zachary_goulko said:
I am currently using a Dell Inspiron for on location shoots, and even though its good enough to review images for client and art director approvals, I can't rely on it for color accuracy. Just wondering if there are laptops out there specifically for color correction/retouching work, or if an upgrade is possible to something like and Eizo, to the stock laptop LCD.
Should be something out there by now...
Hi Zachary,
The first answer, and not to you in particular, is the one with an accurately profiled and calibrated screen.
Even with lesser laptop LCD screens, one can still improve things by simply recalibrating for each session.
One should use the center of the screen for very critical work. (The calibration here may not match that at the edges of the screen.) The less capable screens drift more and there is more variability over the screen.
My suggestion is the 17" Apple Powerbook Pro.
Now, a source I respect Michael Reichman supports this point of view. Last month, he reviewed an awefully expensive fancy monitor the NEC MultiSync 2180WG-LED (with a claimed RGB Gamut and improved screen illumination). You don't need to rush off to buy this beauty, as IMHO, they won't fly off the shelves. Still the review is worth noting for at least the path it shows to future LED technology.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/accessories/nec-2180wg.shtml
and mentioned in passing his impressions on the new Apple Powerbook and that is worth quoting.
Remember, each of Michael’s monitors are regularly calibrated and profiled with the Gretag Macbeth Eye One spectrophotometer and either ColorEyes Display or Eye-One Match.
“And speaking of the 17" Macbook Pro, its screen is a significant step up from that on the previous 17" Powerbook. When properly profiled I find it to be very usable, even for some colour-critical applications. Since I need a colour accurate monitor when I travel, I am now very pleased with this new laptop's screen, something that I could never really say about the previous 17" Mac portable.”
I myself have not run any careful test. However, my non-scientific impression confirms the quality of images on week old Powerbook Pro (one 15" and one 17"). I compared appearance with our older 15" Powerbooks. The new screens appeared sharper and more impactful color.
[COLOR="'Blue"]I would not be uncomfortable (except for the height of the screen) doing all my work on the new 17" PB Pro nor would I feel I need to recheck everything on my Eizo monitor. [/COLOR]
Good luck,
I hope this answer serves as a good start.
Asher