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laptop for 3D animation

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laptop for 3D animation

Hi Guys. I'm shopping for a laptop specifically for work in Maya, Photoshop and Aftereffects. Can anybody recommend a good model? Right now I'm looking at the Toshiba G20.

Here's a link that outlines it's specifications:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=1519013&sku=T24-GS202E%20CA

Any advice is very appreciated. Dave

I hate it when people respond with a sideways answer, so I'm coupling that with advice later on....

I've done a lot of work professionally and as a hobby using those apps on a variety of machines. Basically, doing all that on a laptop isn't a great idea. I've been struggling along with those very apps on my Toshiba Satellite for 8 months now. Processor-wise it's fine (3.01 Ghz Pentium M, 1GB memory). It's just the combination of small display size, low hard drive speed, and subpar graphics card is a real killer. I'm upgrading to a desktop in the next few weeks and giving my laptop to my wife (and keeping it around for emergencies).

That being said, if you're still set on a laptop, here's some advice:

Whatever you get, get one with the biggest screen possible. It'll gobble up the battery, but all of those programs are a monstrous pain in the ass with a small screen. Especially Maya and After Effects, most of the screen is taken up with UI. You can reclaim some space by learning all of the hotkeys, but even then while adjusting things (like in the Effects window in AE) it'll end up covering your work.

Not to mention a high end processor running these intensive processes will gobble up the battery, too. Don't plan on going outside and sitting under the shade tree or animating on the train ride to work without an extension cord. You'll be lucky to get an hour out of your battery with a workhorse machine running Maya or AE. Keep in mind that one of the ways, as I understand it, that battery life is extended is by lowering the clock rate of the CPU. Not bad if you're typing a letter, a big pain if you're scrolling around your scene in Maya.

Also, be sure that the graphics card has its own on board memory, otherwise it shares with the system memory (thus doubling the loss in the amount of memory you thought you had, -128mb for the memory you thought you had on the gcard, AND -128mb from the system memory to make up for it, a total of -256mb difference). A good graphics card will help insure that you can drive a larger monitor later if need be. I have a Toshiba Satellite something or other with shared video memory. It drives a 19" LCD all right, but there's still a little ghosting on it (according to Sony it's an inexpensive video card issue). I'll know for sure when I get my desktop later this week.

Hard drive speed will help make a difference as well.

2GB system memory if possible.

Get something to elevate the computer from the work surface. I made some sticks for it to sit on to increase air flow underneath (it has a system fan on the bottom). The fans don't have to work as hard (increases battery life in the rare times when I'm using it), and the CPU is cooled a little better. I've had it shut down a couple of times because the fan got blocked by the table cloth. Even if it doesn't have fans, increased cooling is a good thing on any laptop.

Believe me, it's worth the extra money for all these expensive little requirements. You'll save yourself alot of time and headaches by buying the right computer for the job the first time (and please consider a desktop instead, you'll get twice the computer for the same price).

Sorry if I sound too pessimistic. My toshiba is a nice little machine, that seems to handle AE and Maya very well. But I'd hate to have to do too much 3D work on it, even with the wide screen; I really miss the desktop.

Producing solidily ok animation since 2001.
www.galaxy12.com

Now with more doodling!
www.galaxy12.com/latenight

I just looked at the machine you are looking at. And keep in mind everything I say is based on my non-expert observations and a slight amount of research. In other words, if someone knows better for sure, please correct me.

Some thoughts:
[list]
[*]Maya prefers XP Pro. I'm working on XP Home (with no issues). I'm not sure how it will like XP Media Center. You can upgrade that yourself if you need to (just keep in mind you may need to add $150 on to the price)
[*]I'm using a 17" widescreen model and I find the size lacking for heavy AE and Maya work. You may end up driving a second monitor so you have enough screen space.
[*]Find out if the graphics memory is on the graphics card or shared with the system memory (Toshiba should have the info)
[*] 1GB is a good start for memory, but if you need to upgrade, you'll need to buy 2GB altogether since it's using 2 512 chips (and all of the available slots). This can mean the difference between previewing a useful amount in AE or continually reloading new frames because you can only load 2-5 seconds at a time.
[*]It looks to be a touch expensive. It's my opinion (emphasize on opinion) that they're trying to capitalize on the "use your computer with your TV" market. Be sure you need the media options (as that's what you're paying the premium on), and remember that their media options aren't any where near professional quality (an Avid, this is not). If you're interested in prosumer broadcast work, you'll need to use a firewire connection with a camera or bridge to send your work to tape on (it's even higher quality than DVD). If you want it because of the media center stuff, then knock yourself out, I've been thinkiing of setting up one myself (but with Linux and MythTV, but that's a whole other thread), just keep in mind it's for average users and TVs, not professional (or even prosumer) graphics work.
[*]Does it have a firewire (IEEE1394 connection? You'll need one if you want to import/export your DV footage in a usable format (their analog import is likely to bring it in as MPEG, which is all but unusable for processing, and adds in it's own higher compression, ie. it's not as good as DV)
[*] Add a firewire/USB 2 external drive to the price. At 60 GB the harddrive isn't big enough (and probably barely fast enough) to hold much video on it and all the Apps you'll need installed. Animation/video eats up disk space FAST.
[/list]

It looks like a very nice (expensive) laptop. Be sure that you need a laptop, because at that price you can build a KILLER desktop/workstation and still have money leftover for a 17-19" LCD.

