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Is 17" too big for a notebook? How portable are they? - Page 2

post #21 of 43
6/22/06 at 12:42am
all them are portable. "portable" as in "you can carry it to places without dealing with cables. just close the screen and carry it under your arms". depending on how strong you are, it will vary if they are "portable" as in "carry it around daily" enough. try to experiment with weights on your bag to see if you are OK with it. that would be my best recommendation.

finally, another considerable point that is, at the same time, very personal: to me, what really defines portability is the size, not the weight itself. To me, it does not matter if the laptop is thin as a paper sheet, if it's that big, carrying it will be a hassle anyway.
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post #22 of 43
6/22/06 at 3:25pm
Thread Starter 
Well after going to costco yesterday and checking out a 17" HP notebook, I think I'm going to stick with my NP5760 until it arrives and see if I like the size. When I was at costco the HP DV8000 17" notebook didnt seem too large, and I actually thought it was a 15" at first, so maybe I will like it. If my 5760 ends up being to big I guess I could always sell or trade it for a W3J
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post #23 of 43
6/22/06 at 5:20pm
I have a 15.4" Dell at the moment.And i dont move it around the house much or take it places.But i will get a lighter notebook next time!

Well for what you probally will be doing (moving around a little,around a few places etc etc) Will be portable.
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post #24 of 43
6/23/06 at 1:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by invulse
Well after going to costco yesterday and checking out a 17" HP notebook, I think I'm going to stick with my NP5760 until it arrives and see if I like the size. When I was at costco the HP DV8000 17" notebook didnt seem too large, and I actually thought it was a 15" at first, so maybe I will like it. If my 5760 ends up being to big I guess I could always sell or trade it for a W3J
One remark: I don't know if that's only me, but everything on big stores like BB and compusa seems smaller than they really are. 42" flat TVs seem normal there, but once you put them on a room... (mind you, i don't have a big tv yet). I guess I can blame the room space on those stores for that.
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post #25 of 43
6/23/06 at 2:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Synergi
I don't consider my 9880 portable at all..I think i've moved it 3 times in the last 1 and half years because its to big to hassel with. If it was light..like 6 pounds or so..i'd consider it portable. Also with that card your getting..no way your going to use it on your lap. Its going to get to hot..you might want to look for screen shots of the bottom..if there are fans under it..then that pretty much cancels out ever using it on your lap. I use like one of those hospital tables that can swing over the bed..but I still have to turn my head a bit instead of looking at it straight on.

Gaming wise.. You just can't beat a 17 inch screen..but over the last year im thinking more of speed, power and battery life and i've started looking at 12-14 inch laptops that will give me all of that..as well as let use it on my lap. Thats what I miss most about owning a laptop. If you can't put it in your lap..it tends to end up stationary somewhere ...at least thats how it is for me..


Is this actually true?? I mean im not going to be playing games while I use it on my lap, but is it really going to get too hot to use on my lap? If so I will probably be selling my laptop the day I get it, cause it really isnt a laptop if I cant use it on my lap.
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post #26 of 43
6/23/06 at 3:29pm
no it's not that bad. Now if you're talking about running oblivion on your laptop with max graphic settings, then yes, avoid putting it in your lap, it'll heat up nicely. However, for other tasks that aren't CPU and GPU intensive it doesn't get that hot. For things such as surfing the net or working in office etc, it'll get warm but not hot.

I've got a I9300, 2.4 GHz, 7800 GTX. Idling I get CPU temps around 28-30 C, net surfing around 35-39 C. Warm but not hot, and definately lappable.

Now gaming I get CPU temps maxxing at 64 C and GPU temps maxxing around 69 C. I would lean away from lapping it while gaming cause that's a bit hot, plus decreasing circulation could raise the temp more.

I don't look at this as a loss in mobility because I wouldn't be moving around or using my lap while gaming anyway, but the increased size and weight doesn't stop me from taking my laptop places and whipping it out.
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post #27 of 43
6/23/06 at 4:27pm
Yah, depends on *how* portable you want. I wouldn't want to carry around a 17" er every day.
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post #28 of 43
6/23/06 at 5:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by invulse
Well after going to costco yesterday and checking out a 17" HP notebook, I think I'm going to stick with my NP5760 until it arrives and see if I like the size. When I was at costco the HP DV8000 17" notebook didnt seem too large, and I actually thought it was a 15" at first, so maybe I will like it. If my 5760 ends up being to big I guess I could always sell or trade it for a W3J

Check out the dv8000t thru Costco here... with the current GPU it's a good deal

Costco is the BEST place to buy... 6 month return policy

http://www.costco.com/CTO/HPConfigur...&model=EX177AV

Weight is around 8 lbs....

