What Laptop should I buy?

[Señor Fingers]

I love my Dell XPS M1730 for everything EXCEPT packing it around. The screen (1920x1200, 17") is big and bright with great detail, the CPU is fast, the (dual RAID 0) disk is fast and big. Even the keyboard is OK. Some games like CoV and games based on the Unreal engine even use the Physics PPU. Dual SLI NVIDIA 8700GT graphics .... it's pretty decent for media and gaming.

Anyone who talks about desktops in a laptop thread is paying even less attention.

Of course I'm just saying this cause I'm jealous of your graphics cards and RAID. You must FLY on that thing!

You are right about Macs having a pathetic selection of games. It's changing but they just can't keep up with the millions of titles on PC.

Technically you could run PC games on Mac, but you'd probably end up throwing your puter out the window in frustration of the slowness.

 

[BMX]

I just got a Toshiba with a 17" screen for school next fall. I'm not majoring in engineering, but I was looking at their requirements and they run a lot of programs which have greater requirements.

 

[bigjohnson]

Anyone who talks about desktops in a laptop thread is paying even less attention.

Heh - I know, to get better responses he needs to explain WHY he wants a notebook. If he wants a desktop that's easy to relocate then this machine or something similar is ideal, if he wants to really use it on his lap, on a train or something, then he should move along. It's possible but not pleasant.

 

[SharinganUser]

Yeah thats a problem, was going to get one myself but I am in Norway now and shipping & taxes would cost too much.

Shipping and taxes are not a problem in China, I am going to buy from a vendor at an electronic store and would bargain for the price. Also china is tax free.

 

[SharinganUser]

So far I am thinking of getting a Dell XPS M1730 if I can afford it.

 

[Desdinova]

[You are right about Macs having a pathetic selection of games. It's changing but they just can't keep up with the millions of titles on PC.

The problem is gaming companies don't want to develope for such a small market. Linux has the exact same problem. If Mac and/or Linux should gain more market, then the gaming companies will start seeing an area where they could be making more money, and then they'll begin developing for those platforms.

With the market share so low, the cost of porting a game > profit. You also need to take into consideration how many Mac and Linux users are gamers. If they were gamers, they wouldn't be using a Mac or Linux.... unless they use a game console for fulfilling their needs.

 

[mpimpin]

Stay away from Sony. I wouldn't recommend an Acer to much either. Dells are great mainly because of their customer service and warranties. If your gaming doesn't conflict with a Mac its also a great choice.

 

[bigjohnson]

The problem is gaming companies don't want to develope for such a small market. Linux has the exact same problem.

Interestingly a lot o games actually run on Linux via the various compatibility layers. Go figure. If Apple would split their hardware and software apart it would be an intriguing platform.

 

[MacAvoy]

Stay away from Dell's unless you get a full 3 year warranty. I've got a Sony Vaio, its not bad, I've had some issues with having to reboot it but other than that its been great.

Acer is by far the best laptop I've ever had, performed great, had no issues, all around great laptop.

I also had toshiba and I wasn't all that impressed, I'd compare it to a dell, typical run of the mill, pump out as many as you can type deal.

 

[bigjohnson]

I love statistical advice given on the basis of a handful of samples.


The only machines I've seen that were consistently crap were the IBM T30 and T31 notebooks we all got a few years back, which had a 70% + failure rate over 2 years, mostly hard drives and batteries.

When I say 'we' I'm talking about hundreds of machines ......

 

[SharinganUser]

I am about 90% set on getting the Dell XPS m1730.

I am basically looking for a laptop that can unhinge it's jaw and swallow other laptops whole.

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

For those of you sitting on the Mac/PC fence keep in mind there is a right tool for every job

If you need to do
• Graphics
• Pro Audio
• Pro Video
• Light Gaming

Then Mac is a no-brainer

But if you want all the popular bits of software, have TONS more games and maybe the ability to be a super geek and run Linux, then PC is the move.

Keep in mind that the line is getting blurry now that you can run multiple OSes on a Mac, including windows

Okay, that's enough propaganda for one day.

Mac easiest to hack, says $10,000 winner - Security researcher Charlie Miller exploited Safari in 2 minutes

Just sayin'

 

[MacAvoy]

Mac easiest to hack, says $10,000 winner - Security researcher Charlie Miller exploited Safari in 2 minutes

Just sayin'

That might be true, however Mac's are not usually targets. 1000 times as many PC's get hacked into than Mac's.

 

[bigjohnson]

I am about 90% set on getting the Dell XPS m1730.

I am basically looking for a laptop that can unhinge it's jaw and swallow other laptops whole.

It can do that. Beware that even finding a case for the beast is a challenge, and if you have 2 sites you frequently use it (home and office for instance) you should certainly get 2 power supply units. The benefits of this monster are obvious, but there are downsides.

- It's huge.
- It's heavy
- It eats batteries like there is no tomorrow. If I'm careful I get 2 hours.

I love it but just full disclosure and all.

That might be true, however Mac's are not usually targets. 1000 times as many PC's get hacked into than Mac's.

How would you know?

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

That might be true, however Mac's are not usually targets. 1000 times as many PC's get hacked into than Mac's.

Yeah, they aren't that popular beyond the mac-fanatics. Besides, I don't think mac fans actually are technical enough to hack their own computers; talk about security!

 

[mpimpin]

Yeah, they aren't that popular beyond the mac-fanatics. Besides, I don't think mac fans actually are technical enough to hack their own computers; talk about security!

You get Reps for that!:crackup:

 

[e-lie]

I agree with the other guys go with mac but for mobility I would go with www.oqo.com expensive as hell but nice and mobile

 

[Señor Fingers]

For all you Apple bashers out there

Apparently a Mac runs Windows better than a PC!

Read it and weep

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/reviews/4258725.html

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

For all you Apple bashers out there

Apparently a Mac runs Windows better than a PC!

Read it and weep

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/reviews/4258725.html

It's because the common components are PC based (Ever hear of a company named Intel) Jobs doesn't want Apple's marketbase to know it though (less sales). That's why Psystar is causing such a commotion.

Psystar Mac Clone w/OS-X for $399

 

[Desdinova]

If you do go for a pc-based laptop, I'd recommend going with Acer. I've NEVER had problems with their computers, and I haven't heard much bad about them either. Dell on the other hand...

Interestingly a lot o games actually run on Linux via the various compatibility layers.

Yeah, and so does a bunch of Windows software which makes me happy