Have laptops reached the point of being suitable desktop replacements for a power user?

[Jumpem]

You can get dvd burners, fast hard drives, and large screens with them. You can also get 128mb+ video cards, but I am not sure if they are up to the job of current and upcoming games.

What do you guys think? Have any of you gone to laptop only?

 

[Tab]

Absolutely not.

 

[trikster2]

Absolutely!

 

[Gioron]

My feeling is that there are some laptops out there that can compete with desktops for gaming, but they still loose out on the high end and are much more expensive. Pluss, they're the larger and bulkier laptops, and that makes them not nearly as useful in terms of portability. Of course, they're still more portable than a desktop, but not by enough to make it worth the high price and lower performance. YMMV.

 

[sciencewhiz]

it depends on whether you want to carry a 13lb laptop.

 

[DaFinn]

I have an IBM TP T41p with P-M 1,7Ghz/1Gb/14,1" TFT (1400x1050)/Ati FireGL T2 128Mb/60Gb HDD 7200rpm, 8Mb cache/DVD-RW/Wlan/... It does all the jobs I need it to do, and also plays games adequitely. Of course you can forget DOOM3@1400x1050... but CoD runs nicely at 1024x768 with little less details or 800x600 with all on. Enough for me. I hardly ever use my desktop anymore... only for extra storage. The IBM is great if you are looking for a real laptop, if you just looking for desktop replacement you can get A64 systems w. ATI9800 graphics that will do the job...

So, I would say YES!

 

[Abhi]

If you a gamer, not really. Because desktops offer you better newer video cards.

For anything else. Yes.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

For gamers, overclockers, and case modding freaks (the true hardcore), not even close.

For those who don't like carrying around 15 lb desktop-replacement laptops with 30 mins of battery life, not even close.

For everyone else, yes.

 

[Abhi]

A decent compromise is something like the Inspiron 8600.

Not too big and heavy, but still pretty powerful if configured right.

It also has good battery life...

 

[Abhi]

any of you gone to laptop only?

I am using just a laptop, no desktops.

 

[Feneant2]

The Dell XPS and 9100 do a great job against middle end pc's. The video isn't up to the level of desktop pc's but it can still do everything I need it to with me 9700.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
it depends on whether you want to carry a 13lb laptop.

Most of the ones with 128mb+ radeons seem to be in the 7-8 lb range.

 

[sciencewhiz]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
it depends on whether you want to carry a 13lb laptop.

Most of the ones with 128mb+ radeons seem to be in the 7-8 lb range.

Yes, and all those video cards are 2-3 generations old.

The best gaming laptop you can get right now is a Dell Inspiron XPS. It has a Radeon 9800, while all other laptops have a 9700 or worse. The XPS weighs 9 lbs, the power brick weighs 2 lbs, the case and other accessories easily make the other 2 lbs and you're carrying 13lbs.

You also have to buy a completely new laptop in a year when the next generations of games come out, rather then just a new video card.


I have gone laptop only (IBM t40) but I don't game. If I did, I certainly wouldn't be laptop only.

 

[Firus]

I'm laptop only. Clevo D500p. I am a moderate gamer and most of the time I don't even notice that I am using a laptop at home, until I have to go somewhere and remember my computer can come with me.

I love it

 

[Jumpem]

I wish laptops were as easy to upgrade as PC's. I wish I could go to newegg or whereever order a bunch of stuff and upgrade/build it at home.

 

[zodder]

I have to say, I quite enjoyed playing Diablo II outside on my deck today. Anyhoo, I find myself using my laptop 98% of the time now. I have a very good gaming machine, but I love being able to take everything with me wherever I go around the house. If HL2 is found to play decent on these mobile 9600 Pros, I may have to part out my gaming rig. I'm in love with my lappie.

 

[MDE]

I'd say yes, but only if you have a 5400RPM+ drive in it. My laptop feels poky with a 4200RPM drive, but the original 5400RPM was a LOT faster.

 

[MrAce72]

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
it depends on whether you want to carry a 13lb laptop.

Most of the ones with 128mb+ radeons seem to be in the 7-8 lb range.

Yes, and all those video cards are 2-3 generations old.

The best gaming laptop you can get right now is a Dell Inspiron XPS. It has a Radeon 9800, while all other laptops have a 9700 or worse. The XPS weighs 9 lbs, the power brick weighs 2 lbs, the case and other accessories easily make the other 2 lbs and you're carrying 13lbs.

You also have to buy a completely new laptop in a year when the next generations of games come out, rather then just a new video card.


I have gone laptop only (IBM t40) but I don't game. If I did, I certainly wouldn't be laptop only.

With the Dell Imspiron XPS, you can update the graphics card under warranty and add RAM to your heart's delight. What more do you need? It's not like you are going to need a 4ghz CPU or anything any time soon...

 

[new2AMD]

I hope they are replaceable because work is replacing my machine with a laptop.

They are getting me a Precision M60 w/1gb ram, 60GB ata100 (7200rpm), Nvidia Quadro FX Go1000, dvd+rw and bluetooth. I think I will be fine.