1Nina,

I've used current models of a Dell and an HP laptop with i5/Win 7 combination, 6 mbyte memory, graphics with 1 mbyte and 500 Gbytes hard drive. Both handled PD10 quite nicely. In North America Acer is popular but their support for consumers is not as good as that of Dell's or HP. Win 10, i7

Nina,

As you know, there is no simple answer to what would make a suitable laptop/desktop for editing. I am not a fan of laptops for editing, but that is a personal thing not really based on concrete facts.

The hardware is only one of the things that has to be considered. As we have seen in many posts, there are some very high end systems having problems and there are some very low end systems that are not having problems.

The combination of hardware and operating environment (software) play more of a roll than any one factor.

The best advice I think you could give your students is:
1 - Buy all the computer they feel they can afford.
2 - Learn the limits of what they have.
3 - Take their time while editing. Don't try to rush the editing process.
4 - Keep the laptop off their laps. Helps them run cooler.
5 - Keep the inner workings clean/clear of dust.
6 - Back up files to external storage.
7 - Do not overload the hard drive with unnecessary programs. (Which might conflict)

This is a short list of some of the things I would be suggesting.

Hal

edited to correct spelling OS - Win11 Pro, Alienware R13, CPU - Intel Core I7-12700KF 12 CPUs), 16g DDR5 4400 RAM, Video - Geeforce RTX 3080ti 12g, PD11 & PD365
My YouTube

[These resources might not be as useful in Europe. The model numbers, and even the available vendors, might be different.]

I usually check out web sites such as CNET and http://www.tomshardware.no/ or its sister site, http://www.tomsguide.com/. tomsguide seems to be way out-of-date. I don't know what's going on with them.

I also look at Consumer Reports. Their magazine is, of necessity, out of date by the time it's published; but their web site is constantly updated.

Amazon.com also has user ratings of products that they carry, and so does BestBuy.com.

When I actually go shopping, I look for a store where the sales people are not on commission; and I usually pick out one of the younger ones. Jerry Schwartz

One bit of good news the latest cpu's coming out of Intel are incorporating some very good built in graphics chips that finally have half a chance of handling HD video editing. My youtube channel====> http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2?feature=mhsn

Hi Nina

I wasn't aware that Norway was such an expensive (high cost) country to live.

For the last few years I have only used (reasonably high end) laptops - Dell and HP. Specs on signature.

My HP cost less than a $1000 Australian dollars due to a buy one get one for free (BOGOFF) at an electrical store called Harvey Norman.

Can you purchase computers online from the UK, US or Australia? Happing editing

Best Regards

Neil
CubbyHouseFilms
My Youtube Channel
My Vimeo Channel
PD3.5, 5, 6 & 7. Computer: Dell Dimension 5150, Intel Pen. 2.80 GHz, 2GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT 256MB, Windows XP Pro!!
PD8 Ultra v3022. Computer: Dell Studio 1747, Intel, i7 Q740 1.73 GHz, 8GB RAM, ATI Mob. Radeon HD 560v 1GB, Windows 7 Ult. 64
PD10 Ultra v2023. Computer: HP Pavilion dv7, Intel, i7 2630 2.00 GHz, 8GB RAM, ATI Mob. Radeon HD 6770 2GB, Windows 7 Pre. 64
PD12 Ultra v2930. Computer: HP Pavilion dv7, Intel, i7 2630 2.00 GHz, 8GB RAM, ATI Mob. Radeon HD 6770 2GB, Windows 7 Pre. 64
PD13 Ultim v3516. Computer: HP Pavilion dv7, Intel, i7 2630 2.00 GHz, 8GB RAM, ATI Mob. Radeon HD 6770 2GB, Windows 7 Pre. 64
PD16 Live v2101 Computer: HP Pavilion dv7, Intel, i7 2630 2.00 GHz, 16GB RAM, ATI Mob.Radeon HD 6770 2GB, Windows 7 Pre. 64
Director Suite 6: PowerDirector 16 Live, PhotoDirector 9, ColorDirector 6, AudioDirector 8

Cameras: Sony(s) HXR-NX5P, HXR-NX70P, NEX-VG10E, a6300 4k, HDR TG5E, GoPro 4 Black, Canon 6D DSLR

Visit PDtoots. PowerDirector Tutorials, tips, free resources & more. Subscribe!
Full linked Tutorial Catalog - PDtoots happily supports fellow PowerDirector users!

