Computer shopping

[whyachi]

I've been hunting a new laptop to ease the volatile situation at home (sharing one between us) and I'm a bit out of the loop. I've been using Apple computers for the past, oh, six years? but I am fully comfortable with Windows, as I work on it 10 hours a day. The only thing keeping me from going Apple again - thus far - was the price, and I found a sexy Dell Studio that has a touch screen on it, though it costs as much as a MacBook.

My main requirement is that it must have its own video card, and I'd prefer a 15" screen. MacBooks are out as they have integrated graphics, but the Pro's come with nVidia cards.. but they're expensive.

So I guess my three requirements would be
1, Under $1000 if possible
2, Video card
3, 15" screen is a plus

I don't really do computer gaming, but I will be recording with it and doing 3D modeling so more is better on memory.


What do you guys (and hannaugh) use?

 

[-CB-]

Build my own, that way upgrades are easy and less painful on the wallet.

I'll spend a little more at first, but save in the long run.

My computers never turn off unless the power goes out, and the only board I'd get is INTEL made, they're the only ones up to the 24/7 use on a consistent basis.

Hitachi hard drives are a cut above - if you dont believe me, take one apart, then take apart a Seagate and a Maxtor and Western Digital.

The intel boards are inclusive of all - audio, lan, vid, firewire, everything.... the video is not bad... not stellar for the very best gaming, but not bad.  You can go nutz with gaming video, and I'm not a gamer.. so the built in stuff works ok.  Most of the stuff I've got in games is seamlessly smooth in the Intel vid...but they're two years old .  You can always get a vid card and add it right?

I got for reliability - my INTEL Linux server here has literally never been turned off except for a few kernel upgrades - reboots.  Rock solid stuff.  I found out the hard way, until we had some INTEL boards at work... they just didn't quit, so I started using them here at home (4 computers on, never off)

Just some thoughts laddie

 

[baskruit]

Build my own, that way upgrades are easy and less painful on the wallet.

One thing you missed...

I've been hunting a new laptop

 

[ironeddie]

:dontknow:  I love my mac...

 

[AndyG]

Dell and HP both make rock solid laptops.

Macs are interesting creatures ... I go back and forth between a PC-based system and a Mac-based system here at work, and don't really have a preference.  However, I find that Macs are like the rich kid who refuses to share his toys .... they're loaded with cool features, and are basically idiot-proof, but there are still applications and websites out there that do not work/show up properly on Macs.  And I HATE itunes .... worst music player application ever concieved!

 

[jackthehack]

If you're shopping for a Dell; go to https://dell.com/outlet and check out their refurbs/returns/scratch and dent items

They have the same warranty as new and you can get a 15.4 or 17" screen Inspiron for well under a grand, nicely equipped.

 

[Volitions Advocate]

This is all I need to get my mac jollies on my Windows machine:

http://rocketdock.com/
http://insentient.net/

 

[CouchSpud]

I bought a Dell Studio 15 a couple weeks ago from the Dell website and this thing runs smoove. I got it for $799.
The only part that sucks is the fact that I bought it a week before the prices on it dropped and they started offering the Intel i3 i5 and i7 processors in them. You should be able to get one with 500 gb and an upgraded video card for under $1000. Go to the website and custom build your order.

 

[tfarny]

Well I've owned HP among others and now have a Dell; I would not call either of them "rock solid" by a very long stretch. They can be very good value though. You should have zero problems finding a sub-1000 pc but good luck getting a mac with those specs for anything close. I've always liked my laptops to be actually portable though; my current one has a 13.3 screen, full sized keyboard & internal dvd, yet weighs 4 lb. which I find to be the sweet spot between easy to carry and big enough to use for hours. Once you buy your laptop, go on newegg or somewheres and get your memory up to 4 gigs; it's cheap and will make a nice speed difference.
Check:
http://bensbargains.net/category/83/

 

[AndyG]

Well I've owned HP among others and now have a Dell; I would not call either of them "rock solid" by a very long stretch.

Interesting ... here at work we have several HP laptops that we take out on the road for shoots ... and they've worked perfectly after being bounced around in the back of a truck in everything from -40C to 30C.  That makes them solid in my books!

 

[texicus]

Well I've owned HP among others and now have a Dell; I would not call either of them "rock solid" by a very long stretch.

Seconded...although the majority of the ones I've seen are the lower end models, and anybody's lower end models aren't pillars of reliability.

