Dual Processors?

I am not a techie by any means....I am a professional sports photographer and looking to go digital(Have not yet).  Many of the things I am reading about downloading digital photos from the camera suggest the dual processor, but I am wanting a notebook because of the portability to the sport fields/events so customers can see the photos.  If dual processors are not an option in notebooks, can you make a couple of good suggestions for optimum perofrmance?  Thanks!

No major manufacturer offers a dual processor notebook. Power consumption and heat generation are major problems that impede this.

Why do you need a dual CPU notebook?

The processor will have little to do with downloading speed. (more of a factor in photo editing) You should be looking at the way to download the files from your camera to the notebook and the size of the files.  I am sure as a photographer you know that you don't need an 8 meg RAW file to print a 4" x 6" photo or a photo for the newspaper and etc..... 

USB, USB2, 1394 "firewire", smartcard reader etc. are the main ways to transfer files.  The USB2 or firewire are supported by most if not all of the currently offered dell laptops.  For older models you may want to check.  Most smartcard/SD/CF card readers are now offered in USB2 transfer rates.

I think a system like the 8600 w/ 1.7, 1.8, 2.0 would be fine for your needs of storing/displaying/printing photos.  It also fine for doing photoshop work and light/medium video editing (if you are doing a high amount of vid editing i would rec'd a desktop)  The 9100 / XPS is also a high powered system that would do fine for your needs but lacks the portability and battery life of the 8600. 

smackie

Thanks everyone....big help.....

I would agree with the above reco0mmendation of a 1.7GHz 8600, leaded up with at least 1GB RAM.

USB,USB2,Firewire are all ways of attaching your camera to you computer to transfer the photos. You'll want a camera that supports USB2 or Firewire.

And EXCELLENT true SLR digital camera right now is the Nikon D1H - I have a friend is is a photographer for a paper and LOVES his. It uses CompactFlash for media, which is cheap, and you can get a USB2.0 card reader for it (for transferring images) for $20. I'd highly recommend that camera, or the step above it, the D100.

NO, NO, NO! Maybe in a couple of years; or possibly, just one processor that has twice the power.

 

BTW: as far as working with media goes; I have a Sony Handycam digital camcorder and I have absolutely no problem transferring my movies to my 2GHZ Pentium M notebook - and editing them. DCR-HC20 is super cool by-the-way...fits in the palm of your hand, has 'steady shot' stabilizer, excellent stereo audio and touch-screen LCD. It even shoots in total darkness with IR 'nightshot plus' and it's only $680CDN...just though I'd mention it for anyone looking to buy a mini DV camcorder!

Message Edited by RandyB on 05-14-2004 09:52 PM

The closest you'll come to a Dual CPU notebook will be a single CPU that supports hyper-threading.

Which, in the case of photoediting, wont help at all.

I agree, there's somewhat of a misconception behind dual processors. For the time being, and to keep this short, having two processors will make no difference in "download times". Having a fast Compact Flash (I'm assuming you're using CF) and a fast USB 2.0 Card reader (such as Sandisk's) will make the biggest difference. The card and the reader themselves are the weak links in the speed equation at this point.