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Hi guys :3.
My desktop is sputtering out and I'm in the market for a laptop to use as both my gaming machine and my school computing solution.
I'm looking to put around 1-1.5k into it, but I want to make sure it isn't a lemon. I've had a number of loaned laptops in the past that are garbage, overheat, etc, and I dont' want that happening with my machine.
I'm looking for something that's good with heat, quiet enough to not bother people in class and with decent specs. I regularly built my own PCs in the past, but the laptop is an area that I have zero experience with, so I'd like to hear what people suggest.
Thanks in advance, guys. If I find something I really like, maybe I'll post a reward here, or something :3.
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The Lenovo T500 fits you perfectly. I love that thing.
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motbob
United States12546 Posts
Yeah get a Lenovo, those things are like the only reliable laptops out there.
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For 1.5k, you could buy both a decent gaming PC and a reasonable office laptop. Notebooks aren't fun to play on.
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On August 06 2009 06:04 Scorch wrote:
For 1.5k, you could buy both a decent gaming PC and a reasonable office laptop. Notebooks aren't fun to play on.
This is so true. Sink most of it into the gaming comp and buy a gameboy color of a notebook for work-related stuff.
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I probably could, but I'd rather just have a single machine so that I don't need to sync files. Mostly a hassle issue.
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United States22883 Posts
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motbob
United States12546 Posts
This might be what you're looking for.
It has a good video card, 3 gigs of RAM... it will run a game like F.E.A.R. on high settings at an OK framerate apparently.
Obviously do your own research but that might be a good place to start.
and DON'T BUY ASUS, you will be sad 2 years from now when your laptop is dead and all your cool friends with cool Lenovos are laughing at you.
EDIT: changed the link to a better choice
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United States22883 Posts
T500 is not a gaming laptop, unless he strictly wants to play SC and other old games. Anything above #30 on that list is pretty good.
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Wow, fantastic suggestions all around.
I figured I'd have to settle for a shitbox, but it seems prices for decent computers have dropped quite a bit since I last built one.
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if you're just gonna play sc, lenovo T-series is the way to go
don't buy an ideapad. thinkpads are where its at
and have you thought about a gaming desktop+netbook?
you don't really need to "synch" files as often as you're making it sound
and if you do, just use the convenient SD slot on most netbooks as a mini-harddrive
get a 32gb SDHC chip (which does deteriorate after a while...) and just store the files you need "synched" on that thing while you play your games and other stuff on your desktop
i cannot being to explain how awesome netbooks are. they are so small and convenient that any other laptop seems foolish
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United States22883 Posts
http://www.gateway.com/systems/series/529598056.php
Buying directly from Gateway is actually cheaper than Newegg right now. You also might want to go to Best Buy and see what they've got, since sometimes they clear out older generation systems at ridiculous prices (depends on the store.)
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United States22883 Posts
On August 06 2009 06:20 redtooth wrote:
i cannot being to explain how awesome netbooks are. they are so small and convenient that any other laptop seems foolish
I've toyed around with an EeePC for a month and the keyboard still makes me want to throw babies.
EDIT: Just to clarify right now, if I were buying right now I'd probably go desktop + netbook. Those laptops are good but the performance/prices haven't really changed in 6 months, and netbooks are getting more and more powerful. Still, their keyboards blow.
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and have you thought about a gaming desktop+netbook?
Well, the thing is, my desktop's problems are pretty much 100% based in the fact that my hard drive is about to fail. I can easily pull half the components; memory, video card, PSU, optical drives, network card, etc. and just rebuild it if I really need to. The desire to have a gaming capable computer isn't to play super cutting edge shit, its more to have the convinience of having everything I need on one platform while I see what my salary is going to be when I'm working for a firm. At that point I'll likely switch back over to a full 2 system setup, but for now my desktop isn't reliable enough for me to do more than view power point and play nub games.
That's kinda why I'm leaning away from a netbook; I need something to replace my need for a desktop for a while.
Still, their keyboards blow Dealbreaker for me, sadly. I'm going to be putting a lot of typing time into this laptop, and having a shitty keyboard is going to make me carry around a USB keyboard around which kinda defeats the purpose of getting a netbook.
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Why not buy mainboard, CPU und HDD for some cheap bucks then and have all problems fixed?
edit:
Regarding netbook keyboards: you'll probably find that:
a) they aren't that much worse than other notebook keyboards
b) you'll very rarely have to type large amounts of text when you're on the go
c) if you do, it'll often be at a location where there's other computers around and you can borrow an external keyboard from there
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On August 06 2009 06:32 Scorch wrote:
Why not buy mainboard, CPU und HDD for some cheap bucks then and have all problems fixed?
Because I need a good portable platform to bring to school. Taking notes by hand in some of my classes is impossible and you can't trade handwritten notes anymore which makes filling empty lectures far more annoying than it should be.
If I was still in undergrad and my courses weren't typefests, this wouldn't be an issue, but I need something mobile. If i'm going to spend 300-400$ on parts for my desktop, why don't I simply spend an extra 300 on my laptop and wait to upgrade it when I have a better idea of what I'm going to need?
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motbob
United States12546 Posts
ALRIGHT I was wrong earlier, I advertised a netbook for you and you don't want that. So this is my new proposal.
It's got a great video card which is designed for professionals who work with 3D, but should work OK for games.
Great processor, good RAM, 1900x1200 screen (although the screen is only 15.4")
Free upgrade to Windows 7 when it comes out.
What do you think?
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United States22883 Posts
On August 06 2009 06:27 L wrote: Dealbreaker for me, sadly. I'm going to be putting a lot of typing time into this laptop, and having a shitty keyboard is going to make me carry around a USB keyboard around which kinda defeats the purpose of getting a netbook.
Then you'll definitely want to stop in to BB and try them out. I've never used an Asus keyboard. The keyboard on my Gateway is supposed to be the best laptop keyboard available, but Asus might be good.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9366615&type=product&id=1218092150740
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9366651&type=product&id=1218092150636
Those are both crazy good. Their resolutions aren't great (I think Asus has actually started downgrading their displays) but that's one of the best mobile video cards available. The processor in the 15.6" one is kind of weak. Definitely read some reviews though because you've gotta be concerned about build quality with laptops as well.
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On August 06 2009 06:39 L wrote:Show nested quote +On August 06 2009 06:32 Scorch wrote:
Why not buy mainboard, CPU und HDD for some cheap bucks then and have all problems fixed? Because I need a good portable platform to bring to school. Taking notes by hand in some of my classes is impossible and you can't trade handwritten notes anymore which makes filling empty lectures far more annoying than it should be. If I was still in undergrad and my courses weren't typefests, this wouldn't be an issue, but I need something mobile. If i'm going to spend 300-400$ on parts for my desktop, why don't I simply spend an extra 300 on my laptop and wait to upgrade it when I have a better idea of what I'm going to need?
Alright. Do you have access to a power outlet there, and power cable length range? Battery life will be a consideration otherwise. High-end laptops often run only around 2 or 3 hours.
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The classrooms and libraries and lounges at my faculty have really good wifi and outlets directly on the desks/near the couches, so battery life doesn't bother me in the least. When I transition to a firm during the summer, I've seen the standard student cubicle areas and they're all outlet/ethernet connection setups.
I think I'm going to work on the reward now. Probably involving scantily clad womens.
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