Hey, looking to get a new laptop for school next year. Running Windows 7. NO MACS! Within a $1000 price range. What I really look for: Battery life and processing speed.
inb4macbook
inb4macbook
A AlienWare. Nuff said.
What exactly do you want it to do? If you give us specific details, we can give you a good laptop that best fits that requirement.
Gaming?
School Work?
Internet Browsing?
Programming?
Ect.
What exactly do you want it to do? If you give us specific details, we can give you a good laptop that best fits that requirement.
Gaming?
School Work?
Internet Browsing?
Programming?
Ect.
RoxasIsSora said:
Not an Alienware, too expensive.
Get an ASUS. Reliable, and affordable. You'll probably get about the same performance too but again, depends on the specs.
@RoxasisSora, gaming would be nice to do again. Avid WC3:TFT player, and wouldn't mind jumping back into Guild Wars. Programming stops at Visual Basic so I am set.
So end result:
Battery life
Processing
Gaming
NOT GOING TO ROAST MY LAP!
So end result:
Battery life
Processing
Gaming
NOT GOING TO ROAST MY LAP!
Kyoton said:
Dont expect to get a good battery life if you want a gaming laptop. I sorta have a gaming laptop and it barely lasts 2 hours even when on Battery Saver mode. I have a 12 cell battery too
AlienWare M11x Laptop $799
^Specs, and Options
If a Alienware is too expensive then go with a ASUS, like Feels Good Man said.
Processor Options
M11x Core i5
* Intel® CoreTM i5 520UM (3M Cache, 1.066 GHZ with 1.866 GHz Max Turbo Frequency)
* Intel® CoreTM i7 640UM (4M Cache, 1.2 GHZ with 2.266 GHz Max Turbo Frequency)
M11x Core 2 Duo
* Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo SU7300 (1.3GHz, 800 MHz, 3 MB)
* Intel® Pentium® Processor SU4100 (2M Cache, 1.30 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Chipset
* Mobile Intel® QS57 Express Chipset (M11x Core i5)
* Mobile Intel® GS45 Chipset (M11x Core 2 Duo)
Operating System Options
* Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
* Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-Bit
* Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
Memory Options
* 2GB, 3GB, 4GB, 8GB DDR310 - 800MHz
Display Options
* 11.6-inch WideHD 1366x768 (720p) LCD
TV Tuner Options
* USB Digital TV Tuner, TV Tuner with Remote
Software Personalization
* Avatar
* Wallpapers
* Time Zones
* Gadgets
* RSS Feeds
* Auto Updates
Customization Features
* Laser-Engraved Nameplate
Bluetooth
* Internal Wireless Bluetooth 2.1
Color Options
* Soft Touch - Stealth Black (M11x Core i5)
* Cosmic Black(M11x Core 2 Duo)
* Lunar Shadow
Video Card Options
* 1GB GDDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 335M
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (5-series) (M11x Core i5 only)
* Dynamically switchable with NVIDIA Optimus Technology (M11x Core i5 only)
Battery
* 8 Cell Prismatic (64 whr) - Primary
Dimensions & Weight
* Height: 32.7mm (1.29 inches)
* Width: 285.7mm (11.25 inches)
* Depth: 233.3mm (9.19 inches)
* Preliminary Weight: Start at 2.0kg (4.4 lbs)1 within an 8-cell battery
Ports
* IEEE 1394a (4-pin) port
* Integrated Ethernet RJ-45 (100 Mbps)
* 3 Hi-speed USB 2.0 ports
* DP / HDMITM - Video Output
* 3-in-1 Media Card Reader
* 2 Audio Out Connectors
* Audio In / Microphone Jack (retaskable for 5.1 audio)
* Two Built-In Front Speakers
Optical Drive Options
* External USB Slot-Loading DVD Burner (DVD±RW)
Keyboard
* AlienFX® Illuminated Keyboard – Exclusive Design
Audio
* Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
Network Adapter Options
* a/b/g/n 2x2 MIMO
