What is a the best laptop/notebook computer for making comics?

[gulpy1189]

Hey, guys! So I've been making my webcomic with the help of Photoshop since I started it a bit more than a year ago, but now I'm starting to notice some massive wear on my laptop and think it's about overdue for a replacement (it's a bit more than 5 years old right now :().

Anyways, for those that use a computer for a majority of their comic-ing, I was wondering what model computer you use. Alternatively, for the more tech-minded, what current laptops on the market would you recommend for a fellow webcomic artist? My main concern is that my tablet (Wacom Bamboo model) isn't compatible with any of the new stuff out there, so if anyone would know about that issue, that'd be helpful, too.

[Devin]

Do you live in the US? Dell and HP usually have killer sales around November/Black Friday. Don't buy a MacBook. If you do, I'll hunt you down. It sucks. I have one and it doesn't work with the art programs I use.

[Andrej]

Software and OS are something you must try find out for yourself if they really work for you, but I think that 8 gigs of RAM is the standart nowadays to get anything done properly -- you'll be able to open and work with deeply layered PSD and AI files pretty smoothly. Video card doesn't matter much, unless you're into animation and/or 3D (or if you're going to use some heavy filtering on Photoshop), or if you're also planning to use your PC for gaming as well (if that's the case, I think going for a tower case-type PC will be cheaper and more powerful and versatile on the long run).

I can't pinpoint you at one model in particular, since I feel any well known brand of laptops your suit your needs just fine or to the very least decently enough. I've heard horror and glowing stories from pretty much every brand out there, so search reviews if you're after a specific model that suits your spec needs (though if you have all things set, your keyword when reading reviews should be battery life). If it'll be your main computer, I think you should also consider getting one with a numeric keyboard. Even if they'll make the computer like 20% larger, you'll feel more at home with those keys around.

8 gigs of RAM might be pricey for laptops, but 6 gigs should work out just fine as well. You could also go with a 2 or 4 gigs model if your comic isn't super graphically intense and if you can't stretch your budget much further, but things will be more limiting as you want to try new and bigger things on them.

[ninakester]

I use an Intuos Wacom from 2004 on an iMac that I bought just under 2 years ago. Not sure about the Bamboo Wacoms, but I hope it's a good sign.

@michaelson and @Loic, any recommendations?

@gulpy1189, what's your budget?

[gulpy1189]

Thanks for the replies!

@Devin Yep, I live in the US. Totally forgot about Black Friday! Haven't dared shop on that day in a while (at least for something as top-tier as a laptop) but I'll give it a shot!

@Andrej It was kinda wonky working on a laptop that didn't have the numeric pad, but I got used to it pretty quick. If possible, I'm aiming for something not too big. My current laptop screen's around 16 inches diagonally, so I'm setting that as my maximum size. It's also at 3 gigs of RAM, which I know is small potatoes. Kinda excited that 8 gigs is becoming the standard for newer models.

While my wecomic's the main thing I'm keeping in mind, I do kinda want something of a gaming laptop, which I know is gonna significantly boost the price range I'm looking at :|.

@ninakester I wanna say around $1000 since that's what I paid for the laptop I'm using right now. Though, something closer to $800 would be nice :D. Considering looking into refurbished models since the PCs I've looked at in stores all run on Windows 8, which I just can't get used to no matter how many times I try it out.

[Loic]

I may be wrong, but the only thing you should care about is the amount of ram relative to the processor speed. My personal recommendation would be to get:

a minimum of 6 gigabytes of ram, 8 being ideal, 10-12 being optimum-overkill.
a minimum of 1.9 GHz. 2.1 being ideal, 2.5+ being optimum-overkill.
hard drive space, to your needs.
operating system, to your needs.
Screen size, to your needs.
++ if you can get a 64bit computer.
You will have to compromise in some areas to stay within your budget. For example you might get a smaller hard drive for a bigger screen, etc.

Don't worry so much about the brand (dell, hp, etc...) as the stats. If your tablet has a usb connection and works with your current laptop, I can't see it not working with new computer (there's always backwards compatibility). Should also work just fine with newer versions of Photoshop.

I'm told Apple is a better choice when it comes to artists, but that's as far as I can help you. Now if you were a gamer or a video editor...

The computer I built 2 years ago:
3.4 GHz 64 bit 4 cores
12 GB of ram
600 GB HDD
Windows 7.

It's still above average. Which reminds me, I need a new graphics card

[michaelson]

Hmm, depends on whether you want to be mobile or not.

It'll be much cheaper getting a desktop for your price range with better specs than opting for a laptop. I would recommend looking into newegg for decently priced computers. But you'll probably have to get Windows 8? Haha.

I personally do most of my digital art using a desktop. Even though I can't move around the house with it, it's never lagged or slowed down and I didn't spend an arm and leg for it.

If you're looking into laptops specifically, then I think Lenovo Thinkpads are a good choice, they have similar if not better specs than most macbooks pros without the big price tags. Like @Andrej was saying, 8 gb of RAM is ideal for Photoshop.

[picpak]

Using a Lenovo Ideapad here that does the trick. Nightmare to dual boot with Linux though. Don't listen to the naysayers because you can totally do it if you're persistent enough. I did.

[kambreapratt]

We used to use the Lenovo Thinkpad as well. I know the pen on the one we had wasn't pressure sensitive out of the box, but there is a drive you can get to fix that. We now use a laptop with a Yiynova tablet. They are like a Cintiq, but the prices are much more reasonable.