Laptops and PS and AI CS 3

Question

WIll these two softwares work well on an IBM OR Mac laptop, notebook (I don't know the difference) or must I have a MAC?
If I DO get a laptop, what should I look for in equipment? Thanks so much for the info..............mm

Answer 1

I'm at CS2, but I have no trouble running either Illustrator or Photoshop on my Lenovo X61 (running Win XP Pro). I don't do any "serious" work on my notebook PC, but that has more to do with my preferences and work habits than any inherent limitation of the hardware (well... except for the monitor, perhaps).
If a notebook were my only PC (whether I were running Mac OS or Windows), I would, at a minimum, invest in a good external monitor that can be properly calibrated. That way, I'll have a way to check color accuracy.
As to what to look for in a laptop/notebook PC, much depends on your requirements. Is portability important? If so, you'll put size and weight high on your list of criteria. Is screen real estate important? If so, you'll be looking at larger widescreen models. Will you be subjecting it to heavy-duty use and possible abuse? If so, you'll seek a product of rugged design and build. Is this to be a desktop replacement? If so, you'll consider various performance factors very carefully.
I would caution that, although there are some relatively inexpensive options out there these days, you get what you pay for. When something breaks, you don't replace components (like a keyboard or mouse) as with desktop PCs; you send the entire thing out for repair.
And, along those lines, I recommend you work out a rigorous backup strategy early in your ownership... of
i any
PC, but
i especially
a laptop/notebook PC. I know people who have sent their broken laptops back to the manufacturers and received replacement units (under warranty) with "clean" hard drives. Bye bye, data. (Not the manufacturers' problem.)
Oh... and what Bob said.