* Internal WWAN Mobile Broadband
M11x Core i5
* Intel® CoreTM i5 520UM (3M Cache, 1.066 GHZ with 1.866 GHz Max Turbo Frequency)
* Intel® CoreTM i7 640UM (4M Cache, 1.2 GHZ with 2.266 GHz Max Turbo Frequency)
M11x Core 2 Duo
* Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo SU7300 (1.3GHz, 800 MHz, 3 MB)
* Intel® Pentium® Processor SU4100 (2M Cache, 1.30 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
Chipset
* Mobile Intel® QS57 Express Chipset (M11x Core i5)
* Mobile Intel® GS45 Chipset (M11x Core 2 Duo)
Operating System Options
* Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
* Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-Bit
* Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
Memory Options
* 2GB, 3GB, 4GB, 8GB DDR310 - 800MHz
Display Options
* 11.6-inch WideHD 1366x768 (720p) LCD
TV Tuner Options
* USB Digital TV Tuner, TV Tuner with Remote
Software Personalization
* Avatar
* Wallpapers
* Time Zones
* Gadgets
* RSS Feeds
* Auto Updates
Customization Features
* Laser-Engraved Nameplate
Bluetooth
* Internal Wireless Bluetooth 2.1
Color Options
* Soft Touch - Stealth Black (M11x Core i5)
* Cosmic Black(M11x Core 2 Duo)
* Lunar Shadow
Video Card Options
* 1GB GDDR3 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 335M
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (5-series) (M11x Core i5 only)
* Dynamically switchable with NVIDIA Optimus Technology (M11x Core i5 only)
Battery
* 8 Cell Prismatic (64 whr) - Primary
Dimensions & Weight
* Height: 32.7mm (1.29 inches)
* Width: 285.7mm (11.25 inches)
* Depth: 233.3mm (9.19 inches)
* Preliminary Weight: Start at 2.0kg (4.4 lbs)1 within an 8-cell battery
Ports
* IEEE 1394a (4-pin) port
* Integrated Ethernet RJ-45 (100 Mbps)
* 3 Hi-speed USB 2.0 ports
* DP / HDMITM - Video Output
* 3-in-1 Media Card Reader
* 2 Audio Out Connectors
* Audio In / Microphone Jack (retaskable for 5.1 audio)
* Two Built-In Front Speakers
Optical Drive Options
* External USB Slot-Loading DVD Burner (DVD±RW)
Keyboard
* AlienFX® Illuminated Keyboard – Exclusive Design
Audio
* Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
Network Adapter Options
* a/b/g/n 2x2 MIMO
* Internal WWAN Mobile Broadband
If a Alienware is too expensive then go with a ASUS, like Feels Good Man said.
11.6 inch display is reaaaally small for any kind of frequent-use machine. I have a 14" display in my ASUS and it feels very small. I couldn't stand to PVP on it, so I don't know if you are gonna like GW on a system that small.
My bf has a newer model asus gaming laptop, with a 15.x inch display and it's lighter than my older 14-incher too. I think it was $900 when he got it, so if you go ASUS you have more power and features available to you per dollar.
As far as reliability goes, I got mine in fall of 2007, I did pay closer to 1200 dollars for it, but they could get away with charging a huge premium for a dedicated graphics card back then. My machine still runs WoW well, granted it's a lower (1200x800) resolution. This laptop has been on pretty much 24/7 since I got it, and aside from a small crack next to the keyboard and fading of the plastic on the palmrest, the only noticeable problem is that the internal webcam has been really slow compared to when I first got the laptop. To my surprise, the battery still holds about 1:20 without even disabling the dedicated video card but this model is old enough that you can't do it on the fly, you have to switch it off in the BIOS every time so I have only done it once while travelling for extra battery power.
