Curse

Riotgear · Oct 26, 2007, 02:00 AM // 02:00

..... preferably $1000 or less. In other news, I'm also attempting to catch Bigfoot stealing gold from the pot at the end of the rainbow.

Okay, perhaps better stated, I'm looking for the best laptop I can get for $1000 or less, and I want a decent warranty on it because getting laptops repaired is expensive.

I was thinking about this:
HP dv9417cl - $880 w/4-year warranty
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...=44520&lang=en

Anyone else have any advice?

Retribution X · Oct 26, 2007, 02:14 AM // 02:14

Alienware Roadwarrior.

Best laptop for it's price.

Riotgear · Oct 26, 2007, 02:52 AM // 02:52

HP vs. Road Warrior + 2GB RAM upgrade + Home Premium upgrade
Price: $880 --> $1205 after shipping
Graphics: GF Go 7105M --> Radeon Mobility X1400
Processor: A64X2 TK-55 --> Core 2 Duo T5500
Warranty: 4 years --> 1 year (+$200 if I want a 2-year warranty)
Hard drive: 200GB --> 120GB

I don't think that's particularly mind-blowing for going $205 over budget. This is probably not going to be subjected to any games rougher than, say, CS:S. This is not my primary computer, I have a desktop for playing real games, but I do need an NVIDIA/ATI graphics processor on it for some work I will be doing on them, since I'm doing some game development on the go and Intel IGPs fall short in too many areas. 2GB RAM is mandatory.

In response to a PM, Geeks.com has some good deals, but it's mostly refurbs that don't carry anything longer than a 90-day warranty. Laptops are not exactly machines I trust and repairing them is invariably expensive. I have no problems with refurbs or open-box stuff, provided they carry at least a standard 1-year warranty.

lord_shar · Oct 26, 2007, 05:32 AM // 05:32

Check out the Dell Outlet:

http://www.dell.com/content/products...n&s=dfh&~ck=mn

You can get a 15" Dell Inspiron with a 2.0ghz Core2Duo and NVidia 8600M-GT 256MB video card for under $1000. A co-worker just picked one up marked "Scratch and Dent" which looked absolutely brand new out of the box. Definitely a lot of bang for the buck. These laptops always move fast, being bought within 10-minutes of being posted, so keep your mouse on your browser refresh button...

Malice Black · Oct 26, 2007, 04:56 PM // 16:56

www.notebookreview.com

Sir Skullcrasher · Oct 26, 2007, 08:22 PM // 20:22

I got this from HP, not bad but isn't built for serious gaming!

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-Pa...oductDetail.do

But if you need something with that gaming power, check out Dell or Alienware (hell they're both the same thing).. or other system intergrator sites out there to see if you can get a customized laptop at your budget!

Malice Black · Oct 26, 2007, 08:52 PM // 20:52

www.rockdirect.com

UK company but they ship to US.

Proper "gaming" laptops, not cheap though.

red orc · Oct 29, 2007, 04:03 PM // 16:03

Dell ispiration 1520 with gforce 8600gt m
got it and loved it, best price performance i could find and high graphics for laptop

Malice Black · Oct 30, 2007, 12:36 AM // 00:36

Well actually it goes as follows

7950GTX - 8700 - 7900 - 8600 - 7600 - 8400 - anything less then a 8400 is garbage..well the 8400 is garbage but..

Won't find a 7950gtx in anything under 1k price range though.

Jumping Is Uselss · Oct 30, 2007, 01:28 AM // 01:28

What about 8800?

mr_groovy · Oct 30, 2007, 06:14 AM // 06:14

Yup go for the dell, best bang to buck.
Personally I bought a Dell Inspiron 9300 2.5 years ago. I use it as my main pc everyday, and love it to death. (Of it ^^).
Got the 17" (1920*1200), 1.86 Pentium M, 2 Gig ram, 256mb nvidia 6800 go. 100 Gig HD. It plays GW still excellently. Though I would advice to take 3 years of insurrance. Travelling + everyday turned on make it bound to break something.

Malice Black · Oct 30, 2007, 11:34 AM // 11:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jumping Is Uselss

What about 8800?

The 8800m has not been confirmed. For now it's just a rumor.

lord_shar · Nov 04, 2007, 04:53 AM // 04:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malice Black

The 8800m has not been confirmed. For now it's just a rumor.

The release date might be in about 3 weeks:

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4049

I'm in no rush... the cash has already been set asside for the Dell XPS M1730, but I don't want to pull the trigger until the 8800M-GTX512's become reality.