Hardware advice for SketchBook

[ivan_paynter]

I need to purchase a new laptop for my wife who has the following User requirements:
◦ Computer to be portable. For home use and for taking on holiday for online activity searches and bookings etc.
◦ Screen and keyboard to be of a practical size for longer periods of use at home when carrying out domestic activities e.g. email and letter writing plus household accounts.
◦ For use of Microsoft applications such as Edge, Word, Excel etc.
◦ For occasional use of standard SketchBook (Not Pro version).

Our budget is circa. £550.

So far I have identified the HP Pavilion x360 2 in 1 Laptop i3 8GB RAM 128GB SSD (No dedicated graphics card) at as a possible choice but would like some feedback on how this might perform with the standard Sketchbook software and also on Stylus choice. Whilst a Microsoft Surface Pro would seem like the obvious choice I’m afraid it would be difficult to justify the expense for only occasionally use of the SketchBook software.

Any feedback and advise would be appreciated - Thank you.

[david.lau]

SketchBook was designed to go on Surface devices.  

If you are using the HP computer, I would use the desktop version of SketchBook that can be downloaded here:

www.sketchbook.com/thankyou

I would try to get 16 GB of RAM if possible.  I would research how to upgrade RAM afterwards as well.  There is no way to upgrade a graphics card on mobile computers so getting the 'best' computer possible is the best thing to do.  NOTE:  Systems with more ram typically have a better video card.  

Lastly, keep an eye on it and wait for 'quarter' end at HP and they have 'sales' at that time.   Dell in the 'Americas' always have sales if you are looking at the site often.

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/2-in-1-laptops/sc/2-in-1-laptop/2-in-1-pcs

Good Luck!  

[ivan_paynter]

Hi David, Many thanks for your advice - Best regards, Ivan

[ivan_paynter]

Is the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2 in 1 (7591) a suitable platform for using SketchBook? This laptop comes with an i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and a NVIDIA GeForce(R) MX250 with 2GB GDDR5 graphics memory which would seem more than adequate performance wise. The one area I'm unsure about is the suitability of the Dell PN350M Active Pen which I understand is pressure sensitive to 1,024 levels. I also read somewhere that the Inspiron 2 in 1 screen type is a 'Touch Screen' and not a true 'Digitising Tablet'. I'm afraid the pressure sensitive level and screen type does not mean a lot to me so I would really appreciate some guidance on this. My daughter has a Microsoft Surface Pro which she is very happy with for doing her digital art. Understanding any limitations that come with the 'Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2 in 1' in comparison with the Surface Pro would be helpful. As I have an approximate 48 hour time limit on purchasing the Inspiron I would greatly appreciate some timely advice if this is possible. Many thanks.