New Laptop

Since my Alienware laptop keeps making me spend money on it, I'm looking at replacing it. I'm seriously thinking about when my friend gets back from Iraq in June, going to a field somewhere and using my laptop for target practice.

I want to get a desktop eventually, but for now, I'm not ready to give up the portability of a laptop. I'm doing research, and I looked at a laptop for HP, Toshiba, Sony, and Gateway. Sony & Gateway are most likely out. I like the HP because it's slightly better and cheaper than the Toshiba, as well, as customizable, but out of all of the laptops, it has just a single video card, and the worst one of the bunch. Not a bad one, but the worst out of the ones I'm looking at. So I'm not sure how long it would last.

As far as brands go, what do you guys recommend? I'm not buying another Alienware or a Dell.

These are the two laptops I'm mainly looking at:
HP Pavilian dv9700t
Satellite X205

The HP, for about $2000, is just as good (if not slightly better) than my $3300 Alienware. <_<

*EDIT* The video card in both laptops is nagging me, after doing some research. I'm thinking about, rather than just buying a laptop outright, getting this one financed, and paying it off in 3-4 months. Get a better computer, and save some money right now.

All I can tell you, is if you get an HP and ever have problems, I can do my best to ensure it gets the right care/repairs done to it.

It's the best I can offer.

My HP won't take a charge unless you put an extreme angle on the cord and apply lots of pressure. I've changed cords and no change. I've opened it up to see if anything was loose and nope. So now I don't move my portable computer because I'm afraid I won't ever get it to recharge

Ace,

I would go with the Toshiba. I have had too many HP's die on me just after the warranty expired (motherboard failure).

Herc...Have you looked into a docking station? It is another way to charge your laptop (it doesn't use the power plug location. Granted a docking station might be $150.00 but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than a new laptop.

Never thought of it cause I assumed the power would be through the same port. I'll have to check into that.

Hey Ace, you checked out any Macs?

To be honest, no. I'm familiar with Windows, and I'd kinda rather stick with that. Despite all of Microsoft's problems. <_<

The problem with the Toshiba is according to notebookcheck.com, which is just the first site I found, I'm still looking up reviews, the Toshiba has 60%-80% review rates, while the HDX is firmly 85%-90%. And it has a 4.8 out of 5 for user reveiws on HP's site, out of 20 reviews, and the Toshiba has one review, which is 4.0. Even the step down, the other HP I was looking at, has a 4.7 out of 58 reviews.

Again, though, I'm still looking for sites with reviews, I'm not going to base it off one site. That's why I asked you guys.

Other then my power problem my HP has worked like a champ. It's been around the world a couple times dropped more then once on the airplane etc etc. This fall it'll be three years old.

NA on Toshiba.
I plan on going with a Mac, but I think you are in the right direction with HP. My gf has a dell, and besides replacing the battery, it has been great. http://www.clubgp.com/newforum/tm.asp?m=4327155

"great laptop reviews at NotebookCheck.net and NotebookReview.com. The reviews at NotebookCheck.net are awkwardly translated from German, but incredibly comprehensive. The notebook computer reviews are augmented by multiple photographs and charts showing detailed benchmark results with comparisons to similar models, a lengthy list of similar notebook computers and ratings in a dozen subcategories, as well as lists of pros and cons. NotebookReview.com is just as good, lacking only a formal method of comparing laptops"

You can run XP or Vista on a Mac. They changed to Intel so it runs native now. Runs Microsoft OS's just like an HP or Dell would...

Go with Voodoo, of course you better be lookin to spend a pretty penny but you get what you pay for with those laptops.

Dell FTW

i have toshiba a215 i love it!

Hmm...that I didn't know. I'll check into a Mac, then. Do you know if I can get it with Vista, or if I'll have to purchase it separately?

And soulonfire11, buying a Dell would be the same as buying another Alienware - and I've spent almost as much on upkeep for my Alienware as I spent on buying the laptop.

My friend in Iraq has an HP, and he finally replied to my message on MySpace, and he said he hasn't had any problems with his HP, even over there.

Ace, be warned, the Windows install is rigged. Mac will not sell you a Windows-based machine, you have to do all that yourself. It's like buying any Windows-based desktop and putting Linux on it. It's not supported by the manufacturer, but it works.

