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| Click photo to see images of all the Editor's Choice 2007 products. |
While many photographers simply won't leave home without their 17-inch MacBook Pro (soon to be updated, we hear), the standard MacBook, upgraded this Spring, can do most of the same things as the Pro for about half the price. At just 12.8x8.9x1.08 inches, it's highly portable, and lovely on the eyes, thanks to its bright 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display. It comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (2.0GHz or 2.16GHz), 1GB or 2GB of RAM, a 5200rpm SATA hard drive (80GB to 160GB), and a slot-loading DVD-ROM or dual layer DVD+/-RW optical drive. Other key built-ins include an iSight video camera; Airport Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 2.0 for communicating with wireless peripherals; and ports for FireWire 400 and USB 2.0. That means you can add an external monitor, up to 1920x1200-pixel resolution, for extended working space. Your choice of white or black. From about $1,100.
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| Click photo to see images of all the Editor's Choice 2007 products. |
Gateway FX530XT
Already a favorite of the gaming crowd, this desktop model is also well suited to imaging tasks. It has 2GB of 667MHz RAM (supporting up to 8GB); a pair of high-end ATI Radeon X1950 XT graphics cards; a 3.2GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme processor; and two speedy 150GB hard drives running at 10,000rpm (much quicker than the usual 7,200rpm). Its built-in 9-in-1 card reader handles CompactFlash, Microdrive, Secure Digital (including MMC), Memory Stick (including MS PRO), SmartMedia, and xD-Picture formats. Ample ports include three for IEEE 1394 (FireWire 400) and six for USB 2.0. Yet the FX530XT has a relatively small footprint for such a powerful desktop model, measuring 16.5 inches high by 8 inches wide by 17.5 inches deep (though it weighs a hefty 38 pounds). It may be pricey for budget-minded photographers, but it's fully loaded. About $3,500.
American PHOTO Editor's Choice 2007
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