[Sandok]

Well, I just got myself a short temp job before university getting me about 3200$ which is a nice sum I must say... And well, I was thinking of replacing my super huge computer and all and simply getting a nice decent laptop (and give away the 100year old laptop I got right now).

Now the questions are... Well is it WORTH it? I mean, Vista is soon out... DX10... All that... Should I wait instead? And also, with my budget can I get anything really good? I mean, not too heavy or big but still powerful enough to run future coming games... Am I asking for the impossible?

[CDsDontBurn]

i myself would like a laptop for school, but i'm not asking for anything spectacular. something that will get the job done, quickly and effectively. i say get the laptop, and get something decent. and from what you've described your current laptop to be, ANYTHING you get will be better .

something w/like 1Gb RAM, core2 duo/centrino or turion processor, 7600go, 15.4in. screen, 80Gb HDD would do the trick. something like that should run you maybe like $1,500-$2,000 (USD), and you still have money left over to spend on your main rig or other stuff .

you said you want it for school, so it should be for school. on the otherhand, i'm sure you also want to do some recreation on it, such as playing games. so what i mentioned above would be good enough to supply both needs

[pr0digal jenius]

future games and laptop, mixed with "not to big and heavy" don't mix.


A gaming notebook is a 12-14 pound 17-19" behemoth of a machine ranging from 30-45 mins of battery life

[Customgamer1]

Originally Posted by pr0digal jenius

future games and laptop, mixed with "not to big and heavy" don't mix.


A gaming notebook is a 12-14 pound 17-19" behemoth of a machine ranging from 30-45 mins of battery life

So true. But you can get some good ones out there if you are willing to spend a lot of money!

[Sandok]

Well the thing is, I'd be giving my main rig to my bro so I'd be left with nothing... Dunno, I hate laptops You can't get what you want!

[CDsDontBurn]

keep your desktop, get a decent well rounded lappy, and let your brother save up for whatever he wants.

there you have it. you win

[Sandok]

I can't do that But I just noticed that a new CPU (the Core 2 Duo) was released for lappies and wow is it smoking. Blows my main rig outta the water! Maybe I should get Alienware or a Dell XPS

[pr0digal jenius]

go for it...but like i said...keep it plugged in and don't try and carry it for long

[Sandok]

Ya well I guess I'll get something along that line... Now I just gotta wait till Dell Switzerland actually gets Core 2 Duo CPUS.

But one question, should I wait for DX10 mobile GPUs? Or?

[nikiforov-anton]

I recommend you buy Lenovo ThinkPad here. This is the best choice!

[digerati]

A brand name that no one looks at is buying an Asus laptop.

http://store.agearnotebooks.com/asusa8jm.html

Specs:
• Intel® Core™ Duo processor: Yonah®: Intel 945PM Express Chipset
• Yonah®:1.83GHz(T2400)-2.16GHz(T2600) w/2MB L2 Cache-667MHz FSB
• 14.1" WXGA (1280x800) Glare Type - "Color-Shine" and "Crystal-Shine" TFT LCD with ASUS Splendid Video Intelligent Engine Technology
• nVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 w/512MB solid Video RAM
•1024MB DDR2-667 SODIMM Memory. (support up to 2.0GB)
•100GB 5400rpm Ultra DMA Hard Disk (Support up to 100GB 7200rpm)
•Built-in DVD-RW Super Multi DVD Burner
• Built-in Intel/Pro Wireless 3945 802.11(a/b/g) LAN Card
•Build in 10/100Mbps fast Ethernet Controller.
•5x USB 2.0; 1x DVI Port; 1x IEEE 1394 port; 1x S-Video (TV-Out);2x Audio jacks: 1x Microphone-in / 1x S/PDIF/ 1x Express Card
•Intel High Definition Audio: Build in Azalia compliant audio chip, with 3D effect full duplex; built-in speaker and microphone•4-in-1 Card Reader (Secure Digital, MMC, Memory Stick & MS PRO).
•5.25 Pounds with 6-Cell Battery•Dimension: 13.18” x 9.64” x 1.37”~1.46" (WXDXH)•6 Cell Battery: Up to 4.0+ Hours Run-Down Battery Life.

[Zelig]

I just started university, am not bothering with a laptop. Although, a nice LCD would take a lot less room on my desk than my 22" CRT.

[TheBlackCat]

I had a desktop for my first 2 years at Uni. Definitely a mistake. It was just too huge for the space I had available. So for Junior year I got a laptop. It was is a huge, heavy one and doesn't have the best battery life, but I got it for the space savings not the portability. It was definitely a very good a very good move. It opens up a lot of space in the room. And it actually isn't too heavy to carry if I have a backup to hold it in. Now everyone I know is rushing to buy a new laptop while I am happily upgrading mine.