For WHATEVER unit you buy.. you need to read this FIRST:

Mobile Graphics Card Comparison Chart


http://www.notebookforums.com/thread157799.html


PS: For more info on the dv8000t search thru my posts on the subject.... It's a very good deal for the money.. has a very nice screen.. fast CPU

$1,400 -$1,500 spec'd out pretty good... A/C brick is VERY small... unlike other units on the market...
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post #29 of 43
6/23/06 at 5:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WeAreNotAlone
Check out the dv8000t thru Costco here... with the current GPU it's a good deal Costco is the BEST place to buy... 6 month return policy http://www.costco.com/CTO/HPConfigur...&model=EX177AV Weight is around 8 lbs.... For WHATEVER unit you buy.. you need to read this FIRST: Mobile Graphics Card Comparison Chart http://www.notebookforums.com/thread157799.html PS: For more info on the dv8000t search thru my posts on the subject.... It's a very good deal for the money.. has a very nice screen.. fast CPU $1,400 -$1,500 spec'd out pretty good... A/C brick is VERY small... unlike other units on the market...
I dont think you understood what I meant there. I just went to costco to take a look at the size of a 17" notebook, I would never buy the HP dv8000 series notebook, what I have already ordered in the NP5760 blows it away, at not too much more of a price.
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post #30 of 43
6/23/06 at 5:38pm
If using laptop around the house or taking to friend's house (as long as its by car), 17" laptop is fine. But I wouldn't walk long distances with it on a daily basis tho..
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post #31 of 43
6/23/06 at 6:04pm
They are very portable if your name is Bruce Banner and you get green when slapped around.
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post #32 of 43
6/23/06 at 6:13pm
Btw, screen sizes seem smaller than they really are in stores for some reason.
15.4 looks like 13.3 and 17 looks like 15/15.4.

12.1 looks like pda.
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post #33 of 43
6/23/06 at 6:16pm
I just went to Best Buy for some stuff and decided to look at some laptops even though I already ordered one, 17" are way to big in my opinion from what I saw, just way too big.

15.4" and smaller look fine.
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post #34 of 43
6/24/06 at 12:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by invulse
I dont think you understood what I meant there. I just went to costco to take a look at the size of a 17" notebook, I would never buy the HP dv8000 series notebook, what I have already ordered in the NP5760 blows it away, at not too much more of a price.
Yep... I mis-read your post. BTW: You mention the price not being that much more... and the Sager NP 5760 blowing the HP away (which I don't doubt).... What kind of price and how is it spec'd out?
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post #35 of 43
6/24/06 at 1:33am
I just spec'ed one out with the exact same specs as the e1705 I have in my sig. It came to $1700 (with +3 years warranty, same as I got on the Dell). That is about $43 cheaper than what I got mine for, but with a 7600 instead of a 7900GS. Here's the summary:

Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo processor T2300E (1.66 GHz)
2.0GB DDR2 SDRAM (2x1024MB)
80 GB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
FREE Upgrade to LightScribe Super Multi w/DL!!
256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7600
Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network w/Bluetooth
17.0" WXGA+ BrightView Widescreen (1440x900)
Genuine Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Microsoft(R) Works/Money
8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
HP ExpressCard Analog TV Tuner w/remote control
3-yr Extended Service Plan with HP Express Repair

Regards,

zakaluka2.
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post #36 of 43
6/24/06 at 9:20am
Its gonna be huge, 17" are monsters.
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post #37 of 43
6/24/06 at 1:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zakaluka2
I just spec'ed one out with the exact same specs as the e1705 I have in my sig. It came to $1700 (with +3 years warranty, same as I got on the Dell). That is about $43 cheaper than what I got mine for, but with a 7600 instead of a 7900GS. Here's the summary:

Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo processor T2300E (1.66 GHz)
2.0GB DDR2 SDRAM (2x1024MB)
80 GB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
FREE Upgrade to LightScribe Super Multi w/DL!!
256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7600
Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network w/Bluetooth
17.0" WXGA+ BrightView Widescreen (1440x900)
Genuine Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Microsoft(R) Works/Money
8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
HP ExpressCard Analog TV Tuner w/remote control
3-yr Extended Service Plan with HP Express Repair

Regards,

zakaluka2.


One thing that concerns me is I've read allot of posts, and talked with several 1705 owners about the poor screens on the 1705's... Allot of DELL 1705 owners not being happy with them, getting the screen swapped out 2,3,4,5 times before they finally got an good one, or they gave up, got their money back and went and bought something else.

I don't see those kind of posts in the HP section of the board like I've seen on the DELL section. That scares me.

PS: I agree with you the GPU is allot better on the DELL, Thats why I was interested in the unit....

Shame the fools don't install a keyboard with a NUMERIC keypad.... HP has the option for a 2nd hard drive.
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post #38 of 43
6/24/06 at 6:07pm
I have read some of those posts, so I will see. I've only ever used standard non-glossy screens in the past, so I don't even know what to expect. Plus, I got the Wide WXGA+ (WSXGA - 1440x900), so I don't even have a glossy screen.

One of the major disadvantages of being an internet-only company is having to buy the product unseen. Especially with completecare, if you don't like the screen and they won't exchange it, it can always take a little trip to the floor. With HP, if you're not happy you can go back to the store and exchange it.

I agree on the numeric keypad. It just doesn't make any sense. If Sager can do it and have 4 speakers + subwoofer + 2HDDs + 2CD drives, Dell can at least put in a full size keyboard. Then again, Dell sells an add-on for ~$30 that is a USB numeric keypad...

Regards,

zakaluka2.
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post #39 of 43
6/24/06 at 6:23pm
I went to the store yesterday and saw an HP dv8000t that thing was huge, way too big, I wouldnt buy a 17".
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post #40 of 43
6/24/06 at 6:36pm
I'm sticking to a 15.4 or smaller. My friend just bought a 14 for college and asked me to help her clean out all the junk Compaq installed on it. The screen looked very close to my current 15.4, and I'd say that, along with the 15.4, are good screen sizes for college.
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