LAPTOPS

[Linda51]

We have a computer but would like to get a laptop. Does anyone know if there are any really good ones with good programmes in for photography, I kept fancying a program for the computer which enable you to alter pictures and just generally play around with pictures as I love photography but thought if there was a laptio with this sort of thing built in it would be great.

Thanks.

[daisya]

I've always bought HP computers and eventually got one of their laptops which I love. As for a photo suite..you would probably have to buy one to add on to it if you want anything that is worthwhile. I guess make of laptop/pc is down to personal preference and spec of the one you need.

[hc4361]

Gimp is free and well regarded.
http://www.gimp.org/

More basic, and free
http://www.serif.com/...oto-editing-software/

There is plenty of choice of software ranging in price from free to several hundreds of pounds. If you buy a Windows PC it will come with Paint, which a basic but easy to use photo editor. You probably have it already.

If you have a digital camera there is probably software for that camera you can install that will have editing capabilities.

It is doubtful that a new pc, desktop or laptop, would come with anything other than Paint pre-installed.

Piknik seems very popular at the moment, also free:
http://www.picnik.com/

[AlBags]

You install your own photo software .. in your case .. like Corel or Adobe Elements.

[Buenchico]

Laptops are almost universally sold with just the operating system (e.g. Windows 7) on them, together possibly with some office software (which is likely to be a time-limited trial of Microsoft products) and perhaps some security software. Everything else you need to provide yourself.

However there's plenty of free software available for download, which will do what you want (either on your existing PC or on a laptop).

For basic image manipulation, Google's Picasa software is highly recommended:
http://picasa.google.com/

Serif Photoplus Starter Edition is also very good:
http://www.serif.com/...ware/?MC=FSSPHOTOPLUS

However if you're serious about image editing (and you don't mind a fairly steep learning curve) you'll need a program like Adobe Photoshop CS5, which is what magazines, newspapers and advertising agencies mainly use for manipulating images. The problem with that is that Photoshop CS5 costs over 500 quid! However there's an open-source freebie which does just about everything that Photoshop CS5 can, called Gimp:
http://www.gimp.org/
(NB: If you download that program I STRONGLY recommend clicking the 'Documentation' link as well, to download the user manual. Otherwise you'll easily get lost with the complexity of what's available within the program).

Chris

[AlBags]

I say again ... Adobe Elements .. what's the point of offering software that costs more than the ruddy laptop and is for pro users?
Or an old software disc with a free Paint Shop Pro on it (this became Corel)

There ... just two sentences.

[daisya]

Have to agree with Albags...Corel is good for the most.

[mjwman]

Photoshop Elements is the only way to go.

[hc4361]

Oooooh, Buenchico copied my links!
I am indeed honoured.

[VHG]

>>>which is likely to be a time-limited trial of Microsoft products

Without wishing to be pedantic, most laptops now DONT come with a time limited versions of Office.

They come with MS Office Starter which is NON time limited and contains "cut down" versions of Word and Excel.

Of course within that product MS offer you the chance to upgrade to full versions of MS Office.

[AlBags]

Laptops come with very little GOOD stuff for free (if it is .. it's time limited and then nags you .. pain in the ass)