My 2 cents
In my observation I have found computers/Laptop with AMD is least expensive other things being equal. Dell,HP are good. Even here Acer has poor customer support.
One drawback with laptop is : Upgrade of hardware is expensive,about 3 times the desktop.
As Cubbyhouse suggested it worth investigating if you can import directly from a cheaper location;but I believe Norway import laws may have restrictions and may impose customs tariff PC specs :
OS Windows 10.0 Pro
MB - AS rock Z77 extreme 11
Intel 3770K @ 4.0 Ghz OC
Gskill 32 GB RAM 1800 Mhz
6 TB HDD, SSD bootable
nVidia ASUS GTX 660 Ti
BenQ 22" LCD monitor 1920x1080

Hi, thanks for your inputs.

The reality is that upon importing you get heavy taxed, so high that for “goods” like this you will not see much difference in the end result. People who build their own computers might import bits and pieces and get away with that fairly good. But most “consumers” don’t build their own computers.

One part of my teaching is to learn student to use a few different softwares. As you know, when buying a laptop “as is”, you buy it with OS installed, but not much else. (As examples: MSOffice student/home boxed : $ 179. PHSH Norwegian language: $ 1625 (cheapest I could find)).
Boxed version of PD in Norway I could not find online.

Every other week I make a tutorial regarding the lesson. Questions asked: “how did you do that?”
“Can you teach us to make a slideshow ?” “Can I make a video from something I shoot with my mobilephone?”
As a most likely above average interested person in video editing, I cannot give an answer from where I stand.
My answers have to be from the place where they stand. They are “newbies” – so to speak.
And the reality is: they have a consumer laptop, they have a fairly good mobilephone and maybe an average photocamera.

PowerDirector (download) would be a nice program to learn some of the ropes about video editing and maybe a way for me, as their teacher, to give them assignments. “Multimedia” is given heavily weight now, in the curriculum. I could possibly get money to buy lets say 10 licenses. But, 3D would not be in use, neither would full HD editing. The program would have to stable- as there would be many mistakes made and I would not have time to troubleshoot or reinstall every week.

I would love it, if CL made- or "saved"- a stable edition of PD for learners/ newbies. An edition which didn’t have to be the fastest in the world and didn’t have to give 3D choices. In fact, maybe, a consumer edition. Years back, I started editing with PD, and it soon gave me inspiration to move onward with editing.
But hey…..I realize I’m sitting in Norway, a country with less population than a city elsewhere.
The impact on a company’s way of doing business and development is zero.
Thanks anyway, guys, for letting me take space to express some opinions and concerns.

Nina

Just something.
https://www.petitpoisvideo.com

I guess PD-8 or PD 9 deluxe version should be good and economical for you. PC specs :
OS Windows 10.0 Pro
MB - AS rock Z77 extreme 11
Intel 3770K @ 4.0 Ghz OC
Gskill 32 GB RAM 1800 Mhz
6 TB HDD, SSD bootable
nVidia ASUS GTX 660 Ti
BenQ 22" LCD monitor 1920x1080

Lots of good advice, interesting to read thanks.

I think Hal made a very valuable comment:
Take their time while editing. Don't try to rush the editing process.
I use a reasonable spec laptop and in my view the times that I got into strife were when I tried to 'go fast' during Editing.
You have to learn to be a bit 'relaxed' 'cause some things need a bit of time.

On the subject of price of electronics in Norway ... we have good prices generally on pc's, camera's and the like. 'Good' being relative to Europe or (say) Australia. I came here from Australia and during recent visits I have never been encouraged to part with cash to buy there ... disregarding the sometimes limiting warranty factors that suppliers invoke! But if there were a nice currency exchange rate shift ...
Everything else in Norway is really expensive ... don't even ask about gas (petrol) at the equivalent of US$11 per American gallon! CYa Ron (W10/i5gen8/Nvidia)
Someone famous once said: "We only have the 4th dimension of 'time' so that everything does not all happen at once"

I know that one laptop to play some games. This ASUS K501UW-AB78 15.6-INCH powerful enough for this game

Quote I know that one laptop to play some games. This ASUS K501UW-AB78 15.6-INCH powerful enough for this game

Vondes, welcome to the forum of volunteers. You probably did not notice but the thread you answered/posted is from 2012, quite awhile ago. I have done that before, as have others! Please do not hesitate to ask and answer questions in this forum, we always welcome new members. Have a nice day. HP Envy Phoenix/4thGen i7-4770(4@3.4GHz~turbo>3.9)
Nvidia GTX 960(4GB)/16GB DDR3/
Canon Vixia HV30/HF-M40/HF-M41/HF-G20/Olympus E-PL5.
Tape capture using 6 VCR, TBC-1000, Elite BVP4+, Sony D8 camcorder with TBC.
https://www.facebook.com/BarryAFTT