About time to get a laptop

[|TCM|LordGardenGnome]

Well I'm going underway in a few months for a long time and now that i'm qualified I want to bring a laptop with me. I'm kinda holding off for the AMD turion 64 X2 in more laptops. I really don't know what to get in ways of video card/performance. I would like to be able to play most computer games at high quality and res but still have good battery life. I know i want a Dedicated video card of atleast 256mb. I've been looking around and find that falcon, voodoo are pretty expensive, but i know they offer quality. Dell XPS is nice but not AMD based. Alieware was always known for their expensive stuff but lately I've checked them out and they're one of the cheapest out there. I'm looking for something with a good warrenty, performance, and battery life. Any suggestions. Oh I don't really want to go over $2000 I can but really don't want to. If i can stay even cheaper that'd be great i'm not looking for a desktop replacement because when i get back early next year i'm going to do a massive desktop upgrade.

[Wilson]

:D Aliemware was Bought out by Dell unfortunatley! Anyhow you are extremley limited in the way of Lap tops when it comes to gaming! The biggest Problem is Video card Choices they are few and far between. Falcon Northwest i believe Gives you an option which includes a Geforce card which is preferable. This a partiallly why you pay the bigger dollar as few manufactures Give you an option in this area. I would personally prefer a single core for gaming aspects and if not gaming and Doing Multi tasking I would Go For dual Core! If not multitasking Than i would Go For single Core once again!

If Doing video i want The biggest processor Possible! A single 3,0GHZ CPU will out do a Dual core 4400+ of two Cpus @ 2.4GHZ .

So dependent upon its actuall intended use purchase accordingly.

What you are going to Find is the great majority are offering ATI video chip sets which if your happy with then you have an ocean full of notebooks to choose From.

Not if being used in your bunk be aware of Fan Placement. Notebooks have the fans on the bottom where Laptops have them on the back edge or sides to vent the heat. The last thing you want is to block the Fans which is one of the primary causes of Notebook failures! :wink:

Acer laptops are great for reliability/ Service Is Top Notch and have more service Outlets around The world Than anyone! This may of help in Your current proffession and one I would give a great amount of consideration too. Just spend time and have a look yourself as I did for a day. You will Be limited to ATI Video Graphics however. Look at the 8000 series and the 6000 series. Do not consider the Ferrari however tempting It looks based on my own experiences and knowledge of them.

Toshiba makes a gorgious 17 in laptop in the 2900.00 range but has 2 others that look like it Only and do not come Close so do not be fooled by the 1800.00 model.

Extended warranties are aa waist of money Below the 400.00 Mark. At this price level you are usually covered for accidents which includes Water which you happen to be around a great deal. :D Those Policies below that are little more than a money grab for the store selling the policy. The next most prone problem is water damage to Overheating! The Sure Fix here is Do not drink around them. If you do and have it at a desk use an external 20.00 key board and have the laptop pushed back away from your Liquid beverage. :wink:

:idea: Look for full keyboard that is it has the number pad like a desktop keyboard as it feels more comfortable to many people.

Screens TfT screens or the albright high Gloss screen. Both are lousy in the Sunlight but the Regular tft screen is easier in lighted conditions over the all bright Glossy.

Battery Life depends on what you are running on the computer! If you Put in a DVD and Play it watch how much life is really left in the battery afterwards? Most batteries will last 2-2.5 hours. You can get more time from your battery by reducing the power consumption on your Cpu within the software. However The DVD Test will Give you the truth of claim. Yes there is only one way to know and that is to try it! I lend a laptop to my clients over night to test out its claims for themselves.

Note: If laptop is not regularily permitted to disharge its batteries they Will DIE Over a period of three -6months. If in your circumstances you plan to Use batteries alot as you do not have access to power than MOST DEFFINATLEY get YOURSELF a SECOND Battery. :wink:

Note: They have those Usb snake lights you may want to consider also as they do not take much power as are LED and you can Work around others and not disturb them with it on. Can use it to read a book also if need Be.? These Tips are worth Something im sure! :P

Hope this Gives you a starting point But remember especially With laptops price Will dictate what you get in the way of gaming capabilities and i believe you will be hard pressed to get a gaming Laptop for that Kind of Money other than with an ATI card?

The Equivilent 2000.00 in a desktop is a whole different story and you would have a pretty Good system for that kind of coin. I guess what i am saying is do not expect to come close to what you are used to on your desktop in a Laptop for the same money.
(Again the reason Falkan Northwest Costs More) You Will Have what you have in your desktop but at a price which is why they offer it to their Customers. You decisde if you need it and if its worth it? It might be all you need for the next 4 years.