I'm a long time iBook user who's new to the PC notebook world, but I'm thinking about consolidating my iBook & desktop PC down to a single PC laptop, and would appreciate your advice on what to buy. Though I prefer Apple's hardware and OS, I'm looking at PCs because the apps I use most (web browser, Excel, Citrix, Eve Online, and Rome: Total War when it's available), run poorly (if at all) on the Mac.
I want a desktop replacement machine, but spend most of my afternoons/evenings chasing my 1 & 2 year old sons around the house, so I require decent portability and battery life as well. Anything tethered to the wall (like my current desktop) will only be used once in a blue moon. Also, my current systems' 1024x768 resolution feels cramped, and I'm not sure 1280x??? is a large enough improvement.
After a bit of research, I'm leaning in towards the Sony A190 due to its incredible screen, though the 64MB video and lousy trackpad buttons give me pause. I've also thought about the Mitac 8050, but the inferior screen (compared to the A190) worries me there. I don't know much about the various Sager systems except that they appear to focus on P4s and A64s, which seems dumb in a world of Dothans and MR9700s. I really would like to have a number pad on my keyboard though.
BTW, my budget is $3K, and I'd like something that looks halfway decent (which is hard to find outside the custom shops in the PC world).
I want a desktop replacement machine, but spend most of my afternoons/evenings chasing my 1 & 2 year old sons around the house, so I require decent portability and battery life as well. Anything tethered to the wall (like my current desktop) will only be used once in a blue moon. Also, my current systems' 1024x768 resolution feels cramped, and I'm not sure 1280x??? is a large enough improvement.
After a bit of research, I'm leaning in towards the Sony A190 due to its incredible screen, though the 64MB video and lousy trackpad buttons give me pause. I've also thought about the Mitac 8050, but the inferior screen (compared to the A190) worries me there. I don't know much about the various Sager systems except that they appear to focus on P4s and A64s, which seems dumb in a world of Dothans and MR9700s. I really would like to have a number pad on my keyboard though.
BTW, my budget is $3K, and I'd like something that looks halfway decent (which is hard to find outside the custom shops in the PC world).
