Who knows alot about computers/ laptops?

[Mattheww044]

Hey guys, I am needing a new computer. This one is OK for surfing the web and typing documents, but thats about it. I am thinking I might as well get a laptop, so I can at least datalog and such. I am looking at spending 500-1000 on a nice laptop. It will mainly be used for media, games, saving/typing documents, browsing the web, and datalogging and such. I have heard that Alienware makes a damn good computer, does anyone have any experience with the ALienware computers?

I know that computers are a very opinionated topic, but I want to get some insight. I would like a nice desktop, but If I am going to be dropping this much money on a computer, I want to at least be able to datalog with it. I've never had a laptop before, but I want one that is fast for browing the web and all that stuff. I am not completely against building a computer, but I would have NO IDEA what to order. Any help is much appreciated!
Matt

[kimokalihi]

Alienware makes a damn expensive computer. It's all about the hardware the computer you buy has and I guess for a laptop maybe the way it feels when you're using it as far as the key layout and feel of the keys. I've never had a laptop but I've built several PCs and all you're paying for is a name with alienware. You can build your own pc for a fraction of the cost of an alienware pc with the same exact parts aside from their fancy case. Laptops are just expensive in general for what they are. You're paying for the portability in a laptop. I have no idea what to recommend unfortunately because I've always built my pc's myself but I'm sure someone else will have some suggestions. If I were going to look at laptops I would probably start with HP. My GF has an HP and it seems to be made well and I might have to borrow it for some data logging one of these days.

[SiCkSTi04]

whats wrong with your current laptop? is it slow or too old?

[evolutionmovement]

Building a laptop isn't really something you can do like with a desk top. If you want to build a PC, I'm not sure what to recommend for hardware as I haven't built one in years and I'm not a gamer anyway, so you'd have to research yourself, but there are plenty of websites that should help. Might just take a little while to sort through reviews and such, but would be worth it IMO as you should be able to do it cheaper and taylor it to exactly what you want, plus the satisfaction of doing it yourself. If you weren't into gaming, I'd recommend the $999 polycarbonate MacBook, which is what I have. They improved a lot of the design issues of the previous model, and for me it's perfect, but I don't do heavy processing and graphics use, so I can't say. I imagine it would be laggy for gaming beyond the classic games I occasionally play. The software, however, is amazingly stable if that's a concern with the exception of Safari, but you can just get Chrome (or Firefox, but I personally hate FF).

[Mattheww044]

whats wrong with your current laptop? is it slow or too old?

alot of both. Mine is a PC though, not a laptop. We bought it back in like 01 I wanna say, and its just SUPER outdated. I've reformatted it several times due to getting viruses from DLing music. My buddy that knows alot about computers said that the parts listed on the front of the computer, aren't the ones that are inside. So I'm guessing this guy we took it to to get fixed swapped parts. This computer was pretty decent for its lifespan, but after knowing that and realizing thats whats causing it to be so slow, I just don't even wanna mess with it anymore.

Kimo, how much would it cost to make a pretty decent computer?

I'm now thinking of buying a laptop and making a PC, just for the experience and cost efficiency.
But at the same time, buying any laptop would be a huge upgrade over my current PC, so I'm thinking I should just buy a kick-ass laptop, and use it for both. And then I can build a PC later on in time.

Any suggestions?

[Mattheww044]

Does anyone know much about these?
http://www.dell.com/us/en/business/note ... s=04&s=bsd

really good reviews. I honestly don't even know how to tell what the specs are on it. Is that apretty good laptop for the price?

[Buffman]

Just get a Dell. You can get yourself into some trouble when it comes to buidling PCs if you don't know what you're doing. I recommend Dells for someone who wants a good product with a good warranty.

[Legacy777]

That Vostro looks pretty decent.

Like you said, computers are one of those opinionated things. Back in College and a little after I've built several computers. They have their advantage where you can pick and choose what you want. However, I will say, now-a-days, it'll cost you more to build a similarly equiped desktop compared to just buying one.

I've used a lot of computers, and I do prefer Dell. I've spec'd and bought Dell desktops for numeous family members. Dell makes a pretty good desktop, and their warranty IMO is one of the better ones. Additionally, they don't go crazy loading a bunch of crap on the PC. Other manufacturers will load tons of advertising or trial shit on there, which slows things down.

Regarding the Laptop, I've gotten 4 laptops from Dell over the past 9 years, two for me, two for my mom. I just bought my mom a Latitude this year to replace her old Inspiron. The only trouble I've had with the Inspiron's (both mine & my mom's) is that I had a hard drive fail (Dell replaced it under warranty....also to note, I leave my computers on 24x7, and laptop drives really aren't meant for that), and on my mom's the video card died, but I bought a used one and replaced it. So overall, I've been very happy with the Dell's I've purchased (I've also got a server).

The choice between a laptop and desktop. You can get a lot more machine in a desktop for the same money as a lesser equipped laptop. If you just want a laptop to sit in your lap type of thing....don't bother getting a laptop. It'll sit in one spot, and will basically be a desktop. If you want to travel with it, or like you mentioned, do data logging with it, then there's good justification for one. However, if the only thing you really need "portability" for is for data logging, I'd suggest getting a cheap used laptop or a netbook. If you go used, reformat it and just put the basic stuff on there so you can use the data logging software.

Anyway, that's my opinion. The Vostro you linked to, like I mentioned looked good. It has a 7200 rpm hard drive which will help in overall system performance, the other specs look pretty reasonable. I tend to like Dell's business computers better, especially laptops because they have less fru-fru BS that I could care less about, and more performance. So something to just keep in mind.

[Mattheww044]

I think if I get a laptop, it will basically replace my pc, bit I will be datalogging a lot and possibly traveling and such but I will dl music on my pc cuz if I have a nice laptop I couldn't care less if my pc got another virus or whatever. what do you think the best laptop for me would be for under $500? $1000? I think dell sounds like the place to go for me, but I just don't know what to look for

[Mattheww044]

or the other alternative would be to get a nice desktop, and like you said get a cheap laptop that would only be used for datalogging. which desktops should I be looking into for less than 500 and 1000?

[Mattheww044]

What do you guys think would be a better choice for me?

This: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Gateway+FX6 ... 7000050019

Or

This: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+Studio ... 7000050017

I kinda wanted to stick with dell, but that other one has a bigger screen and supposedly would be alot better for gaming. Which would be the better deal for the money?

[Mattheww044]

What would you guys choose over those 2 computers? The main difference that gets me is the gateway has a quad core processor compared to the Dell's dual core processor. Is it worth spending the extra couple hundred bucks?

[Legacy777]

Links no worky.

[Aerotech]

Check out the Toshiba Qosmio, I got one last fall and love it. 18.5" screen, Blu-ray, Intel i7 processor, they're around $1200 right now. I replaced an old Alienware, and I looked at the new ones, but the Toshiba matches or beats their specs at 1/3 of the price. Playing Borderlands right now, it looks amazing. HDMI connection allows big-screen movies and games simply. Good built-in speakers (Harmon Kardon) It's a big beast, but it's a perfect desktop replacement. Not too heavy, battery life is decent, the only problem I've had is that the DC brick is too heavy-duty and power ports on aircraft don't put out enough amperage to run it, the power port shuts down.

I got mine on Newegg. Newegg Link

[Mattheww044]

That does seem like a cery nice laptop. I had my friend help me build a computer from the parts off of newegg. It costs roughly 1100, but its a beast. I shouldnt have any problems playing ANY games with it. Now I just gotta start saving

[Legacy777]

Yeah, my dell and work HP both don't work on airplanes or power inverters I have for the car. They suck too much juice!