Laptops..

I

Isollde

Genkai Conqueror
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Jun 28, 2006
Messages
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Alrighty, I'm looking to get a new laptop. I want something that does well with a lot of graphics and has the memory for games and etc..

I currently have a Dell Latitude and it sucks. I've had it about a year and it freezes and cant even handle ffxi sometimes. Not to mention that i run photoshop on there as well..

Idk much about computers so I'm hoping ya'll can give me some good suggestions. Thanks.
 
Generally speaking, you're going to do well with a lot of the mid-range laptops out there right now. I'd focus on getting a decent amount of memory (no less than 1 gig), and a peppy processor. That being said, you'll probably be shopping manufacturer more than anything else. A site that I used in the past is http://www.notebookreview.com/ . The reviews are pretty good, and they offer a nice perspective.

Best of luck, let us know what you go with! :)
 
thanks Crook! ^^ actually found somin that might be pretty good:


10251.jpg
The e1505 reviewed here is configured as follows:

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7200 at 2.0 GHz per core.
15.4" Ultrasharp WSXGA+ display with TrueLife
1GB DDR2 667MHz RAM in dual channel mode
ATI X1400 256MB graphics card
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD +/- dual layer recorder
9-cell lithium-ion battery
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
Dell Wireless 1500 (802.11n)

am i way off base or would this be a decent comp?
 
That's pretty nice, Iso. I got a new laptop myself a month ago. These are the specs:
Lenovo ThinkPad T60
* Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0Ghz CPU
* 2 x 1 GB DDR2 667 RAM I bumped it up to 2GB
* 15.4" 1680x1050 LG Phillips Widescreen Display
* NMB Lenovo Keyboard with UltraNav
* LG 8x DVD Dual Layer Burner
* Thinkpad 802.11 a/b/g (Atheros AR5006EX Chipset) mini PCI express Wireless Adapter
* ATI 128 MB X1400 Graphics Card
* 100 GB Seagate Momentus 7200.1 8MB Cache 7200 RPM SATA HDD
* Integrated soundMAX audio chipset
* 9 Cell Sanyo Battery Pack

I can run FFXI and other apps at the same time no problemo. I think the one you chose is pretty nice, although I'm not a fan of Dell. It's a personal choice, Dell makes very nice machines. If you can swing the extra change I'd bump the memory to 2 GB and you won't have to deal with it for a long time.
 
I've had a pretty good experience with Dell in the past. Just this last laptop I got through my university, and they downgraded the graphics card and memory on them before we recieved them. I've had to replace the harddrive on my Latitude twice already and it's just generally been a pain in the ass. I've only ever dealt with Dell and Compaq (which sucked ass for me).

Would definetely bump the memory up, as I use the laptop for a lot of things. The one ya got and this one I'm looking at seem to be pretty simliar. Thanks again for the information, I really appreciate it! ^^
 
I'll be there myself one of these days...

my laptop is on its last set of legs, (after 4 HD replacement I would be too). However because my laptop keeps crapping out on me, it's led me to believe that it might be in my interest to look into desktop computers. I'd only do this after I graduate I suppose, and when I earn enough money. But what do you think? How does ffxi run on everyone elses Laptop?

I'm late for class, but I'll give the specs on mine later...but it's a 2004 HP pavilion zt3000 widescreen if anyone cares to look it up on HP's website.
 
I work in an enterprise environment where there are a couple hundred thousand Dell laptops deployed, and the HDD failure rates are through the roof. The fact that you had an issue with your Latitude is no surprise to me. :/

One of the biggest things for me is the Dell keyboard. Since I spend so much time on the keyboard, I'm pretty finicky about it, hence the choice of ThinkPad.

Also, I just thought of slickdeals.net. They have some pretty sweet deals linked from time to time. I know I see lots of links to Dell. When it comes down to buying time, you might save a couple of bucks or get a free upgrade of sorts. Meh, you never know! ;)
 
My laptop is a Sony Viao. I've had it for two years, it runs FFXI (not very well unless there's a fan under it though, but the newer versions could be better) as well as photoshop. It runs a little slow sometimes, but it's reliable, I haven't had any problems with it, and I got a great deal on it. I would suggest www.newegg.com for laptops as well. They have a wide variety of laptops as well as computer parts and accessories. But it's late and I'm already used up my good vocabulary, so good luck on your search. /salute
 
I have a HP laptop and it works well but when i play ffxi for more than 5 mins on it it shuts off. I have idea why it does that. It has 3 fans at the bottom and when i start ffxi the fans start moving very hard. The only way i can play ffxi on my laptop is if i have the base and the back of the laptop open, letting the fans blow. If I put it on a table (flat) thats when it turns off.
STAY AWAY FROM HP WHILE PLAYING FFXI!!!

PS I sent it back to HP b4 and i have the same problem
 
Dudika said:
I have a HP laptop and it works well but when i play ffxi for more than 5 mins on it it shuts off. I have idea why it does that. It has 3 fans at the bottom and when i start ffxi the fans start moving very hard. The only way i can play ffxi on my laptop is if i have the base and the back of the laptop open, letting the fans blow. If I put it on a table (flat) thats when it turns off.
STAY AWAY FROM HP WHILE PLAYING FFXI!!!

PS I sent it back to HP b4 and i have the same problem
Click to expand...

yeah, the fan on my laptop sucks as well...that's why I put it on top of something else, just to get my laptop some air...

man my setup is so ghetto..
 
Areya said:
I'll be there myself one of these days...

my laptop is on its last set of legs, (after 4 HD replacement I would be too). However because my laptop keeps crapping out on me, it's led me to believe that it might be in my interest to look into desktop computers. I'd only do this after I graduate I suppose, and when I earn enough money. But what do you think? How does ffxi run on everyone elses Laptop?

