I'm a student in a university. I need a notebook but not sure which notebook to buy. First of all, I really need a mobile computer because while the computer would be lying on my desk 95% of the time, every now and again I would move from apartment to apartment (plus I do not have much space). I would use the notebook for typing, surfing the net, editing digital pictures and editing and mixing music. I wouldn't be watching too many DVDs. Of course, I would play games but only 2-4 hours per week. I love Half-Life 2 so that would probably be my only game for a long time. Bare in mind that while I'd play rarely I want HL2 for example to run at moderately high resolution with some effects on. The notebook has to be widescreen (preferably 15,4") and has to contain preferably Centrino technology with Ati graphics.
Then there's the matter of 'futureproof'. I know that PC technology goes on rapidly and what you buy today can be obsolete under a year. However, I'm not going to buy a new notebook for four maybe five years, so I need the notebook I buy to be at least high-end at the time that it is bought. By the way, the notebook would be my only computer (and I do not want to play video games such as XBOX, PS3 or Nintendo Revolution). However, my maximum budget is 2600 dollars (although if push comes to shove, I guess I could stetch to 3000 dollars). The preferable buying time of this notebook would be 3 months from now.
My options:
Acer TravelMate 8104: This seems to be a nice notebook. It's not a desktop replacement notebook but it's pretty powerful and can run HL2 silky smooth (although not with 4xAA). Doom3 (which I won't probably be playing) runs poorer. The notebook looks cool and has a lot of cool features although the placement of USB-slots and such isn't perfect. All in all, I think this notebook would suit me better than good, but I'm afraid that it's not exactly 'futureproof'.
Dell I9300 or Alienware Area-51m 7700: Both of these notebooks are really good gaming rigs, especially Alienware. The problem is that they are both extra bulky and extra expensive, again especially Alienware. Unfortunately I happen to live in a country that prices both of these notebooks just over 3000 dollars. Sure they run even Doom3 brilliant and sure they are quite futureproof, but the performance compromises the size, the price and the battery life. To be honest with you, I wouldn't necessarily want buy either one of these.
Wait 8-12 months for new technologies: This is an option, but I really would need a notebook before next fall, mainly because my university starts again. On the other hand, technologies such as dual-core mobile CPUs and 64bit CPUs are coming and I'm sure that Ati has some new tricks up to its sleeve by then (BTW, I'm an Intel and Ati -man. While I might buy nVIDIA also, I won't buy AMD, don't ask my why). With these inside the hood of a notebook, I could play HL2 with everything on the max. Sadly, I'd have to wait a year (I now have to lend my parents' computer which sucks) and also, as is the case with Ati Mobility Radeon X800, the really cool components are only available in speciality notebooks such as Alienware or VoodooPC (which is not available where I'm from). However, I'd prefer this option more than buying for example Alienware.
The final option is the unknown. Have I overlooked something?
Help me out!
Then there's the matter of 'futureproof'. I know that PC technology goes on rapidly and what you buy today can be obsolete under a year. However, I'm not going to buy a new notebook for four maybe five years, so I need the notebook I buy to be at least high-end at the time that it is bought. By the way, the notebook would be my only computer (and I do not want to play video games such as XBOX, PS3 or Nintendo Revolution). However, my maximum budget is 2600 dollars (although if push comes to shove, I guess I could stetch to 3000 dollars). The preferable buying time of this notebook would be 3 months from now.
My options:
Acer TravelMate 8104: This seems to be a nice notebook. It's not a desktop replacement notebook but it's pretty powerful and can run HL2 silky smooth (although not with 4xAA). Doom3 (which I won't probably be playing) runs poorer. The notebook looks cool and has a lot of cool features although the placement of USB-slots and such isn't perfect. All in all, I think this notebook would suit me better than good, but I'm afraid that it's not exactly 'futureproof'.
Dell I9300 or Alienware Area-51m 7700: Both of these notebooks are really good gaming rigs, especially Alienware. The problem is that they are both extra bulky and extra expensive, again especially Alienware. Unfortunately I happen to live in a country that prices both of these notebooks just over 3000 dollars. Sure they run even Doom3 brilliant and sure they are quite futureproof, but the performance compromises the size, the price and the battery life. To be honest with you, I wouldn't necessarily want buy either one of these.
Wait 8-12 months for new technologies: This is an option, but I really would need a notebook before next fall, mainly because my university starts again. On the other hand, technologies such as dual-core mobile CPUs and 64bit CPUs are coming and I'm sure that Ati has some new tricks up to its sleeve by then (BTW, I'm an Intel and Ati -man. While I might buy nVIDIA also, I won't buy AMD, don't ask my why). With these inside the hood of a notebook, I could play HL2 with everything on the max. Sadly, I'd have to wait a year (I now have to lend my parents' computer which sucks) and also, as is the case with Ati Mobility Radeon X800, the really cool components are only available in speciality notebooks such as Alienware or VoodooPC (which is not available where I'm from). However, I'd prefer this option more than buying for example Alienware.
The final option is the unknown. Have I overlooked something?
Help me out!
Ei musta HP:t kovin halpoja ole. Yeah, HP has some quality products but the model you are talking about has an Ati Mobility Fire GL T2 (128MB) graphics card which is hardly a gaming graphics card (it's more of a CAD card). Moreover, NW8240 seems really like IBM in that it's purely a business notebook. And I don't really like HP's all-black notebooks.