My bf has a newer model asus gaming laptop, with a 15.x inch display and it's lighter than my older 14-incher too. I think it was $900 when he got it, so if you go ASUS you have more power and features available to you per dollar.
As far as reliability goes, I got mine in fall of 2007, I did pay closer to 1200 dollars for it, but they could get away with charging a huge premium for a dedicated graphics card back then. My machine still runs WoW well, granted it's a lower (1200x800) resolution. This laptop has been on pretty much 24/7 since I got it, and aside from a small crack next to the keyboard and fading of the plastic on the palmrest, the only noticeable problem is that the internal webcam has been really slow compared to when I first got the laptop. To my surprise, the battery still holds about 1:20 without even disabling the dedicated video card but this model is old enough that you can't do it on the fly, you have to switch it off in the BIOS every time so I have only done it once while travelling for extra battery power.
Laptop value does not end at the manufacturer. Basing your decision/recommendations on that is both ignorant and lazy. Price:components and build quality vary on a model by model basis. Unfortunately most people don't realize this.
Long story short: Why not do some fucking research on your own first, before coming in here knowing nothing and expecting us to do all the work for you.
Long story short: Why not do some fucking research on your own first, before coming in here knowing nothing and expecting us to do all the work for you.
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I agree with Urza (not the first post, but the last one). Anyway, since I've answered this a tonne of times already, I don't see the harm in doing it once more.
Laptops have a scale these days. On one end, you get the ubar1337 gaming laptops (read, alienware), and on the other size you have the flimsy netbooks that last 12 hours (reportedly). Gaming laptops are lucky if they last an entire hour (unless you get one with IGP and discreet graphics that can switch between them). If you want to play games, you will not get a good battery life. Unless you intend to spend a fortune on chemical batteries (they last a day or 3, but cannot recharge).
So let's say on one end, you get the Alienware M15x. It'll handle any games you like but have crap all battery (40m I believe). On the other end you get an Asus CULV that lasts 8+ hours, but it only comes with a single or dual core 1.3Ghz CPU and some kind of crappy IGP. You won't be playing games on it.
In the middle, there's the Alienware M11x that just featured in the CustomPC magazine I got a couple days ago. It uses an overclocked CULV CPU at 1.6-1.7Ghz (with options to get more powerful CPUs, at the cost of some battery life). It's a good balance between power and performance and can play games at a decent quality (even if the screen itself kinda sucks, with very limited viewing angles), but has a small size. 11.6" is actually good for taking to school since it's small and portable, but personally I would never use it to play games unless every other PC/laptop in my house is already occupied. Anything below 15" to me is too small for gaming.
Another alternative is to take the same path as my dad - the Acer Aspire 5740. It's a 15" laptop with a Core i5 and i5's own integrated GMA HD4500. The IGP sucks as all IGP suck, but it's good enough to play Borderlands and Left 4 Dead, so it'll be fine with Guild Wars. It also has a 4.5h battery life, which is pretty decent considering that it has a 2.26Ghz 2+2core CPU. It only cost him £550 too. There are other laptops too with the same idea - if you just stick with a powerful Core i5 and its IGP, then you don't have to spend energy on a discreet GPU so the battery lasts twice as long. This makes it an ideal balance between power and battery life, which sounds like exactly what you want.
Or you can wait a year for the Sandy Bridge CPU to come out, but it sounds like you don't want to wait.
Laptops have a scale these days. On one end, you get the ubar1337 gaming laptops (read, alienware), and on the other size you have the flimsy netbooks that last 12 hours (reportedly). Gaming laptops are lucky if they last an entire hour (unless you get one with IGP and discreet graphics that can switch between them). If you want to play games, you will not get a good battery life. Unless you intend to spend a fortune on chemical batteries (they last a day or 3, but cannot recharge).
So let's say on one end, you get the Alienware M15x. It'll handle any games you like but have crap all battery (40m I believe). On the other end you get an Asus CULV that lasts 8+ hours, but it only comes with a single or dual core 1.3Ghz CPU and some kind of crappy IGP. You won't be playing games on it.
