Looking to get a new Laptop..suggestions/recommendations?

[Fuggz]

lmao noob, you didn't even look up the right notebook. Learn to google first then come back to BHW.

You're wrong because my XPS 15 (L502X) has:

15" display AUO Optronics 1080P display (best laptop display) (17" IS available L702X)
Core i7 2720 Quad Core
Skype Certified HD webcam
9 Cell Battery
Blu Ray BURNER
Yes, 8 GB Ram (and it's plenty)
750GB 7200rpm HD
BACKLIT KEYBOARD
Down Firing Subwoofer (with WAVES Audio - look it up) and JBL speakers
Nvidia GT540
Amazing touchpad and keyboard, very responsive (no lag issues here)
EXCELLENT cooling system actually - it's on the side and works very well - they did a great on cooling on this notebook
3 USB Ports (2 of them 3.0)
Built in TV Tuner Card
HDMI, display port, etc

I paid $1300 for that configuration, with 2 year accidental warranty. thrown in

Yes the MSI has a better graphics card since um, it's a GAMING laptop. The XPS 15 is arguably the best multimedia notebook on the market, it also works great for many games but if you want bleeding edge then go with Sager etc. Honestly that MSI looks cheap, like all MSI's. The build quality is questionable and that keyboard looks like it'll be a source of further problems in time.

I have friends who have the XPS and it is a great machine, but iirc it tops out at 8gb of RAM.

 

[The Doctor]

 

[Chrono]

First off, learn to google simple information. I know the specs of my own laptop, and they ARE as listed, much of my config was custom (battery etc look at the optional upgrades). I got it 6 months ago so certainly the options available would have changed. The XPS is top rated and is the best laptop I've ever had. It's much higher quality than the POS's MSI produces, and I sold hundreds of laptops in college. The screen alone blows away anything on the market, it's amazing. Honestly the only thing the XPS 15 really needs is a high end GPU and it'd be perfect. Also just because it's called the "steel" model you think that means it automatically awesome? What a noob :haha:

 

[hawke]

forget what everyone else just said. I've been researching for weeks now and I have the same budget as you. Here is what I arrived at and just ordered. The processor, graphics card, RAM, sound, display, hard drive are all AMAZING. It doesn't come with solid state drives but it comes with something even more special you wont find on normal laptops which is a RAID controller. It ships with 2 7200 RPM drives in RAID0 which is super fast. If you wanted to you could even buy 2 solid states and slap them in RAID 0 giving yourself crazy overkill. not to mention the laptop itself looks slick with part of the casing being metal and the customizable LED backlit keyboard:

MSI - GT780DXR-447US

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2de5WA-qAs​

http://www.msimobile.com/level3_productpage.aspx?id=341

Don't buy an MSI lol.... There service is SHIT to say the least. I bought an MSI 460 DX a few weeks ago, and it arrived with 3 dead pixels, right in the middle of the screen... They blamed me!!

THen they proceded to tell me that even if it was THEIR fault that the warranty doesn't cover dead pixels unless it's four or more lol, go figure right?

Anyways, I just got my MAcbook pro Core i7 quad from school, and I have to say, I haven't touched my Notebook in 3 day's lol... I love this thing. Thought it was going to be rough trying to learn how to use it, as I've been a PC guy all my life

Boy was I wrong, it's actually easier and I'm more productive using my MAC

Hope that helps

 

[brwipens]

Been in IT for 20 years and MSI does not have a good reputation for motherboards so I'm not so sure I'd pay a premium for a laptop from them. I'd let everyone else be the testers for that.

Macbooks are so ridiculously overpriced for what you get that it's only an option if the OP is looking to be "kewl" and "hip."

Here's the thing: is this laptop the OP wants going to be a 24/7 machine and there won't be a desktop ever? Is the OP into resource-hungry gaming or never intends to use the laptop for gaming? Lot easier to give recommendations based on exactly what the laptop will be used for. If it's a desktop replacement, you're probably looking for a 17" display and also a machine that can do some gaming possibly. If it's not a desktop replacement or OP intends to buy a desktop soon, 15.6" display may be enough.

If it's a laptop that will be used instead of a desktop, I'd pay the premium price that ASUS commands and get an ASUS any day over MSI.

 

[The Doctor]

Don't buy an MSI lol.... There service is SHIT to say the least. I bought an MSI 460 DX a few weeks ago, and it arrived with 3 dead pixels, right in the middle of the screen... They blamed me!!

THen they proceded to tell me that even if it was THEIR fault that the warranty doesn't cover dead pixels unless it's four or more lol, go figure right?

Anyways, I just got my MAcbook pro Core i7 quad from school, and I have to say, I haven't touched my Notebook in 3 day's lol... I love this thing. Thought it was going to be rough trying to learn how to use it, as I've been a PC guy all my life

Boy was I wrong, it's actually easier and I'm more productive using my MAC

Hope that helps

both asus and dell have similar pixel policies to msi though I do not agree with any of their pixel policies.

 

[hawke]

Been in IT for 20 years and MSI does not have a good reputation for motherboards so I'm not so sure I'd pay a premium for a laptop from them. I'd let everyone else be the testers for that.

Macbooks are so ridiculously overpriced for what you get that it's only an option if the OP is looking to be "kewl" and "hip."

Here's the thing: is this laptop the OP wants going to be a 24/7 machine and there won't be a desktop ever? Is the OP into resource-hungry gaming or never intends to use the laptop for gaming? Lot easier to give recommendations based on exactly what the laptop will be used for. If it's a desktop replacement, you're probably looking for a 17" display and also a machine that can do some gaming possibly. If it's not a desktop replacement or OP intends to buy a desktop soon, 15.6" display may be enough.

If it's a laptop that will be used instead of a desktop, I'd pay the premium price that ASUS commands and get an ASUS any day over MSI.

both asus and dell have similar pixel policies to msi though I do not agree with any of their pixel policies.

I can deal with the pixel policy, what I can't deal with is the fact that they Said It was MY fault lol...

also, being "Hip" and "kewl" has nothing to do with it. My work is sooo much more fluid, and productivity is seriously better than it was with my Notebook.... and I'm a MAC newb lol

And gaming isn't an issue as I dual boot windows7 with boot camp, and Play my games including MW3 at max settings with NO issues...

Best of both worlds in my Opinion

 

[InfinityAI]

I just needed a convenient laptop that I could take everywhere so the macbook air worked well for me. Have a macbook pro but it's too bulky for me, and I can't throw it like a frisbee like my air.

Hmm...what am I missing.
Oh yeah, and I can fit it in an envelope That feature is pretty pointless though

Steve Jobs: "Oh look at we have here. This laptop is light as shit, let's call it an AIR!"

 

[Virtualz]

I would recommend any kind of high grade Asus product probably the quietest fan noise around an robust build

 

[Kreylar]

What I like best about my Asus is that no matter what high end game I am running it still remains very cool. They do cooling right with two big jet vents on the back of the laptop. The stark contrast between the Asus laptop and my old HP Pavillion still amazes me, I swear I could have fried an egg on top of that computer.

 

[maryowen7002]

if only they could improve battery life, seems like technology is moving fast but battery technology for laptops and cell phones are stuck in the past

 

[dewaz]

 

[The Doctor]

 

[Isis]

So which laptops have batteries that last the longest? Two hours isn't enough, especially if you are on an airplane with no plugs in your chair arms.