Best Photoshop capable laptop under $1200

[amidond]

He guys this laptop is for my brother who will be doing some Photoshop work, he likes the Alienware M11x but thought he could get something better for the money. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

1) What is your budget?
$1,200

2) What size notebook would you prefer?

b. Ultraportable; 11" - 12” screen - Preferably
c. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen

4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
a. Like: Alienware M11x
b. Dislike:

5) Would you consider laptops that are refurbished/redistributed?
No

6) What are the primary tasks will you be performing with this notebook?
Photoshop, used for school so needs to be portable

7) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places, leaving it on your desk or both?
taking to school

8) Will you be playing games on your notebook? If so, please state which games or types of games?
not likely

9) How many hours of battery life do you need?
5

10) Would you prefer to see the notebooks you're considering before purchasing it or buying a notebook on-line without seeing it is OK?
Online is ok

11) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista or Windows 7), Mac OS, Linux, etc.
Windows/Mac OS

Screen Specifics

12) From the choices below, what screen resolution(s) would you prefer? Keep in mind screen size in conjunction with resolution will play a large role in overall viewing comfort level. Everyone is different. Some like really small text, while others like their text big and easy to read. Click here for Screen resolution information.

13) Do you want a Glossy/reflective screen or a Matte/non-glossy screen?
Doesn't matter
Build Quality and Design

14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
Somewhat

15) When are you buying this laptop?
next month or so

16) How long do you want this laptop to last?
3-4 years

Notebook Components

17) How much hard drive space do you need; 80GB to 640GB? Do you want a SSD drive?

250GB minimum

18) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a CDRW/DVD-ROM, DVD Burner or Blu-Ray drive?
No

[ZaZ]

I'd say the ThinkPad X220 with the IPS LCD merits consideration.

[edit1754]

The Alienware M11x isn't a particularly good option for Photoshop because the contrast of the display is very poor. You'll find that this is the case for most displays.

The Lenovo Thinkpad X220 with the IPS display upgrade is worth considering though. The display doesn't have a high color gamut but it has high contrast.
- Laptop computers - ThinkPad X220
- Add the "Premium" display upgrade. That is the IPS display. The stock display has poor viewing angles and contrast, but the IPS display does excellently in both.
- Apply coupon X220DEAL

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There is also the Samsung Series 9 2012 model, with the 13.3" 1600x900 PLS (~IPS) display, but it's $1399.
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Series 9 NP900X3B-A01US Ultrabook Intel Core i5 2467M(1.60GHz) 13.3" 4GB Memory 128GB SSD HDD Intel HD Graphics 3000

[amidond]

thanks for the recommendations, I do think the screen is much better but how much Photoshop processing power would be lost to the downgrade of Video Card to the Intel HD 3000 from the Nvidia GeForce 540gt?

[edit1754]

I don't think you have to worry too much about that, especially if the work isn't heavy.

[pianowizard]

He guys this laptop is for my brother who will be doing some Photoshop work...

2) What size notebook would you prefer?

b. Ultraportable; 11" - 12” screen - Preferably
c. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen

In terms of screen quality, the Thinkpad X220 beats all other 11"-12" laptops. However, its 1366x768 doesn't offer enough working area for Photoshop IMO. The Sony Z Series with 13.1" 1600x900 or even 1920x1080 would be a better choice. The Z1 models (which have been discontinued) can be bought used on eBay for well under $1,200, but unfortunately your brother doesn't want to buy used. The current models, the Z2's, are over $1,200 for new units even on eBay, but prices may drop quite a bit in the next several months due to the release of Ivy Bridge laptops. The Sony Z2 has amazing specs: high resolution, powerful, and yet weighs only 2.5 lbs, actually lighter than the 12.1" Thinkpad X220. However, the X220 has better build quality and better screen quality (in terms of color, contrast and viewing angles, not in terms of resolution).

[edit1754]

The new Samsung Series 9 with the 13.3" 1600x900 PLS display is a good option, but it comes in at around $1399.

[ZaZ]

The other issue for getting an ultrabook versus a X220 is an ultrabook has limited hard drive space since it'll use a SSD only for storage while the X220 can do the mSATA for speed and the platter drive in the main bay for storage. Since the OP wants a minimum of 250GB, an ultrabook won't have enough space. I do a some PS and Gimp on my X220. The HD resolution works fine, my opinion of course.