New Laptop Selection - Yea or Nay?
  • x4ax4a
    Asus N61JQ-XV1
    -Intel i7-740QM Quad Core Processor, 4 cores, 8 threads, 6MB cache, 1.73GHz/2.93GHz turbo boost
    -4GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM, expandable to 8GB
    -16" Widescreen LED Display, (1366x768)
    -Video Graphics, ATI Radeon HD 5730, 1GB DDR3 VRAM
    -500GB, 7200 rpm HD, 2.5" SATA
    -Blu Ray DVD combo
    -8 in 1 Card Reader
    -2.0 Mega Pixel Web Camera
    -Integrated 802.11N
    -Bluetooth
    -2 USB 3.0 ports
    -Altec Lansing speakers, SRS premium sound
    -HDMI port
    -E-SATA port
    -Windows 7 Home Premium
    -2 year warranty
    -$999.00 at Amazon
  • Sean RSean R
    Depends on what you need. That's a pretty heavy duty laptop, so if you just need to get online or blog, that's probably wildly overpowered. If you're doing a lot of gaming or video-intensive stuff or just want to be able to watch Blurays on a portable player (or use the laptop as a Bluray player), then it might be up your alley.
  • TimTim
    Yeah, they are some great specs for a heavy duty laptop, but for what about 95% of people use laptops for it would currently be a little overkill.
    What do you need it for?
  • x4ax4a
    @Sean, Tim:

    Yeah agree it definitely is overkill especially since the main uses will be internet, blogging, email and some word processing stuff. It's more like a low end gaming machine/desktop replacement.

    There are some decent lower end models that are a few hundred bucks cheaper. Though they lack the graphics card (internal intel graphics), bluetooth, blu ray, and the usb 3.0, E-SATA ports.

    Plus the i7 core has been around since 2009 (I think) but this i7-740-QM was just released in Q3 2010. Risk? Plus more gadgets, more likely for failures.

    Don't know? Always wanted a high end machine but never had one. But reality is I will probably never use it to its full functionality.

    Don't really have the bucks either so saving a few hundred would be nice. Shit been stewing over this for 2 weeks and getting frustrated. I went for 5 years with an HP laptop that had 512MB RAM and a 40GB HD. LOL! So that says volumes about what I really need, I guess.
  • x4ax4a
    UPDATE:
    After weeks of spinning my OCD rattled brain on buying a PC laptop and inches away from ordering one, a huge light bulb came on in my head. Literally 5 minutes up the road from me is a certified Apple reseller. They have been around for 10+ years. They sell all Apple products and are certified to repair them. Everything sold is the same price as Apple online & Apple stores. I'm getting the newest MacBook. 2.4 GHz Intel core duo, 2 GB DDR3 RAM, 250 GB HD, 13.3" LED Display, Nvidia GeForce 320 Graphics, bluetooth, 802.11 N etc. for $999. Also a combo wireless router/1 TB backup drive. No shipping, hassle free, just drive 5 minutes to store and buy. I've gone to the other side, goodbye PC's.
  • squashedsquashed
    I was going to say, get 2 computers. One biggish PC ($400) and another low end discounted laptop ($500) most of these low end has HDMI out, and has more than enough power for internet + multimedia.



    but anyway, you can always get little discounted PC box later for $200 if you really need it later.
  • x4ax4a
    I thought of that too. The major problem though is space. I'm living in real cramped quarters. Fuck, I sleep on a damn couch cause there's no room for a bed for me. So, going as portable as I can is a necessity. Now my OCD brain is spinning again and I'm thinking I should get the MacBook Pro for $1,199. But the only difference for the 13" model is 4 GB Ram, SD card reader and Aluminum body. Everything else the same for the 13" inch. The 15" Pro is around $1,500 and is a more powerful beast. But the bucks are too high and I really don't need the extra power. So, I guess just the straight MacBook is it. Can always upgrade RAM later. Just hope that being sucked into Jobs draconian empire is not going to be a mistake.
  • x4ax4a
    OCD + Lortabs.
    It's the 13" MacBook Pro now. Plus the Time Capsule - combo wireless router/server and 1 TB backup drive. Plus MS Office for Mac. Total $1600.00 and change. Need to rob banks instead of 7-Elevens. Fucking Steve Jobs, love him and hate him, all at the same time.
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