Asus Zenbook or Apple Macbook Pro ? Which ones better for Color Management ?

[manishbjain]

I spoke to two color experts in my location for suugestions on best Laptop for Color Management. One suggested Asus Zenbook and the other Apple MacBook Pro. So which one should I go with ?

 

[AP90]

Where's David Milisock when you need him.....

 

[PricelineNegotiator]

What is it that you are looking to achieve? Colors on the screen or power? The new MacBooks with the m.2 SSDs are wicked fast, so I'm inclined to travel that route, but you could also get a Surface Pro...

 

[dabob]

Me . . . I would go with the MAC . . . but then again I'm a bigot that way . . .

 

[Correct Color]

Which is best would completely depend on just what you want "color management" to do.

If you're looking for screen gamut, the MBP is probably a better bet. If you're looking to profile a printer and then print images to that profiled printer either from color managed applications directly through the operating system or through a RIP -- unless that RIP would be Caldera -- then you're probably better off with any Windows machine.


Mike Adams
Correct Color

 

[Dov Isaacs]

I spoke to two color experts in my location for suugestions on best Laptop for Color Management. One suggested Asus Zenbook and the other Apple MacBook Pro. So which one should I go with ?

You might seriously wish to consider the Lenovo ThinkPad P70. It is a 17" notebook workstation with options that include a 4K screen and a built-in XRite color calibrator. Options include choice of Intel i7 or even Xeon processors, up to 128GB of memory, and PCIe and SATA SSD drives. Windows 10 Pro is standard. I am personally using one of these systems with a Xeon processor, 32GB memory, two 256GB PCIe SSDs, two 2TB SSDs, a DVDR drive, 4K screen, and XRite calibrator.

It runs all the Adobe Creative Cloud software at least as well as any MacOS-based system. (I am neither a MacOS or Windows fanboy; I regularly use both types of systems!) I use this on the road (nearly 100K frequent flyer miles for this baby already in one year) for production of color-critical content.

If you need something a little smaller, there is also the ThinkPad P50, a 15" version of the P70 with not quite as much expandability.

Yes, these systems are pricey but well worth it in terms of performance and durability. (Note that you can cut costs significantly by buying a minimal configuration and adding your own memory and SSDs; memory and disk are fully and very easily end user-upgradeable!)

- Dov

 

[PricelineNegotiator]

You might seriously wish to consider the Lenovo ThinkPad P70. It is a 17" notebook workstation with options that include a 4K screen and a built-in XRite color calibrator. Options include choice of Intel i7 or even Xeon processors, up to 128GB of memory, and PCIe and SATA SSD drives. Windows 10 Pro is standard. I am personally using one of these systems with a Xeon processor, 32GB memory, two 256GB PCIe SSDs, two 2TB SSDs, a DVDR drive, 4K screen, and XRite calibrator.

It runs all the Adobe Creative Cloud software at least as well as any MacOS-based system. (I am neither a MacOS or Windows fanboy; I regularly use both types of systems!) I use this on the road (nearly 100K frequent flyer miles for this baby already in one year) for production of color-critical content.

If you need something a little smaller, there is also the ThinkPad P50, a 15" version of the P70 with not quite as much expandability.

Yes, these systems are pricey but well worth it in terms of performance and durability. (Note that you can cut costs significantly by buying a minimal configuration and adding your own memory and SSDs; memory and disk are fully and very easily end user-upgradeable!)

- Dov

That is seriously one bitching fast laptop. I'm guessing you paid about $5,000 out the door?

 

[Puch]

Alternatively, there is the Dell XPS 15, which can display 100% Adobe RGB on the go.

 

[Dov Isaacs]

That is seriously one bitching fast laptop. I'm guessing you paid about $5,000 out the door?

If I bought all the memory and disk from Lenovo directly (actually, they don't even sell 2TB SSDs yet), yes, it would have been north of $5000. But most of the memory and disk I added in myself (I believe in the 11th commandment – “Thou shall not pay retail!”) I also included a three year NBD on-site extended warranty. Typically, by buying high end, quality gear, I am able to get between 4 and 5 years of great use out of my notebooks and desktop systems (they then get demoted to be my “hot standby” emergency/test systems).

BTW, the screen on this system does support full Adobe RGB.

- Dov

 

[PricelineNegotiator]

Yes, I believe in the same timetable myself for high end rigs. Not to hijack this thread, but here is my at home rig that is 4 years old and still fast as hell.

