Getting a New Laptop Soon

[Jazzmaster 716]

I've ony so much knowledge in the computer department so far so I figured I'd ask for some help to make a wise decision.  I've looked at just about everything...Gateway, Sony Vaio, iBUYPOWER, Asus, Dell, Toshiba, etc.  What I'd want to do with it...well I don't need something horribly extreme, gaming is not a big issue but on the other hand, I'd like it to be able to decently run e.g. Autodestk 3Ds Max and do larger projects without so much lag.  Media speaking, I don't really need full 1080p, but I'd like HD so any simple 720/900p would do.  I've been considering the Dell Studio XPS 16 quite a bit but I've heard a mixed bag...about half say that it's worth it and runs very well, the other half will tell you things like "Dell sucks, parts are too expensive, bad customer service" (every company has at least one mis-handled customer so I'm not really interested in counting out a company based on some biased reviews because a person ordered this and that and never got the item etc.).

Oh, and price range for what I'm looking to spend is about $1200-$1500.  If I had to go a little over that, it wouldn't kill me.

appreciate all the help, cheers

EDIT: Looking at Windows only, no Macintosh, sorry

[Jazzmaster 716]

I've ony so much knowledge in the computer department so far so I figured I'd ask for some help to make a wise decision.  I've looked at just about everything...Gateway, Sony Vaio, iBUYPOWER, Asus, Dell, Toshiba, etc.  What I'd want to do with it...well I don't need something horribly extreme, gaming is not a big issue but on the other hand, I'd like it to be able to decently run e.g. Autodestk 3Ds Max and do larger projects without so much lag.  Media speaking, I don't really need full 1080p, but I'd like HD so any simple 720/900p would do.  I've been considering the Dell Studio XPS 16 quite a bit but I've heard a mixed bag...about half say that it's worth it and runs very well, the other half will tell you things like "Dell sucks, parts are too expensive, bad customer service" (every company has at least one mis-handled customer so I'm not really interested in counting out a company based on some biased reviews because a person ordered this and that and never got the item etc.).

Oh, and price range for what I'm looking to spend is about $1200-$1500.  If I had to go a little over that, it wouldn't kill me.

appreciate all the help, cheers

EDIT: Looking at Windows only, no Macintosh, sorry

[Larks2242 251]

3 words Get a HP.

[Larks2242 251]

3 words Get a HP.

[Zelgadis 638]

For Windows laptops, I've always been a fan of the Toshibas. I've had a few of them over the years and I have found them to be quite solid.

However, I have to say that if I were to buy a Windows laptop right now, it would definitely be an Alienware. I've never had one myself, but I've known people who have, and they swear by them.

http://www.alienware.com/Landings/laptops.aspx

ISF

[Zelgadis 638]

For Windows laptops, I've always been a fan of the Toshibas. I've had a few of them over the years and I have found them to be quite solid.

However, I have to say that if I were to buy a Windows laptop right now, it would definitely be an Alienware. I've never had one myself, but I've known people who have, and they swear by them.

http://www.alienware.com/Landings/laptops.aspx

ISF

[Jazzmaster 716]

I'm not so sure about Alienware. Great computers, certainly, but the way they massively reduce the basics in order to get you to pay so much for upgrading to what's considered commonplace on most good computers today (you get shoved with intel i3 processor, 240 GB HDD, 2 GB RAM etc. to start out and have to spend about a grand to get it up to an i7 with 4 GB RAM and a 500 GB HDD), is a bit absurd. Or as one of my friends puts it, you're basically paying for a logo heh.

I used to think the one advantage they had was an nVidia video card but after doing some research, the more recent ATI Mobility cards seem to beat it out.

I did find something that looks very very nice though...and for the price...damn

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220695

[Jazzmaster 716]

I'm not so sure about Alienware. Great computers, certainly, but the way they massively reduce the basics in order to get you to pay so much for upgrading to what's considered commonplace on most good computers today (you get shoved with intel i3 processor, 240 GB HDD, 2 GB RAM etc. to start out and have to spend about a grand to get it up to an i7 with 4 GB RAM and a 500 GB HDD), is a bit absurd. Or as one of my friends puts it, you're basically paying for a logo heh.

I used to think the one advantage they had was an nVidia video card but after doing some research, the more recent ATI Mobility cards seem to beat it out.

I did find something that looks very very nice though...and for the price...damn

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220695

[hyped_up_boy 15]

The Asus N61JQ-A1 has the same features as the Dell Studio XPS 16 for less money. The only thing it doesn't have is a Blu-Ray player, but it does support USB 3.0.

[hyped_up_boy 15]

The Asus N61JQ-A1 has the same features as the Dell Studio XPS 16 for less money. The only thing it doesn't have is a Blu-Ray player, but it does support USB 3.0.

