[ddj] Computer recommendations

Thu Aug 22 19:43:33 UTC 2013

Hi Carolyn,

if you want a highly portable laptop, the "Ultrabooks" by a number of manufacturers are a pretty good choice (Intel requires the manufacturers to fulfil certain requirements in order to call them Ultrabook, such as very low weight, long battery life, very thin, a SSD or a hybrid of SSD and standard hard drive). A number of models also has a decent performance.

The most of them are around with 13 inch displays, but some also have 14 or 15 inch displays. This wikipedia article acutally shows the past and presently available models: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrabook (a bit of info overload, I have to admit).

But if you constantly need high CPU power, you might choose a less portable model. But you can choose from loads of manufacturers and models. A number of people sticks to Lenovo (formerly IBM), HP Compaq or Dell for long-term quality and support reasons.

Michael

on Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 8:58 PM, Carolyn wrote:

> Hi David,

> Not sure. Maybe somewhere around $1,000 to $1,500 (Canadian) but willing to
> go higher if it's recommended. I'm expecting to be doing most data work as a
> freelancer from now on, so this will be my main tool - no more work computer to use.
>  

> On Thu, Aug 22, 2013 at 3:10 PM, David Weisz <davidaaronweisz at gmail.com> wrote:
>  
> Hey Carolyn,

> What budget range did you have in mind?

>  

> On Thu, Aug 22, 2013 at 1:20 PM, Carolyn Thompson <caroethompson at gmail.com> wrote:
>   

> Dear all,

> I've been doing most of my data work on a mac, but I'm finding much of the
> open source software I like to use isn't available on that platform. My
> computer will also soon need to be replaced. 
>    
> I'm looking to buy a PC laptop to work off instead and was hoping I could get
> some recommendations on what model other reporters use and what to look for,
> particularly in terms of fast processing power when working with large data banks.
>    

> Thank you very much,
> Carolyn

> -- 
> Carolyn Thompson
> Reporter and Photographer
> www.carolynethompson.com
>    (c) 506-639-5569
> (o) 506-645-3369 

>  

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------

Michael Hoerz
Digital Journalism
Sanderstraße 26
12047 Berlin
+49 (0)170 5165453
www.michael-hoerz.de