[B]CPU:[/B]
Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501"]Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I73770K[/URL]

[B]Mobo: [/B]
MSI Z77A-GD65 with UEFI BIOS
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130643"]Newegg.com - MSI Z77A-GD65 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS[/URL]

[B]GPU: [/B]
EVGA GeForce GTX 780 ACX Cooler 3GB 03G-P4-2784-KR
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130918"]Newegg.com - EVGA ACX Cooler 03G-P4-2784-KR GeForce GTX 780 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card[/URL]

[B]Disk Space:[/B]
2 x Crucial M4 128 GB (in RAID)
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=20-148-442"]Newegg.com - Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)[/URL]
1 x OCZ Agility 3 120 GB
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227726"]Newegg.com - OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)[/URL]
2 x 2 TB HDD
(don't remember which ones)
1 x 3 TB HDD
1 x 5 TB HDD
1 x 150 GB WD Velociraptor 10,000RPM
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136929"]Newegg.com - Western Digital WD VelociRaptor WD3000HLHX 300GB 10000 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive[/URL] (closest thing to it)
1 x 500 GB external HDD USB 2.0
1 x 3 TB external HDD USB 3.0
----
Total Storage = 16 TB

[B]Memory: [/B]
CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 1866
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233281"]Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M2A1866C9[/URL]

[B]PSU: [/B]
SeaSonic X750 Gold
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151087"]Newegg.com - SeaSonic X750 Gold 750W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply[/URL]

[B]Case: [/B]
AZZA Solano 1000
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811517004"]Newegg.com - AZZA Solano 1000 Black/Black Japanese SECC Steel/Metal mesh in front ATX Full Tower Computer Case[/URL]

[B]DVD Drive:[/B]
ASUS 24X DVD Burner
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204"]Newegg.com - ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - CD / DVD Burners[/URL]

[B]Heatsink:[/B]
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065"]Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible with Intel 1366/1155/775 and AMD FM1/FM2/AM3+[/URL]




[B]Peripherals[/B]

[B]Mouse:[/B]
Razer Mamba 2012
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826153080"]Newegg.com - RAZER Black 7 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Optical/Laser 6400 dpi Mamba 2012 Elite Ergonomic Wireless Gaming Mouse[/URL]

[B]Mouse Pad:[/B]
Some Razer pad. Makes a big difference

[B]Headphones:[/B]
Razer Carcharias
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826153043"]Newegg.com - RAZER Carcharias 3.5mm Connector Circumaural Professional Gaming Headset[/URL]

[B]Monitors:[/B]
ASUS ROG PG278Q Black 27" 1ms(GTG) Widescreen WQHD LED Backlight LCD G-SYNC 3D Monitor
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236405"]ASUS ROG PG278Q Black 27" 1ms(GTG) Widescreen WQHD LED Backlight LCD G-SYNC 3D Monitor , Gaming Hotkeys, 6mm Slim Bezel 350 cd/m2 1,000:1 - Newegg.com[/URL]
ASUS 27" 1920x1080 2ms
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236103"]ASUS VE278Q Black 27" 1920x1080 Full HD CD Monitor w/Speakers - Newegg.com[/URL]
Acer 22" AL2216W
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009094"]Newegg.com - Acer AL2216Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP support 300 cd/m2 700:1[/URL] (oldie but a goodie)

[B]Joystick:[/B]
Saitek CyborgX
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1CS0H15951"]Newegg.com - Cyborg F.L.Y 5 Gaming Joystick - GE4859[/URL]

[B]Keyboard:[/B]
Cheap-o Dynex brand keyboard

Looking to actually upgrade the whole thing right now, but even though there has been 3 generations of new Intel CPU's, I do not believe there to be any substantial speed gains yet. I have heard good things about the next generation, however.

 

[Dov Isaacs]

Yes, I believe in the same timetable myself for high end rigs. Not to hijack this thread, but here is my at home rig that is 4 years old and still fast as hell.

…

Looking to actually upgrade the whole thing right now, but even though there has been 3 generations of new Intel CPU's, I do not believe there to be any substantial speed gains yet. I have heard good things about the next generation, however.

The CPU is only one factor and obviously, any performance improvements also depend on what applications you running and the size of the assets you are working with.

In terms of performance improvements over what was available 4 to 5 years ago, memory speed is significantly improved (of course your new CPU and motherboard will need to support same) and in conjunction with an upgrade to 32GB could make a tremendous difference in performance.

Beginning about four years ago, except for external USB 3 drives I use for backups, all my systems are running SSDs. The PCIe M.2 drives are the most expensive, but also the highest performance (they don't connect via SATA connectors). I use one such drive for my OS and paging files. The SATA-3 SSDs I use for data storage. Once you use an all SSD-based system, you can't go back to rotating iron mines!

And of course, the sky is the limit in terms of video cards. Ironically, once you have a video card that is capable of supporting a 4K monitor, anything beyond that would only help applications such as Photoshop that actually knows how to use a GPU.

And as much as I enjoy “hot iron” every so many years when I get new systems, in fact I dread the whole process of reinstalling all the software, resetting all the preferences to my own liking and needs, and then migrating all the data over to the new system. Its a time sink pain-in-the-tuchas process!

- Dov

 

[PricelineNegotiator]

Yes, memory and m.2 drives have been becoming increasingly inexpensive recently. I picked up one of Intel's new 600 series m.2 drives and threw it in my work computer, and it was way faster than my two ssd's in raid 0. I want to buy one of the new Samsung 960 Pros, but can't justify buying a new mobo, cpu, memory just so I can stick the m.2 in the proper slot. Oh well.