Brain-pickin time

[Amethyst Hunter]

I'm getting to the point where I really need to start considering my next computer setup, since my current is 8 years old and it's showing it. :/

I'm thinking I might go laptop this time around, because desktops appear to be losing ground and laptops seem like they're pretty convenient, which definitely appeals to me. I don't do much with a computer other than to browse online, write, and maybe play the rare game or two (CD-ROM) that I own. I'd also like to be able to burn CDs. And I want to transfer the majority of my files (mostly pictures and word documents) over to the new system as well.

Anyone have any tips to offer?

[Mytical]

One thing that will help is funding available. To give an idea of where to start. Also, the CD/DVD games you have..newer or older? What is the highest minimum requirements for them (if you know). I mean without graphic intense games a netbook type setup would do you fine. Where as with higher requirement games, it would not. You want a totally different computer if you are playing RIFT, then if you are playing the old DOOM.

Also though it can depend, you can take a look at http://computershopper.com/feature/b...our-own-laptop for some tips.

My tips are this. Figure out what you need (ie the minimum..which is the recommended (not minimum) for your most graphic intense game you play) then add some (in case you want to play new games later)..then add on what you want. (touchpad? nub? Touchscreen? External Mouse?) Now there are much more savy people then I, so if somebody suggest something else listen to them before me

Edit : Also if you do not know the requirements (hey it happens!) then pm me a list of your games and I can do the grunt/research work for you

[It's me]

I've had great success with off-lease machines. I like Thinkpads... right now we have a T43/p and and a T42, both running Windows 7 just fine (they have been upgraded to 2 GB RAM). I paid about $300 each for them, plus probably about $40-$50 for the RAM upgrade.

Yes, you can buy a brand new machine for not a lot more money... but business-class machines are bascially bullet-proof, as they are designed to take a beating. (For those who know thinkpad, let's ignore the issues with the T40 & T41 GPUs, shall we? )

You have to a be a bit careful with laptops... some business users carry them everywhere and bascially beat them to death, but in many cases the machine spends pretty much its whole life sitting on a desk.

[telecom_goddess]

Here's my input...I'm running a Toshiba Satellite I got about 2 months ago...it's running windows 7, runs my old games and newer games just great. I like it.

[Geek King]

Another one here for the Toshiba Satalite series. They really seem to have made a great little reasonably priced gaming laptop. And my local computer place runs regular sales on them as new models roll out. It even runs RIFT in low-render mode well enough to run in area-event raids with little lag. If you're in the Cincinnati, OH area, Microcenter has some pretty good deals.

[Mytical]

Price range for the Toshiba?

[Geek King]

Price range for the Toshiba?

I paid around $1100 for my 17.3" screen last year, but it also had a solid state HDD for the OS, so that boosted prices a bit. It has a nice keyboard size, so even my gorilla hands don't need a seperate keyboard. I do use a USB mouse though. Touchpads no-workie for gaming.

Looking on the web a bit, it looks like the good deals run between $500-1000 depending on processor, gear, and HD size. Most ship with 4GB RAM. There is also a new line of Toshiba gaming laptop sold under the Qosmio name that has a NVidia graphic processor on board. The one I looked at is listed around $1300, but will likely drop soon, as they just came out.