One thing: make sure the laptop is upgradeable. Not all of them are. Mine is now into its 4th year and it is beginning to show its age, so I am doing a complete upgrade. I already upgraded from 512 MB to 2 gigs of RAM, 60 GB 4k RPM HDD to 100 GB 7k RPM, and I am now waiting for the Pentium M Dothan processors to go down in price so I can upgrade my CPU from a 1.3 GHz to a 2.1 GHz. I have a Dell Latitude, in which pretty much everything but the motherboard can be upgraded. I would recommend getting a laptop with similar upgradeability.

[CDsDontBurn]

Originally Posted by TheBlackCat

I am now waiting for the Pentium M Dothan processors to go down in price so I can upgrade my CPU from a 1.3 GHz to a 2.1 GHz

are you sure that your lappy can take the dothan? i would check the CPU support of this machine before buying the processor

[TheBlackCat]

Originally Posted by CDsDontBurn

are you sure that your lappy can take the dothan? i would check the CPU support of this machine before buying the processor

Last time I checked they were working fine, but I am going to see if any problems developed since then before I buy it. The top speed Dothan my MB supports is a 2.1 GHz, and the old make of Pentium M goes up to 2.0 GHz, so it wouldn't be a huge loss if it didn't work and I purchased the next step down instead. I do a lot of modelling so I need lots of RAM and a powerful processor.

[TheBlackCat]

Originally Posted by CDsDontBurn

are you sure that your lappy can take the dothan? i would check the CPU support of this machine before buying the processor

Last time I checked they were working fine, but I am going to see if any problems developed since then before I buy it. The top speed Dothan my MB supports is a 2.1 GHz, and the old make of Pentium M (which is what I have now) goes up to 2.0 GHz, so it wouldn't be a huge loss if it didn't work and I purchased the next step down instead. I do a lot of modelling so I need lots of RAM and a powerful CPU. I could upgrade my graphics card but I don't really need it for what I use the computer for.

Edit: oops, double post.

[BlueMak]

I got my laptop in summer of 2002. It was a Compaq Presario 2816ea model.
I got it because I was going back to university, and in another country. I already had a desktop PC, middle of the road PC by then. I was thinking all the positive things about owning a laptop, mobily wise, plus it was a nice gaming pc too. Expensive, very expensive at the time.

Fast forward 3.8 years. Amount of times I used the laptop on the move....zero. Amount of times I took it to the university......1. Amount of times I took it anywhere else.....1 including the time I moved back to the UK with it.
The amount of coolness (in your head) of owning a good laptop is propotionate to the amount of money you are going to spend for it, but it doesn't last long. it doesn't take too long to figure out you are not taking your laptop anywhere because it is so expensive and it has all your work. You start hating the screen, no matter how good it is. Also the keyboard. Your laptop is good enough for new games, then sooner or later games that would run perfectly fine on it, apart from a tiny (as you see it) thing, start to be released. Good games too. You spend a night every few weeks searching for possible ways to upgrade it, graphics card mainly. Eventualy you give up. Closing on the second year you see ads about desktop PCs that cost 1/3 of the money your laptop did, and are like 4 times as good in total. You say to yourself, yeeees, but I have a laptop! You convince yourself for another month or 3. On your third year (worst case) you notice that new games that still run on your laptop either run like shit or you have to lower many of the settings. Then the battery dies, oh well, you are not going to need that too much anyway haha....ha?
There isn't a day going by that you don't notice a magazine or online ad or forum about new desktop PCs or people who bought for $150 a card that makes your laptop look like a portable Eniac in terms of games at least.
I could go on and on.
If you are not a businessman that travels a lot and getting paid to travel, DON'T GET IT. It is a waste of money. Either keep your money till DX10 comes out and buy a new desktop PC with a DX10 card for maybe 1/3 of the money, or get a Desktop PC now for 1/3 of the money and in a year or two get the new graphics card. You will still have plenty of money left. Also, if you feel the need to have some computing device at school, get a Palm or PocketPC (a cheap one) Zire m22 is ok.
Getting a desktop PC for far less the money, far more expandability is much better.


There is another way though. One that I would follow now if I was in the same position.
Get an Apple computer, use it for your studies, and get a PS2 or Xbox 360 for your gaming habits.

[TheBlackCat]

Originally Posted by BlueMak

Fast forward 3.8 years. Amount of times I used the laptop on the move....zero. Amount of times I took it to the university......1. Amount of times I took it anywhere else.....1 including the time I moved back to the UK with it.

Yes, but I am sure it took a lot less space. That is why laptops are really good for university, not their portability. I have my own apartment now and I still prefer the space savings I get from my laptop. I seldom travel with my laptop (although I do some, so it is good to have the option). But it is so much smaller.

