I need a laptop!

[Tahiti]

Ok so I am looking for a laptop for myself. I want to be able to play wow on it as well as do picture things. I DON'T want a MAC or a MAC vs. PC debate so please don't suggest it. :-) I'm thinking spending around $700-$800 but those prices aren't very firm. The few things that I am looking for are several USB ports so I can have the headset/mouse plugged in. I do like that the HP's have the button for turning off the touch pad. I heard that HP's have had over heating issues in the past, is this still true? A blue ray player would be nice but not a huge selling point. Thats all I can think of now but I'm sure there are others things I'd like.
Thoughts? comments?

<3 T

[Dartagn]

http://www.dealsofamerica.com/Dell-Insp ... /76115.htm

http://www.dealsofamerica.com/Lenovo-G5 ... /87250.htm

Those two are both below your price range and will do anything you want them too...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+-+S ... 8123211002

My company just bought 4 of these. Seemed very fast after I removed the crapware installed... It has an ATI integrated GPU. I read reviews that it is better than the Intel shit for gaming.

Either way, there are very cheap and very great laptops out there.

Find the best processor/video card combo you can. Nothing else matters (ram and HD can be replaced/upraded).

Good luck.

[Tahiti]

Thanks Dart. I think we are looking for one that we won't have to upgrade for awhile, if at all. (Although having the option is a high on the list.)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Laptop-Comp ... 6200050015

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Laptop-Comp ... 6200050015

So these are the few that I have been looking at comments?

<3 T

[Lishtus]

T, I just bought the wife a Sony Vaio from Best Buy and she loves it.

[Dartagn]

Those are all nice. The Samsung doesn't say it comes with a 64bit OS, remember you will not get more than 4GB of RAM out of a 32 bit if you are trying to future proof (the chipsets all support upgrading to a newer OS, but probably better to start with it.

The Intel Pavilion has a lower res screen, smaller size (up to you if that is a bad thing) and a slightly slower processor overall. (More RAM and higher L2 cache though. Probably just as fast)

I like the specs on the AMD Pavilion the best, and I believe the ATI graphics run better than integrated Intel stuff. (It is also the cheapest and has everything. That is the advantage of the AMD processor which is *slightly* slower than the Intel units.)

The Dell is good as well.

However, I own a Toshiba now, and my work laptops are all Toshiba as well. I love them, and it does have even a bit more res on the screen (also a much bigger screen) than the others.

If I were spending my own money, I would roll with the Toshiba mostly due to brand loyalty. They have really done me well, but for you I would check CNet and other reviews for each and make sure that they look like what you want out of a laptop. Any one of them will do exactly what you want. You have the privilege of being able to nit-pick, because there isn't really a bad choice here.

Good luck!

[Bees]

I heard that HP's have had over heating issues in the past, is this still true?

My 6 month old HP elitebook has overheating issues

[Antilikos]

My 6 month old HP elitebook has overheating issues

Is there any laptop without overheating issues for gaming? I have always needed an external fan on all of mine.

[Bees]

my previous HP didn't

[Dartagn]

Most laptops draw air from below, they overheated even when well ventilated? Do you overclock?

I have never needed an extra cooler on any laptop. Maybe some are just badly designed, but even under heavy use the laptop should be fine by default.

[Bees]

my current HP has a cooling pad (fans to draw hot air out) and all the vents are clean. it's just poorly designed