Advice for a cheap laptop

[Nerf]

So I'm tempted by a netbook.  Anyone can help me with software cost?  I know you usually get free window 7 and office when you buy a 2000$ desktop.  What happens if you buy a 400$ netbook, do you have to shell out an other 400$ for office?

People buy office?

[Ginaz]

I bought this earlier today:http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/acer-acer-aspire-17-3-laptop-featuring-intel-core-i5-430m-as7740g-6969-blue-as7740g-6969/10138173.aspx?path=6d393bdfd4a55ffa78400a9c856ab469en02

Seems like a fairly decent gaming laptop for the price (I actually got it for $30 less than what its listed for).

$799.99 (Canadian $)
17.3" screen
Intel Core i5-430M
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 512 mb memory
4GB RAM
500GB (5400RPM) HD
1600 x 900 screen resolution
HDMI Port
4 USB Ports
8X DVD Double-Layer Drive

[wardeworth]

I am using Dell laptop so i can give you advice to buy Dell's laptop.
The DELL Latitude D610 is built for versatility and has an impressive 14.1" color screen- You can buy this also.
It also includes a wireless card too. Or Alienware M11 is also nice one.

[Nerf]

How can a computer be built for versatility?  It can either run games or it can't, and if can do that it can pretty much do other shit well too.

[Engels]

How can a computer be built for versatility?  It can either run games or it can't, and if can do that it can pretty much do other shit well too.

/smacks Nerf's hand. Don't feed the wildlife.

[Dtrain]

I am using Dell laptop so i can give you advice to buy Dell's laptop.
The DELL Latitude D610 is built for versatility and has an impressive 14.1" color screen- You can buy this also.
It also includes a wireless card too. Or Alienware M11 is also nice one.

I like the idea of the m11x. It's priced reasonably well at it's bare bones configuration (which can then be upgraded independant of Dell/Alienware's price gouging.) It seems very capable in it's intent to be ultra portable and still high end gaming. The reduced footprint of a small laptop in the home is nice too.

I just don't think I combine traveling and gaming enough to make it worthwhile. Also, that glowing alien head logo needs to go. I'm sorry, but it's not 1998 anymore, and that shit was never cool.

[Pagz]

I am in pretty much the same position as the OP, however am willing to order online.

Living in Australia, looking for the $5-700 mark. Buying a desktop is not practical in my situation and am really just looking for it to run Crusader Kings 2 hawt . I currently have an Acer Aspire 5710G

[Trippy]

NVIDIA or ATI GPU?

[Pagz]

NVIDIA or ATI GPU?

My current laptop? ATI GPU.

[Trippy]

Do you have a preference?

[Azazel]

My advice on computers: Buy whatever Trippy tells you to buy. 

[Pagz]

My advice on computers: Buy whatever Trippy tells you to buy. 

I think I'll go with this, your preference is my preference! My knowledge of specifics is not so great.

[Engels]

The problem with anyone recommending a laptop is that there are many useability and ergonomic factors in play that can't be generally recommended. Some people love chicklet keyboards, others, myself included, flee from them like the plague. That's just one example.

I'm sure Trippy can advise on the latest and most economic laptops based on tech specs, but it may end up you hate the danged thing just cuz your left hand tends to bend 5 degrees to the right and makes the trackpad a nightmare, for example.

[Trippy]

My advice on computers: Buy whatever Trippy tells you to buy. 

I think I'll go with this, your preference is my preference! My knowledge of specifics is not so great.

If this was a purchase within the US I would say you'll want something with at least a GeForce GT 435M GPU or better. So for NVIDIA something like the 435M, 540M, or 630M or better. notebookcheck.net has a ranking of laptop GPUs:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-435M.35836.0.html

So you would be looking at something no worse than the bottom third of the class 2 CPUs. You do NOT want an Intel HD Graphics 3000 GPU. Nor do you want a dedicated GPU that shares regular system RAM (e.g. the Radeon 6620G).

However given your location you're probably looking at something in the class 3 GPU list which can be hard to find cause most manufacturers just go with the Intel 3000 in this price range. I did find this HP model w/Radeon 7450M which may suit your needs and budget:

HP Pavilion g6-1310ax

[Pagz]

The problem with anyone recommending a laptop is that there are many useability and ergonomic factors in play that can't be generally recommended. Some people love chicklet keyboards, others, myself included, flee from them like the plague. That's just one example.

I run from chicklet keyboards too, but at my price range I can't be choosy. I'll just have to learn to love and accept my new chicklet overlords.

If this was a purchase within the US I would say you'll want something with at least a GeForce GT 435M GPU or better. So for NVIDIA something like the 435M, 540M, or 630M or better. notebookcheck.net has a ranking of laptop GPUs:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-435M.35836.0.html

So you would be looking at something no worse than the bottom third of the class 2 CPUs. You do NOT want an Intel HD Graphics 3000 GPU. Nor do you want a dedicated GPU that shares regular system RAM (e.g. the Radeon 6620G).

However given your location you're probably looking at something in the class 3 GPU list which can be hard to find cause most manufacturers just go with the Intel 3000 in this price range. I did find this HP model w/Radeon 7450M which may suit your needs and budget:

HP Pavilion g6-1310ax

Yeah, my location makes any of this quite hard. The HP Pavilion looks great though, will have to look around and see who stocks it locally (a quick search has it selling at $522).

Another question is would it be beneficial to simply wait? Naturally prices drop after time, but is there anything over the horizon that would be worth waiting for?

[Trippy]

Maybe. The Ivy Bridge laptop GPU (HD 4000) will supposedly be 30% - 60% faster than the 3000 in games. Whether or not that makes games playable at reasonable quality levels is still unclear. There should also be more mobile GPUs from NVIDIA's and ATI's latest mobile GPU lines available for notebook manufacturers to use. Whether or not they actually use the lower end ones instead of the HD 4000 remains to be seen.

[apocrypha]

Looking to buy a cheap laptop (£300-450, about $450-750?) for general use, no gaming capability required.

Does the recent official announcement of the Ivy Bridge chips mean that we should wait for price drops or is that likely to be a long time off, does anyone have any idea?

[Lantyssa]

What's "general use" entail?  I ended up with an HP mini for work, and it's great for a secondary machine.  If you'll be on it most of the day then the screen is going to be a little small.

[apocrypha]

It does need a decent sized screen unfortunately. It will mainly be used by my other half, split roughly 50:50 between general web use and work on large spreadsheets full of images, often via Citrix to her office, so I'm thinking a 17" screen and 4+Gb of RAM really. Might be able to get away with a 15" screen but a 17" high up the list of priorities.

[Trippy]

Looking to buy a cheap laptop (£300-450, about $450-750?) for general use, no gaming capability required.

Does the recent official announcement of the Ivy Bridge chips mean that we should wait for price drops or is that likely to be a long time off, does anyone have any idea?

The mid to low range Ivy Bridge mobile CPUs won't be available until June.

[apocrypha]

OK, cheers Trippy. We'll go with what's available now then :)