Question:
need help with a $1600 budget
General Questions
1) What is your budget?
About 1,500~1,600
2) What size notebook would you prefer? Option D
a. Ultraportable; 12" screen or less
b. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen
c. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen
d. Desktop Replacement; 17"+ screen
I prefer a regular sized notebook, between 14" and 15,5", because 17" would be too big to carry around
3) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
Using archictecural and 3d apps, like autocad. And games too :) I dont them to run at max settings, but being able to comfortably run Oblivion would be nice.
4) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
I will be taking it to the university, work, wherever I need it.
5) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
Yes. Mostly Oblivion, Day of Defeat, Halflife2, Lineage 2, Lego Starwars2.
6) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
Well, from what I've read, I really liked notebooks made by Asus and HP, but I dont have any specific preferences. BUT I won't buy a Toshiba. My father had about 5 satellites over the decade, and I pretty much watched the build quality decline.
7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
About 3 hours would be enough, I think.
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
Yes, I can't risk years of saving.
9) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in?
I'm probably buying this in the USA.
Screen Specifics
10) Would you prefer standard or widescreen?
Widescreen.
11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
WXGA+ or WSXGA+
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.
12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
I don't have any preference. I always used non-glossy notebooks, but a friend just bought a glossy one. I really don't know.
Build Quality and Design
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
Well, if it doesn't have pieces falling apart, I dont mind. But a little style wouldnt hurt :P
14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?
Probably at the end of this month or beginning of November.
Notebook Components
15) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 160GB?
About 80gb is enough.
16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD-ROM, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-RW drive?
DVD-RW is a must.
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These are the models that I really liked:
- Asus F3ja
- Acer 5672 (with an ati x1600)
- HP nc8430
The acer looks like a great buy, but I've been reading some posts about it's build quality and that it gets extremely hot.
And from what I've read in the reviews, the HP is a superb notebook, but it would probably be over my budget. It doesn't have a expresscard slot, but I doubt I would ever need one.
What I'm really looking for is a very capable machine, that can hold its on for about 2-3 years. So I've been looking for a core duo (or core 2 duo), with 1gb ram and an ati x1600 or a geforce 7600. Oh, and a card reader is also a must.
If anyone could guide me, it would be great :)
Answer:
Re: need help with a $1600 budget
I ll reply wat I always do.... S96J or Z96J (now that they have fixed the grainyness issue) or Comapl HEL80 for a better looking laptop (I also prefer NVidia) .
Otto.
Answer:
Re: need help with a $1600 budget
there are one pre-configured model of the nc8430 that you might like.
nc8430 (RB554UT)...a little more than your budget, but worth it. you might be able to find a deal somewhere (other resellers), or try calling into HP for info and possibly a discount. mention you're a student and that might help.
Answer:
Re: need help with a $1600 budget
I also recommend HP nc8430 due to the business quality and the powerful GPU. It seems appropriate for you.
Answer:
Re: need help with a $1600 budget
one thing to note about the acer 5672 is that its gpu, although still an x1600, performs poorly (2800 3dmarks vs 3600-4000 3dmarks in other x1600)...most likely due to the fact that it only as 128 mb of dedicated vram vs. 256 mb. also, i have a feeling that it uses ddr2 vram vs. ddr3 vram....though this is just a speculation. anyway, you could also consider the asus a8jm for something a little more portable, or the compal hgl-30.
Answer:
Re: need help with a $1600 budget
I've never heard of the Compal brand before. From the recommendations and specs, the hgl-30 looks very interesting. But since it doesnt have a representative here in Brazil, support would be a issue... :(