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Looking for input on new laptop buy

post #1 of 13
12/18/12 at 8:32am
Thread Starter 
Current laptop is a Toshiba Qosmio i5 model which I have really enjoyed, but I'm looking to upgrade to a more powerful model. This is to be used like the former, basicly a desktop replacement with very light if ever gaming. I've narrowed down my selections to a Toshiba Satellite, ASUS and MSI...both the ASUS and MSI are gaming units. Looking for the best bang for the buck and the Toshiba seems to be in the lead atm for my purposes. Would the resolution and 7200rpm hdd's offered by ASUS and MSI justify their consideration over the Toshiba? I tend to keep a laptop for a fairly long time. Not sure about the new Windows 8 yet, but it seems to be difficult to find one with Win 7 anymore. Btw, all of these will sport the latest i7 cpu.
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post #2 of 13
12/18/12 at 8:38am
It's a personal preference, first and foremost, on notebooks choosing. If you are happy with Toshiba, with its current configuration offer then stick with it. Honestly.

cheers ...
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post #3 of 13
12/18/12 at 8:46am
Thread Starter 
I'm wondering if the better screen resolution and 7200rpm hardrive of the ASUS and MSI are worth the several hundred dollar increase in price. I can get the Toshiba Satellite with back-lit keys and upgraded memory (12GB) for just a little over $1000. I would spend over $1300 for the other models.
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post #4 of 13
12/18/12 at 12:01pm
The difference in price justifies the larger screen resolution and the drive, but the question is would you really need them, seeing that you are currently happy the Toshiba configuration smile.gif

cheers ...
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post #5 of 13
12/18/12 at 1:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post

The difference in price justifies the larger screen resolution and the drive, but the question is would you really need them, seeing that you are currently happy the Toshiba configuration smile.gif
cheers ...

Having never seen a 1080p laptop screen I am clueless as to how happy I really am. wink.gif Here are the specs on the Toshiba I'm looking at...





Edit: Just found one of these that can be had for less than $900...nice video upgrade? http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/retail-product.jsp?poid=2000044072
Edited by rickss69 - 12/18/12 at 1:19pm
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post #6 of 13
12/18/12 at 7:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rickss69 View Post

Having never seen a 1080p laptop screen I am clueless as to how happy I really am. wink.gif Here are the specs on the Toshiba I'm looking at...

Edit: Just found one of these that can be had for less than $900...nice video upgrade? http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/retail-product.jsp?poid=2000044072

Looking like a very good deal. Unless you are into CAD, or video editing, a native 1080p screen on a notebook is kinda overkill. Then again it might look good with a 17" screen size. The good graphic card on the deal can give you good 1080p viewing on an external wink.gif

cheers ...
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post #7 of 13
1/16/13 at 12:37pm
Thread Starter 
After much research on custom pc sites I finally opted for a branded MSI... from Walmart of all places lol, $100 cheaper than anywhere else I could find. http://www.walmart.com/ip/MSI-Black-17.3-GT70-0NC-494US-Laptop-PC-with-Intel-Core-i7-3630QM-Processor-and-Windows-8/21978028

Should hold me for a good long time. Been toying with a ssd in the Toshiba lately and the results were spectacular...will absolutely be adding one to the MSI. Will make recovery discs of Win 8, throw in the ssd and then do a Win 7 install. thumbup.gif
Edited by rickss69 - 1/16/13 at 12:49pm
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post #8 of 13
1/16/13 at 2:31pm
Impressive specs smile.gif

cheers ...
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post #9 of 13
1/19/13 at 5:36am
Thread Starter 
Question - Is it possible for me to leave the hdd with Win 8 in place and add the ssd with Win 7 for a dual boot scenario? Possibly use the hdd for storage?
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post #10 of 13
1/19/13 at 8:28pm
Yes to both

cheers ...
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post #11 of 13
1/19/13 at 9:49pm
Thread Starter 
Decided to do it in an unorthodox way. I will leave the original 7200 hdd with Win 8 unmolested and transfer it over to the secondary drive space then install the ssd in the primary slot running Win 7. Not a true dual boot I know...I will just make my selection in bios boot order. Chances are high that I will be using Win 7 almost exclusively...maybe I can still use the Win 8 drive for storage. That's the plan anyway...wink.gif
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post #12 of 13
1/20/13 at 7:34am
As long as the file format is being supported on both OS version, there should be no issue

cheers ...
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post #13 of 13
1/28/13 at 12:45am
Thread Starter 
An ending to the story...

By far the MSI laptop goes down as the worst product I have ever purchased. Out of the box performance was dismal and the attempt to change over to Win 7 from 8 was a horrific experience. Turbo feature never worked and there are no drivers available for the 670MX. Overall my i5 Toshiba put the MSI to shame...unexpected with the specs of the MSI. After five days in I threw up my hands, boxed it up and drove to the closest Walmart. Girl at the desk asked me if I wanted an exchange or a refund and I said yes. She looked at me kind of funny, but this is what I walked out with...





After this fiasco I think this will be the end of my laptop adventures. I'll just hang on to the Toshiba until it gives up the ghost.
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