Question:
Help needed finding a new laptop
Hello All:
I found this site through google and have been scanning through the forum posts for the past few days. I've never bought a laptop before, so please forgive any silly questions that I may have. I'll basically use the computer for business and play games so, at most I'll be transporting it from my home to the office. Please see my answers to the FAQ below. Thanks again for your help.
General Questions
1) What is your budget?
Between $1200-$1800 (I could go up to $2000 but would prefer something a bit cheaper).
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
Either Mainstream 15"-16" or a Desktop replacement 17". The main consideration would be that I do want to play games on the machine, and several posts suggested that 17" laptops have better GPUs. (although I don't know if I should worry about the GPU).
3) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
Presentations, Financial Analysis, papers etc. but mostly games
4) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
Mostly on my desk, or on short trips.
5) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
First Person shooters, RPGs, and strategy games.
6) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
No, I'm open to any brand.
I did like the Sager 6630, but the best Core2Duo processor available for the pc is a T5600 1.83GHz.
7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
3-4 hours, though a bit less would be fine.
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
No
Screen Specifics
10) Would you prefer standard or widescreen?
Either
11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
Standard
a. XGA -1024x768 - Large and easy to read text + graphics icons, but you fit less stuff on the screen.
b. SXGA - 1400x1050 - Compromise resolution between XGA and UXGA.
c. UXGA - 1600x1200 - Very small text and graphics icons, you can fit lots of stuff on the screen.
Widescreen
d. WXGA or WXGA+ - 1280x768/800 or 1440x900; Wider viewing version of XGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
e. WSXGA+ - 1680x1050; Wider viewing version of SXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
f. WUXGA - 1920x1200; Wider viewing version of UXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
Do be honest I don't know, basically I would like a crisp screen with the option of working in a 1280x768 resolution or higher.
12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
Glossy
Build Quality and Design
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
To an extent, as long as its not an eye-sore I'll be ok.
14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?
2-3 years
Notebook Components
15) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 160GB?
60-100GB, I can always use an external HD to store info
16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD-ROM, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-RW drive?
Yes, DVD-RW
-Thanks Again
Answer:
Re: Help needed finding a new laptop
Sorry, forgot to add the link for the Sager,
http://www.sagernotebook.com/pages/n...ramid=80001236
Answer:
Re: Help needed finding a new laptop
If you want to keep the price down, the Dell e1705 seems ideal.
Answer:
Re: Help needed finding a new laptop
I did like the Sager 6630, but the best Core2Duo processor available for the pc is a T5600 1.83GHz.
Most people seriously overestimate the amount of power they'll need. I think you will be perfectly fine with a T5600, probably overkill anyway.
How about the Sager NP5750? It is a well-built machine and is available with a Go7800GTX 256MB. Very powerful:
http://www.sagernotebook.com/pages/n...oductType=5750
Won't give you 2.5 hours of battery though, and is a bit heavy.
Answer:
Re: Help needed finding a new laptop
fyi, the 6630 would be horrible for you as it doens't have a dedicated video card which is very important for gaming. here are some options in addition to what chaz/zaz have mentioned
17": hp nx9420, dv9000t (both will not game as well as the previously mentioned notebooks)
15.4": hp nc8430, asus z96j/s96j, compal hel80, asus f3jm
Answer:
Re: Help needed finding a new laptop
Thanks for all the feedback, I'll definitely check out those systems