Laptop recommendations

[SQ]

I have my own desktop, but I can't use it right now... It ran Windows XP. I miss it. ._.

Anyway, I have a mac now, but I'll be fucked if I actually want to edit on it. So I was wondering if you guys may be able to recommend a good laptop that I could use for photoshop and/or Video editing. I figured it'd be easier to ask you guys than an actual computer community, being as you have personal experience and all with what exactly our hobby needs.

I'm decently computer literate, though I am all sorts of ignorant about Windows 7, but I have absolutely NO experience with laptops whatsoever. In theory they shouldn't be too different from a desktop, but I don't know, somehow they are.

So I guess what I'm looking for is, what is a good set up for a psuedo editing rig for a laptop, and what price range can I be expecting, and what are some good brands for it?

[Zarxrax]

Well, there's the thing about laptops. If you want one that's portable, it's not good for photoshop or editing. If you want one for photoshop/editing, its not very portable. You simply need a large screen to work with those apps, and a large laptop like that is typically called a desktop replacement. You can carry it somewhere with you if you really need to, it's just not very convenient.
You want windows 7. You also want lots of ram, lots of HD space, and a powerful CPU. And this is why laptops aren't the best choice for editing :p

[SQ]

I don't really care about portability, and I was kind of just looking at smaller laptops- 15 - 17 inch screens. My setup at home is a dual monitor and I really like that, even though I've had experience with much larger screens. I guess I'm weird. I prefer to have two totally seperate small screens rather than one big one. Maybe I'll learn to cope in time.

Regardless, I set down some baselines in a newegg search. Dedicated video card, at least 2GB of RAM (more like 3+ ), 350GB+ HDD.
http://xrl.us/bhj4sd
Are any of these good?

I guess my main gripe is the size of a desktop. If I could actually use my desktop right now, I would. I could potentially carry around an extra monitor, but there's just no way I could take all my desktop shit with me right now. So I suppose I am looking for a desktop replacement. Battery life isn't really an issue.

[guy07]

HP laptops are the best, imo. and always get a 2 year warranty, because laptops are always having problems. Be sure to get something without integrated graphics. Check the HP website? I hear good things about Dell to.

[LittleAtari]

Anyway, I have a mac now, but I'll be fucked if I actually want to edit on it.

Install bootcamp, dual boot Windows and save $900?

[surfsama]

Install bootcamp, dual boot Windows and save $900?

This is a very good suggestion.

My question is how intensive is the Photoshoping and Video editing you plan to do? If you're deadline driven and/or heavily into HD content or process many layers then maybe a laptop wouldn't be your weapon of choice. However, if you're working at a pace where rendering speed isn't super critical or you’re just masking/editing pictures in Photoshop then any of the choices listed on Newegg will probably be fine. I’m a bit bias towards the Intel processors but that’s just me.

Migrating from XP to Windows 7 shouldn’t be too difficult since it looks and acts similar – just allot nicer.

[SQ]

Anyway, I have a mac now, but I'll be fucked if I actually want to edit on it.

Install bootcamp, dual boot Windows and save $900?

Personal preferences dictate that running a windows on a mac would be a huge waste.

Also, my mac's specs are too low and I'm not buying another mac.

@Surfsama
Thanks...
I'm sort of biased toward Intel as well, but I just didn't know about laptop brands in general. And I kind of wanted to spend less than 1k. So I'm not sure.

[Knowname]

you sure you want a laptop than?? why not just get a pc, you can get a bigger, better one for less.

For laptop recomendations I'd add to Zarx' suggestion, you'd be a LOT happier if you got an SSD (Solid State Drive) they load large files like in a FLASH. I'm sure Dell would have a great one for you.

[SQ]

I don't really want a laptop, but I have a huge issue with (physical) space, and I move around a lot. I can't feasibly carry around so much equipment (tower and all that).

So unless I want to keep putting off editing indefinitely (which I don't want to do, I love this hobby and I miss it) I need a laptop.
Thank you for the mention of the SSD, though. I'll look into this.

EDIT:
SSD addition adds WAAAY too much to the price point. Sadface.
Guess I'll live without.

[surfsama]

Just curious, have you looked into the Military personnel discounts offered by Dell?
http://www.military4life.com/discounts/computers.html

Might be an option.