Laptop Buying Help
Hey Guys, I have been looking around on newegg and bestbuy and a couple other websites trying to find a decent laptop. Now I know there are a lot of questions on here for laptops and I did search, so if this is familiar to another post I apologize. I'm in the market right now for another Laptop. And let me just say real quick, you guys here at short-media gave me a lot of good info for when I built my RIG I am using right now like a year ago and thats why I am back. I am looking for a pretty decent laptop. Here is a couple of things I'm looking for. Any variation is possible, because I'm not yet dead-set on what I want, because I'm still not fully aware of what I want or need with the current market. And one more thing, if something new is coming out any tips would be helpful, So I don't buy something that is foolish. Price: "whatever - to - $2500" Maybe a little more if its worth it, but $3,000 is pushing it. Processor: I would like some input on this. I'm thinking about switching to a Duo-Core. all my computer up till now have all been AMD. What do you guys think? Games? Multimedia? Storage Speed? Some current facts from people who know the current market and whats out there would be nice. And not some guy at best Buy who agrees with everything you say, just trying to make a sale. Hard-Drive: It doesn't matter to me size really. Like anywhere from 100-150gigs is fine for me. I just want the HDD chatter to be low. Now if you opt to have a 7200rpm Hard drive over like a 5400 is the noise gonna be louder or is basically brand and berrings that makes the noise? because I would like to be able to take it to class and take notes on it as well. But I would be embarrassed if it started humming in class. Screen Size: I originally wanted like a 17in monitor but the more I think about it. I would actually like around a 15.5 or something that can go in the car or something and sit on your lap if you in a train or something. My eyes are still fine for the most part. Games: I know this is weird, but I would like the system to be able to play World of Warcraft. I mean I know it might be choppy some times but something I can take to a LAN party or play while I'm sitting out in the grass waiting for my next class to start while I'm on campus. Graphics Card: My Toshiba Satellite right now has Geforce Go graphics card in it. And the website for Direct Drivers sucks IMO. I don't know if its improved with newer cards. My Toppy has a Geforce 440 go and it just Doesnt wanna play anything. I also play counterstrike source and command and conquer 3 now. I would also like wireless capabilities. Built in speakers of course. Web cam and fingerprint stuff thats all candy. If its on it I don't care, if not doesn't bother me. So basically I'm trying to find a good laptop that can hold alot of multimedia stuff, while also having the power to play some current high end games, (maybe even crysis *rolls eyes* I looked at Vaio's and gateways, Alienware, Toshiba's, powerPC's, Asus, just to name a few, but websites are hard, because every website says there product is the best. So im not brand limited suggesting brands would be helpful also. --Sorry if its a long boring post, but if it can save me 500.00 or something might be worth it, if not get me a sweet laptop and save me from getting a poor one. Thanks Guys ~Chris --I just did preview post and it made it all one big paragraph sorry, when I wrote most of it was in column form.
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What do you anticipate being your typical usage of the laptop for the next three years?
* games -- what games? what games besides WoW do you play? do you anticipate becoming a more advanced gamer, such as for intense games that require serious frames per second?
* do you multi-task a lot? would you like to do more multi-tasking, such burning DVDs while on the internet?
* I guess you'll be getting Vista. To my knowledge, all branded laptops will have it now
* video encoding?
Recommendations so far:
* Definitely go Core Duo. There is no reason to go single core any more. Dual core will make just about any multitasking faster. I would go Intel Core Duo over AMD dual core as the Core Duo power consumption is lower. If your primary usage will be with the laptop on wall power, then don't rule out AMD.
* Get a graphics chip/card that will support if you think you'll want to play more challenging games in the future (challenging, at least, to the computer).
* Brands -- Lenevo, HP, Dell. Stay away from Gateway. There are other boutique brands such as Alienware, but I just don't think they are really worth their very high price unless you are a diehard gamer and just can't compromise.
* Go for at least 2GB of DRAM. If Vista and multitasking, 2GB is really a must if you still want your computer to feel snappy two years from now when you've loaded more complex software that comes on the market.