I'd highly recommend checking out Asus' line of laptops - they do cost a bit more, but the warranty is great from my experience...2 yr warranty, with the first year of that being an accidental damage warranty...so if you drive over it with your truck, you're still covered.  I'll try to look into specific models later if you'd like...I know the G series has dedicated video but they run around $1500 since it's their gaming series.

But, this advice is only as valid as anybody elses.  

 

[SlingBass]

Have you thought about going over to Micro Center on like 91st & Metcalf (West side of Metcalf)?  They should be able to build you what you wish.  It appears that you know your stuff and are set on your budget and performance needs...IME & IMO they're a good place to start.  There used to be a place on like 81st & Sante Fe in old Overland Park that was good years ago - I don't know IF they're still there   :dontknow:

 

[whyachi]

Have you thought about going over to Micro Center on like 91st & Metcalf (West side of Metcalf)?  They should be able to build you what you wish.  It appears that you know your stuff and are set on your budget and performance needs...IME & IMO they're a good place to start.  There used to be a place on like 81st & Sante Fe in old Overland Park that was good years ago - I don't know IF they're still there   :dontknow:

Yeah, its still there. I spend a lot of time at 89th and Metcalf, some of my best Guitar Hero buddies live there. Can they build a laptop though?

 

[Dan025]

i dont know about micro center, the closest one is in new jersey. but i buy my stuff through new egg and tiger direct and i know there are some almost complete laptop options where you need to buy memory and cpu, or even complete systems minus windows, and that is the real kicker, you can build a killer system for even the price of a cheap dell but then $200+ for windows 7 professional or whatever it is now, really throws a monkey wrench in the whole thing. unless you can get a copy cheap dell or toshiba or whatever might be the pain free way to go. but in the end a system with win7 pro x64 and high performance hardware will be much more satisfying. well for me it would be.

 

[SlingBass]

Have you thought about going over to Micro Center on like 91st & Metcalf (West side of Metcalf)?  They should be able to build you what you wish.  It appears that you know your stuff and are set on your budget and performance needs...IME & IMO they're a good place to start.  There used to be a place on like 81st & Sante Fe in old Overland Park that was good years ago - I don't know IF they're still there   :dontknow:

Yeah, its still there. I spend a lot of time at 89th and Metcalf, some of my best Guitar Hero buddies live there. Can they build a laptop though?

Yeah, I meant 91st & Metclf - but I'm sure you're correct at 89th.  They used to do some bang-up laptops according to some ol' friends.  They did a nice upgrade on one of my desktops.  That was a few years ago, and not the one I now have.  Worth a go-see...

 

[whyachi]

Have you thought about going over to Micro Center on like 91st & Metcalf (West side of Metcalf)?  They should be able to build you what you wish.  It appears that you know your stuff and are set on your budget and performance needs...IME & IMO they're a good place to start.  There used to be a place on like 81st & Sante Fe in old Overland Park that was good years ago - I don't know IF they're still there   :dontknow:

Yeah, its still there. I spend a lot of time at 89th and Metcalf, some of my best Guitar Hero buddies live there. Can they build a laptop though?

Yeah, I meant 91st & Metclf - but I'm sure you're correct at 89th.  They used to do some bang-up laptops according to some ol' friends.  They did a nice upgrade on one of my desktops.  That was a few years ago, and not the one I now have.  Worth a go-see...

The store is where you said, I just meant I lived at 89th for a while. I'll go by soon to check it out.

 

[whyachi]

Problem is solved. My old roommate is selling me my old MacBook - one I traded him for three months rent when I was down and out - for $500. Its sweet, I was working in a screen printing shop and I skinned it with vehicle-grade vinyl and decals and warning labels. Just waiting for the tax refund check..

 

[SlingBass]

Glad to see you're going to your old Mac.  A Mac will be my next 'pooter purchase.  My desktop just went on the fritz, I home office - and I'm typing this from an ancient laptop.  Now...to arrange a service call from a friend.  I am NOT a happy camper.

 

[whyachi]

Glad to see you're going to your old Mac.  A Mac will be my next 'pooter purchase.  My desktop just went on the fritz, I home office - and I'm typing this from an ancient laptop.  Now...to arrange a service call from a friend.  I am NOT a happy camper.

Its already covered in Fender stickers, too.  :guitaristgif: