An apple or alien????

It really depends.

If battery life is also important, go for the Sentia. Its very fast (especially if you max out the config) and light. If, on the other hand, you dig raw power, go for a maxed out 7700. Just remember, it weighs 12 lbs.

Sure. Rig it out with the 2Ghz Pentium M, 2GB RAM and the 60GB 7200rpm HDD plus wireless and the extended warranty. It will fly.

What kind of work will you perform with your rig?
For graphic design or vast image editing you can't go wrong with an apple, as long as you don't mind getting rid of Windows (*g*) or an Intel based laptop with high end GPU and a lot of RAM.

If you don't use graphic intense applications (and that includes playing games like HL2) you can savely go with the sentia. The Mobile CPU provides very good power and runs cool and silent (don't want a noise machine in a class room).

Get a fast HD and an extended warranty, but why get more that 1GB, if you arn't gonna play heavy games?

i find myself always referring ppl to the acer 8104 for this type of situation. go take a look at that one.

The reason for the extra RAM is to make sure the Integrated Graphics do not interfere with application operations, and also to facilitate working with big files.

By the way, there are Sentia owners who have posted here about playing HL2 on the Sentia. You wouldn't think it would work, but it does.

Apples I don't like for myriad reasons (and I know a former Apple dealer). Acer is spotty in the PC laptop arena, I've used their hardware before and it always runs slower than the specs would indicate. But who knows. maybe they've changed.

If he uses apps which use more VRAM he shouldn't go with the Integrated Graphics in the first place. Even a low clocked M9000 can kick the IG2's behind.

When I play games like HL2 or Farcry I want to enjoy more than the low to basic settings.

You get the best graphic design application for Mac.

The Acer Aspire 1692WLMi I bought for a friend seems to do quite well, granted that they include 4.200 RPM drives and mediocre RAM (which should be replaced).

I agree a dedicated vid card will beat IG2. however, his specs specifically said he's not a gamer, so the business class graphics of IG2 ought to serve just fine.

Your Acer remark highlights one of the issues I have with Acer. The buyer should not be stuck buying RAM and HDDs separately, installing them and then having to reimage the machine. I expect PC vendors to handle this sort of thing at the point of sale.

I think that was exactly what I said earlier.

Well it's a shame that you can't change those, but in return you'll get a low-cost and stable machine which serves the need of most users (My colleague uses it for presentation and gaming). If he ever feels the need to upgrade - he can (hail to the external USB 2.0 casings).

well sounds like u just want to spend alot of money on a fancy computer? Just because you can max out options on one computer doesnt mean it is a very GOOD computer for YOUR needs. an apple is an awesome product I had a g4 powerbook 3 years ago when they first came out. keep that in mind as g5 SHOULD be right around the corner if they can get the damn heat issues worked out. A 7700 sounds cool because of a 3.6ghz processor? Well, that is OK, but it is the G06800 or x800 graphics card that will BLOW away APPLEs for gaming. If you game, dont get apple powerbook. But that alienware sucks battery life, is heavy as hell, but that is what a desktop replacement is all about...RAW POWER. nagh sayin?

if you have that much money to spend and you need a computer to bring to classes do this: buy a cheap low power using laptop for maybe 600 bucks and than build a desktop for 1500 or so.

I was in the same situation as you, except I wanted a gaming machine also. I looked at both the Mac's and Alienware (which I ended up buying). Mac's are great machines, don't get me wrong. I would get one at the drop of a hat if it wasn't for all the hassel to get a Mac machine to work with other windows based machines on a network. That and the Mac operating system takes a little longer to get used to, especially if you have been using windows all your life. The only great thing about Mac's is that if you do get one, you will never have to worry about a virus. The newest operating systems for Mac's are based on Unix, which so far no one has been able to code a virus for (or at least a succesful one). Mac's also have some pretty impressive graphics, that and over all their battery life is a lot longer than a comparable windows based machine. The reason for that is because they require less resources to run. For example, the newest Mac's processors run at around 1ghz (I think) and that is more than it would ever need. Heck, it could probably run on a 800mhz system and still be as fast as a windows system running on a P4 3ghz.