In the middle, there's the Alienware M11x that just featured in the CustomPC magazine I got a couple days ago. It uses an overclocked CULV CPU at 1.6-1.7Ghz (with options to get more powerful CPUs, at the cost of some battery life). It's a good balance between power and performance and can play games at a decent quality (even if the screen itself kinda sucks, with very limited viewing angles), but has a small size. 11.6" is actually good for taking to school since it's small and portable, but personally I would never use it to play games unless every other PC/laptop in my house is already occupied. Anything below 15" to me is too small for gaming.
Another alternative is to take the same path as my dad - the Acer Aspire 5740. It's a 15" laptop with a Core i5 and i5's own integrated GMA HD4500. The IGP sucks as all IGP suck, but it's good enough to play Borderlands and Left 4 Dead, so it'll be fine with Guild Wars. It also has a 4.5h battery life, which is pretty decent considering that it has a 2.26Ghz 2+2core CPU. It only cost him £550 too. There are other laptops too with the same idea - if you just stick with a powerful Core i5 and its IGP, then you don't have to spend energy on a discreet GPU so the battery lasts twice as long. This makes it an ideal balance between power and battery life, which sounds like exactly what you want.
Or you can wait a year for the Sandy Bridge CPU to come out, but it sounds like you don't want to wait.
D
Deleted User
Guest
Depending on the power settings, and the usage my M15x lasts around 2-2.5 hours, assuming that I use it on the lowest brightening settings, power saver and so forth [power-saver] doesn't actually put it on the lowest brightening settings.
The M11x is probably the thread-winner here, I don't like suggesting alienware, because as Originality said, gaming on anything less than a 15'' laptop doesn't feel right to me. But as far as switchable graphcis go, the new M11x uses the Nvidia Optimus technology which means that it detects, based on usage whether to use integrated or dedicated graphics [This, though, only applies to the i5-i7 models].
In some ways the smaller resolution might actually benefit the GPU because it doesn't have to attempt to render a screen resolution that will stress it. Better a 335M to render 1377x768 than a 260M. So, it really depends on what games you'd want to play. If you're fine with PvE Guild Wars, then this should be fine, but I wouldn't bother with PvP. You shouldn't have any problems with WC III either.
Another thought is in the reliability of the wireless networks when choosing a laptop, depending on the reliability of the actual network when you're traveling around campus, I'd rather much have a 5-6lb 11 inch laptop, then a 10lb 15'' laptop...aka [Wireless Brick]. Most of the games that the M11x shines at are good single player games as well, whereas a bigger laptop seems to be more oriented towards multi-player games and graphic solutions that benefit from a higher resolution.
Just some thoughts ; )
-/2aven
The M11x is probably the thread-winner here, I don't like suggesting alienware, because as Originality said, gaming on anything less than a 15'' laptop doesn't feel right to me. But as far as switchable graphcis go, the new M11x uses the Nvidia Optimus technology which means that it detects, based on usage whether to use integrated or dedicated graphics [This, though, only applies to the i5-i7 models].
In some ways the smaller resolution might actually benefit the GPU because it doesn't have to attempt to render a screen resolution that will stress it. Better a 335M to render 1377x768 than a 260M. So, it really depends on what games you'd want to play. If you're fine with PvE Guild Wars, then this should be fine, but I wouldn't bother with PvP. You shouldn't have any problems with WC III either.
Another thought is in the reliability of the wireless networks when choosing a laptop, depending on the reliability of the actual network when you're traveling around campus, I'd rather much have a 5-6lb 11 inch laptop, then a 10lb 15'' laptop...aka [Wireless Brick]. Most of the games that the M11x shines at are good single player games as well, whereas a bigger laptop seems to be more oriented towards multi-player games and graphic solutions that benefit from a higher resolution.
Just some thoughts ; )
-/2aven
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