Looking for a laptop (cont.: slight rant included)

[Schadenfreude]

Here's my spec-list

1. What is your budget? Around/Less than $1,000.00
2. How large is the screen size you need/ want? Size doesn't matter, but resolutions higher than WXGA(1200x800) highly preferred!
3. Size/Weight of the Laptop? Doesn't matter
4. What OS? Windows 7
5. Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
a. Like: Asus, Lenovo
b. Dislike: HP
6. What tasks do you want to do with your laptop? Gaming: FPS/RTS, 2D/3D Apps,
will be my primary computer.
7. Anything else? This may contradict #1, but an i7 CPU would be preferred for future-proofing as much as possible.

Basic intro aside, this is a continuation of this thread.

I did snag a deal on an HP DV7T Quad series (link) around Black Friday, but as my wife has an HP lappy that runs hot after 15 minutes, nevermind the article about laptop brand satisfaction where HP was dead last (link), I was having my doubts about the brand as a whole/ buyer's remorse.

Then, HP emails me to tell me that my order is delayed, and that I have the option of cancelling the order, which I do to my (slight) relief.

With that whole ordeal over, that means I'm back to square-one again, with my netbook as my only computer for the time being. And as I'm shopping around for laptops, I can't help but think, what the hell's with the screen resolution? The last laptop I had was a Dell Vostro 1500 that gave me the option of upgrading the screen (1650 x 1080) - which I did amongst other upgrades - and it cost ~$800.00 in 2007.

Now fast forward to 2009, and all the laptops I've seen so far under $1500.00 have current television-standard (720p) resolutions, which oddly enough is the same regardless of size ranging from 12" to 15.4" and NO option to upgrade?! What the crap is that?! Put it another way - the $800.00 Dell I had in 2007 had higher resolution as a 15.4" than the $950.00 17.3" HP that I was considering in 2009!

What's going on here?! I thought technology was supposed to get cheaper as we get along, not more expensive!

Don't get me wrong - I realize that technology IS getting cheaper: CPU/GPU/RAM/etc. are getting more advanced and the older tech are getting outpaced by the minute, but on our end as consumers, instead of my expectation that I will be able to purchase a machine with similar features (current-gen specs for the time including CPU, dedicated GPU, etc.), each feature beyond the basic barebones-unit seems to be getting more expensive, if not unavailable (the Dell even had magnesium casing)! Argh!

Frustrations/ Ranting aside, this is the laptop I'm looking at now;
link. It's going to cost a little more than the HP, but since this is my main laptop, I think the build quality is going to be worth the cost. Of course, if there's a better option, please let me know.

Now, I do have a question - since the screen resolution is pretty low (IMHO) as graphic applications typically require high-pixel real estate on-screen, a higher resolution is a priority (which can be remedied w/ an LCD monitor for now) but is it possible to buy a generic high-res laptop screen online and replace it sometime in the future, or is that something that is model/make specific and therefore impossible?

 

[MJinZ]

The minimum GPU to get is a GTX 260M, or Mobility HD48 series.

The cheapest gaming system you can probably get is the one in my sig, which is $950 @ BestBuy now.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+...lack/9556072.p?skuId=9556072&id=1218124204092

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

HP quality is not as bad as you might have it pictured in your head now. Being on a college campus, just about everyone has at least one laptop. Based on my small sample size of people I know on campus, dells appear to have the most hardware problems.

You can customize a Dell Vostro 1720 with 9600 GS, 4gb ram, WUXGA screen for less than $1k.

 

[phaxmohdem]

Wait until January, then you can get the next iteration of a Lenovo Thinkpad with a Core i7 (budget depending). Should meet or exceed all your requirements.

 

[Cassian]

I'm currently in the exact same situation you are in but I prefer different brands. I've done my research and I'm about to pick up this Toshiba Qosmio

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834114785

At $999 it has everything you need. Only thing is that this was blazing tech 8 months ago and only above average today. However, I think decent proc + 4gb ddr3 + decent gpu + big chassis to dissipate heat with 4.1 surround sound + 320GB hdd 7200rpm for only $999 is one heck of a deal. Plus its Toshiba quality. ()

 

[MJinZ]

I'm currently in the exact same situation you are in but I prefer different brands. I've done my research and I'm about to pick up this Toshiba Qosmio

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834114785

At $999 it has everything you need. Only thing is that this was blazing tech 8 months ago and only above average today. However, I think decent proc + 4gb ddr3 + decent gpu + big chassis to dissipate heat with 4.1 surround sound + 320GB hdd 7200rpm for only $999 is one heck of a deal. Plus its Toshiba quality. ()

That GPU is outdated (though still pretty fast).

