shopping around for new laptop

I've been looking around the internet the past few days to buy a new laptop. I have a few tentative options, but I'm curious what the folks here would suggest. My conditions are:

Less than $1400US
At least 250gb 7200rpm hard drive
At least 2.4ghz dual core
At least 4gb RAM
Resolution of at least 1680x1050 or 1600x900
mid- to high-end video card

On an aside, does anyone have experience with Intel turbo memory they could share? Most of the custom-building sites I've been at offer 2gb or 4gb module for an extra $50/$80. As far as I've seen from googling, the original release was mediocre at best, but I haven't seen any reviews from the past year in its current incarnation. I'm asking because it might be nice to add if someone suggests a laptop option which is below $1350 and including Turbo memory is an option. (I'm not as concerned with the power savings as I am with loading times.)

Right now the most appealing to me is the Vaio VGN-FW490 series, which I can spec somewhat beyond my requirements and stay below $1400, though I probably won't bother if they don't include the Windows 7 coupon (which they don't specify). Or if anyone has anything particularly negative to point out about it.

Thanks.

Turbo memory isn't very useful. Most people I've met that purchased it lament the fact that the performance boost it gives is negligible.

I would take a look at the MSI1651 here http://www.xoticpc.com/force-3551-bu...wconfigure=yes

The optional screen offered is 1680x1050 [I believe is taken from the Clevo M860] and can be tailored to your requirements [don't forget to add the wireless card] for $1432 [and a bit less if you take advantage of the discount at Xotic -- 3% drops it to $1389]. This price includes Vista with Win7 voucher. I do believe the nvidia 160M is comparable to the 9600M.

Granted still that's more expensive than the VAIO option but I have heard of unsatisfactory reports about VAIO flimsiness and other problems like heat. The MSI1651 is the very same computer that Falcon Northwest markets as the Fragbook TLX2 and is pretty solid and durable. I'm not sure about the VAIO but also bear in mind that oftentimes brandname notebooks are not designed to be upgraded whereas boutique notebooks are much more friendly towards upgrading later -- I believe most boutique vendors will not void warranty coverage if you open up the case to drop in a new processor -- so if you're looking to perhaps upgrade in the future, you might want to consider that. As for the vendor, Xotic is probably the lowest priced seller you can find that retains excellent service.

I only own Sager laptops and can't give too many definitive answers about the MSI, but I hope it might help a bit.

I have read that the 160M is very unsatisfactory for gaming. Also turbo memory was designed to help out with low end systems in need of more RAM while running Vista - in other words it's a waste of money on a modern gaming laptop.


***** this ought to suit your needs nicely****

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834152103

Seems a really nice one.

Me wants too!

And I was wrong on more than one point also; the Falcon NW Fragbook TLX2 is built on MSI 1722, not the MSI 1651. Big difference!

that looks nice; could anyone suggest something cheaper? I know when someone says "less than X" it's natural to interpret that to mean "get as close to X without going over," but spending less is always nice

to clarify: physical screen size isn't important to me as the resolution. 15-inchers are still okay by me; I've seen a few that are 1680x1050.

There aren't that many 15.4 that can be found for your "desired" price that offer that resolution also; for example the Compal JHL90 and KHLB2 can satisfy your needs for little more than $800, but only come in 1280x800 and 1366x768 resolutions, respectively.

http://www.xoticpc.com/force-3310-bu...wconfigure=yes

eh. unless there's something wrong with swapping out the screen (which is what i'm assuming they do). 'built on' doesn't count mebbe, but still. only problem with that one is the graphics card; otherwise i can get it set up including vista with win7 coupon for ~$1100. that's the main problem i'm having; all that i'm seeing are that way.

You will be hard pressed to find that high of a resolution in anything less than a 17" laptop and allot of them are 18-19" in that resolution. Also a 2.4ghz CPU is still "high(ish)" end for a laptop and you are going to have to pay for it.

i guess my point was that for 15.4", you can easily order 1680x1050 on most of the custom laptop sites that offer 1280x800 by default, but the graphics cards on them were not so hot unless i missed something (which is what i was hoping)