For those wanting upgraded video option please read  

Interesting poll here. For myself, I put it at around US$600 as to what I'd be willing to pay. Even though a new video and mobo upgrade is unlikely to be so inexpensive, IMO, forking out say a US$1000 to do a full upgrade would be a little too much - considering that one could just sit out the upgrade for a few months, then top it up with US$500 to US$700 and get a brand new machine altogether.

Just my opinion on that though!

Rob

Does this include possible processor/memory upgrades (Who knows, maybe PC800 will get available...) while we're at it? This would drastically affect my price.

my thoughts

yeah, for the motherboard and video, ill go with that-considering the motherboard will have the necessary tweaks of updated boards, also enable to run faster processors etc. I believe that would be a big step in complete laptop upgradeability.

This is interesting...

I had asked about the possibility of mailing in whichever lappy I got for an upgrade on the GPU. I was hoping that I could buy now - turn it in later to get it upgraded with the new Motherboard or 128 M9 (if we're talking 5660) or the Ultra Sharp UXGA.

I think bout usd 500 is fair for a 128M9 and Ultra Sharp UXGA upgrade...

Anyone wanna hit me for being cheap?

Do we get to keep the old mobo?

Then

Then id have to say im with it.

Heck yea! I got a use for it -- replacement part. Next to the LCD the most expensive laptop part is the motherboard, I'd think.

I put 500 to 600 btw. Any more than that, and it's really not worth it. Just think, you could probably sell you old laptop for about $600 less than the cost of a new one... worst is you'll be out a lappy for a week. Best is, you get a complete upgrade.

old mobo = 1/2 of a damn fast computer lol not letting that go to waist... if the svideo out isnt part of the lcd controler (which im assuming isnt attached to the mobo, then all id need is a new processor and a keyboard and mouse maybe ram, and a powersupply forgot about that.

Don't forget the port upgrades (USB1 to USB2 is an example for older ones... I imagine firewire1 to firewire2 will be one soon). :-) I love this idea, though. It would be a sweet thing to implement.... I'm assuming they'll try and keep it up as long as the chassis are the same from mobo to mobo....

See

Well, see thats what im saying, if the motherboard offers more perks on it, were in there. The only thing is, do they modify the case...because what if theres another pc card slot (making it two instead of one)? And, if you can upgrade your video...niceness...verry niceness...and that is pretty close to the ultimate laptop. The only other thing would be the monitor/lcd. But then two, it would depend (as mentioned earlier) what else was offered on the mobo. For me, it is a ways off, but DEFINITELY in my crystal ball (future). But, when you consider that M10 and a possible 128 being a short ways off. Man, thats pretty tempting. And lest i forget the p4 3.06 with hyperthreading, or a slower p4 but with hyperthreading capabilities...All i can say, is that if there is an offer of a 128ddr in future lappies with a mobo upgrade, i think im sold. Heck, i might as well have the sucker painted (HOOOPEFULLY BRIGHT RED!!!!And in the Hypersonic pc style!!) as well!!!

The future does look bright...

I'm in the same boat Icefluxx.

Though this upgradability would serioulsy kill a good deal of the buyer's remorse, and win over some of those dell users, all you'd have to do then would be to offer a nice lcd so it would be more worth keeping. (Not to say this one is particularly bad or anything, just that the dell lcds are soo nice).

By the way, to do such an operation on an ibm thinkpad t20, they charge about $800 for everything, but you have to spill something on the mobo to get them to do it

wear and tear

after only two years, my previous laptop was definitely starting to show its age. in particular, the screen is considerably dimmer than a new screen, and minor keyboard problems start to creep up. in general, laptops get banged around much more than a desktop. thus, I went with $500 to $600, because an upgraded used laptop would not be nearly as good as a new laptop. best thing about the upgrade option is it would be much easier to come up with $500 or $600 than to come up with $1750 or more to get a similarly outfitted new laptop. that way I could keep up with the modern game requirements without having to lobby the wife to go along with another huge investment, like I had to when I bought my 5660 in November.

in total agreement

best thing about the upgrade option is it would be much easier to come up with $500 or $600 than to come up with $1750 or more to get a similarly outfitted new laptop.

Im in total agreement. That can seriously add up in say, 5yrs.

Some of us wouldn't want another laptop, they'd just want one really good one :-).

Not that an extra laptop would really hurt, it could be sold or kept around for novelty (funny, i'm taking brand new p4 laptops and already converting them to novlety ...)

handing them down

my current computer is only the second computer I've owned, and the third between my wife and I, but now that we have my old laptop still working and the new one, I really like each of us having our own comp and having the wireless network, so we don't have to take turns using the comp and being on the internet. my wife's computer needs are much less than mine (she just surfs the net and does normal office work type stuff, while I do current games, plus that other stuff), so her taking my hand me downs every 2 or 3 years might just work out fine, so long as she doesn't get annoyed with always taking the used comps and me getting new I'll make up for it by making sure she always has the newer car

the poll results seem consistent with that

I agree with what seems to be your unstated point that people should at least be willing to pay what it would cost to do the same upgrade on a desktop. Assuming the 7 who responded none of the prices listed think it should cost less than $500, that is clearly wishful thinking.

But the vast majority of the people who responded already seem to have a reasonable perspective on what it should cost, according to the results so far.

Btw, be honest now Adam, was it you that voted for $900-$1,000? just teasing!

From the poll results, which are obviously going to be skewed a little low by people like me probably lowballing a little to try to persuade the price to be lower, I'd bet you would sell a bunch of people on this at say $700. Hopefully, us lowballers won't deter you from setting up the service.

Me, I'll probably just by a new one when the one my wife is now using, which is my old HP laptop, dies, then give her my 5660, which by then I hope will be about 2 or 3 years old. maybe I am wishful thinking that the games wont push me to upgrade faster, but I hope not because the wife will not go along with the expense of a new laptop every year. hell, I'm even too cheap to do that. I'll be glad if there is a less extreme upgrade option than buying a whole new computer, just in case my gaming needs dictate a faster upgrade schedule.

PCTORQUE

Well, thus far, I trust PCTORQUES asessment. And you did hit the nail on the head there. I haddnt quite thought of it that way, but sure, that is about the right price. And it is just plain cheaper. 600 as opposed to 1600...or you could get a $600 dell.....



hehehe...