Looking for Windows 10 based laptop to use for video editing on the go - Recommendations?

[CodeRedR51]

Next year I will be spending several months on the road, and am looking for a laptop that is Windows 10 based, which will more than likely have to be purchased used. Any recommendations or tips?

 

[Nexus]

Windows 10 keys still appear to be floating around on the internet, is buying a Windows 11 machine and installing 10 an option?

Note that Extended Support for 10 will end in a year, so it might be wise to install an LTSC build instead (or switch to Linux, if your programs support it).

 

[Saidur_Ali]

Depends on budget and screen size you require. Most Windows 11 laptops you should be able to install Windows 10 over it and I think it should activate fine from the hardware license. Not sure why you would want to do that though given that Windows 11 is generally compatible with most things that are supported in Windows 10?

 

[CodeRedR51]

Depends on budget and screen size you require. Most Windows 11 laptops you should be able to install Windows 10 over it and I think it should activate fine from the hardware license. Not sure why you would want to do that though given that Windows 11 is generally compatible with most things that are supported in Windows 10?

Trying to avoid anything AI related that I can't remove from the system.

I don't mind using Linux instead, trying to get myself acquainted with DaVinci for editing which I believe has a Linux version. But I need to find a good photo editor as well. It's going to suck losing my copy of Photoshop CC.

 

[TB]

But I need to find a good photo editor as well.

GIMP - Downloads

The official download page for all things GIMP! Please only use the official binaries provided here unless you really, really know what you’re doing (it’s the only way to be safe). We try to provide binaries in-time with regular releases, but may occasionally be delayed as the packagers …

www.gimp.org

 

[Omnis]

Trying to avoid anything AI related that I can't remove from the system.

I don't mind using Linux instead, trying to get myself acquainted with DaVinci for editing which I believe has a Linux version. But I need to find a good photo editor as well. It's going to suck losing my copy of Photoshop CC.

DaVinci for Linux sucks if you need to use Fusion, but it’s fine if you’re just using the cut page. Why do you want to edit video on windows 10 specifically? That’s a terrible idea. If you really need a laptop just get a MacBook Pro or something with a dedicated nvidia card.

You’d probably even be better off buying the latest smartphone instead and using instagram edits or blackmagic’s app for your editing needs.

 

[CodeRedR51]

DaVinci for Linux sucks if you need to use Fusion, but it’s fine if you’re just using the cut page. Why do you want to edit video on windows 10 specifically? That’s a terrible idea. If you really need a laptop just get a MacBook Pro or something with a dedicated nvidia card.

You’d probably even be better off buying the latest smartphone instead and using instagram edits or blackmagic’s app for your editing needs.

I don't do Apple products either. 😄

Definitely not editing 30+ minute 4K videos intended for YouTube on my phone. Of which I never buy the newest, greatest one either. I'm still on a Galaxy S22 and have no intentions on upgrading.

I'd be fine with a Windows 11 laptop if it's a stripped down version with no AI nonsense, and I assume trying to remove it yourself is nearly impossible.

 

[Omnis]

What are you shooting on? Your phone? Just work with super low res proxies on any old laptop and then pay for the full render job on some cloud service. It’ll be cheaper to do that than to buy a high end laptop that would be worse than any real workstation.

 

[seanX70]

I don't do Apple products either. 😄

Definitely not editing 30+ minute 4K videos intended for YouTube on my phone. Of which I never buy the newest, greatest one either. I'm still on a Galaxy S22 and have no intentions on upgrading.

I'd be fine with a Windows 11 laptop if it's a stripped down version with no AI nonsense, and I assume trying to remove it yourself is nearly impossible.

Some years back, I needed a laptop with XP on it just to run a single program. I found one on ebay that has just XP and nothing else. I didn't need it to have internet capabilities or anything like that so it doesn't have an ethernet port or a Wifi card. I know you probably DO need that, though.

But I would check ebay for a stripped down laptop with just the OS on it. Or if you can't find one with just the OS on it, find one that's cheap enough then just do a complete hard drive wipe then download and install Win10/11 so you won't have anything else on it you really don't need.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

Trying to avoid anything AI related that I can't remove from the system.

I don't mind using Linux instead, trying to get myself acquainted with DaVinci for editing which I believe has a Linux version. But I need to find a good photo editor as well. It's going to suck losing my copy of Photoshop CC.

I would recommend aiming to get something like AMD 8640HS or 8840HS level CPU or Intel 155H, 255H or 256V if you want better battery life, minimum of 16GB RAM. You can also get Qualcomm laptops but you can face some compatibility issues, here is an open box one with X Elite chip for $529.99 but is available at one location just to give you an idea of price: Link

If your budget is lower than that then you should be able to pick up one from eBay that level of AMD chip used potentially.

 

[CodeRedR51]

What are you shooting on? Your phone? Just work with super low res proxies on any old laptop and then pay for the full render job on some cloud service. It’ll be cheaper to do that than to buy a high end laptop that would be worse than any real workstation.

I will be working with ~4 DJI action cams and a DJI drone.

I'll also be living out of my vehicle. I will have Starlink but it won't be the greatest internet in the world.

I would recommend aiming to get something like AMD 8640HS or 8840HS level CPU or Intel 155H, 255H or 256V if you want better battery life, minimum of 16GB RAM. You can also get Qualcomm laptops but you can face some compatibility issues, here is an open box one with X Elite chip for $529.99 but is available at one location just to give you an idea of price: Link

If your budget is lower than that then you should be able to pick up one from eBay that level of AMD chip used potentially.

Thanks!

 

[Omnis]

Do NOT get an arm-based machine. You need the x86 instruction set for video work. DaVinci plays best with nvidia cards. I would definitely look for dedicated nvidia graphics even if it has an AMD cpu. You’re working, after all.

I know you’re spooked about AI stuff but honestly you can just get a Win11 laptop and run grok build to clean it up for you. See this post:


If you have starlink that should be fine if you want to use a cloud service for rendering. Like I said before, you can always edit with proxies and save the big full-res render job for later once your project is complete and you’re ready for final export.