Buying a laptop - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

theonlywhiteout · 01-05-2011, 04:37 PM

Yeah I've narrowed my check list to I3 preferably, 4 gigs of ram, at least 500 gig HD, and a nice glossy LED screen that looks awesome. oh and chiclet keys. the Asus has all of this, and i loved it in store. ill wait to see if the price goes down more

FlamesPuck12 · 01-06-2011, 12:55 AM

If you have a main computer, I'd say don't go with a 17 inch.
As a student, I'm always lugging around my laptop and everyone I know who owns a 17 inch stopped lugging it around after the first week in my first year.

Take a look at Dell XPS, it's slightly more expensive than some of the laptops out there but the screen is really nice and it has a dedicated graphic card which can be switched on or off (to save power). I don't really game on my laptop with Starcraft 2 being an exception but it can handle Starcraft 2 pretty well considering it is a 13 inch laptop.

theonlywhiteout · 01-06-2011, 10:35 PM

went to memory express to look at a few asus laptops... this place sells like... dozens of laptops. how many are on display? maybe 7. do they really think im going to spend hundreds of bucks on a laptop i cant see and play with? i love that store but cmon.

MickMcGeough · 01-07-2011, 09:02 AM

Here is the laptop you are looking for:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/s...preview-video/

burn_this_city · 01-07-2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theonlywhiteout

went to memory express to look at a few asus laptops... this place sells like... dozens of laptops. how many are on display? maybe 7. do they really think im going to spend hundreds of bucks on a laptop i cant see and play with? i love that store but cmon.

Honestly how much playing around are you going to do in store? I bought mine without trying it out. Its a laptop, if the specs are good and the floor model is a close equilivant then whats the issue?

Coys1882 · 01-07-2011, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theonlywhiteout

went to memory express to look at a few asus laptops... this place sells like... dozens of laptops. how many are on display? maybe 7. do they really think im going to spend hundreds of bucks on a laptop i cant see and play with? i love that store but cmon.

If you have a couple specific ones in mind - ask them to grab a couple. They've done it for me before.

theonlywhiteout · 01-07-2011, 11:55 AM

ill have to check that out then

MickMcGeough · 01-07-2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Honestly how much playing around are you going to do in store? I bought mine without trying it out. Its a laptop, if the specs are good and the floor model is a close equilivant then whats the issue?

I use my laptop as my primary work computer so there's no way I buy a machine that I can't check out in person unless there's a really good return policy on it.

I want to see the display with my own eyes (brightness, reflectiveness, viewing angle), feel the stability of the keyboard, try out port placements in my various sitting positions, check port stability, spend some time with the trackpad, and look for any annoyances (like a DVD eject button placed where I'm likely to pick the laptop up). Every one of those things are areas where laptops I've had in the past have driven me nuts.

dissentowner · 01-07-2011, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theonlywhiteout

Can some laptop people let me know what they think of the price on this?
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/...8f5cef600aen02
Came down by 100 dollars just a week ago, and not on sale, just re priced. Is this thing worth 800? I was in store and I loved the screen, it was like a freakin macbook pro

The screen may be like a macbook pro but once you use it you will realize it isn't.

burn_this_city · 01-07-2011, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

I use my laptop as my primary work computer so there's no way I buy a machine that I can't check out in person unless there's a really good return policy on it.

I want to see the display with my own eyes (brightness, reflectiveness, viewing angle), feel the stability of the keyboard, try out port placements in my various sitting positions, check port stability, spend some time with the trackpad, and look for any annoyances (like a DVD eject button placed where I'm likely to pick the laptop up). Every one of those things are areas where laptops I've had in the past have driven me nuts.

That must take a while to pick out the right one. I'm mostly a spec driven user who wants the most hp for the cost. I'm also brand loyal so it narrows things down pretty fast.

burn_this_city · 01-07-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissentowner

The screen may be like a macbook pro but once you use it you will realize it isn't.

Why? I have a similar laptop and the screen is just as good as any fanboy pro.

MickMcGeough · 01-07-2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

That must take a while to pick out the right one. I'm mostly a spec driven user who wants the most hp for the cost. I'm also brand loyal so it narrows things down pretty fast.

It does take me awhile. Or did, before I switched to Apple. But when you spend 50+ hrs a week using something, you'd be crazy not to be thorough choosing it.

drewboy12 · 01-07-2011, 03:02 PM

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...27214(ME).aspx

This is what I use. I travel a lot with it. Doest weigh to much, lighter then my hp 15inch dv6000. I use an OGIO Mastermind laptop backpack...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...850YKQP1MHNE5W

http://www.ogio.com/product/view/318/Mastermind

Its all black, looks great and has a padded waterproof sleeve for your laptop, also has room for my camera, a change of clothes, phone, headphones, ipod, mouse, cables. Its an amazing back, and hugs your body so you dont feel any weight, I carry about 15 pounds in it and it feels like 4-5pounds.

MickMcGeough · 01-07-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Why? I have a similar laptop and the screen is just as good as any fanboy pro.

Just outta curiosity, what do you have?

drewboy12 · 01-07-2011, 03:05 PM

ps. The bag does fit 17inch laptop. First couple times I used it, it was a tight fit, but its stretched it a bit now, and fits in fine. Laptop doesn't bounce around. Fits perfect.

burn_this_city · 01-07-2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

Just outta curiosity, what do you have?

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...(ME).aspx?cc=1

We have a Mac book pro at home bought in september and I cant tell the difference. Both are 1080p HD 17" displays.

theonlywhiteout · 01-08-2011, 05:53 PM

so that very same asus at best buy is now mysteriously back up 100 bucks.

Vulcan · 01-08-2011, 07:07 PM

Here's some similar laptops with core I3-370M. There's an Asus with a 310M video card for about the same price.

http://www.shopbot.ca/m/?m=Core+I3-370M

drewboy12 · 01-09-2011, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theonlywhiteout

so that very same asus at best buy is now mysteriously back up 100 bucks.

Not sure if you were referring to my post... But Best buy doesn't sell the model I posted.

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/...2a43fc5b8een02

this is a K series, similar but upgraded video card.

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...27214(ME).aspx

Cheaper, yet pretty much identical, its what I have, I did get mine for $100 cheaper. I paid $780. No sale, memory express just changes prices often.

drewboy12 · 01-09-2011, 05:16 PM

You seem pretty stern on the Asus, you got to have what you feel comfortable on. The key board took a little getting used to for me, as I used HP for years, but the chicklet keys are amazing. Type so much easier and faster with the keys spaced out a little bit. Also the screen is amazing, LED HD+. Blue Rays look so good on this.

I do warn you though, the speakers suck. For a laptop they are good I suppose but I dont use them, I use a different set.

I also love the facial recognition access. If you have any questions about it, I can help you out.