Hello, I am going into the US Navy and would like the best possible laptop that I can purchase. I am looking for something that is extremely high in video ram and video power. At least 1.5 TB of HD storage 7200rpm. Blu ray quality screen (1600 x 1280 or 2560 x 1600). I would like some type of tv tuner or something that will allow me to plug into a cable port in the wall and watch or record tv on the laptop. Also I do not know if this is possible, but it would be awesome if it would be possible to us the laptop screen as a tv for a ps2 or newer console. If this is possible I would definitely be willing to pay for this. I would also like a quad or dual quad core processor. Also would like the largest screen possible 17" minimum or larger if available. Basically I want a laptop that I can have Counter Strike Source or newer game open, while converting videos, playing pandora over firefox and at least four or five other things at the same time. I am a huge multi-tasker and hate to wait and am willing to pay to not have to. If anyone has any recommendations of different brands or specific laptops. I was looking at alienware.com and know that they are know for great gaming laptops, but was not sure if there was better available and if Dell is reliable enough to spend thousands on a computer. I am willing to spend what is needed so that I will have a truly amazing laptop. Currently I have a gateway mx8715 refurbished laptop from tiger direct and was extremely disappointed when I was tricked by my step father into getting a computer that could not handle video intensive programs and games. Also I would appreciate one that could work with windows XP, but do not expect it. I do not expect anyone to do hours of researching for me, I am only asking for your recommendations as to what company would provide the best of what I want. I have heard some bad things about Dell over the years, but did not know if they have improved or not. Lastly, is it possible to get a 750GB solid state drive and if so is it insanely expensive or reasonable.
Last question first: they don't make SSD's that big for laptops, the biggest currently available is 500GB, and it costs $1500! The HP HDX18t series can be built up as such: Vista-64 Ultimage, Core2Quad Extreme 2.53GHZ, 8GB DDR3, 1GB GeFrce GT 130M, 18.4" screen (1080P), BluRay Burner, Webcam, Fingerprint reader, Wifi, Bluetooth, HDTV tuner, Backlit Keyboard, Long life battery, 500GB hard drive - $3207. You could then buy a pair of 750GB laptop drives elsewhere ($180 each) and then you would have 1.5TB of hard disk space. -Dell/Alienware: No screens that are capable of 1080P video -Asus makes some laptops that will do 1080P video, but their website is a pain to search through, so I didn't. I think Acer also might make a 1080P capable laptop, but their website is even worse than asus. Sony is in the same boat. Also, a system with large ram will probably not work with XP, it needs a 64-bit OS, and very few drivers were ever writen for XP64. However, windows 7 will be released on October 22, and it is much better than Windows Vista (better than XP64 IMO). Make sure to get the free upgrade to Windows 7 x64.
actually i believe alienware have laptops that do 1200p and have 1TB hard drives(2x500GB). i have done some research on laptops over the last few days since im looking for a similar laptop. u will have to probably shell out atleast $2500 just to get everything u asked for from alienware and maybe $1500 from dell xps line. you can probably get a lower price though, just check their site. theres also some good ones from newegg that u should look at too. i didnt find anything that would meet ur requirements from tigerdirect and sony. overall, if money isnt a problem, then alienware is great for u. also ANY laptop with those kind of specs is definitely not gonna have that long of a battery life.
To top that off the heat is sure to be insane. The HDX line up seem very good at heat management but not sure it can handle that amount of heat that well. Point is invest in a cool mat as well.
Yes, but it does not fit a laptop, so it does not apply here. Dell & Alienware do not make 18.4" screen laptops anymore (at least not according to their own website). You might be able to get a high density 17" screen that will play 1080P, but wouldn't you rather have an 18.4" screen, even at the same resolution? Also, although the HP I found does include an upgraded "long life" battery, I am assuming that the laptop will mostly be used on a ship, and near an electrical outlet. Given this, battery life does not need to be super-long.
yes the alienware do have 1680 x 1200 or something like that. I am willing to shell out a few grand, but you guys do raise a good point. heat. How can I go about keeping it cool without a huge thing underneath. I will need something rather small and compact so that it will not take up much room. I'll be on a air craft carrier or a sub and therefore space and weight are a huge priority. If you guys know of any slimline cooling devices please say so and thank you all for your help. By the way, I customized a alienwar laptop to the max and it was almost 10,000!!!!!! Lol, the sad thing is that now I want it, but don't wanna shell out that much. I am willing to pay up to five grand if the laptop is good enough. Also I might be thinking about a desktop now as well as a laptop. I would want the same qualities in the desktop as well and any advice for good desktop parts would be greatly appreciated. I am willing to build myself, but do not have experience dealing with different brands and so if you could all out your favorites brands for specific parts it would be awesome. I am thinking of radeon for the video card, but have no idea as to why and how radeon is compared to the others.
I think I am missing something: The difference in space between a 17" and a 18.4" screen is too much used room, but you want a desktop? And your orriginal post implied that you would be carying a PS2, possibly a PS3 or Xbox360...but now you want a slim cooler to save space?
I may be at my A school for up to two years. therefore I will not be on a ship if I get into this program. If I do not, then I will want a killer laptop. Yes I will be carrying a ps2, but it is a slim one. I mean that I would need a cooling fan that is rather slim unlike the ones that I have seen which have been about 4-8" thick. No the 18.4" screen is not too much room. I want to make the most of my space and try to be able to bring all the items that I would need or want.
OK, that makes a lot more sense... Sounds like it might be a good idea to hold off on the design untill you know where you will be for the next two years...by then, prices might drop, new parts might become available, and WIN7 might even come out (oct22 official release)