I'm late for class, but I'll give the specs on mine later...but it's a 2004 HP pavilion zt3000 widescreen if anyone cares to look it up on HP's website.
Click to expand...

as i said in my OP, my computer has a lot of problems running ffxi and even Firefox in the background.. at some points it freezes up completely for 5-15 minutes and i cant move, change screens, log out, anything.. (of course this normally happens during the worst times, exp parties, sky, dynamis, airships etc.. -.-) im hoping that a better laptop will remedy this problem.
 
FFXI is a processor hog. If you're having cooling issues, I highly recommend an extra fan or two. If you have the USB slot available, the following link might be a good solution for you. It's a $20 solution for a $100 problem. I've seen them at Office Depot last time I was there, for about the same price as Newegg, maybe 5 dollars more.

Example of one of many:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834999412
 
Ive got a Dell Inspiron E1505, I have absolutely NO problems out of FFXI, other than some lag problems, but thats because I dont have a strong graphics card. Its completely factory installed, and not customized, + a year old. Its a nice, cheap alternative to some of the more expensive laptops out there.

There is the side note, though, that there are a few games that cant play on the E1505's with my chipset, and the list of them is here:

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intel945gm/sb/cs-021400.htm
 
Isollde said:
Alrighty, I'm looking to get a new laptop. I want something that does well with a lot of graphics and has the memory for games and etc..

I currently have a Dell Latitude and it sucks. I've had it about a year and it freezes and cant even handle ffxi sometimes. Not to mention that i run photoshop on there as well..

Idk much about computers so I'm hoping ya'll can give me some good suggestions. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Depends on what you want to spend if you got 1400 and up I definalty suggest an Alienware laptop I just bought one and it handles everything with ease. It's got dual core's so it doesn't get overloaded. FFXI works great on it and any major things I've done on it hasn't slowed it down the slightest.

No offence to the other posters but Dell licks ballz I have never and will never buy one they break down so easy only computer worse then a dell is a emachine (absolute worst).

I can not stress this enough DON'T BUY A DELL!!! Unless your going to get one of their very top gaming machines which are 3k+ I might trust one of those but why when you can get a Alienware loaded for that and not have to worry about it.

If your going to spend around 1k or less I suggest a HP or maybe a sony but when viaos are kinda like luxury cars fancy but they arn't easy to fix if you need too. 0-1400 I'd most certaintly go HP 1400+ Alienware for sure. I can give you specs on the one I just bought if you want.

www.cnet.com <----heaven... You can compare laptops and get the cheapest prices there also. www.Alienware.com to look at those.
 
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Legomyeggo said:
Dell acquired Alienware over a year ago. Dell Notebooks aren't bad, but their customer service blows.
Click to expand...

I was waiting for that comment lol. Ya they did buy them out but they don't dare touch the alienware company as far as making the computers etc... They just collect thier check and leave the rest to Alienware. The only real connection I think they might have is I think Alienware will make some of Dells top end gaming computers.
 
crookedmidget said:
One of the biggest things for me is the Dell keyboard. Since I spend so much time on the keyboard, I'm pretty finicky about it, hence the choice of ThinkPad.
Click to expand...
They've gotten a lot better. The Latitude D600s had horrible keyboards that just felt cheap; not secured strongly to the base and all sorts of creaks and such after a year or so.

However they rectified that problem quickly. All the x10 and higher use multi-post mounting for the keyboard, solid as a rock. I've typed on a Lenovo before, I'm posting this right now from a Dell Latitude D820 and it feels almost exactly the same as Lenovo's.

Blancho said:
No offence to the other posters but Dell licks ballz I have never and will never buy one they break down so easy only computer worse then a dell is a emachine (absolute worst).

I can not stress this enough DON'T BUY A DELL!!! Unless your going to get one of their very top gaming machines which are 3k+ I might trust one of those but why when you can get a Alienware loaded for that and not have to worry about it.
Click to expand...
This I can't agree with at all, different experiences I guess. In my 3 years here I've seen about 200 Dell notebooks come and go, they get abused pretty hard by the morons that bring them to mine sites and generally don't give a shit what happens to them.

Anyways, our notebooks see a lot of abuse. They break down, I've had to replace a couple of motherboards, half a dozen hard drives, and at least 2 dozen keyboards. But compared to the number of notebooks we have deployed, I am beyond impressed with the stability of modern Dells.

I used to recommend HP to people who asked, because they were about as stable as Dells but much prettier. Dell's got a good design team now though, and the flawed looks in the past are long gone. I push Dell's name every time someone asks me for notebook recommendations nowadays, because time and time again I've been impressed by their systems.

Support, that I couldn't answer. We buy the extended warranty on all systems and basically get overnight parts replacement, but it is an extra couple hundred bucks you can overlook. Their standard support is, from what I've heard, less than phenomenal.
 
Isollde said:
thanks Crook! ^^ actually found somin that might be pretty good:


The e1505 reviewed here is configured as follows:

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7200 at 2.0 GHz per core.
15.4" Ultrasharp WSXGA+ display with TrueLife
1GB DDR2 667MHz RAM in dual channel mode
ATI X1400 256MB graphics card
120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD +/- dual layer recorder
9-cell lithium-ion battery
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
Dell Wireless 1500 (802.11n)

am i way off base or would this be a decent comp?
Click to expand...

I got the e1705 in january with pretty much the same specs except for more RAM. I'm pretty happy with it except for the video card since you need to get upgraded drivers from Dell and not ATI, so if you start having problems with graphics(I was having odd glitches while playing Civ4:Warlords) it could be a long time til new drivers are available.

Oh and I do agree that their customer service blows. Hi2u some random guy in India
 
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