If you're going to run Windows, get a Windows machine. If you like Mac for all of its flaws and money raping schemes, let alone high price for low performance, then get it.

How is the install rigged? How is it low performance? What are Macs flaws? Macs dont have anti-virus cause they don't need it, their aren't any, instead the ppl with the knowledge to write a virus write a cool widget or tool thats helps you rather than causes damage. Programs don't crash, u dont get ghost keys in ur registry, u dont get fatal errors, you dont hvae 5 minute startup and shut down times. But my favourite things are the little things like magnetic power cords that just simply disconnect if you trip over them rather than sending your laptop crashing to the ground.

Macs are the same price as comparable Windows laptops. Hes looking at getting a 2000$ HP or Dell, macbooks aren't even 1500 and they will out perform that HP or Dell laptop.

But to each his own, everyone will have preferences, just like i'll never go back to an HP or Dell, and Rook will never go to a mac, but we both get what we need done and are happy in the end (hopefully).

So it's all up to you, what do you like? what are you going to be happy with is the question, not what we think you'd be happy with.

Very limited software for Macs. Oh and Macs are suseptable to virus's. The thing is Macs aren't as popular as PCs so Virus programmers don't target the Mac. About two years ago some one wrote a virus for a Mac to prove just how vulnerable they really are. And the virus was able to do it's thing. Just saying don't get lulled into a false sense of security.

I never said they couldn't get viruses, im just saying that their aren't really any out there.
Yea I remember hearing about that virus, went through MP3s mostly IIRC in 2004. I think thats the one and only that has been written.

I don't really agree that software is limited for Mac, big brands like photoshop and office are available for Mac. Smaller programs possibly, BUT I assure you that their is a Mac-equivalent to that program.

Having said that, a mac isn't for everyone. Everyone is different and looks for different things in computers. Rather than reading specs, go play with the computers.

You can't run Crysis on a Mac.

Discussion over.

mac FTW! end of discussion...

i will never get another computer unless it's a mac...

you can get a macbook pro that's refurbished for about 1500-2000 depending on how big you want it...

my dad just bought one and he loves it, my uncle owns one and he loves it and i own an emac and i love it...

the big thing is startup time, you can just let the monitor fall asleep on macs and all you have to do is move the mouse and it's back to running at 100%, others... nope...

go with a mac... you won't regret it...

GO HERE

x2. I have to agree.

OK, after much debate & research, I've decided to go with a Sager NP9262. Sager seems to have phenomenal reviews, (for example) , and it's cheap with amazing performance.

My question is, should I get a 3.0Ghz dual core, or a 2.66Ghz quad core? I'm mostly going to be surfing the internet, and gaming. Which would give me the better & longer lasting performance gains?

It's a fairly plain looking laptop, nowhere near as good looking as my Alienware, but that's fine - saves on cost.

personally i've seen the quad core in action and its a beast. it pretty much keeps up with 2 8800 ultras with only a little bottlenecking. seems like a good deal go for it.

The laptop should be here tomorrow...I'm just hoping someone is here to sign for it. I'm going to be gone the whole day.

Quad core is the best for long lasting performance...dual core is good for gaming, but if you like multi-tasking you can't beat quad. Idk about laptops but the overclocking potential of the desktop ones are amazing, you can hit around 3.4-3.6ghz on Air cooling which is pretty amazing for having 4 cores.

I went with the 3.0dual for the laptop, partly because I plan on a desktop later this year, and can get quad for that.

Question: One of my friends tells me that if it says dual 3.0, that means it's got two processors that add up to 3.0, meaning 2x1.5Ghz. Please tell me he is just an idiot...

He's an idiot. You've got one processor, but it has two cores on the die. Both are 3ghz, but only certain programs can utilize both.

ok i love my gateways got a desktop and laptop. but i do like the toshibas.....

So then really you have a 6.0 Ghz CPU!

Well if thats true then I got 13.6ghz heh, Double da powah! 3.4 x 4 = 13.6

Even though I know that isn't true cause no program is going to utilize all that powah, but when one does, dang...heh.

Thanks Rook, that's what I thought.

This guy thinks he knows everything about cars and computers...and is frequently wrong about both.

I'm on the laptop, btw. Man, it's been a couple months since I've had a resolution this high. Everything is tiny! LOL