Already have a good screen where the laptop can also plug in to when at home.

Some do deliver their JPG at the right pixel size but use uncompressed JPGs so you still end with big files.
The Quality level control that John talked about is what I mean. you don't see a difference when that's set to 80% you can even go down to 60% without seeing huge difference.
If you've a quality level from 1 to 12, 8 is around 60% and 10 around 80% so number between that is alright.

You get a high quality file that doesn't take unnecessary space and speeds up download speeds since they are smaller.

Here you can compare the compression qualities link

That might be an idea the photos I compressed with 80% with the last comp werent larger then 200KB, most were near the 100 to 150 range.
With 60% you can get them all at 100KB or under it.

There are some uncompressed there, those were 480 to 580KB, 3 times as large almost.

Not for my kind, I even slow down my desktop computer to a grind
So instead of upgrading my desktop the laptop will also replace that one.

I can off course go for a cheaper Laptop but that will mean I also need to upgrade my current computer completely as well.

That would also be a i7 with 8GB and most likely a Nvidia GTX 460 or ATI Readon 5850, not cheap either.
Together that would be €800 so would have also the same amount to spend on a laptop as well.

If I need an apple though I've a problem, I can't life with a lower specs machine from the normal range

Pentax also have huge white lenses.





What about these

I'm hoping to apply for a photographic study so will need a Laptop for that, I think I need an Apple but I'm looking at some alternatives just in case.
Which one you think will be most suited and why?

Dell Studio 15 - € 1.553,00 (£1.275)
Custom colour
Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 740QM (1.73 Ghz, 6MB, 4C)
1 GB ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD5470
15,6-inch witte led Full HD-breedbeeldscherm (1.920 x 1.080) met TrueLife
8.192 MB 1333 MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM [2 x 4.096]
500 GB (7.200 rpm) Seriële ATA-harde schijf
Blu-Ray ROM Drive (read/write CD/DVD & read Blu-Ray Disc)
9-cel lithium-ion (85 Wh)

Connectivity
Dell Wireless 1520 halve minikaart (802.11n)
Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth-module
(2) USB 2.0 compliant 4-pin ports
(1) USB/eSATA combination port
HDMI connector
15-pin VGA video connector
Integrated network connector 10/100/1000 LAN (RJ45)
AC adapter connector
Audio jacks (1 line-in, 1-line out, 1 Mic-in)
4-pin IEEE 1394 port (Firewire 400 mini)
34 mm ExpressCard slot
8-in-1 Card Reader


MacBook Pro 15 - € 1.884,01 (£1.545)
2.4GHz Intel Core i5
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M met 256 MB
320GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
MacBook Pro 15-inch Hi-Res Antiglare Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)

Connectivity
802.11n
Bleutooth 2.1
Gigabit Ethernet port
(1) FireWire 800 port
Mini DisplayPort
(2) USB 2.0 ports
SD card slot

Don that's a great technique.

Tried both and have used all the options under save for web for preserving Metadata

It's a DNG file directly from Lightroom, if you go to File>File Info I still have all the info but after the save to JPG the lens information that PPG needs is gone

How do those chinese lanterns hold out with some wind?
I confessed I totally forgot about reflectors, cheap and easy and they work even without a flash.

I've one but hardly use it... maybe it's time to take it with me sometimes..

Just wanted to add that you shouldn't worry about this:
If you know how to do it that would be great since it saves me some time, if you can't then please say so and I'll do it for you.

Yes on the left side off her face it does look softer but I never said it didn't
Agreed that the contrast is less. The highlights on her skin are hard to judge because the angle of her face is different.
could certainly be.

I too but not relative to what was discussed. I said the Stofen won't work outdoors because it has nothing to bounce off from to soften the shadows, I did forgot walls there and the ground, still the effect is very minimal and not efficient.
According to Sto-fen it cost 2.5 stops off light when you use it.

What if you use the wide angle diffuser that some flashes have?
I do agree with you that the increase in the light source will soften the shadows but the increase off Sto-fen is very little with hardly any noticeable effect like you said.

The paper lantern thing would be far more effective outdoors, basically anything that enlarge the light source.