 

[citan x]

The average consumer doesn't care and doesn't even know what is resolution. This is why pre-built laptops come with low resolutions. For a high resolution screen, you have to go custom. Dell always seems to have some nice options for this.

The studio 15 seems to have a 1080p screen available. I don't know how good the ATI 4570 graphics card performs.

 

[Schadenfreude]

HP quality is not as bad as you might have it pictured in your head now. Being on a college campus, just about everyone has at least one laptop. Based on my small sample size of people I know on campus, dells appear to have the most hardware problems.

You can customize a Dell Vostro 1720 with 9600 GS, 4gb ram, WUXGA screen for less than $1k.

But then again, you can pretty much say that about all the laptop makers nowadays - I'm sure I just had a bad make and they make good machines; but the numbers seem to correspond w/ my experience and it's my opinion is that HP is less reliable than Dell.

The average consumer doesn't care and doesn't even know what is resolution. This is why pre-built laptops come with low resolutions. For a high resolution screen, you have to go custom. Dell always seems to have some nice options for this.

The studio 15 seems to have a 1080p screen available. I don't know how good the ATI 4570 graphics card performs.

Right; for my argument all I'm saying that is as laptop sales get more streamlined/produced for the mass market, features/options available before seems to be either taken out all-together or or is pricier to add on. The only problem I see is that as computers are marketed as "gaming" or "multimedia" laptops, screen resolution
does matter (more for multimedia, IMO) - and yes, I suppose you can argue hardcore gamers or graphic designers can/should(?) expect a premium for their needs but not when it was readily available before and is taken away now.

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

But then again, you can pretty much say that about all the laptop makers nowadays - I'm sure I just had a bad make and they make good machines; but the numbers seem to correspond w/ my experience and it's my opinion is that HP is less reliable than Dell.



Right; for my argument all I'm saying that is as laptop sales get more streamlined/produced for the mass market, features/options available before seems to be either taken out all-together or or is pricier to add on. The only problem I see is that as computers are marketed as "gaming" or "multimedia" laptops, screen resolution
does matter (more for multimedia, IMO) - and yes, I suppose you can argue hardcore gamers or graphic designers can/should(?) expect a premium for their needs but not when it was readily available before and is taken away now.

I agree somewhat that this is a bad thing for people like us, but this is happening across the board. You just have to suck it up and pay the higher prices. For example, the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 speakers used to cost only $100-$120 street price 4 years ago, but as cheap speakers like logitechs started to flood the market, the promedias rose in price I assume because their production runs got smaller. Now, they're $140-150.

 

[joshc]

I remember reading a few months ago that it would be worth waiting until early next year because notebooks with some new technology/features would be out. I can't remember what features/technology they were referring to but maybe multitouch. Anyone know?

 

[Cassian]

The average consumer doesn't care and doesn't even know what is resolution. This is why pre-built laptops come with low resolutions. For a high resolution screen, you have to go custom. Dell always seems to have some nice options for this.

The studio 15 seems to have a 1080p screen available. I don't know how good the ATI 4570 graphics card performs.

Not 100% true. The way I see it the average consumer wants longevity, so with that in mind, most pre-built gaming laptops come with lower resolutions so that the laptop does not have to have the horsepower to play games with settings maxed out. I think its a good idea espeically since laptops aren't well equipped and when they are they become toasters.

 

[Schadenfreude]

I remember reading a few months ago that it would be worth waiting until early next year because notebooks with some new technology/features would be out. I can't remember what features/technology they were referring to but maybe multitouch. Anyone know?

As far as early '10 is concerned all I heard about is new processors/gpu platforms coming out for the netbook segment, as soon as Jan/Feb - and I think the multitouch tablets are trickling in now, actually.

Not 100% true. The way I see it the average consumer wants longevity, so with that in mind, most pre-built gaming laptops come with lower resolutions so that the laptop does not have to have the horsepower to play games with settings maxed out. I think its a good idea espeically since laptops aren't well equipped and when they are they become toasters.

Well, I'd disagree - and of course this is all speculation on our part BUT - the current trend as far as screen resolution is to match the HDTV resolutions because;

1. It's easier to market,

and more importantly -

2. Since laptops have become affordable and have become "mainstream" i.e. bigger sales and availability in markets, I'm sure manufacturing processes would have to be more streamlnied/unified to save money and to meet demand, and since 90% of the laptops are plain-jane basic units w/ the screen res mentioned, the other 10% - well, it's only 10% of the market . . ..

Of course, even in saying and understanding all this, I can't help but be annoyed . . ..