under 2k laptop suggestions

[alphasigmookie]

I will be getting some "research funds" to purchase a new laptop for graduate school. I can probably spend ~2k on the machine itself. I currently have a fairly powerful desktop, but this will be my primary school machine. I have some experience with dell, and know a lot about desktop computing but i'm out of my element when it comes to notebooks. I'd like some suggestions on notebooks to narrow down my search range.

My general requirements are:

Dockable (will be getting a docking station and 20+ in monitor for my office)
relatively light (definitely under 6lbs ideally under 5)
good power (I will be running a lot of models need some horsepower)
2gb memory
deticated graphics (for ocasional gaming between classes)
160+gb hard drive

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[TheStu]

For docking stations.... Dell Latitudes or Lenovo Thinkpads

What do you mean when you say models?

What size screen would you prefer? Since you will be docking it, you probably don't need a 17" screen or anything, but that is just my opinion.

How important is battery life to you?

What else will be connected to the dock? If it is just the monitor and some USB devices, you might be better served just getting a USB hub and extra power supply for the notebook. Save some money on a dock (since you might want/have to get the extra power adapter anyway)

If it turns out that the docking port is not 100% necessary, that opens up some options, and I wouldn't be me if I didn't suggest you consider the MacBook Pro. Very powerful (2.2GHz Core 2 Duo), good dedicated graphics (8600M GT), 2GB RAM, though the base model only comes with a 120GB drive. Fairly light (6.2 lbs i think), thin! (1"), 15.4" LED backlit screen, solidly built, and portable. Price is $1799 with education discount which you would be eligible for

If you are not fond of the MacBook Pro, then I would suggest looking for something with similar specs at least, maybe as low as a 2.0GHz Core 2 or similar Turion X2.

 

[alphasigmookie]

When I say model I mean specific system type like dell inspiron 1501 ect. I know most can be configured to some degree but a lot is fixed by the model.

Yeah I'd perfer to stay away from apple. I know they're great I just don't want to get sucked in. As for screen size, i'd say somewhere between 13-15.4". It looks like 14.1" might be the sweet spot. Battery life is also important, but anything that gives me about 3+ hrs would probably be ok.

The other day I saw an ASUS V2 on newegg that looked pretty decent for $1,800. Has anyone had experience with these? Something similar to this would probably be good.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16834220199

 

[Maximilian]

Dell Vostro 1500 or Inspiron 1520, theyre theyre same laptop its just whichhever works out cheaper for you.

 

[JustaGeek]

HP Pavilion dv2500t Broadband Wireless customizable Notebook PC
GZ486AV
? Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
? Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor T7500 (2.20 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
? 14.1" WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
? 2GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
? 319MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
? HP Imprint Finish (Radiance) + Webcam + Microphone
? HP Broadband Wireless with 802.11a/b/g/n (draft 802.11n) WLAN and Bluetooth
? 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
? LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
? HP ExpressCard Digital/Analog TV Tuner
? 12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
? Microsoft(R) Works 8.0
? HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
$1,654.99 $1,654.99

HP xb3000 Notebook Expansion Base
ES234AA#ABA $249.99 $249.99


Order subtotal $1,904.98



http://www.shopping.hp.com/notebooks

 

[TheStu]

"good power (I will be running a lot of models need some horsepower) "

This right here, what do you mean by that? CAD Models? Matlab stuff? Architectural work? A little more information would be nice.

Though the system that Justa linked to is looks decent. Maybe a nicer graphics card, but otherwise good.

And what do you mean by sucked in to Apple?

 

[alphasigmookie]

Engineering type models. A lot of mathcad and matlab and large excel spreadsheets, but possibly some LCA software and some process models like ChemCAD or Aspen. I think the T7500 would be a reasonable price/ performance tradeoff right now or something along those lines.

As for Apple, they arn't trying to sell you a computer they are selling you a culture. It's not a culture I care to be a part of yet (it's more of a irrational preference than anything else). Also I know they're now avaliable with window and with intel harware, but I don't want the added diffuculty of switching platforms since everything i've already got is for PC

 

[JustaGeek]

I was using AutoCAD with Pentium and ProEngineer on a Unix based machine (don't remember the CPU) in the mid-1990s.

Currently MathCAD applications, RAM Structural System, AutoCAD etc. on a Dell with 2.8GHz Pentium 4 520 and 1GB of RAM.

Core 2 Duo, even the laptop version, will be MORE than sufficient.

You might want to consider the 32-bit XP for your apps, as IMHO Vista might significantly slow them down.

Unless the Vista supporters think otherwise...?