Question:
Looking for a replacement for w3j
Hey I already have a notebook which suits my needs except for one unbelievably frustrating detail. - The w3j has an (awesome) ATI card. The problem with ATI, which any linux user should know, is a PITA!!! In the past few months I've been wanting to use a linux system for my laptop more and more and right now I'm using linux probably %80 of the time. The problem is though that with new releases of ubuntu that are using 3d desktops. This is a feature that I really enjoy and have had nightmares trying to get to work. Also the w3j has lots of problems with ACPI controls and will get hot pretty quickly when these environments are actually running on it (rare indeed). And even when I'm not running 3d desktops and not actually doing much more than browsing or typing lab reports the thing will eat through the batteries in less than a two hours. So my main needs are similar to what I needed for the w3j, except nothing ATI is allowed! I would also like something with perhaps more battery life or at least less battery wear. And of course better support for linux (other hardware).
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General Questions
1) What is your budget? <1800$ (very high ceiling and not too keen on paying that much, but will if i must)
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
a. Ultraportable; 12" screen or less
b. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen
c. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen
3) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in.
4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like? I really like ASUS, but will take just about anything else
5) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook? Mostly workstation stuff, when docked it might do some heavier stuff such as transcoding media, and when I'm away on internships it will be used as my gaming PC (ie the need for a GPU)
6) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk? Everywhere, with me when doing work in school, to doing regular stuff at home, to being my entertainment center when I'm away for entire semesters.
7) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games? Supreme Commander, Source games, emulators, CivIV
8) How many hours of battery life do you need? absolutley no less than 2hrs, and of course the more the better
9) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person? Nope
10) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista), Mac OS, Linux, etc. Linux, will probably use XP for it when I game. (i guess i could use vista if i must)
Screen Specifics
11) Would you prefer standard or widescreen? Absolutley wouldn't want anything else
12) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
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.
13) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen? I'm actually quite fond of the glossy finish, but it's not a deal-breaker
Build Quality and Design
14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you? Somewhat, I've found that the w3j's style isn't actually that amusing for more than the first month or so.
15) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last? I'm fine with my current laptop until I leave to my next internship around late June / early July. But of course the sooner the better ;-)
Notebook Components
16) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 200GB? >=100GB
17) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD-ROM, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-RW drive? It would be nice, but most of my media doesn't come from optical media, so it isn't a deal breaker. However I'm assuming every laptop that fits my other criteria will have this anyway.
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PS if you're not using Linux, I'm looking to sell this, and other than Linux issues this laptop is awesome.
Answer:
Re: Looking for a replacement for w3j
The Compal HGL30 is an option, I believe it has an 7600.
Answer:
Re: Looking for a replacement for w3j
It's seems pretty good, however I'd be kind of interested in something with a DVI and more inputs and features in general. I also came up with another idea. Would it be feasible to find a cheap (as in 1k or less), thin and light notebook without many requirements other than not being an ATI, and having some dual core and widescreen resolution? This way I have a practical light and efficient laptop for normal activites and a good entertainment center when I'm away from home.
Answer:
Re: Looking for a replacement for w3j
HP dv2000 with the 7200 go comes to mind although at $1k you're probably not going to get everything you want. DVI laptop selection is pretty limited.
Answer:
Re: Looking for a replacement for w3j
ASUS G1 comes to mind. Nvidia Video Card, VGA/DVI. Around 1800 though.
Answer:
Re: Looking for a replacement for w3j
Have you considered waiting for 14.1" laptops with the DX10 Go8600? If you don't need a new laptop immediately, you might consider it. Other than that, the best options that come to mind are the Compal Hgl30, the Sony SZ series (though the Go7400 might not be powerful enough for you) or the Asus G1. Also, I know you said no ATI, but I'll still suggest the Thinkpad T60 WS. Even though it's ATI the Thinkpad community has great support for Linux, and solutions to just about every problem you might encounter.
Answer:
Re: Looking for a replacement for w3j
I would also recommend the Sony Vaio SZ, although it will probably push your budget.