dilema bout a laptop or a desktop

[acekay]

Hello everyone,

a bit bout myself so that u guys help me sort out the dilema in my head bout the new new machine that i must be getting.

i'm an international student in canada, pursuing a course in classical animiation, n then moving onto 3d animation.
the purpose of the machine - reference movies n videos n inspirational material and to work on my own little projects and to put my demoreel together, do the laundry and make my meals.

applications that i'll use - Photoshop CS2, After Effects 6.5, Adobe Premiere Pro, Combsution 4, Maya 7.0 and later, XSI, Z-Brush, some sound editing programs like SoundForge, Cool Edit Pro, now Adobe Audition 1.0 and Flash MX n later, and Real Flow. (not necesssarily, they'll all be run together... )

But i'm primarily an animator than a gamer, or a 3d modeller, though i've had some proior experience in the said fields, theres no denying that i'd like to try it out again, though the main focus bein on animation. also i'll be fiddling with particles simulators and FX animation.

i was lookin for a machine that can well handle the stress that i MIGHT throw at it. and i wondering if i shd settle for a desktop as against a laptop. the mobility of a laptop would definitely be an advantage as i cud then bring it to school along with me, but its of no use if i wouldnt be able to run those applications satisfactorily.

the other main advantage of a desktop is that it can easily be upgraded.
but thats y i was lookin at a laptop that i stumbled upon, that i think might be able to handle the pressure.

here are its specs:


* Removeable Storage: Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, MMC, Compact Flash, MicroDrive
* I/O Ports: 4 x USB 2.0 Ports, 1 x VGA External Connector, 1 x S-Video External Connector, 1 x IEEE 1394 Port, 1 x RJ11 (modem), 1 x RJ45 (Ethernet LAN), 1 x Microphone, 1 x Headphone/Audio Out
* Included Software: Microsoft Windows XP Media Center, Microsoft Works 8, Money 2005, Microsoft Digital Image Starter Edition 2006 with Trial, Nero 6 Suite, PowerDVD, McAfee Internet Security Suite (90-day complimentary subscription).

Please Note: This product only contains French operating instructions and system software.


Product Details



Processor Type Mobile AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3400+
Screen Size 15.4"
RAM (Preloaded / Maximum) 2048MB 333MHz DDR SODIMM (PC2700)
Hard Drive 100GB (4200 RPM)
Optical Drives DVD+/-RW Multi-Format Double Layer
Graphics 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X600
Average Battery Life Up To 3 Hours
Product Weight 2.84 kg
Audio Type Info Not Available
Battery Type 8-Cell Lithium-Ion
Cache 1MB L2
Fax/Modem 56K ITU V.92 Ready Fax/Modem(RJ-11 Port)
I/O Ports See The Features Section
Included In Box Battery, Charger, Manual, Software
Network Card Integrated 802.11g Wireless, 10/100Mbps
Other Software See The Features Section
PC Card Slots 1 - Type I or II; CardBus
Pointing Device Touchpad With Vertical Scroll Zone
Preloaded Operating System MS Windows XP Media Center 2005 French
Processor Speed 2.2GHz
Product Dimensions 35.56(W) x 4.06(H) x 26.41(D) cm
Removable Storage Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, MMC, Compact Flash, MicroDrive

* I/O Ports: 4 x USB 2.0 Ports, 1 x VGA External Connector, 1 x S-Video External Connector, 1 x IEEE 1394 Port, 1 x RJ11 (modem), 1 x RJ45 (Ethernet LAN), 1 x Microphone, 1 x Headphone/Audio Out



Screen Type Widescreen Ultrabright WXGA TFT
Speakers Built-In Stereo Speakers
System Bus 1600MHz
Warranty 1 Year Parts & Labour

* Included Software: Microsoft Windows XP Media Center, Microsoft Works 8, Money 2005, Microsoft Digital Image Starter Edition 2006 with Trial, Nero 6 Suite, PowerDVD, McAfee Internet Security Suite (90-day complimentary subscription).


well, i'm hopin on some valuable suggestions to help out of this, cosif this doesnt give me the bang for the buck, then i'll just have to settle in for a desktop, as performance is of prior importance n then comes the convenience.
n as i'm a student, i also have a budgetary constraint.


i also stumbled upon a sony vaio, which was the most ideal machine, but that seems to surpass my budget manyfold.
but heres the link to that anyway.

my sony vaio dream machine
any help in this regard is most appreciated.

Thanks

 

[PhoenixOrion]

desktop

.....quad core G5.

 

[Jiggz]

First things first, Laptop or Desktop? Although, laptops had come a long way since the P3 to P4M, it's still way off when compared to desktop's performance and upgradability. Since your work fundamental requisite is brute processing power and mobility being secondary, you sure want to go with a desktop. Now what kind of desktop, it all depends on how much you want to spend. Of course, you wanted at least a duo core CPU, or even a quad core just like mentioned earlier.

 

[0roo0roo]

desktop
something goes wrong on a laptop, its bad..and its expsnive

 

[corkyg]

Desktop all the way - maybe with a SFF for easier portability as a student. You are looking at heavy duty processing. Bang for the buck is desktop.

 

[DaRkLoRd666]

Dont ever get desktop processors in laptops, i have and they overheat and slowdown or crahs.

 

[pkme2]

Since you're plan to do so much and mobility is an advantage to you, I have to recommend a laptop.
Why, because of the ability to work anywhere. With Wi-Fi you have the ability to work anywhere.
At our college, we have hotspots to link to the Net and at various shopping centers, the same.
You can get a fully loaded laptop at $2000 from Dell less the $750 Dell Discount Coupon.
As a college student you can do everything on your laptop. I do everything on my Inspiron 600M.
I recommend a E1505 for your needs. Good computing......

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Not even a question, desktop

 

[DaRkLoRd666]

Also, plz dont get a sony vaio. They are over priced AND use bad hardware, i have seen them before my friend spent $1000 on one that was worth no more then $650.

I would build the system for you but you proly dont trust me so get your comp from cyberpowerpc.com they are a good company

 

[acekay]

Hey thanks a Ton guys,

that was a dilema well sorted out, leading to another one ofcouse, cos thats how we are...

when is the next generation of mac highend desktop gonna come out with the intel
processors ?

cos then, there'llbe no stoppin th likes of us...

but yeah....thanks again