buying a new laptop

[thenimirra]

Hello all, I'll be buying a new laptop and I wanted to know what kind of specs I need in order to have the best equipment for gaming.

I love RPGs, but I'm also interested in being able to play on the internet with others. Thanks all...There is so much for me to get caught up on that I feel overwhelmed but very excited!

[ColoradoSkier]

1st question is are you sure you want/ need a laptop? They cost more than comparable desktop systems, and can be limiting in terms of upgradeability.

[JeepWheelin02]

What kind of games exactly. Give us a few names. Also, how often would you like to replacing said laptop as new games come out. Like stated above, a desktop is much more readily upgradeable, and cheaper to build.

[Tiffany]

Doesn't matter, you will be looking at a big, heavy desktop replacement type "laptop".

Portability will suck cause it's going to weigh in the 7-9lb range and will cost a lot more than a comprable desktop.

The laptop I had, played any game I wanted at the time, but it was still slow in comparison to my desktop.

Unless you are popping for Alienware top of the line...I would suggest you go desktop for your gaming pleasure. Build a desktop for gaming and it will do everything else you need it to with ease.

[thenimirra]

Doesn't matter, you will be looking at a big, heavy desktop replacement type "laptop".

Portability will suck cause it's going to weigh in the 7-9lb range and will cost a lot more than a comprable desktop.

The laptop I had, played any game I wanted at the time, but it was still slow in comparison to my desktop.

Unless you are popping for Alienware top of the line...I would suggest you go desktop for your gaming pleasure. Build a desktop for gaming and it will do everything else you need it to with ease.

ultimately the goal would be to have a laptop for work use and a new desk top as well. Do you know of any deals where I could get both Tiffany? Should I start with a new laptop or aim for the desktop first?

[ColoradoSkier]

I would do the new desktop first. Cheaper, more powerful. Unless you are typing when you are in the field, it is doubtful you need a laptop at all. But I don't know your job that well, so may you do. And if you do, an Alienware, or Acer Ferrari, might be what you want. You could buy a couple cameras for what those cost though.

[lilgreenjeepyj]

Ill take a different path... For daily use, I don't think we will ever buy another desktop. The portability of a laptop combine with wireless internet has really changed things for us. We now surf pretty much anywhere and everywhere. While on the couch, the dinning room table, sitting in bed, hooked up to the printer, on the back porch, in the garage, etc... The desktops only get used by me for development work and research projects. My wife hasnt' touch them in over a year now. I plan to get her a macbook sometime in the next year so that I can get my laptop back for myself. :)

However, if you really intend to do serious gaming with your machine, the desktop is the best price/value option out there. Big $$$ for a quality gaming laptop with limited upgrade potential.

Most of our computing is non-gaming, so for us its a no brainer, laptop all the way. My wife wants to ditch the desktops all together, but all of my grad work and some development tools are on them as they have more horsepower than the current laptop. Plus we use them to store all of the media, which I wirelessly stream to the laptop and the 360.

[Tiffany]

Desktop. Laptop is a luxury...

Much better investment of money, easier to upgrade and won't be a heavy brick in 6 months.

Dell is always running deals. Or check out the joint Chester got his from, ecollegepc.com (I think).

For you, I would suggest Dell and a warranty...unless you became a PC tech overnight. If you can't fix/replace crap on your PC, then get one with a warranty so someone else can come and do it for you.

[thenimirra]

but I like calling you to come over and fix my computer. :)

It's a good excuse to get to see you! How's my girl Sydney and the boys?

seriously though, I'm looking at a Dell because of their warranty and service.

[lilgreenjeepyj]

and won't be a heavy brick in 6 months.



Care to explain that one??? As that is HARDLY the case. Heck the laptop Ive got now is just about 2 years old now, and works just fine, Ive had ZERO issues with, and has no signs of being a brick. The one before that made it 4 years until I broken the MB by tripping over the power wire.


Again, it really comes down to what you want to do with your computer and where most of you time will be spent. Gaming/Office/Internet/Photoshop/etc...

As for a laptop being a luxury, well I would consider my Desktop with the HUGE HDD to stream media the luxury and my laptop to be my core PC. So that is relative to the user.

But after 20+ PCs since the early 80s, I would have to agree that DELL is a great choice if you aren't going to build it yourself.

[ColoradoSkier]

For you, I would suggest Dell and a warranty...unless you became a PC tech overnight. If you can't fix/replace crap on your PC, then get one with a warranty so someone else can come and do it for you.

x brazillian

[Tiffany]

I know what she wants and needs in a computer. A laptop for HER would be a brick in 6 months.

[thenimirra]

I know what she wants and needs in a computer. A laptop for HER would be a brick in 6 months.


that's a good sig right there...

"I know what she wants and needs."

[Tiffany]

that's a good sig right there...

"I know what she wants and needs."
Stop being gay. I am trying to help you with a PC purchase...I can stop.

[thenimirra]

sorry...just trying to keep the mood light.

[thenimirra]

I guess I could always borrow a laptop from work...


but there are so many times I get up at 2 or 3 am in the morning to write articles that I thought it would be good to have a laptop to write in my room, instead of waking others up making it down to the computer room in the house.

[Jake_Blues]

I guess I could always borrow a laptop from work...


but there are so many times I get up at 2 or 3 am in the morning to write articles that I thought it would be good to have a laptop to write in my room, instead of waking others up making it down to the computer room in the house.

Get a pad of paper and a pen :D

I have to agree with everyone else, the disadvantages of a laptop as a gaming machine are many and varied, and there is no upside. Get a good desktop for gaming and an OK laptop for office work and web browsing. The two together will cost you the same or less than a good gaming laptop alone.

Also, I'd recommend making sure the desktop is Vista capable, since the next generation of games will be built for it. Microsoft has already said their next generation of graphics software that pretty much every PC game is built on will only be in Vista (Direct3D 10.0). Any decent gaming machine will meet the requirements though, so this shouldn't be hard.

-E