Question:
$800 laptop + desktop, or $1,400 laptop with better graphics?
At what point do you tell yourself you need a laptop with graphics capability?
I need advice on a personal dilemma: I don't know if I should buy a cheaper laptop with no graphics card for $700-800 (and maybe a desktop if I need more power later) or about $1,400 for a better laptop.
Yes, definitely, it's all about what you're going to use the thing for, but I'm not completely sure about it myself.
I'm a foreign grad student who's going to be using a laptop almost exclusively for the next 12 months, probably another 12-24 months because I may work here for some practical experience. I figure I want a good dual core processor and:
-- a good screen (going to law grad school, lots of reading and typing)
-- something that will make movies pleasant since it'll be my dorm room TV as well
-- possibly, something that'll let me indulge in the occasional game or personal graphics project, again since I'll be using just the laptop.
My dilemma is that I don't know if it's worth almost $1,000 to get more power for the occasional game or graphics project in my shoes. I did enjoy turn-based strategy, RPGs, and the Total War series a year ago, though I severely cut back when I began working. I figure I may discover a bunch of things to do in school, like goofing off with dorm videos and all that. There's that little kid inside of me that doesn't want to be frustrated with the ordinary machine when the urge to open a game strikes, yet the adult sounds out about the added expense.
It's a very practical argument to get a cheaper laptop then get a desktop later on, though for me, it's equally practical to save yourself the hassle of remembering to shuttle files back and forth on a home and a laptop computer. Further, a desktop just isn't practical for me right now since I'll be dorming for a year, then am not sure where I'll be.
My current options are to take an Office Depot $700 (after rebates) promo on the Lenovo 3000 N100, which gives me a cheap but powerful laptop with lousy build quality and battery life:
http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=926826&Ns=p_Price_2|0&Nr=200000&N=200625&An=browse
Or, I could spend $1,300-1,400 to go to town with an Asus Z96J, which gives me the WSXGA+ screen, an X1600 graphics card, and the works:
http://1toppc.com/Merchant2/merchant..._Code=Notebook
Sorry to sound so confused, but basically, from my description, will using the extra $700-800 for the Asus Z96J make my grad school experience a lot more enjoyable? Hell, my birthday is coming up and I feel like indulging the lost techie/gamer side of me.
Answer:
Re: $800 laptop + desktop, or $1,400 laptop with better graphics?
For 1,400 you can get a mid range laptop with a good graphics card like ATI X1400, X1600 and Geforce 7600. Those will be more then good enough for the odd game and a Movie in your dorm room. If your going to be "here" for 2 years 1400 will last you that long or even longer, the choice is up to you. I will say it one more time, with 1,400 you can get a good buy.
Answer:
Re: $800 laptop + desktop, or $1,400 laptop with better graphics?
If you have the funds to spend, get the Z96J. I have a 1.5 year old desktop (AMD Athlon 64 3300+, 1 gb RAM, ATI 9800 PRO) and it still runs pretty fast and I still play most games, but I was like one of two people in my dorm who had a desktop and I found wanting the mobility of a notebook. So instead, I ordered my Compal and I'm leaving my desktop at home for my brother to use. Even though I don't plan to game as much during the school year, I still wanted a dedicated graphics card just so I can game whenever I go home or during one of the breaks. Get the Z96J, you'll have a lot more power and freedom.
Answer:
Re: $800 laptop + desktop, or $1,400 laptop with better graphics?
Your replies are seriously bringing out the lost kid I buried deep within me when I began working. :)
Specifically, however, aside from gaming, would the Asus Z96j's better screen and video card make a big difference if you plan to watch DVDs off the laptop?
On the other hand, if I bought the cheaper one, what exactly would I miss aside from games? I may be underestimating this list, and thus overestimating my "freedom" with a cheaper machine.
Answer:
Re: $800 laptop + desktop, or $1,400 laptop with better graphics?
I'm not sure by how much, but I'm pretty sure you'll be viewing movies much better if the screen and graphics are good.
The Lenovo is probably a good notebook for an average user, but just know that you pretty much won't be capable of doing anything more than average with an integrated video card, which you obviously can't upgrade in the future.
IMHO, if you buy the cheaper notebook, there is a bigger chance of regretting not getting the better, higher quality one after some time. However, if you do spend the extra money and get the better quality notebook, you'll know that it will last you awhile and soon, hopefully you'll forget/be satisfied that you spent the extra funds for the quality.
Answer:
Re: $800 laptop + desktop, or $1,400 laptop with better graphics?
The graphics card doesn't help with things such as movies.
I would just get the Z96J