Can't decide on a laptop, ARGH!
 

Hey all,

I'm looking for a new (well, first ever) laptop for uni this year. I am an art student so will be using it mainly for graphics software, image editing, and the normal music listening etc. Power to run games well would also be a plus. So I guess it's mainly a multimedia laptop. I don't want to be spending any more that 400/450 pounds to be honest.

I have my eyes mainly on http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/126329/rb/0 and http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/126338

The second seems to have slightly better specs for a slightly more expensive price, but it's not dual core, which is disappointing. Maybe another laptop on Ebuyer http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/store/5/category/Laptops would suit me more.

Any advice is very much appreciated.

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/126332/rb/0

This one cuts in the middle of these two in terms of price. Core Duo proc has great speed and efficiency. NOTE: Little to no gaming on this laptops. As long as you are ok with that, I'd grab this one.

Throwing out the obligatory Mac suggestion, since you are an art student especially. I don't know much about games on Macs.

If you haven't yet, you should at least consider if one would be good for your needs.

You see that's what confuses me. I've been told by some that games will run fine on these laptops, and by you and others there will be little opportunity for gaming. Obviously that won't be my primary need, it'll mainly be for graphic stuff (multimedia in general I guess), but it'll be useful none the less.

Get a MacBook. Windows applications will run fine. Use bootcamp or parallels to install windows alongside OS X. You could also use CrossOver to run windows applications natively. (I know someone that plays WoW like this, he says it runs better then on his windows vista box.)

Gaming on integrated graphics is not recommended. That being said, Intel GMA 950 chipset can run games like WoW with low settings decently enough to enjoy the game.

I do concur, MacBook is what I would buy, because you get Windows too via BootCamp. Also, the build on the MBooks are great.

I agree 100%, but its going to be hard to find a laptop that doesn't have integrated graphics.

I'll pass on the mac, sorry. I just feel more comfortable with a Windows laptop. I'd be more comfortable if I could actually decide on one though.

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I'm very unlikely to stick with Vista. What do you think of this one - http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/128979/rb/0

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Ooh, very nice. The Vostro 1700 http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...dt1&l=en&s=bsd has excellent specs by the looks of things, for the same price as the others I linked too. Surely there's a cache? I'll need some people's opinions on Dell please. Does this seem like a good deal?

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More spam, screw Dell. 200 something pounds VAT and shipping. Back to being indecisive.

OK, i'm pretty much decided on the HP one http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/128979/rb/0
Are the graphics OK though?

I've heard HP are good, although not the best for multimedia, as in image editing, movies and especially gaming (yes I know, no laptops are for the latter, but i'd probably want to play something like Guild Wars reasonably well). Is this true?

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I think its going to be out of the HP one http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/128979 and the Acer http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/126338

Any last minute advice would be very helpful.

Buy the Acer.

I have never seen an HP laptop that didnt need major servicing over its lifespan. I can think of someone I work with who just got their HP laptop back from servicing (through best buy, not HP). I just don't think they have good quality standards.

The Acer is a 2.2Ghz processor (looked it up) and the GeForce6100 means you could at least try GuildWars with some success. The HP you couldn't really hope to play GW.

Buy the Acer.

I hope I made my opinion clear :D!

I would look at upgrading the memory to 2gb for Vista. While Vista will work with 1GB, it dances a long more smoothly with 2gb, especially if you are looking at using some graphics programs.

Check to see if it comes with a single 1024dimm, or 2x512. If the former, just buy another 1gb Dimm and be on your way, if 2x512, you can either replace them completely or buy a 1GB Dimm and use one of the 512's for 1.5GB total.

And btw, you might beable to play GW at basic resolutions on that notebook, but for those wanting to do high end gaming on notebooks are usually looking at $2200+ usd.

Didn't want to start a new thread so I'll post up here.

I am currently looking into buying a new notebook, and I was looking into buying one http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16834115373

What I am wanting to use it for as a mobile gaming notebook, nothing with hardcore graphics but something like World of Warcraft. If this notebook seems good, I am also going to be upgrading the RAM to 2GB.

I am all ears to when it comes to notebooks. I'm just looking for something good and cheap but not great and expensive.

Oddly enough, had a buddy ask me to check out gaming laptops. You may want to check out that Ibuypower Cachecrash. I put together a gaming notebook on there with a Core 2 Duo, 2gb of Ram, 120gb hdd, 8600GT go, for $1229.

http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/store/c...mid=257#header

Has everything that Acer has and then some, for $100 less.

Are these kind of notebooks from this site reliable, have to ask because my last notebook was an Alienware. I had so many problems with it that in the end I was just happy to be rid of it.

I'll check out the site and thanks for the recommendation Garret

I cannot personally vouch for the Ibuypower notebooks, as i've never owned one. Would be worth it to check out some reviews and forums. Glad I could help.

Dells are beyond fine for digital artwork, video editing/manipulation, image-processing, etc. for art schools.

Anywho, laptops for intense visual loads... I will not recommend a laptop at all. Batteries last little over a year, or tend to. The cost of this machine will be just as much or more than a desktop with more specs + a flash card you can take to school and transfer your work, over carrying your tote board and drawing pads with painting mediums in addition to a (most likely) 10+ lb laptop machine.

