Laptop suggestions?

[Rob]

I know there are some people here with real knowledge of computer hardware and stuff, so I'm just going throw this question out.

I'm looking to get a new laptop and I want one that can handle most of the latest games pretty decently. A desktop is absolutely not an option, in case someone was getting ready to say "dude just get a desktop."

I'm looking forward to Skyrim and Diablo III specifically. I don't need to be able to play these games at the absolute max settings, 99x anti-aliasing, but I want to play the latest stuff at relatively high settings.

My budget is about $1,500 (maybe up to $1,700, but not likely).

Thanks in advance!

[Rob]

Why Toshiba over other brands, such as ASUS, Sager, msi, etc?

I've always bought Dell but this is the first time I've really decided to be discerning on my purchase.

[CharlieGiteau]

Why Toshiba over other brands, such as ASUS, Sager, msi, etc?

I've always bought Dell but this is the first time I've really decided to be discerning on my purchase.

I've done the same thing and get made fun of regularly, but I've had next to zero problems with my Dell computers over the years. If it isn't broke, don't fix it!

[ward]

Shop around and compare prices. Going with Dell = paying more just for the name.

[Rob]

I really want to avoid Dell. I've had 3 laptops from them and fairly significant problems with each one.

[avenger]

http://www.sagernotebook.com/

[taylor]

this may be up for sale if the price is right OBO, you can get your nerd on and get all the ladys with this smart machine

[Rob]

Guys guys guys. I need REASONS to go for these brands. So far Taylor is the only one to really support his recommendation

[Rob]

At the time of my purchase fell didn't offer near as much as Toshiba did in the high end market without going alienware. Things like bluray and a ssd...plus I've had a fell before, and my Toshiba feels like its built better than my fell was.

Are you referring to the hardware wiring, internal stuff like that? Or more along the lines of the casing and how well it holds up to wear and tear?

Sorry for the 20 questions. Feel free to ignore me at any time.

[showtime]

Im looking for a new laptop too and had seen the Toshiba that moosh suggested, Its $1500 on newegg but Ive never had a Toshiba so I don't know how good they are.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834214392

Ive had a sager in the past and loved it (currently use a Lenovo). They look sleek, have good components, and had great customer service when I had a problem. The problem is they are fairly pricey even if you go through a reseller like pctorque and you could get a comparable laptop from a larger company for cheaper. The added bloatware is annoying but I usually format my laptops as soon as I get them so that all that extra stuff is wiped off and then just reload windows and office back on.

One other suggestion is going to ibuypower, selecting a base laptop, and adding what you want. Ive had some friends use this company and gotten some pretty good builds.

[element]

how big do you want it to be?

[Sears]

how big do you want it to be?

[taylor]

i sawl that one coming big time

[Rob]

17"... snicker...

[Sears]

17"... snicker...

[taylor]

i would look at the acers they have some goon prices maybe even a lenovo they are affordable and are great comps

me personaly i whent with alienware i dont recommend doing the same because my voodoo is much better and was the same price, your talking alot of money so i just say wait till the christmas specials start showin up on all the sites and get a good deal, gl to you sir.

[element]

I've been hearing some very good things about the lenovo ideapads

[showtime]

I've been hearing some very good things about the lenovo ideapads

Yeah thats what I have and its nice but I made the mistake of getting a laptop with a 15" monitor.

[element]

i have a 14" decked out HP that i just hook up to my 19" monitor whenever I game... cooling on it isn't that great so i have to hook it up to a cooling pad if I want to play anything graphics heavy for a couple hours. The ideapad is supposed to run much cooler

[james-]

Take some time to check out the reviews, and if you can see them in person then go check them out.

I spent a lot of money on a nice HP laptop for gaming, but the computer over heats because of the poorly built cooling system.
I would never have bought the computer if I had seen it in person, you can just tell the damn thing is going to overheat by looking at it...

[mg_]

For gaming and a laptop, then I'd say you can do well from ASUS. Problem is - they don't sell direct. You're going to need to find a retailer for the stuff.

Amazon is fine so... http://www.asusrog.com/

$1600 - $1700 for the higher end stuff.

[Rob]

I think I'm leaning toward the Sager. Based on what you guys are saying, and the reading I've done, all these brands are pretty solid, but I ASUS seems like a bitch to get right because I can't order it direct nor can I build my own. Toshiba would be good but Sager beats it by a little on price.

For $1485 I've configured:

17.3" Full HD LED-Backlit Display with Super Glossy Surface (1920 x 1080)
Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M GPU with 1.5GB GDDR5 Video Memory
2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM Processor ( 6MB L3 Cache, 2.00GHz)
IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU
Genuine MS Windows® 7 Home Premium 32/64-Bit Edition ( 64-Bit Preloaded )
8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz - 2 X 4GB [$55.00]
500GB 7200rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive
8X DVD±R/RW/4X +DL Super-Multi Drive & Software
Internal 802.11 B+G+N Wireless LAN + Bluetooth Combo Module

[element]

not bad, but for that price the hd and processor could be a little better

[Rob]

I considered bumping up the processor a bit, but I've heard quite a few times that differences of ~200mhz aren't generally that noticeable. To bump it up 500mhz+ would be a bit too much money. And I think I might actually increase the HD to 750gb since it's only a few dollars more to do it.

If anyone has any other suggestions I welcome them! Otherwise thanks for the help guys I really appreciate it.

[Rob]

The price skyrockets when you go SSD, and you get a miniscule amount of storage by comparison.

[willeh]

these are in all the trucks where i work

http://www.gd-itronix.com/index.cfm?pag ... cts:gd8000


they are badass as far a ruggedness goes. not sure if it is good for gaming, but it wont break. also im not sure on the price.

[willeh]

we put these in all our fire apparatus.

http://www.gd-itronix.com/index.cfm?pag ... cts:gd8000


they are badass as far a ruggedness goes. not sure if it is good for gaming, but it wont break

oh general dynamics, how you rob america in government contracts. Bet those pieces of shit cost 2000 just cause they're wrapped in hard plastic and sold to the US gov.

hrm? they seem nice to me. i was just giving him an option.. i have a mac and they are expensive-- i don't know much about pc laptops except the gd's work well. they prolly haven't been restarted since we got them like 8 months ago and not one has had a problem yet.

[willeh]

how come you don't like gd? figured most people in the military would.

[Swiss]

So I'm guessing you're not a fan of raytheon

[Sears]

most civilian contractors screw the military out of millions. GD in particular takes a mound of paperwork to get someone to come take a look at a piece of gear on the ship, and just them looking costs the navy 5k. Then they work on it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_i ... al_complex

[scorch-]

most civilian contractors screw the military out of millions. GD in particular takes a mound of paperwork to get someone to come take a look at a piece of gear on the ship, and just them looking costs the navy 5k. Then they work on it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_i ... al_complex

5000$ sounds about right for having to set foot on a military ship as a consulting civilian.

[doyler]

these are in all the trucks where i work

http://www.gd-itronix.com/index.cfm?pag ... cts:gd8000


they are badass as far a ruggedness goes. not sure if it is good for gaming, but it wont break. also im not sure on the price.

[youtube]0pAyW64Tjsw[/youtube]

Toughbook passes 5 out 6 quality tests by Inspector #19

[CharlieGiteau]

these are in all the trucks where i work

http://www.gd-itronix.com/index.cfm?pag ... cts:gd8000


they are badass as far a ruggedness goes. not sure if it is good for gaming, but it wont break. also im not sure on the price.

Our electricians use those to troubleshoot and update software on our locomotive fleet. They hate them and are adamant that they are junk. I particularly don't have to use them, so I don't know much about them.