Graphics arts oriented laptops

TPCEA · November 24, 2023

I'm not excited about getting my niece a laptop, but she wants to be able to work anywhere.

Which brands/models should I avoid?

I was looking at Framework but I'm not quite sure which would be ideal for her from the "Seconds" category pre-built or DIY. I don't mind getting her something from prior gens (11, 12).

Since it's for graphic arts, Nvidia GPU is greatly preferred over Intel and AMD.

AMD or Intel CPU

Minimum 16 GB RAM

2 SSDs: Gen 3 or above; >=1TB + >=2TB (or even three)

wifi + ethernet

Windows 10 or 11 Home

Bonus points for touchscreen

I haven't set on a budget yet, but I definitely want to keep it <=$1500 US.

Commodus · November 24, 2023

A starting question: are the specs what your niece wants/needs (such as at college), or what you're looking at?

If I were getting a graphics arts laptop, I'd look at a MacBook Air (Apple has educational pricing). Macs are very common in this industry, and perform well with graphics design software like the Adobe suite. A 15-inch model is preferable, but I'd rather have a 13-inch model with ample RAM and storage than a 15-inch that's barely enough.

If it has to be a Windows machine, that's certainly fine. I'd lean toward Lenovo's lineup, like the Slim or ThinkPad lines; I'd say it's great as long as the machine has some form of NVIDIA RTX graphics and enough RAM/storage. The Slim Pro 7 is one good example, although it's a 14-inch machine.

You may have to forego dual SSDs and built-in Ethernet, though. Fewer and fewer laptops have built-in Ethernet (there's always a USB adapter option), and dual SSDs tend to be reserved for large machines, especially with the kind of capacities you're looking at. It may be better to get a "good enough" internal drive and an external SSD that holds the bulk of your niece's projects.