Thoughts on new Laptop

Ok guys and gals, it's about time for me to be going back overseas and I need to get a new laptop for the trip and travel time over the next couple of years. I have a good desktop waiting for me over there, with plenty of power for anything I can throw at it. What I need is something that I can use during the transition period, and occasionally while going places or while on the road. I need to be able to do photo and video editing, some 3D work, as well as web surfing, website work and word processing. Now I don't expect this to be my only computer to work on, since I do have a good desktop sitting over there, but I need something that is up to the task when and if needed. The rest of the time it will likely be used for nothing more than email and blogging (by my dear wifey). XD

What I want:

Dedicated Graphics.... a must - the only two integrated solutions that I would consider are the HD3200 and the MPC79... and those are last resort options only.

Larger screen - 15.4 - 17" I don't care what it weighs, portability is not a concern for me. My case can take up to a 17" or I'd say even bigger (although they cost lots of cash at larger sizes ...)

Low Price - the lower the better..... I don't have a set in stone budget, however I really would like this to stay in the $700 range. I know that is low for a lappy with dedicated GPU, but I have a couple weeks to get it, so no huge rush either... I can wait for a sale if need be. hehe

S - Video and Firewire ports are a BIG plus.

The OS doesn't matter... I can fix that myself if I don't like what it has.

RAM amount doesn't matter - see above^^^^^

CPU - any modern day dual core is fine with me.

HD - not an issue.. I have external options.

FULL KEYBOARD - a BIG bonus, but not a necessity.

__________________________________________________ ______________

With all that said, and based on minimal research by myself (so far anyways) do any of you think that I can beat this deal right here????

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834114631

It looks like a pretty good deal to me, esp. at that price.

This one has the same video card as my laptop.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115539

Heh - the laptop you posted, and then the one that Painbringer posted, are the two I'm trying to decide between.

maybe something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834152073

more expensive, but with more powerful graphics. otherwise, it's pretty unexceptional.

I should state that I am not overly concerned about gaming with this laptop. I don't have the time to play all that many video games anymore, and none of the newer ones either. The most graphically demanding game I own is Oblivion (although I will probably buy Farcry 2 before leaving). However I have my desktop to play those games on, the only game I envision playing on this laptop is Guild Wars.

I am sure you know this, but others may not…. the upgradability on laptops it is currently a major pain. Some things are swappable like hard drives, DVD/blue ray player’s, network cards, memory. But when it comes to graphics the motherboard is designed around the graphic card. So it’s something you really need to consider before purchase.

So I guess what you need out of it now will it be the same in the future? I look at it this way I can play GW now, but GW2 will come out in the next couple years I sure would like to have at least one computer that can handle it when it does.

I'm not worried about future games... I have a very good desktop on one side of the ocean and a capable one on the other side - both of which are upgradeable. With that said, the GPU is pretty much unchangeable on a laptop. With that said I found a better deal... IMO

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TOSHIBA-P105...3%3A1|294%3A50

yeah, yeah *E-Bay* - I've been there, done that, and I've been pleased with my experiences there so far. This one has a better CPU, Better screen, better GPU, less RAM, and smaller HD. The RAm is easy to fix and the HD is not a factor for me.... did I mention that this is $10 cheaper after shipping than my first choice??? It has all the ports and features that I need, at a sweet price (17" with one of the better non SLI laptop GPUs on the market = Cha- Ching!).

hmm, last time i checked, the 8600 series is roughly equivalent to the 7900. since the mobile 9600M is basically the same thing as the 8600M, you've picked one that's roughly as powerful as a 9600M GT.

also, do note that laptop has a 4200 RPM harddrive. that might be too slow for you.

Well the listings on notebookcheck.com have the 7900gs a few spots higher than the 9600M GT and quite a few higher than the 8600M GT - I was abit surprised to see this still on the market, since it's a couple years old and I thought had been replaced by other models, but still inspite of that it's one of the better laptop cards out there (non SLI). I believe it's only DX9, but for what I intend to do, it's just fine. I would expect to see performance about 20% higher than the 8600 GTS that is in my one desktop.... time will tell. (assuming I go with this one, which I probably will at that price).

I agree 4200 RPM on the HD is abit odd, doesn't match with the rest of the specs imo... I have a nearly new 250 GB 5400 HD (2.5") that I may slap into it there is an evident need of a faster HD.

So, I am also buying a laptop, as the one I have had for the last 5 years (haha) is on it's last legs. I have a nice (niiiiiiiiice) gaming/3D desktop, but the problem is that I'm living overseas for a few years and it's just not practical to have the laptop here. I'm hoping to do some light games, probably the biggest game is GuildWars. (The other games are much simpler.) If I'm exceedingly lucky, I'd like to do some casual 3D art (very low resource... lower than GW).

I was looking at the second computer (the 750 right now on sale)

I can't afford too much... it seemed this had the most going for it in terms of the price range. Any thoughts would be appreciated! I haven't played Guildwars in a year and a half, thanks to being over in Taiwan and want to play again!!!

ali sen - that laptop you posted has a 9300 graphics unit, which is not very good for gaming - you would be able to play Guild Wars, but not at the highest settings or resolution. The next one over with the hd 3650 graphics card would be a much better card for gaming - that would handle Guild Wars at max settings and resolution.... similar to a 8600 GT in a desktop.

At your price range you will be hard pressed to top this laptop (for gaming anyways)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834152073