[Drunken Monkey]

I am shopping for a new computer. Just wondering if anyone here paints on their laptop? What are the advantages/disadvantages? Is it even worth consideration? Are there any models that are usable outside?

Would appreciate your thoughts.

[DrunkenMoNk]

Advantages:
Portability

Disadvantages:
Cost
Speed
Battery Life (They all start off around 2 hours then slowly begin to degrade to the point that you'll only use your laptop when your near an outlet, of course you can always buy another battery but they don't come cheap )

How do you plan on painting outside anyway? Wacom tablets still need their own power adapters right? So what then, your going to use the trackpad? Or are you referring to tablet pc's? I doubt either is pressure sensitive and tablet pc's carry an even greater premium in price.

[Drunken Monkey]

Monk, thx for replying!

My only real concern is the screen really. Will i be able to see it well outside? Or is it close to being hopeless when trying to get the right value?

Usb wacoms don't need power supplies. Batteries are not a big problem. (I'll get a couple)

[DrunkenMoNk]

Ahhh... yes that reminds me of how old this tablet is... still uses a serial port (eh)...

The best thing I can say is find someone you know with a laptop and try it out, you'll never know the random little obstacles you'll encounter without something to base it on.

Oh, most people I know swear by IBM Thinkpads... of course they could all be psycho's, who knows... I just know that I <3 my iBook .

[gArGOyLe^]

get a tablet PC instead

[Socar MYLES]

I used to take my laptop to work and paint with it there--but there was one major problem: the LCD screen. Colours are never quite what you think they are on a laptop, especially if you don't happen to be looking at it straight on.
_________________
Dignity isn't important. It's everything.

www.gorblimey.com - art

[sf09]

i have a fujitsu s-series laptop with an ATI Rage mobility dual/multi-head. the pictures on my laptop looks more yellow-biege than the CRT monitors hooked onto the laptop. (they're: Philips 105E & a very old model AZTECH model) good for reading long texts but maybe not so good for graphics.

BTW the monitors' color were closer to my inkject printer (epson stylus).

hope that helps.

[shawnhud]

I have the G4 powerbook, and as far as painting it's fine. It is difficult to see the screen well outside (depending on the environment- shade, sun etc.) The one disadvantage I have found is what was addressed earlier in that after a couple of hours, you are restricted to your outlet. But if batteries aren't a problem, do your thing.
_________________
Put a muzzle on her Turkish, before she gets bit. You don't wanna get bit, do you boy?

[Drunken Monkey]

Socar MYLES: That�s exactly what I was afraid of. Very helpful thanks!

sf09: Thank you! That does help.

shawnhud: the notebook i was looking at is almost exact PC copy of the g4 notebook - its called vpr matrix. So i dually appreciate your reply

gArGOyLe^: those things are weak :] Maybe second or third generation will be ok.

Monk: Thats what is probably going to happen. $2000 commitment isn't something to be done in the blind. (and thinkpads are friggin xpensive!)



I am going to wait for now, and just put new metal in my box. Thanks for helping me with the decision guys!