Also, consider an Apple laptop. They're great for video work, Final Cut is hand's down the best video editor out there, and I've used a bunch of them (although Premier Pro isn't bad at all). They can be a touch slow for 3D in my opinion and tests though. At that price you can get their top of the line model with a giant screen. I'll confess that I don't buy Apples, not because they're bad computers, but that I have so much invested in PC's, and I'm comfortable working with a PC and know how to fix them when they break (and they will break, and it will always be when you need them the most). If I were getting heavy into video editing, I would go Apple just so I could use Final Cut.

Before anyone gets on the Apple is better/worse tangent, try posting to these threads instead and try to keep on focus for getting Rocksteady up and running on a computer:
http://forums.awn.com/showthread.php?t=4380
http://forums.awn.com/showthread.php?t=4407

I hope this helps.

Producing solidily ok animation since 2001.
www.galaxy12.com

Now with more doodling!
www.galaxy12.com/latenight

Hey, I'm looking into doing a similar thing. Except I plan to use Flash. I went to buy a iMac lappy recently at Best Buy, but the sales clerk told me to hold off until the new lappies with the Intel processors come in next week.

Can't wait. :D

Order my book Jesus Needs Help on Amazon or download on Kindle.

You can also read the first 18 pages of my next book for free at this link: The Hap Hap Happy Happenstance of Fanny Punongtiti

Hey, I'm looking into doing a similar thing. Except I plan to use Flash. I went to buy a iMac lappy recently at Best Buy, but the sales clerk told me to hold off until the new lappies with the Intel processors come in next week.

Can't wait. :D

That's a good point (especially with the Macs right now). The longer you can wait, the better a computer you'll be able to afford at less money. You will always pay a premium for the newest techs but they do push the other prices down.

Producing solidily ok animation since 2001.
www.galaxy12.com

Now with more doodling!
www.galaxy12.com/latenight

I'm running Maya and Flash and Illustrator on my lap top and it works fine. I have a Toshiba Tecra M4 Tablet. I haven't run into any problems running Maya on my laptop. The only problem I have is like Kdiddy said, the screen is too small, and Maya gets alittle glitchy with my Wacom. I'm planing to migrate my licence back to my desk top with it's 19 inch monitor. It's fine to work on if you have to be moblie, but I wouldn't use the laptop if you have a desk top as well. You're eyesite will go pretty quickly.

But if you are going to get a laptop, get one with a pretty fast processor, lots of Ram, and the best graphics card they make.

Aloha,
the Ape

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

thanks

Hi guys. Thanks all your advice. Much thanks to kdiddy13 for his very helpful feedback (that "Halloween Greeting" is hilarious btw).

Right now I'm freelancing in Toronto, Canada and most of the studios are primarily using PC's for 3D character animation, so I think it's best that I stick with PC's and not Mac's. I already have a desktop, but because I can't always get home to work I think I'll give it a shot and try work on the laptop. I'm usually not far from an outlet, so battery life isn't a problem.

I'm still considering the Toshiba, but I'm also looking at the Dell XPS M170: http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/xps_m170?c=ca&cs=CADHS1&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn. It's a little more expensive but it also has a Geforce 7800 graphics card. I don't know yet. Whatever I choose I'll keep in mind the advice you guys gave.

So right now it's a matter of getting the biggest "bang for the buck" which is a concern since I'm finding out that with upgrades to the RAM and Harddisk storage, it's adding up pretty quick. Hey, it's still worth it if it helps me produce. Anyways thanks big time for the advice!

Hi guys. Thanks all your advice. Much thanks to kdiddy13 for his very helpful feedback (that "Halloween Greeting" is hilarious btw).

Thanks!

Yeah, a better graphics card, more system memory, and a bigger screen will go a long ways towards making you a happy camper. If you're at all used to working on the desktop, the loss of screen space (even if it happens to be a faster computer) is likely to be a bit of a dissappointment/thorn in your side.

I'd check around for prices a little bit. That seems like a high price. I got mine refurbished (roughly equivalent specs) for about $1000 less. I wish I could remember the site, it was about 1 year ago. In any event look around a bit.

Producing solidily ok animation since 2001.
www.galaxy12.com

Now with more doodling!
www.galaxy12.com/latenight

Oh, just a note. If you're going to be switching back and forth between your desk top and lap top with Maya. It won't let you unless you have the Dongle Key thingy, which I need to get. Maya will only let you use it on one computer unless you buy a second license.

Oh, and stick with a PC, esspecially if you are using it for 3D.

Aloha,
the Ape

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

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