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Fun Stuff => CLIKC => Topic started by: Cire27 on 28 Feb 2008, 20:28

Title: New Laptop
Post by: Cire27 on 28 Feb 2008, 20:28
Well, that time has came around when my laptop is falling apart, literally, and is completely out of date.  Because of that fact, I am really in need of new one, however I have no idea of what kind to get/ what company to buy from.  I'm really drawn to the Macbooks, mostly because I can get GarageBand or ProTools.  I generally just listen to a lot of music and browse the internet, however I would game more if this shittastic thing could handle it.

Yes it need to be a laptop, not so much for portability, but because I don't really have a lot of space to put it.  Any help is really helpful, obviously.  Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Melodic on 28 Feb 2008, 20:45
I call Macbook Pro. They just upgraded the Pros with the same multi-touch technology as the Air, and the base CPU & GPU are fairly powerful for a laptop. I'd recommend the 17" if you're not moving around a whole lot because it's a wee bit faster with more RAM and more VRAM.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Mako on 02 Mar 2008, 05:21
Yeah I agree with Melodic, 17 inch is what im getting. 4Gb of RAM, hi res glossy screen, 2.5 ghz. I had money for the 2.6 ghz, but i deduced that it was too much money for too small of a jump in speed.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Fletch on 02 Mar 2008, 11:06
(I hope I'm not thread-jacking here)
I've been thinking about getting a laptop myself; for work & gaming ...
Writing isn't exactly processor-intensive, but are there laptops available that are adequate for running & controlling recent pc games? FPS? RTS? Are there options other than touchpads? I have some experience with pc & gaming, but no idea on mac.
Just asking a salesperson is a bit out of the question ... I'm in China. (& not fully acquainted with the language)
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: gardenhead_ on 06 Mar 2008, 03:54
You could get a USB mouse, wireless or otherwise, instead of using the touchpad. They're relatively inexpensive I think.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: dennis on 06 Mar 2008, 04:16
Yeah I agree with Melodic, 17 inch is what im getting. 4Gb of RAM, hi res glossy screen, 2.5 ghz. I had money for the 2.6 ghz, but i deduced that it was too much money for too small of a jump in speed.
Presuming you don't already know this, but notebook RAM is 50%-75% cheaper everywhere else than from Apple.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Mako on 06 Mar 2008, 04:40
yeah i heard that, but not in japan, its rather expensive here, no matter where you go.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Melodic on 06 Mar 2008, 18:26
Bootcamp on a Macbook is not cut out for gaming... if you want a mobile desktop, look at Dell.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Cire27 on 06 Mar 2008, 19:33
You know when I said my current laptop is falling apart?  That's a Dell.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: dennis on 06 Mar 2008, 19:37
yeah i heard that, but not in japan, its rather expensive here, no matter where you go.
That's strange. With the big RAM chip manufacturers located in Korea and Taiwan you'd think that it'd be cheaper there than nearly anywhere else.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Melodic on 06 Mar 2008, 20:25
You know when I said my current laptop is falling apart?  That's a Dell.

Point? I just swapped out my old Antec PSU, which died recently, for another Antec PSU. Hardware dies. I hate Dell for their desktops, but for a gaming-centric laptop Dell makes the best stuff.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: clockworkjames on 06 Mar 2008, 23:04
If you want a gaming laptop I suggest looking at rock laptops, as for PSU's don't skimp here ever.

Nice choice on tha antec.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: bicostp on 09 Mar 2008, 08:27
Since you're not as concerned about portability, look at something like a Macbook Pro or an HP Pavillion. Or if you don't mind spending a little more and getting a bit less, you could get a more portable laptop like a Thinkpad or Macbook and hook it up to an external monitor. You'd get a lot of usable screen space that way, since the desktop can span both screens.

I have a Pavillion dv5000 series laptop with a 15" widescreen. It's pretty fast, but lugging that aircraft carrier around gets old fast and it barely gets 2.5 hours out of a charge with the backlight all the way down and the wireless off. You might want to consider one if it's going to live on your desk most of the time, but if you're going to move it around more than half the time, go with something smaller with better battery life.

Unfortunately, when laptop shopping you can only pick two of the following:

Fast - Affordable - Small
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: muteKi on 12 Mar 2008, 16:05
Yeah, Thinkpad is good but not if you want to do serious gaming.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: bicostp on 13 Mar 2008, 09:05
Well, if you want to do serious gaming you shouldn't be looking at laptops in the first place. :laugh: A moderately priced desktop will give you more power than an expensive laptop.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: dennis on 15 Mar 2008, 16:41
Well, if you like to go to LAN parties, a gaming laptop is where it's at.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Melodic on 15 Mar 2008, 23:09
I (http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_videogames/images/2007/11/30/lanparty1130.jpg) don't (http://digitalbattle.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/dreamhack.jpg) see (http://www.multiplay.co.uk/content/newbury/grandstand/ground_floor_overview.jpg) any (http://www.imbusion.com/day/lanparty.jpg) gaming laptops. (http://schlitt.info/applications/blog/uploads/LAN_gesamtansicht.JPG)
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Valrus on 16 Mar 2008, 17:08
Any reason those people are all using CRT monitors?
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: Dimmukane on 16 Mar 2008, 17:55
Faster response times (not sure if that's an issue anymore) but better contrast (you have to pay a decent sum for an LCD or Plasma with a good contrast ratio that still won't be as good as CRTs, at least in the foreseeable future).

As for LAN parties, build a small form factor PC, like the Fragbox.  Roughly the size of a large shoebox.

And as for gaming laptops, Alienwares (although owned by Dell) still perform better than Dells.  Especially if you can afford it.  I've played Aienwares that run Crysis better than my desktop (largely because I don't have any kind of SLI, although I have an FX-74).  Be warned, though, all gaming-centric laptops will run hot.  Really hot.  To the point where the term 'laptop' could cause a frivolous lawsuit.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: dennis on 17 Mar 2008, 03:22
I (http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_videogames/images/2007/11/30/lanparty1130.jpg) don't (http://digitalbattle.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/dreamhack.jpg) see (http://www.multiplay.co.uk/content/newbury/grandstand/ground_floor_overview.jpg) any (http://www.imbusion.com/day/lanparty.jpg) gaming laptops. (http://schlitt.info/applications/blog/uploads/LAN_gesamtansicht.JPG)
Sure, they're not common. You pay a premium for portability.
Title: Re: New Laptop
Post by: clockworkjames on 17 Mar 2008, 15:54
Dimmukane is right about the response time which is becomming less and less of an issue. I go to i33 at the weekend, 1850 people gaming for 79 hours.

Taking my rig :D

My laptop is poor :( nvidia 7200 128 dedicated, 1GB ram, 1.6GHz centrino duo.

My rig is better  :-D

I will tell you how many laptops I see there, Affro is taking his rock so that's one...