I already tried this for 2 years, after doing what you're doing now. Scavenging the Internet for reviews on the best possible notebook out there for your needs.

I'm pretty sure your school has its own set of machines, right? Then why not just bring a flash card along with your school supplies and keep your machine and wacom digital tablet at home?

9 times out of 10 its how well you treat your notebook. If you know you're gonna be runnin all over with it and putting it through hell, then just make sure to buy an extended warrenty (if they offer one). But make sure you dont buy a rip off warrenty.

Being that this notebook will be used for school, work, and anything else I can think of while I am away from my tower, the notebook will most likely get a work out. I will though get a good warranty for it.

BTW: Out of these brands what would any of you suggest, if you had to choose one of them: HP, Toshiba, Fugitsu, and Sony. Now you can only choose one of these four, and nothing else.

Mac.

Actually, the only company worth considering from that list is Toshiba, assuming there's no gonga deal on any of the others.

I'd go with HP, but for some unknown reason, the laptop i got, was filled with spyware (And that was just taken from the box)

But after removing the dreaded spywares, the laptop is amazing.

my laptop is DV8000, its pretty fine, Good specs too.

Although if i were you, i'd make sure the burner is working!

Seconding this. I know a number of people with Toshibas that say they're pretty satisfied with them. I also know a number of people with IBM ones that are very satisfied as well (especially since they seem to be smaller and lighter than the rest; ideal for a worthwhile laptop).

Of course, I have to give my usual advice of buying a desktop for actual power processing and a cheap laptop just for stuff you need to do on the go. Someone's recommendation of getting a large flash card and bringing that back and forth every day is also a superb idea. That's less weight, less problem if it gets stolen, and a hell of a lot cheaper than buying a whole laptop that you're going to use in two places that you already have access to computers.

I'm thirding this as the recommendation.

Well thank you all for your help, in deciding. But in the end I went with a Fugitsu LifeBook N6460 notebook.

But thank you again for your help in what and what not to get.

Someone will have to explain to me, some day, the rationale behind making a thread, asking advice, and then ignoring every single post.

Well if you want to know, its about getting advice. It will be up to the person whether or not to use it.

I am taking in all the advice. Just because I don't reply very often it dosn't mean i'm not reading everything.

Just wanted to point out that if you live near Apple stores, then MacBooks are an even BETTER buy.

Yesterday, one of the power adapters for a work MacBook was shorting out, as well as a DVI->VGA dongle adapter. I went to a Minneapolis Apple store, the Genius checked it out, and replaced both at NO cost. I walked in and out of the store with no hassles.

Not saying that happens with every circumstance, but when buying a MacBook, you know you can get good service and quick service at stores, even if you bought online. You can't say that for Dell, or other online order laptops. And we all know that BestBuy and other retail outlets out source, ship in, or ship out all there replacement part, repair work etc. It's nice to be able to go somewhere and potentially get the problem solved on the spot.

The build quality is also much better frankly. My former Dell wasn't built very solid and you could tell; it had cooling problems and the works. My MBP though is spectacular and has done everything I need without so much as a hitch. I just can't recommend Apple computers enough.

That said, my Dad also just bought a Lenovo, which was also great. If you need a Windows laptop, I'd recommend them.

I went ahead and bought the HP laptop. First thing I did was reformat it to get rid of all the crap on it. Because it didn't come with an XP cd I had to download one that I found didn't have all the hacks, tweaks and whatnot included with it, because I want it to all be legal considering I have a valid key etc. During the installation of XP however it is asking me for a 'volume license' key, which I have no idea what one is. Can anyone give me some advice here? It's XP Pro SP2 by the way.

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Got it sorted, although for what I thought was a good laptop, i'm getting very poor results in 3dmark of 800 or so. Most other laptop users are getting at least 2k+

Okay...

Can you specifically say why you insisted in getting a laptop for art school, rather than a flash drive and desktop for your home/dorm and transfer data from/to school computers? I just never really see art students, whether they're in 3D animation/modeling, etc., digital design and new media, illustration and so forth bring a laptop to school. >_> G'luck, however, and let us know how well that goes.

It would get very annoying constantly loading new photos etc onto the stick. It would also be useful for presentations, and using MSN when no one is watching.

An update, just tried Half Life 2, it seems to get an average of 25-30fps or so on all high details (models, etc) full HDR, no v-sync and no AA. With AA it drops when I look past the large tower in City 17 at the start of the game however, to around 15-20 average. In my opinion, thats not too bad for a laptop, considering i'd rarely game on it anyway.

Well I've known that instructors have asked for you to drop off your work in a "drop-off" folder within the class folder and then on presentation day he/she just "plays" the work onto the projector for everyone to see from their own seats. Loading photos onto a stick or back into a drive on the computer you're working with is like drag 'n drop. Wouldn't you have to connect your computer to the room's projector in order to present, or have everyone clam heads around your laptop to see your work anyway?

No comments on using MSN >_>

I suppose waiting 15 seconds at the end of whenever you sit down to work on a faster machine with a larger screen is worth the thousand plus dollars you spent on the laptop.