As for Alienware systems, they are well, among the top windows based systems. My system has a P4 3.2ghz, 2 gig ram, bla bla bla... it can run Maya and Photoshop (all in the process of doing something, not just sitting there) all at the same time without even any noticable slow down, no joke. I got the creative professional version of the Area51-m, the Roswell-m, becuase I could get the NVidia Quadro Go 1000 graphics card. That is the reason it can do that. That graphics card is probably one of the better (now out dated) AGP cards for laptops. I run UT2k4 at maxed settings in online play with no lag at all. It is one serious machine. I don't think you could do that on a Mac. If you can, please show me the set up that can. Heck, my chem prof is a Mac-aholic (sorry, bad pun) and he looked at my machine as was very impressed. It actually has better graphics capabilities than his Mac laptop does. An example of this is a molecular modeling program we use to view molecules (like a strand of DNA) in 3D, the view on my machine is smoother and a clearer picture than his. The one on his looks jagged and runs slower. However, the down side to Alienware is the battery life. It leaves a lot to be desired. I just carry my power cord with me everywhere, but even that weights a ton. Even the power cord has its own cooling fan!

So, I guess that should sum things up pretty good, Mac's are great for long battery life and decent to awsome graphics (the desk tops have much better graphics than the laptops do). The Alienware have aswome graphics all-round and extremely powerfull but are severely lacking when it comes to battery life. I don't think I can ever get 2hrs out of my battery even just listening to music, it usualy dies after an hour and a half. I have the 5500 which is an inch smaller (less thick) than the 7700 and it is pretty portable. I can carry it in my backpack without too much of a problem. I don't even notice it anymore when I am carrying it. Mac's are much smaller and a lot easier to carry (smaller as in thinner).

polorboy,

I am looking for a laptop that will perform 3d rendering with software like AutoCAD, 3dMax, Revit, etc. and thought I had decided on the Alienware unit similar to yours. However, I sort of got scared off by reading some of the horror stories on the notebook forums about Alienware, and Voodoo, customer support and warranty (or lack thereof).

I currently have a Dell Inspiron 8500, my third Dell unit which I have been very satisfied with. But I recently began using the 3D software programs and my 2 year old laptop can't keep up with the renderings. I know I should concentrate on a system with an OpenGL card and probably a P4, in lieu of Pentium M.

What has your experience been with Alienware support and should I reconsider them? I am also looking at the EUROCOM D900T Phantom unit, but this is a Canadian company I know very little about. Big performer and big $$$.

If you perform any kind of 3D apps - hands off the IG2 GPU.

@rockwood - your current GPU will perform even better than the IG2 'cause you have either an ATI M9000 or a NVidia GeForce4 4200go.

Most important ist to look for a satisfiying GPU. If you're gonna use it in a class room a Mobile CPU is advisable. The P4 has only one domain left where it truely beats the P-M - Video Editing.

The Eurocom D900T is the same basic modell as the AW7700 minus the modded case plus some more options like the Quadro FX go 1400.

Lazarus,

Are you familiar with EUROCOM as a company with respect to service, warranty, etc.? Their pricing structure is somewhat higher.

Also, embarassingly, what is the IG2 GPU? And are you saying that the PM is superior in most all aspects, including 3D rendering, than the P4. I noticed that Dell is using the mobile unit in lieu of the P4 in their Precision mobile workstations, while others, including EUROCOM, are offering theirs with the P4.

The only thing about Eurocom that I can tell you for sure is that they have a hand for euphoric system anouncements. *g* I've never ordered from them (one reason is I'm in germany). I was tempted do so before AW released their 5500, 'cos they offered a nice UXGA rig.

The IG2 is the Intel Integrated Graphics 2 Video Chip. Is doesn't have dedicated VRAM, but uses the regular RAM of your rig, resulting in very low 3D Video capabilities (it saves you some battery power though).

The PM is superior in its intelligent chip structure. For raw power the P4 has in some aspects a slight advantage (except Video Editing where it has a big advantage). If you don't mind a short battery life and a noisy rig go for the P4 (especially the Prescott), otherwise you won't get around a sweet and silent PM.