New laptop

D

dlc

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Hi guys, I've finally decided to bite the bullet and get myself a laptop.
Reason why I've decided this, is I'm constantly travelling up and down and barely get time to use my desktop computer at all. My current desktop pc being quite old - P4 2.4Ghz, 512MB Ram, FX5200 3D card etc. So my new lappie should basically be a desktop recplacement. I know a laptop will never be able to be as good as a desktop spec and money wise..but i basically want a decent laptop then which will handle some more recent games,multimedia,run multiple apps (im a programmer),internet browsing etc..

I haven't had a look at pc specs for the last year or so, so what should i go for specs wise? Or can anyone recommend a decent laptop or deal currently available? my budget would be R9k - MAX +-R11k.

Some laptops which caught my eye:
http://www.wantitall.co.za/PC-Hardw...US-15-6-Inch-Entertainment-Laptop__B002BH4QN2 -R10307
http://www.wantitall.co.za/PC-Hardware/HP-HDX16-1370US-16-Inch-Entertainment-Laptop__B002BH4PRE - R13473 (seen some better prices elsewhere)
http://www.wantitall.co.za/PC-Hardw...S6973-16-0-Inch-Laptop-Black-Grey__B002BDU8TW - R9118
http://www.wantitall.co.za/PC-Hardware/Sony-VAIO-VGN-NW120J-S-15-5-Inch-Laptop-Silver__B0027P9BPG - R11155
 
Well you should be able to get a dell vostro with a 9600gs mobile.

Why would someone recommend a mac when you said you wanted to game.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

Kayvee - regarding the 17" screen.I would rather want a 15.4"-16" screen, as i will use a dedicated lcd screen and keyboard and mouse for a bit of gaming and then work and browsing the net. Thats another thing thats bothering me..will these laptops be good enough to use say a 22"-24" Samsung LCD screen with? Anything i should look out for?

And what are you guys take on the intel 4500.. graphics that a lot of these laptops come with. will they cope or should i rather have a look at one with geforce graphics?

I'm really considering the toshiba i mentioned above.

thanks again
 
If graphics are important for you for gaming and external monitor I would forget the on-board graphics ones, they really suck at that.

With your budget you should manage to get one with something approaching usable gaming performance using an external monitor.

Check out the warranty period too, you get more peace of mind with a two or three year warranty over the standard 1 year.
 
Too bad no one imports BenQ laptops in the country...see the one in my sig...I got it for 8.2k overseas...I'm sure if someone brings it in it'll be around 10k

Btw, the HP for 13k you have up there has the best gfx...OCed version of my 9600M GT...though not the best but it's your best bet...around 6k with 3Dmark 06
 
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To the OP, I was similar budget to you and ended up settling on one of HP's DV6's, the 1150ei model for R11735 from Comx/Laptopdirect this week.
Has ATI 512MB dedicated graphics (even the HP site specs are'nt so clear on that tho).Is pretty similar to the one you looking at in your link frm wantitall.

HP Pavilion dv6-1150ei Notebook laptop:
Intel Core 2 Duo P7450 2.13GHz 3MB cache 1066MHz FSB,
3072MB DDR2-667 SO-Dimm Memory (1x2048,1x1024),
320GB SATA 5400rpm Hard Drive,
DVD Super Multi Writer DL Lightscribe optical drive,
15.6 WXGA HD Bright View (1366x768 resolution) TFT LCD Display,
ATI Mobility Radeon 4530 with 512MB dedicated graphics,
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN,
802.11b/g Wireless LAN, 56k modem,
Webcam, Media Remote, Finger Print Reader, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, Microsoft Works, 1-1-0 (One-year standard parts and labour warranty)

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/za/en/ho/WF06b/321957-321957-3329744-64354-64354-3873224-3944141.html

Inc Conn stocks them altho for mine they were wanting R13,000 vrs the R11,735 inc delivery i got my one for......arrived by courier a day after payment was recieved from ComX so no problems with them.

Couple of +1's i have for this is
Has E-sata port
Has HDMI & VGA out
Has at least some dedicated graphics & decent amount of HD space & ram
 
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Here is something, Gigabyte 934MZA:

http://www.laptopdirect.co.za/laptop_specifications.php?laptop=28009

Spec wise this laptop seems to be untouchable for the price! Though I think its new in their range as I can't find it anywhere on the net or GBs site, only on South African hardware retailers sites and dealer pricelists. Its on my Rectron pricelist and I got shocked at it, so much so that I want to buy one :)
 
COMPUTEK said:
Lenovo R500 - NP76EZA - P7370 Intel 2.00 GHz Notebook

"ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 128Mb Dedicated Graphics" :cool:

http://www.take2.co.za/electronics-lenovo-r500-np76eza-p7370-intel-2-00-ghz-notebook-4801585.html - R 13,689

We selling on special for R 11 285,00
http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/showphoto.php?photo=12259&cat=2

;)
Click to expand...

Laptop direct has the same model but better cpu at 7k...

And that Gigabyte 934MZA-V Notebook GIGABYTE 934MZA-V mentioned above...is really awesome spec-wise for 8k...Sybaritics has it for 10k...gonna google it and see how it looks.

This isnt bad either for 9k...HD4570 performs on par with the 9600M GS
 
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If you plan on using the laptop to game forget intel graphics cards and only look at graphics cards with dedicated memory.
 
I'd go with a Dell... possibly a Vostro if you're looking at business use. I'm using an Inspiron 9600 at the moment (got it in 2007), with 4-year next business day support and complete care.

If you are a developer, you really don't want to sit without a laptop while it gets sent away to be fixed. I've had fantastic support from dell. A couple of things have broken on my machine, and they've always been there on the next business day bright and early in the morning to replace the broken parts. Here's a quick breakdown of my unluckiness:

1. Two of my keyboard letters broke - they came out with a new keyboard the next day
2. My DVI output worked, but my VGA output stopped working - they replaced my Motherboard and graphics card the next day
3. The hinge on my screen seized, and i got a few dead pixels on my screen - they came out, replaced the whole LCD, hinges, plastic etc. (the hinge was covered on the complete care package I have as it was "physical damage", which is not covered in the standard next business day plan).
4. My laptop had a little fall, and a week later, files started getting corrupted - they came out the next business day and replaced the drive (and lucky me it was 20Gig bigger cos the old one wasn't manufactured any more).

Bottom line is that things will break, and when they do you don't want to wait weeks for your machine to get back from repairs. We bought a Dell Studio 1555 last week, and it looks like the 3-year NBD is becomming standard as we didn't have to pay extra.
 
COMPUTEK said:
Ooh ok sry....
in that case .....different model 591D219 vs NP76EZA

Something else must be causing such a big price difference
Click to expand...

Well to tell u the truth its actually on special...original price is 12.5k....thats like a 40% discount, kinda unbelievable.

But its the same series, so it should be exactly the same just with better specs on the interchangeable components (CPU, HDD etc)

Unless u can offer an even better deal! ;)
 
Nameite said:
Well to tell u the truth its actually on special...original price is 12.5k....thats like a 40% discount, kinda unbelievable.

But its the same series, so it should be exactly the same just with better specs on the interchangeable components (CPU, HDD etc)

Unless u can offer an even better deal! ;)
Click to expand...

which place is this special u r referring too?
 
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