Question:
Don't Know Whichtype of Laptop is Right...
Ultraportable vs. Midsize
I guess I will be using this laptop more for multitasking and surfing the web rather than gaming. The most recent game I have played is Hitman Blood Money. The majority of my gaming is emulators so I guess I'm not much of a gamer. All I want is performance while multitasking, transferring files, and converting videos.
I am going to college next year, so I guess I will mostly be using my computer to do work and watch movies. I dont mind watching movies on a small screen because I will probably have an external monitor with me.
The laptops I am considering are the Sager NP2090/Compal IFL90 and the Dell XPS m1330.
Sager NP2090
Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 (2.2 GHz 800MB FSB 4MB Cache)
2 GB RAM DDR2 667MHz
1 GB Intel Robson Turbo Memory
512MB Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT
100GB 7200RPM HDD
Built-in TV Tuner with MCE Remote
Internal Bluetooth
Integrated 2.0 mega-pixal Webcam and Fingerprint reader
4-in-1 Media Card Reader
S-video, VGA out
$1,621.84
Dell
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7300 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache)
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (Will buy separate 2GB Ram)
128MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 8400M GS
Genuine Windows® Vista Home Premium Edition
Slim and Light White LED Display
VGA Webcam
Speed: 160GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
Internal Bluetoooth
HDMI out, Media Card Reader
$1901 - $200 (student discount) = $1701
I will be using this laptop mostly for playing emulators, surfing the web, mult-tasking and watching movies and listening to music. My question is if the Sager will have a significant increase in processing power. Also I would like to know if the Nividia Geforce Go 8400M GS is good enough to have some low-end gaming.
I plan on taking this laptop to the library occasionally or maybe taking it on short flights but will not carrying it back and forth every day.
Which laptop do you feel is more suited for my needs?
thanks for the help.
Answer:
Re: Don't Know Whichtype of Laptop is Right...
The two laptops are designed for different functions, IMO. You say you wanted more of a real-life use for your laptop rather than gaming, which is what the Sager is primarily there for. Though the Sager has the power and the GFX card that will let you play games a lot more intensive than Hitman: Blood Money, your gaming needs don't seem to be important enough to skip on the ultraportability and compact size the M1330 offers. Both computers will be fine for multi-tasking and general neeeds due to the excellent speeds of the Core2 Duo Santa Rosa platform, so that shouldn't be much of an issue. The T7500 isn't too much ahead of the T7300 you specified in the Dell, 200 MHz isn't enough to notice in real life use, maybe in synthetic benchmarks, though. In my honest opinion and from the information you gave us in your post, I think the M1330 is great for your needs. The 8400GS should be enough for Blood Money, too so that's a nice bonus.
Answer:
Re: Don't Know Whichtype of Laptop is Right...
I don't think you can make a bad choice between the two. With that said the Sager costs less has slightly faster CPU (real world yea no diff) much better GPU which you don't need now but what about later? I Know RAM is cheap but add almost $100 to the Dell to match what the Sager comes with. Also if you can get rid of the TV tuner and save on the Sager fairer comparison in price which Sager clearly wins other than HDD. And I do know you pay more for smaller.
For another post on I found this 12.1 if you want to go Real Ultra small not DX10, pasted as is to save time.
Looked at Dell US site XPS M1210, $1513 looks very nice to me.
Core 2 Duo T7200 2Ghz L2 4MB
2GB Dual Channel RAM @667
80GB HDD @5400
DVD-RW
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7400 TurboCache™
Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy™HD Software Edition [add $25]
12.1 WXGA
Vista Home Premium
4.4 lbs
Much more
In looking I noticed most 12” are configured w/ULV CPU's clocked at like 1.2Ghz, slower FSB and Memory speeds. I would not want that but what about you.
Here is a link in the Dell small business section http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...=bycwl3h&s=bsd lower the CPU to lower the price.
Answer:
Re: Don't Know Whichtype of Laptop is Right...
the only reason I actually wanted the xps m1330 is not for its size but because of everything it has. I love the look, the small media remote, the media controls on top and the hdmi port. If only there were an 15in xps.
Can you think of any other laptops which look like the m1330, with media controls, a sleek design and media remote within?
Answer:
Re: Don't Know Whichtype of Laptop is Right...
the only reason I actually wanted the xps m1330 is not for its size but because of everything it has. I love the look, the small media remote, the media controls on top and the hdmi port. If only there were an 15in xps.
Can you think of any other laptops which look like the m1330, with media controls, a sleek design and media remote within?
I don't know if you'll like them, but you could look at a nice premium Sony SZ, or an Asus W7s.
Answer:
Re: Don't Know Whichtype of Laptop is Right...
thanks for all the help, but i have decided to go with the sager 2090.
Besides the media controls and hdmi, I see absolutely no downside to this laptop
good performance, battery life, simple looks and build quality. I guess thats why so many people on this website recommend it.
Answer:
Re: Don't Know Whichtype of Laptop is Right...
Good choice I think you will be very happy!