[Zelgadis 638]

Well, I use Apple, so I know all about paying extra for a logo. (I like 'em anyways, so whatever...)

I guess that brings me back to my original recommendation: Toshiba. I like their laptops the most and that's what I have now as a supplement to my other computers. (I have 7 computers right now... Don't know why...)

I don't recommend getting one like my first Toshiba...

You might find it difficult to run what you want.

Built like a Sherman tank though, which was good.  I find my current Toshiba can take quite a whipping and keep running just fine.  

ISF

[Zelgadis 638]

Well, I use Apple, so I know all about paying extra for a logo. (I like 'em anyways, so whatever...)

I guess that brings me back to my original recommendation: Toshiba. I like their laptops the most and that's what I have now as a supplement to my other computers. (I have 7 computers right now... Don't know why...)

I don't recommend getting one like my first Toshiba...

You might find it difficult to run what you want.

Built like a Sherman tank though, which was good.  I find my current Toshiba can take quite a whipping and keep running just fine.  

ISF

[Zelgadis 638]

Well, I use Apple, so I know all about paying extra for a logo. (I like 'em anyways, so whatever...)

I guess that brings me back to my original recommendation: Toshiba. I like their laptops the most and that's what I have now as a supplement to my other computers. (I have 7 computers right now... Don't know why...)

I don't recommend getting one like my first Toshiba...

You might find it difficult to run what you want.

Built like a Sherman tank though, which was good.  I find my current Toshiba can take quite a whipping and keep running just fine.  

ISF

[tjh876 31]

I have a Dell Studio 1558 (i5-520m, 4gb 1333mhz ram, Ati Radeon HD 4570, 500gb 7200 rpm hdd, backlit keyboard, 9 cell battery-good battery life and cooling, and more) that costs around $1300, if you can get an EPP, like me, you should be able to get it for $900, and I can play games like FSX and Burnout Paradise fluently.

[tjh876 31]

I have a Dell Studio 1558 (i5-520m, 4gb 1333mhz ram, Ati Radeon HD 4570, 500gb 7200 rpm hdd, backlit keyboard, 9 cell battery-good battery life and cooling, and more) that costs around $1300, if you can get an EPP, like me, you should be able to get it for $900, and I can play games like FSX and Burnout Paradise fluently.

[tjh876 31]

I have a Dell Studio 1558 (i5-520m, 4gb 1333mhz ram, Ati Radeon HD 4570, 500gb 7200 rpm hdd, backlit keyboard, 9 cell battery-good battery life and cooling, and more) that costs around $1300, if you can get an EPP, like me, you should be able to get it for $900, and I can play games like FSX and Burnout Paradise fluently.

[TheCrybKeeper 278]

Our 3 HP laptops, seem to do the job and I run 3DSMax 8.0, Adobe Illustrator CS2 and PhotoShop CS on them. The DV9000 isn't bad for $900.00, but you can go a bit higher and newer than that. NVidias 512mb video cards are doing okay for us and play all the latest games and rendering software, rather well.

Right now, I am using a Dell Desktop. Don't let the nay-sayers fool you; Dells are quite great machines, as this one is from 2002 and still jams pretty good.

Pentium4 3.2 gig, 2 gig ram, 512mb NVidia video now. It started out with a Pentium4 2.26 gig, 256 ram, 64 mb NVidia video and I just kept upgrading it. Only part that ever broke down in it, was the proc fan, which I also replaced with a spare, I had lying about. Didn't cost me anything : )

Dell desktops are super easy to work on and very durable, IMO.

[joshriddle 29]

 If you are buying instead of building your computer, then I would recommend going with something like say an HP or Toshiba.

I overload my tiny little processor with the mulit-tasking I try to do with it, therefore causing extreme lag or in some cases lockups. So I advise you to check the computer's specs before you buy, so you don't wind up with a computer that can't handle what you are doing.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

In a word, unless you have a need for the computer to be portable, do not buy a laptop.  For the money you are talking you can get a very, very nice desktop.

Why not get a laptop:

1. Batteries
2. If you drop it, it may be scragged
3. Small screen
4. Funny keyboard
5. Not much room in the case of add ons
6. Nuisance to lug around.  Unless you really need it, don't.  Either get a PDA, or take notes.

[LILCHRIS5X 5]

I agree with A Nonny Moose. Unless you really need one, go with a desktop pc. If you do really need one, Hp's run well but make sure you do lots of research as well. This is your money not ours.

[joshriddle 29]

With a laptop you might find it hard to run what you want. Unless all you are doing is email and surfing the web. Then again my mom runs a website with a Win7 Home Premium lappy, so...