Question:
I need a computer: Part deux
So here we are. FAQ goes first:
General Questions
1) What is your budget?
2000€ (~2550 US$) absolute maximum, preferably near 1500€ (1910 US$)
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
14"-15.4" feels like a fine choice to me.
3) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
Mainly graphics. Photomanipulation and vectors. Also, gaming.
4) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
Currently I have few intentions to use the laptop in a place that doesn't have access to an AC outlet, but I will be hauling it between work and home.
5) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
Yes. Running Half-Life 2 at 800x600 resolution with 2xAA at 30fps will be pretty much a minimum since I will want to play some of the games that are coming out, namely Spore and possibly Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.
6) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
I'll follow up on this.
7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
Minimal, I'll mostly be at a location where I can plug in my laptop.
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
Not at all.
9) What country are you buying this in?
Here's the biggest problem... Finland.
Screen Specifics
10) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
Anything will be fine, actually.
11) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
Same as 10.
Build Quality and Design
12) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
Somewhat, but not a first priority. A sleek metal look would be nice but not necessary.
13) How long do you want this laptop to last?
I'll probably buy a real desktop computer for gaming once the laptop runs out of juice. It would be wonderful if I could squeeze 2 or 3 years of work use out of it.
Notebook Components
14) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 120GB?
Probably 80gb, maybe 100gb.
15) Do you need a DVD, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-R drive?
Yes.
So, I'm in a state of life in which I have to move out of my home for a year. I'm looking for a laptop that can cover my needs for work and entertainment, so basically we're talking about a desktop replacement here. I'll also be visiting home vigorously and would like to bring my computer over, so a laptop is my choice.
I've been looking around, and have found out that I'll probably at least need a decent GPU (Radeon X700-ish, if not better). A Dual Core CPU is not required since I won't be doing many CPU intensive tasks at the same time (possibly Photoshop and Firefox at the same time at most).
The biggest problem here is location. I'm in Finland, and that means I can't get my hands on ANY Dell or ASUS laptops without paying an utterly ridiculous sum of money, take this for example:
Dell Latitude D820 setup from dell.com with country set as USA: 1650 US$
Same setup from dell.com when ordering from an european location: ~2300€ (2950 US$)
I cannot get any rebates either. However, local retailers do sell Acer, Toshiba, HP, LG and IBM (Lenovo) laptops. Lenovo computers are mysteriously overpriced though, so they're pretty much out of the picture as well.
I've been looking at the Acer 5670 and Ferrari 4000 series, a 5670 would run me for about 1400€ while a Ferrari would set me back about 1800€. The 5670 only carries a X1400 so I'm uncertain in it's ability to fulfill my needs. I'm willing to shell out the extra cash for quality (2000€ ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM, 2550 US$, remember that), but I'd also like to hear your opinions out as well. If you have ANY suggestions about other models, please tell me.
Thanks in advance.
Answer:
Re: I need a computer: Part deux
Since you are already looking at the Acers, check out TravelMate 8204WLMi. It will just fit your budget. Of course that depends where you order it from. Look at my signature for the specs.
Answer:
Re: I need a computer: Part deux
Take a look at the ASUS W3j. It's a great 14" notebook with a powerful core duo CPU and has an X1600!
Answer:
Re: I need a computer: Part deux
Alright, price check time, these are the lowest prices I can find:
TravelMate 8204WLMi: 2270€ (8202WLMi at 1863€)
ASUS W3j: What? I can't even find the thing here.
However, I found this:
ASUS A6Ja: 1510€
It's equipped with Core Duo T2400, 1Gb RAM and a Radeon X1600 258MB. I think it's a keeper, any other thoughts?
Answer:
Re: I need a computer: Part deux
http://fi.asus.com/wheretobuy.aspx
I've looked around, the W3j doesn't seem to have appeared yet though, however, its out in the UK.
The A6ja also isn't a bad choice neither
Answer:
Re: I need a computer: Part deux
the a6ja is a good choice. another one to look at is the lg p1/s1. it is not available yet, and i'm not sure if you will be able to find it local stores when it does b/c it's a business notebook, but the hp nc8400 is supposed to come with the x1600. also, check to see if the benq s73 is available in your area.