I'm about to make my biggest laptop purchase with the Sager 9280, but before I do, there are a few unmentioned issues I wanted to ask about.

First, many of the Sager models have line-in jacks on the very front of the laptop (http://www.pctorque.com/sager-9280-g...computers.php#), which seems a little awkward if you use headphones or speakers a lot. As someone who uses headphones a lot, I can't see how I could easily lie down with the computer if a headphone wire is sticking out of the front. Anyone found a way around this or is this even an issue?

Second, the key board seems pretty far back towards the screen - kind of concerned my wrists will be resting squarely on the laptop. Maybe this isn't warranted, but it looks like it could be an issue.

Finally, I want to use my sager in class too. Is the Sager any louder than other gaming notebooks - like the overpriced Alienware brand? - or is about the same loudness. B/c I'd be willing to spend extra money for less noise when I'm just taking notes in word.

Overall, the Sager is the cheapest brand I can find with top specs. Even Alienware's mid-level brands seem pretty "far behind" technologically compared to Sager.

Also, I really appreciate the reviews here, but they sometimes seem a little glowing. Or perhaps the Sager is really as good as the reviews say -- thank you!

Your concerns are understandable and I'd like to address them here. While the issue with the headphone jack and keyboard are not within anyone's control (except Clevo's of course), much of this is just a matter of "getting used to." This has been my experience with all electronics and I find that what I had thought was once extremely annoying or uncomfortable is now second nature. At the end of the day it's your call though.

With regards to the noise, Clevo and Sager do all they can to ensure that noise levels are at their lowest. If you are only using Microsoft Word and other programs not requiring a high amount of CPU usage then this should not be an issue during class when I assume you're not playing games .

We hope this helps!

While I appreciate the response, I'm still looking for responses from folks (i.e. consumers) who have used the headphone-jack in front setup - I want to know how it works for you? The more I look at the sager brand, the more it's bothering me. It's really becoming a deal breaker.

I just can't imagine *why* clevo would put line-in jacks on the front of a system - it's so obviously annoying for the user. I experimented by putting taping my headphone jack to the front of my laptop and found it very awkward to type with my hands over a wire and to have it jutting out at me. The ideal laptop setup - in my personal opinion - is line-in stuff on the left-hand side, optical drive on the right-hand side, and touchpad only slightly to the left. Some manufacturers have not decided on what works and still continue to design laptops with very odd interfaces, and for some reason, people don't complain a lot about this.

EDIT: I just found a solution to this problem. USB speakers and headphones! So, it's no longer an issue.
It's like people buy laptops thinking that performance and looks are the key features, completely ignoring the obvious issues with how the computer actually feels. I'd argue the way a laptop feels is as important as performance.

This, I agree.

cheers ...

Alienware uses clevo notebooks just like Sager. Alienware just adds a custom lid and some color... but the components are the same. So if you are comparing it to the same clevo model at AW then it will have the same cooling system.

I've had my 5797 since end of July, no quams about it and the front jack is not a deal breaker. I even have my 5797 with a Pacific Breeze cooler in the back which tilts the whole laptop forward and it's still useable, abliet I have to be careful to plug it in.

The Clevo/Sager are performance machines, that's why people buy them and the 5797 chasis is time proven over a couple of generations.

I absolutely love mine with the Q9000 and the M280, it sure breaks the brick that I had - the Sager 9750. The 5797, imo, is twice as powerful and 1/4 smaller in size. I can't see any package out there that even comes close to matching it in the 17" category without being a brick and costing twice as much aka AW.