Recommend Me a Laptop!

[deadsuperhero]

Hi, guys.

I've been a part of these forums for quite some time now. About 6 or 7 years, I estimate.
While I've always had a desktop computer of some sort, and they've gone through several transformations altogether, the time is coming for me to graduate High School and start out in the entirely different universe known as college.

Now, I've decided a desktop is simply too large to lug around with me all the time. So naturally, I want a laptop.

The problem is that there's a plethora of options, and I'm not sure what I really want or need. So I figured it would be best to ask my fellow AGS-er's what they would recommend.

A couple ground rules:
-No ridiculously small laptops. I can't stand netbooks, as I can't comprehend why anyone would want such a small, underpowered device.
-It has to be able to run Linux. If it's UNIX-compatible, then all the better. However, I love Linux just as much as I love, oh say, Solaris.
-While I never consider myself to be a heavy gamer, something capable of playing Fallout 3 and Counterstrike would be nice.
-I need something that has long-term-support of some type. A 3-year warranty or tech support would be lovely.

Most importantly, though, it can't be over $1,500

If anyone can bring up some advice for a good brand and model to choose from, feel free to share your experience.

Oh yes, and finally: what I'm going to use this laptop for:

-light gaming.
-Paperwork/research/presentations
-Programming
-Music recording/podcasting
-Digital imaging/graphic design
-Film editing.
-general tinkering

[m0ds]

Sign up as a Dell small business. That's the best PC move you'll ever make in your life

[deadsuperhero]

I've heard mixed things about the quality of Dell machines over the years. How do they hold up nowadays? For that matter, what model would you recommend for someone just getting into college?

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

I recommend this.  But only if you want to be the most awesome person on your street.

http://www.datamancer.net/steampunklaptop/steampunklaptop.htm

[Ryan Timothy B]

Oh wow.  Did he ever waste tons of time making that laptop casing.
I bet he doesn't even use it.

[tombom62]

I've heard mixed things about the quality of Dell machines over the years. How do they hold up nowadays? For that matter, what model would you recommend for someone just getting into college?

I hate dell!  But that's an opinion, I don't like them now.  (as of '05, there year when they seemed to go from bad, to worse) for you I think this is a good comp for your needs:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220463



And about this:

http://www.datamancer.net/steampunklaptop/steampunklaptop.htm

OMG!  I might just have to do that to my laptop!

[voh]

Eventually it's all about personal taste. I'd never get an Asus or Acer, as I've seen too many of them show weird problems and suddenly no-longer-working parts. I've got a Compaq (so, basically, a HP) laptop and I'm quite content with it. Someone I know has the previous version of it, and he's also happy. Then there's another person who has the same as HE has, and she can't stop bitching about it.

So I really suggest you do some research yourself and go to a couple of stores. They'll probably allow you to play around with it. The 'feel' of the thing, in the end, is also quite important.

My favourite quality brands at the moment, imho, are Toshiba and HP, both of which I've had laptops from and no problems whatsoever (the Toshiba lasted 4 years in my care, and then I sold the hardy bugger to an old guy who, last time I heard, was very happy with it).

If you want to game, you'll need an Ati or Nvidia chipset, the Intel GMA integrated graphics stuff will do for some games, but Fallout 3 won't easily run on it (I've tried).

But, as I said, do your own resarch, we can suggest some things, but eventually you're going to be using the thing for (hopefully) a long time and it's important that you enjoy working with the laptop you're going to get.

[InCreator]

Best laptop is no laptop.

That's my recommendation.
Those machines were sent directly from seventh layer of hell. Or from heaven, to punish mankind for their sins.
I got few people with fairly new laptops around and all I do is repair them & solve mysterious, unexplained and illogical problems. One day, USB is not working. Another, wifi simply disappears. Third, screen goes black out of nowhere. Then, the battery isn't recharging. Then, <insert some stupid hardware shit that repairs itsself after few days>. Atleast one-two times per week.

So,
Best laptop is NO damn laptop.

[Ryan Timothy B]

That doesn't mean all laptops are shit.

My father calls me over all the time to fix his computer.  He or his girlfriend are always installing spam and other useless pop-ups from random websites.  You know what I'm talking about... the pop-up that pretends it's scanning your computer and tells you that you have a problem.  'Click here to fix it' as it downloads spam and viruses and everything in the kitchen sink.

So I always tell him, !!DON'T CLICK ANYTHING THAT LOOKS CONFUSING!!

So it could always be your friends using their computer like a caveman (or like my father).

I never have problems with my computer.  Damn thing is a tank and it's well over 6 years old.  Of course I have to reinstall windows every year otherwise the computer starts crawling and weird things start happening. 

I believe it's actually windows that is the primary problem to anyone's computer issues.  I think it has a timer that makes you either reinstall windows, or tries to force you to buy the newest windows product by making you think yours is inferior.  It's a damn microsoft conspiracy I tell you.

[voh]

My system hasn't seen a reinstall in 3 years, when I got it. As with everything, 'your mileage may vary', based on usage and whatnot. I don't install a lot of new programs, as I've got most everything I need.

And your story about your dad reminds me of mine. Every time something goes wrong on his PC, the first thing I ask is "what'd you do now, you old fool?" and he'll inadvertently say "nothing! I swear!", and when I find whatever is causing the troubles, something he obviously installed, he says "How'd that get there?".

I guess you could call that our 'thing'

[deadsuperhero]

I've been looking at a few laptops, and these are the three that I think I'll be able to make a final decision from.

-System76's Gazelle Ultra: A nice looking Ubuntu laptop, with a sporty logo on the front. The specs include an Intel X4500HD card, with everything else being upgradeable options.

-Alienware's M17 Laptop looks like a fair deal, especially considering that it has some nice gaming hardware, and well, I'm a sucker for nice-looking cases.

-A Macbook/Macbook pro. Although Mac OSX isn't necessarily my favorite OS, I hear that the hardware is good at least...depends, I need an actual Mac user's opinion on that one.

[Trent R]

Check Slickdeals or BensBargains for some awesome prices or maybe some internet codes (they have Dell ones almost all the time.)

I got my Lenovo through NewEgg through Slickdeals for a good price. It works for me (senior year of highschool and past) and I've never had any major problems. So far Portal and Oblivion are the most advanced games I've played on it, and they both run pretty good.


~Trent
PS-I hate Macs for everything except video editing. And if you want a gaming laptop, or just want to be able to occasionally play games, Macs IMO won't be the way to go. (except AGS games)

[voh]

I had a macbook and I'm glad I sold it. Maybe I was unlucky, but the case ended up having cracks in them (something that's fairly common on that model) and generally I was unimpressed with OS X.

But I don't know what the new models are like. I do know, however, that if you want 3D gaming, you shouldn't go for an Intel video chip. While they'll play certain games (my Intel chip laptop plays Red Alert 3 and Fallout 3, but with all settings to low and it's still not 'good') getting a laptop with an nvidia or ati chipset will make it play 3D games a lot better