new lappy

[Mark_Hardware]

ahh yes, another one of those threads.... I'm going to be getting a laptop soon, and I have it narrowed down to one brand, but I can't decide what model.
this (http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/pdet.to?poid=460550) one, which has a core i5,
this (http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/qosmio/X500/X505-Q865) one, which is virtually the same, but has bluetooth and is on sale for $1049. Now, I want the bluetooth, but I realllly don't want to deal with Best Buy. Like, at all.
The other option is this (http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/pdet.to?poid=460941) one, which is $300 more, but comes with bluetooth. My reservation with this one (besides the additional dough) is even though it's a quad core, it's a slower processor. I would be perfectly happy with the dual core.
I guess my question is, should I bite the bullet and buy from Worst Buy, say screw the bluetooth and buy from toshibadirect, or should I shell out the extra for the quad core model? :?

[billygoat333]

I haven't had any problems with worst buy really, I got my Dell through them. It was nice having the no interest for 12 months :P thats about the only good thing really about best buy. as far as bluetooth, its really easy to just buy a bluetooth adapter... asus has one that is super tiny that you can't even really see in the usb drive. Newegg had it as a shellshocker the other day.

[Twigsoffury]

You can pick up a USB-BluT Adapter for 19.98 @ wal mart.

I've got one in the back of my computer right now. Works flawlessly. Even lets my phone function as a modem.

http://i49.tinypic.com/6ds41f.jpg

Exactly like that one. (don't loose it lol)

I'd shell for the quad man, Just cause your not really using it right here and now, Doesn't mean it won't be extremely handy this time next year, or the year after that when Quads and Octals really take off.

[x88x]

Well, if it's your primary computer, then yeah; I'd go with the 720. Otherwise though, as much as I loath BB, I'd go with the $1050 one there. Other than the CPU and bluetooth the two appear to be identical, and honestly, that i5-430m will do you fine for most usage. (Heck, I've been using my old FX-55 based system for some testing the last few days and I'm actually quite impressed with how snappy it is).

Also, just throwing this in there, but imo there are several companies that will give you a better built laptop with more power under the hood for the same or cheaper price....but if you're set on Toshiba I'll shut up :P

[Mark_Hardware]

I'm not really set on toshiba.... My main guidelines as far as brands are no Dells, Gateways, HPs or Macs. My first picks would be ASUS or Toshiba.
I've been looking around online (all week), and today I went into BB just to look and found some laptops with similar specs but a couple hundred bucks cheaper. So wth

The usb bluetooth is a great idea, thanks for that :)

[x88x]

Well, in that price range, for the performance you seem to be looking for (ie, not really caring about GPU performance), I would go with either:

Asus N61JQ-X1 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220696): $999
i7-720qm, 4GB DDR3, Radeon 5730, 16" panel, unfortunately only at 1366x768

Asus K72JR-A1 (http://www.amazon.com/K72JR-A1-17-3-Inch-Versatile-Entertainment-Laptop/dp/tech-data/B0034H52W2/ref=de_a_smtd): $999
i5-430m, 4GB DDR3, Radeon 5470, 17.3" panel @ 1600x900

or

Sager NP7652 (http://www.sagernotebook.com/product_customed.php?pid=250739&action=customize): $999 (configured to: )
i5-520m, 4GB DDR3, Radeon 4570, 15.6" panel @ 1600x900

Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot in the 'i[x] CPU, <=~$1000' area. If you don't need excessive amounts of power, the C2D/Q generation of CPUs are still very capable, and will generally be cheaper for similar performance.

[Twigsoffury]

You seen this bad boy?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220669

ASUS G Series G72Gx-X1, 1399.99$

Core 2 Quad Q9000
6144MB DDR2-800
Nvidia GTX260m (dedicated 1024MB GDDR3) (omg)
640GB HDD
17.3" HD screen.

[x88x]

Heheh, if you're wanting to spend that much, wait a month or two till the G73 comes out for about the same price :twisted:

i7-720qm
8GB DDR3
Mobility Radeon 5870 (1024MB dedicated GDDR5)
dual 500GB HDD
17.3" 1920x1080 display

(and all that is the base model)

[Mark_Hardware]

Hmm I might have to wait to get a laptop now lol. that thing is a beast

[x88x]

The only data I've been able to find concerning a release date puts it somewhere in mid-to-late February, but I agree; if your budget can stretch to ~$1500-1600, it'll definitely be worth the wait. Fully tricked out, I don't think there will be a single laptop in the world that can outperform it...let alone one for less than $2000.

EDIT:
Ok, so fully tricked out wouldn't be under $2000...more like $5000, according to xoticpc.com (http://www.xoticpc.com/asus-g73jha2-p-2761.html?wconfigure=yes) (only place I've been able to find that has a product page for it...though I'm not sure I would want to buy one from them, they feel a little shady...). Granted, for $5000, you get:

i7-920xm
Mobility Radeon 5870 (1GB)
16GB DDR3-1333 (meaning it must have 4 so-DIMM slots... :twisted: )
BD-RW ODD
two 160GB Intel G2 X25-M's in a RAID-0
Intel 5300 a/g/n wireless
Win 7 Pro x64
$5,000

The only laptop I know of that even comes close is the Sager NP9850 (http://www.sagernotebook.com/product_customed.php?pid=188463&action=customize):

C2E QX9300
dual GTX 280M GPUs (1GB shared)
8GB DDR3-1333
BD-RW ODD
three 160GB Intel G2 X25-M's in a RAID-0*
Intel 5300 a/g/n wireless
Win 7 Pro
$5,594
*(if you drop back to only two X25's, the price drops to $5,079)

EDIT2:
Oh, and the NP9850 is freakin HUGE 18.4" 1920x1080 display, and I think about 2-2.5" thick!

[Mark_Hardware]

yeah I went and configured one the way I would want it, and yeah, outside of my price range lol

[Twigsoffury]

yeah I went and configured one the way I would want it, and yeah, outside of my price range lol

lol.

[regguy]

I haven't had any problems with worst buy really, I got my Dell through them. It was nice having the no interest for 12 months :P thats about the only good thing really about best buy. as far as bluetooth, its really easy to just buy a bluetooth adapter... asus has one that is super tiny that you can't even really see in the usb drive. Newegg had it as a shellshocker the other day.

Dell rocks. I haven't encountered any problem in an year and half period. Perhaps, I use it quite skillfully :twisted: lol

[aintnothang]

I like my studio 15.