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So, Apple's new laptops came out today and I want one. Yeah I'm an Apple nerd. But, I'd be dumping a lot of cash on one since I want a 17" so I'm looking at $2500.

So I started looking around at PCs.. Seems like in general, the new Apple 17" has better specs .. faster processor, video, etc. But then, it just came out today. I was looking into Alienware, and I can get a decent base model 17" for more like $2100 (just because it's on sale for $300 off). I don't want a $700 budget PC with a 3 year old processor.

I honestly don't want it for gaming, I just want one that's powerful so it will last longer before I feel like I need to replace it. I'll mostly be doing general computing and graphic/web design.. with occasional games thrown in, but I do 99.9% of my gaming on my PS3. I don't need to get 500fps in Crysis 2. But, if I want to try out a new game, I want it to work good. I just want a good, solid computer that will last a long time, 17"+ screen with a full size keyboard for people like me with pudgey sausage fingers.

Anyone know of any other good laptops to look at?

Avoid gaming laptops, unless you can find a local shop that sells them for a decent price, or absolutely need portable gaming.

The price tag on them is so high that you're better off getting a desktop for gaming (there's better competition there, or you can build one yourself if you have the skills or the nerve), and a cheap budget notebook for 4 or 500$. (700$ is not a budget system these days, its a low end gaming rig).

There are plenty of gaming laptops out there for smaller money than Alienware. That and alienware has seen a noticeable decline in the quality of their product compared to other laptops out there.

I was just thinking "gaming laptop" because they seem to have the newest guts in them. I really just want something that will last a long time and not suck in 2 years.

I have a dell desktop right now, it's only a year old, but I plan to sell it. It's an i7, has a great gaming video card and is a pretty nice system. But, I live in a small place, it takes up a ton of room and all I really use it for is web surfing anymore. So I decided I want to go with something portable, and get rid of my big desk and have more space in my living room.

So I guess a better question is... if you were gonna buy a high end laptop today, what would you get?

Necros wrote:I was just thinking "gaming laptop" because they seem to have the newest guts in them. I really just want something that will last a long time and not suck in 2 years.

I have a dell desktop right now, it's only a year old, but I plan to sell it. It's an i7, has a great gaming video card and is a pretty nice system. But, I live in a small place, it takes up a ton of room and all I really use it for is web surfing anymore. So I decided I want to go with something portable, and get rid of my big desk and have more space in my living room.

So I guess a better question is... if you were gonna buy a high end laptop today, what would you get?

Hehehe, if you basically only do webserfing.... Get an iPad 2.

But I can say that generally any Apple Computer that I or my Dad have bought over the past 20 years (between the two of us we are at 19 Macs) has far outlasted any PC I have ever gotten (we have 6 between the two of us). And the Macs hold their value longer, allowing you to resell them in the future if you wish. Obviously I haven't had a chance to try any of the brand new models, but if you are comfortable with the Mac OS X or you are also not a fraid to set-up a dual boot machine then I would recommend one of those new Mac laptops. Over the past decade since they switched to intel chips the mac laptop line has been a leader in their price range during each release.

iPads are fun and all, but they're not really my thing. In fact, I'm just plain sick of the new gadget every month crap that's going on these days. It's really getting stupid.

I love Macs, but I don't require one like I used to I still have a G5 tower that runs great, and it's like 7 years old. I do like that they're built to last. But, I like Windows 7, I think they finally got something right this time around. So for me, either OS is fine.

In the end I will probably end up with a Macbook unless I can find a worthwhile alternative that I like. Guess I'll just have to go to best buy and play around with em.

honestly, i would check out ibuypower.com or cyberpowerpc.com for good computers and good deals.

otherwise, Newegg would have some decent machines. My wife and i have a Toshiba and a Sony Vaio laptops, and we both like them so far. Good speed and reliable hardware, for decent prices.

Requia wrote:Avoid gaming laptops, unless you can find a local shop that sells them for a decent price, or absolutely need portable gaming.

The price tag on them is so high that you're better off getting a desktop for gaming (there's better competition there, or you can build one yourself if you have the skills or the nerve), and a cheap budget notebook for 4 or 500$. (700$ is not a budget system these days, its a low end gaming rig).

Okay so like a month ago there was a big PS3 Vs. 360 Vs. PC debate. A lot of the pros for 360s and PS3s was that they were not as expensive. However people said you could get a top of the line gaming laptop for about $700 if you avoided Alienware.

So which is it? How much can I expect to pay for one of those PCs that people say trumps 360s and PS3s? I could understand that a machine capable of better graphics would be more than a console, but how much?

Craple. the end.

Lord Scythican wrote:
Okay so like a month ago there was a big PS3 Vs. 360 Vs. PC debate. A lot of the pros for 360s and PS3s was that they were not as expensive. However people said you could get a top of the line gaming laptop for about $700 if you avoided Alienware.

So which is it? How much can I expect to pay for one of those PCs that people say trumps 360s and PS3s? I could understand that a machine capable of better graphics would be more than a console, but how much?

While my Vaio laptop doesnt have a "gaming laptop" tag, it does have most of the specs to be called a gaming laptop, and i only paid about 700 bucks for it. So, yes, you can get a good gaming laptop for a fair price, if you avoid Alienware. Also, you'll want to avoid things like a huge hard drive, because that will make the price get large, quickly.

Apple and Alienware are both horrifically over priced, just a heads up.

Desktop would defiantly be cheaper for gaming, maybe a gaming desktop and a regular laptop would suit you?

Also i got a 17" laptop and regretted the decision, too heavy.

cheapish Gaming laptops (WARNING: check the video card to see if it can handle what you need also make sure it comes with an OS):

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=3998&name=gaming-laptop&

I just want to get away from desktop systems. I live in a small condo and the desk and 5.1 speakers and everything just takes up too much space (and I need room to be able to play with army men sometimes) So, this laptop would be on the coffee table most of the time. If I needed to sit down and work on something for a long period of time I have my model desk or kitchen table. Not too concerned with weight as my belly is too big to let my laptop be a on my lap anyway.

Just looking for a good high end portable computer really... Something like an iMac could work too, but i figured a laptop would be better since I could move it around easily. I don't expect to ever bring it with me anywhere, but thats another thing that's nice to have too just in case.

My girlfriend has a Sony laptop, it's a couple years old but she's had a lot of problems with it, at once point she even had to just send it back to Sony for a new one, the power button just decided to not work anymore one day and the tech they sent to her house couldn't fix it, he replaced all the guts and still nothing worked. That was about 9 months ago, now it's making some crazy fan noises. So anyway, I wasn't considering Sony much because of that.

I do wish laptops could be more like desktops where you could just build your own, then I could just add in all the guts I want.

Alienware m11x FTW!