Considerations:
* check out forums (Google search) for brands and warranty service. You might want to avoid a laptop whose manufacturer treats the customer like dirt after the sale. I'd heard that Lenevo's customer satisfaction ratings are very good. But don't rely on my words. Check it out. This is important. You can't just dig in to a laptop and swap out components like you can a home-built desktop. You open a laptop, and the warranty is killed.
* get integrated wireless with the laptop, or an included card
* read the warranty fine print. maybe one maker's warranty will really stand out from the rest.
* if you plan on ordering online, go to stores and check the laptops on display. get a feel for different brands keyboards, monitor quality, general feel of quality and sturdiness (some laptops seem to flex just by picking them up!) While at the store, try to get an idea of what the minimum size monitor is that you will accept.
Well, that's off the top of my head. I'm sure others will drop in an add their advice.
Again, let someone else advise you on GPUs. But yes, mobile graphics have improved a lot, especially with respect to laptop internal cards, versus onboard GPU chips.
happy shopping
Actually hers is a Core Duo, C2D wasn't out yet. I paid $20 to get the 1GB ram as a single stick and bought a second from Newegg for half of what Toshiba wanted.
The video is good, I haven't gamed much on it since she has it at school.
It will only fold if you leave the top up. Otherwise it overheats.
I would go with the larger 5400rpm drive, 7200's are louder and draw more power.
I just priced one out, with wifi, bluetooth, better speakers and a DVD burner it comes to $1,500.
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cdetupdate.to?seg=HHO&poid=364866&cartAction=Add&coid=-32796&selcmpcodpipcrt=&qtycrt=0&lincrt=0&selxslpoidtab2pip=&fromTab=tabcfg&COMP_CPU=CPU-0190&COMP_Operating+System=OS-0079&COMP_Color+Variation=COLOR-0002&COMP_Office+Software=APP-0025&COMP_Memory=MEM-0061&COMP_LCD=LCD-0047&COMP_Graphics+Controller=GFX-0042&COMP_HDD=HDD-0043&COMP_Optical+Media=SBAY-0027&COMP_Mini-PCI%2FWiFi=COM1-0026&COMP_Bluetooth=COM2-0015&COMP_Speaker=SPKR-0001
I have carried Toshiba Satellites for work for years and they have always done fine by me.
I mean what the hack it can't hurt to check.
Inspiron E1705, which is basically the same base setup as the Dell XPS 1710 chassis.
T7400 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo processor
2 X 1 GB DDR2 667 ram
17" WUXGA Truelife screen, which I think is 1920X1200 resolution
256 MB GeForce Go 7900GS video subsystem (should do very good for gaming and is the default vid card for the XPS 1710 model gaming lappie Dell sells)
100 GB 7200 rpm hard drive. Like Leo said, the 7200 rpm drives are the way to go and have been quiet and power thrifty for around 3 years now (for Hitachi drives at least, Seagates haven't been out quite that long).
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Module
Vista Home Premium OS :rolleyes2
I also got their 3 year warrantee package that includes accidental damage protection, Lojack antitheft protection for 3 years and a 3 year subscription for Mcafee 8.0 (yuck, I hate their software but it's part of the package).
After adding all this up and figuring in the tax the total came out to almost $2400.00 delivered. So I went to Gateway's site and built an almost exact duplicate of this for around $2250.00 delivered (they had a special $200 off deal going over the weekend). So I called Dell up and spoke with a guy named Keith Boatman and talked about what he could do to better match Gateway's price and he knocked around $75 more off the price of my Dell delivered, to $2320, so I went ahead and ordered it. I went with the Dell because of past experience with Dell's laptops and no experience at all with Gateway's laptops.
- Thanks for all the info guys.
- I think I have a general idea of what I am looking for, I think now I am just gonna go window shopping and get a feel for the prices out there.
- I just needed a good refresher on the current market. Which you guys gave.
Thanks~Chris