i have the fujitsu n5010, which is probably too big for what you want, but it rocks! i do edit video on it. take a look at the lcd screens on the fujitsu's and the sony's... as of earlier this year, no other laptop manufacturer had comparable screen technology... i think that it's called the x-bright on the sony? fujitsu even makes a screen that is designed specifically to be used outside... be sure and check out the speed of the hard drive that you are getting, a lot of laptops come with 4200 rpm drives.