Small laptop for tethering in field?

[narikin]

Time to get a new small laptop for tethering in field. Anyone got a suggestion? I was thinking of something like a windows convertible tablet, which seem to have great power and value to them. Must be light, with good screen more than anything. I do like the fold over screens of convertible tablets, which allow you to handle a simple slate type block rather than the awkward L shape, which is not so good when standing.

Until Phase get their USB3 working (never?) obviously it would also have to be able to adapt to Firewire.

 

[photomgraphy]

i recently read on luminous landscape forums about a samsung slate pc for tethering in the field: Jumping on the medium format wagon
look for the reply from the member "FredBGG"...

 

[narikin]

Thanks that's a nice piece of kit, but has zero connectivity. I do need to work tethered, rather than transferring a sample card. Something like this might work, but its still 4lbs:

Fujitsu America - LIFEBOOK&reg T731 Tablet PC

 

[narikin]

or this?

Sahara Slate PC i500 Tablet PCs by TabletKiosk

 

[dougpeterson]

11" MacBook Air with Thunderbolt works great. See our article on Thunderbolt with Digital Backs.

Shockingly durable for such a light machine.
Surprisingly snappy for a relatively low-spec machine.
Perfectly usable for other applications like typing in a hotel room or airplane.

$1350 will get you a 128gb version with 3 year warranty. If you're on a budget the official refurbs can knock a few hundred off that.

I've never seen a tablet I liked other than the iPad (which wouldn't work for this). Usually battery life is awful, touch screen is only so-so, and weight is surprisingly high. The tablet you linked to is 4 pounds when using something called the "weight saver" (no idea what that is, maybe a lower capacity battery??). The Air is 2.4 pounds and is also significantly thinner than either of the tablets you linked to.

 

[DeckardTrinity]

I second the MacBook Air recommendation - it is my tool of choice for all things tethering these days (especially with the TB->FW adapter from Apple).

 

[sc_john]

Any experience/comments on visibility of 11" MBA screen outdoors without a shade or hood of some sort? I know this is subjective, but I'm curious about using this for focus/composition/etc check in the field. Thanks.

John

 

[Professional]

Macbook Pro 13", i have old model of this one and i am quite happy with it, i have 17" Matt screen model but it is older and a bit heavy, so i take 13" one, i wasn't planning for MacBk air before as i feel it is very small for some works so i ignored it.

 

[Douglas Fairbank]

I want one of these please!
ModBookPro
Home page

 

[chaosphere]

Holly Shrimp !!!

 

[Jorgen Udvang]

+1 for the MBA, although I would prefer the 13" (which I have) which has more SSD space, a larger monitor and an SD card slot. I was worried about the glossy screen to start with, but I never give it a thought anymore. Mine has taken a lot of abuse, and it's always the last thing that I ram into my backpack when it's really more than full.

 

[pcunite]

Time to get a new small laptop for tethering in field. Anyone got a suggestion? I was thinking of something like a windows convertible tablet, which seem to have great power and value to them. Must be light, with good screen more than anything.

Thinkpad X230 ... comes with an IPS display.

 

[AndyPtak]

@narikin

I have a Fujitsu convertable tablet. Not the model you highlighted - I think it's a TH700(?).

I thought long and hard before I bought this and flexibilty was key for me. I liked that it was finger and stylus responsive and could be used as a computer and a tablet. I put in a SSD to speed things up on this little machine and substituted a second battery for the CD bay. The clincher for me is it had an Express Card slot and I have been able to add Firewire and USB 3 ports. (why doesn't every machine have this feature?)

In the end I took a $1000 machine and with my improvements made it a $2000 machine. I've owned it a year and hate it. It is so effing slow that I go insane.

I'm sitting in a hotel in Mexico right now and waiting and waiting as Lightroom imports my work. It is painful and hampers my production terribly. I regret ever buying this. All of the other features I love and would stand by my decision, but the fact is that an i3 processor is a joke and can't be compensated for in other features.

 

[archivue]

For Leaf user :
13" Macbook pro for his firewire 800 connection
15" Macbook pro for his firewire 800 connection and optional antiglare screen

 

[dick]

Do you want something cheap and light, or something that works?
What camera/software are you using, and what is the file size?
I would get a 17" SSD Mac book pro - for 60Mpx files and Phocus and PS - but something cheaper and lighter might work ¿or even be productive? for you... and you may have younger eyes and not get much benefit from the larger screen?