replacing my desktop with a laptop

kingkongo · 20 Jun 2007 at 11:56

can anybody help me with this decision?

im thinking of replacing my desktop with a laptop due to its portability.

im not sure on the specs but i will be using it for photoshop, illustrator, cad applications, downloading, web browsing and other general office documents.

an important factor is the screen size. i would be more inclined to go with a 17in or higher as i would be using the laptop for media such as movies and music.

i would like a high powered processor, decent ram (1gb at least) and a decent graphics card.

hard drive space is not too much of an issue as i can expand with external hds.

it would be useful if there was a built in webcam, media remote, bluetooth, wireless, hd-dvd drive.

im using vista at the moment and would like to stick with it instead of reverting back to xp.

im attracted to the new macbook pros in terms of aesthetics but i dont know much abbout performance and compatiblity issues. are the new macbooks stable when running windows? is it just the same as a pc laptop when booting up in windows?

how do the pc laptops compare to the macbook pros?

ive had a look at a few already but curious to hear about other opinions.

can anybody recommend a model?

price is not an issue at the moment as i want to assess all my options.

bitslice · 20 Jun 2007 at 13:27

I've just got two Dell Precision M65 for work
(as well as a few nice IBM's)

They have reasonable graphics cards in them that would be OK for CAD
(there is a more powerful model, Dell Precision M90, with a 17" screen)

The screen is nice to work with, they look/feel good
(far better than the consumer dells)
and the docking station, although slightly clunky to insert, is a better option that the dumb-ass IBM USB plug-in idea (otherwise I'd have 5 IBM's not 3)

"webcam, media remote, bluetooth, hd-dvd drive"
I'd have those as plug-in's, otherwise you are looking at a arm and two legs
for some overpriced niche laptop

an external HD is a good idea, in case you lose it

Alternatively, buy an oft recomended Toshiba,
then post here next week looking for a replacement because it died after 3 keystokes, and it's 30 second warrenty had expired

xb8browney · 20 Jun 2007 at 13:56

Dell Inspiron 9400 range

]MadBoy[ · 20 Jun 2007 at 15:19

for games the XPS.

kingkongo · 20 Jun 2007 at 18:07

ive just come across the dell m2010 laptop/desktop hybrid and i am very interested in this concept. does anybody know of any other companies with hybrids?

anybody have any opinions of the dell m2010?

Paul11 · 20 Jun 2007 at 18:46

check out rock laptops aswell

TheBarkerFamily · 20 Jun 2007 at 20:37

Dell Inspiron 9400

kong87 · 21 Jun 2007 at 13:11

can anybody please have a go at answering some of the original questions

kingkongo · 23 Jun 2007 at 12:01

somebody please answer some of my original questions. or some of the questions in my 2nd post.

thanks

Energize · 23 Jun 2007 at 12:32

Ok then.

kingkongo said:
can anybody help me with this decision?

Yes.

im attracted to the new macbook pros in terms of aesthetics but i dont know much abbout performance and compatiblity issues. are the new macbooks stable when running windows?

Afaik.

is it just the same as a pc laptop when booting up in windows?

Yes

how do the pc laptops compare to the macbook pros?

They are significantly cheaper and offer a much wider range of hardware, most noteably much beter gpu's than the 8600gt's the macs use.

can anybody recommend a model?

Yes, dell xps m17 series.

If your that intrested in portability though I wouldn't get a 17" screen, they are big and heavy. Battery life isn't usually too good either as the backlight is what uses the most power.

]MadBoy[ · 23 Jun 2007 at 13:00

if i had the money i would buy the xps.

kingkongo · 24 Jun 2007 at 13:59

not too bothered about portability as i dont mind lugging round a big laptop. id prefer to lug around a big laptop and enjoy a nice 20in screeen.

do the macbook pros perform better in any way compared to a normal pc laptop?

anybody have any opinions on the dell m2010? or know of any similar type of hybrid laptop?

Energize · 24 Jun 2007 at 14:04

kingkongo said:
do the macbook pros perform better in any way compared to a normal pc laptop?

No, they use exactly the same hardware.

bobert50 · 24 Jun 2007 at 14:09

I may aswell chuck the idea out there even if i know they're not for everyone

...Acer aspire 9800? I bought one about 6 months back and i've been over the moon with it. Its obviously more of a desktop replacement than a laptop with its 20.1" (very bright) screen. Comes with a 7600gt and duos core etc etc for approx £940.

I've been really pleased with it and although its heavier than normal laptops, you'd have to be a complete fairy not to be able to move it around easily enough unless your thinking of hiking up hills. The screen on this thing is first class imo and they don't seem to generate enormous amounts of heat so you get the impression they'll last and not be spares or repairs in a year or less (die alienware die!!!).