Originally Posted by BlueMak

You start hating the screen, no matter how good it is.

You will be hard-pressed to find a laptop that does not support a second monitor. I use a dual-monitor setup myself, it is very nice. I generally do most of the work on the external monitor, although my primary monitor is still very good and it is nice to be able to have two windows open at once. You would need a monitor for a PC too, and flat panel displays are not that expensive anymore (and CRTs are dirt cheap). Some laptops, like mine, also have TV-out standard which is a very nice feature.

Originally Posted by BlueMak

Also the keyboard.

Then you are still in a better position than a desktop, which doesn't have a built-in keyboard at all. Just get an external USB keyboard and mouse for the laptop. You need that for a desktop anyway so it is not an added cost or anything.

Originally Posted by BlueMak

Your laptop is good enough for new games, then sooner or later games that would run perfectly fine on it, apart from a tiny (as you see it) thing, start to be released. Good games too.

Same as a desktop

Originally Posted by BlueMak

You spend a night every few weeks searching for possible ways to upgrade it, graphics card mainly. Eventualy you give up.

You may have given up. You may have a laptop that cannot be upgraded. But that is simply the case with your laptop, not an invariant rule for all laptops. Just make sure you get a laptop that can be upgraded easily. It seems mine is specifically set up in a modular manner so just about everything can be upgraded. Yours either isn't are just doesn't have enough documentation. These people just need to pick laptops that don't have those limitations.

Originally Posted by BlueMak

Closing on the second year you see ads about desktop PCs that cost 1/3 of the money your laptop did, and are like 4 times as good in total.

Same with desktops, hardware improves fast. My laptop is running better 4 years later than my Desktop was 2 years later.

Originally Posted by BlueMak

You say to yourself, yeeees, but I have a laptop! You convince yourself for another month or 3. On your third year (worst case) you notice that new games that still run on your laptop either run like shit or you have to lower many of the settings.

Time to get a new graphics card.

Originally Posted by BlueMak

Then the battery dies, oh well, you are not going to need that too much anyway haha....ha?

Time to get a new battery. And why were you using a battery to begin with if you never travelled with it?

Originally Posted by BlueMak

There isn't a day going by that you don't notice a magazine or online ad or forum about new desktop PCs or people who bought for $150 a card that makes your laptop look like a portable Eniac in terms of games at least.

Depends on what you are using it for. I could upgrade to the latest and greatest graphics card easily, but I have no need for such things. Just because you decided to buy a laptop that cannot be upgraded and are now regretting it does not mean everyone else made or will make the same mistake.

[Sandok]

Well BlueMask, I already own a laptop and use it alot so yeah, dunno... I know I can wait out for DX10 and get a monster desktop but I don't really wanna...

On my laptop, well I've looked at a couple of different setups. They aren't that small but since I'd get a backpack, that should be no problem. With the new Core 2 Duo out (I don't want Yonah anymore... Just mermon ), I can get:

A 17" Dell XPS with 2GHZ Core 2 Duo, 2 GB Ram and a 7800GS OR a 7800GTX (still deciding... )

Or a Alienware 15" with also a 2GHZ Core 2 Duo, 2GB Ram but a lesser 7600 mobile GPU...

None of em are uber portable but the prices for a slim laptop are just way to high for me to justify their price...

[matasvytautas]

laptops suck..I own two of them...One..they are crap because the motherboards are so expensive in them...everything is integrated..therefore no graphic card updates...
battery lasts about a year if you use it a lot...then buy a new one...
Hard to clean...you have to take the whole sucker apart...
The screens suck..resolution is crap..unless willing to spend monster cash...

pros:

you can use it on a train (but no longer on planes) I travel 10 hrs a week by train...so big plus for me...basically why I got it...
You can go somewhere and do something on it without anyone bothering you (roomate,,or in my case my son..
My son can watch movies (cartoons actually) from wherever he wants (excellent..)
Great for presentations...as a medical student...great for conferences...

But they suck...all companies use el cheapo motherboards...and they tend to screw up once the warranty is gone..my first compaq busted after half a year...it had a memory leak which nobody could fix..so they gave me a R4000 as a replacement..(with crapola video card..)
buy a desktop and a palm pilot for class...laptops are too much of a pain in the butt to carry around to classes...since I'm in a public place (hostpital) it is not safe to leave it lying around..

Only reason I got one is that I live in a country that at that time a comparable desktop was more expensive than a laptop from the U.S....but now they cost about the same (what a difference 2 years make)...

So don't get one....unless you have money to burn...once they screw up...no one will fix it for cheap...(unless you are handy with a soldering tool..and know what the hell you are doing...)