Laptops, Vista, and Programming/Gaming

[Rangent]

Brief history... my brand new laptop got stolen about 6 weeks ago. I'm getting a new one.

I ordered a Dell and it was supposed to be in my hands about 20-23 days later (ordered on the 1st, in hands by the 23rd). It then got pushed back to the 27th, then 30th, then i get a call on August 30th and they say its new expected delivery date was the 27th of September. I called Dell and told them to cram it, and they lost me as a customer (my last 5 computers have been dells, and am a computer consultant and recomended Dell which I will no longer ever do).

I was thinking Toshiba/HP, and found this laptop when searching:
Toshiba Satellite X205-S9349 and also this one HP Pavilion dv9500t . Both laptops are roughly equivelent with the Toshiba taking the edge since it has the Nvidia 8700M vidcard vs 8600M on the HP.

Here are the two deciding factors:
1) Anyone have any good or bad things to say about the laptop mfrs (HP vs Toshiba)
2) The HP one offers Windows Vista Ultimate (64bit) - very important to my job (You can only set up IIS in Ultimate). Has anyone got the opportunity to use both Home Professional and Ultimate... and noticed any significant differences?

Any help would be appriciated!

 

[Rangent]

Ooh ya. Beyond normal computer use, I will game a bit, and do Perl programming.

 

[ZeWarrior]

Build your own for best performance and customization. You can get a Good PC with Vista Ultimate for about 1300$.

my bad didnt see you wanted a laptop. get an alienware laptop, there basically cheaper Dell XPSs.

 

[kellyan95]

I doubt he can build his own laptop

Here are the gaming cards out: Nvidia 7900, 8600GTS (GT=crap), 8800; ATI X1900/X1950, 2600XT, 2900

 

[delta123]

I doubt he can build his own laptop

you can semi build your own laptop. but you dont get much choice on how to customize it. cpu, ram and a choice of wireless adaptor thats all you can really do.

 

[kellyan95]

Hot damn those are expensive!

 

[ZeWarrior]

Kellyan the 8600 wasn't made for gaming, its made more for a media pc, but for gaming their not too bad.

 

[kellyan95]

I hate to reccomend alienware, but
http://www.alienware.com/configurator_page...ode=SKU-DEFAULT

WUXGA (1920x1200) screen, and this thing will play 1080P video. The resolution on the other two are crap. Also comes with a good video card and your choice of Premium or Ultimate


The 8600GTS isn't a bad card, but everything under it is

 

[ZeWarrior]

Alienware is good..don't see why you wouldn't recommend it..

 

[Rangent]

Alienware is good..don't see why you wouldn't recommend it..

To the best of my knowledge, Dell purchased alienware.

And I'm aiming to pay

 

[Linkiboy]

I got the same HP laptop you linked with ultimate, and a HP desktop w/ premium, and I wanna say that Ultimate is worth it, for the XP compatibility mode, a lot more legacy things run.

@ ZeWarrior: http://www.google.com/search?q=alienware+h...lient=firefox-a

 

[Rangent]

I got the same HP laptop you linked with ultimate, and a HP desktop w/ premium, and I wanna say that Ultimate is worth it, for the XP compatibility mode, a lot more legacy things run.

@ ZeWarrior: http://www.google.com/search?q=alienware+h...lient=firefox-a

You use it for gaming at all? I'm not a hardcore gamer but it would be nice.

 

[kellyan95]

Well, then get the Alienware. Their desktop systems tend to be overpriced, but the laptops are nice. Best screens (from Dell) of any laptop (like Dell laptops)

1920x1200 on the Alienware
1440x900 on the other one

Plus the option for SLI, but the 7900 is a good gaming card by itself

 

[Rangent]

I sorta wanna avoid Alienware like the plague. The HP has a nicer setup over all but weak video card, Toshiba has nicer video card and pretty decent setup.