Buying a new Laptop. Thoughts?

[Bucko]

I have the opportunity to get a new laptop through work under salary sacrifice.
Basically, they pay for it and I pay them back over a year from my salary pre-tax.

If I could get a desk top PC instead, I would. But I'm stuck with a laptop.
If I'm going to do it, I'm not mucking around with some little thing that is slower than my desk top PC.
I want a one with all the bells and whistles!

I'm looking at a couple from Dell:

The XPS M1710: Linky 1 (http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/xps_m1710?c=au&l=en&s=dhs&cs=audhs1)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7255/dell1uh8.jpg

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/9978/dell2kr0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



And the XPS M2010: Linky 2 (http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/xps_m2010?c=au&l=en&s=dhs&cs=audhs1)

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6003/dell3ln1.jpg http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/9004/dell4tg8.jpg

Am I nuts for going with Dell? With either model I'll be getting it with the best specs.
Any other suggestions for a laptop from other brands in a similar vain?

I like the first for it's supposed "rugged" design with HDD shock absorbtion, but I hate lap top keyboards, and would need to carry a USB keyboard with me to use it.

The second one is more like a portable desktop computer and has a bigger screen (always good!).

So, thoughts?

[Aero]

depends on what you'll be using it for. If you want more of a desktop, the second. But if you want a laptop laptop, I would say look for something under the "Centrino" tag. The built in wireless and long battery life is a must IMO.

[Bucko]

It will be used as more of a desktop PC than an out and out laptop.
Where I work in the Railway Control Centre I could be on any one of up to 13 different workstations depending on the roster.
Now while there is a desktop PC at each workstation, it is still a pain because you can't set them up how you might like, or install different programs on them.
Basically this would allow me to still hook into the work intranet, but be able to have my PC how I like.

My main concern is I've heard some horror stories about older Dell computers, which is why I'm not sure about jumping into one of these.

[public_eyesore]

if your going to buy a multi grand gaming computer, I would wait until they come out with dx10 mobile cards

[Reyer]

i would go with the first one,
i thaught the second was more of a media laptop

[Redundant]

i would go with the first one,
i thaught the second was more of a media laptop

The second one is not a laptop. Hell, it probably doesn't even have a battery.

EDIT:
I like the first for it's supposed "rugged" design with HDD shock absorbtion, but I hate lap top keyboards, and would need to carry a USB keyboard with me to use it.

If you get a laptop with a 17" screen then it will have a full size keyboard (usually w/ keypad too).

Also, did you hear of the Dell exploding laptop batteries? Sounds like loads of fun.

EDIT 2: I suggest a 17" Toshiba or MacBook Pro w/ BootCamp & Vista (though the second one is OK)

[AJ@PR]

Carefull what you ask for regarding all the bells & whistles...

I ordered a ProStar some years ago, and it was *tha* ****.
LOADED.

And it was SO freaking heavy and big, I stopped carrying it around.

I don't see it as a "lap"top anymore... more like a computer that's movable.

I'm going to check with my friend, but he has a very, very cool Dell that's pretty small.

Runs all games pretty decent (some look amazing), and so far, he's very happy with it.
Powerfull and portable... and I think it didn't cost and arm and a leg.

I'll check that out for you... as to the second Dell you posted... if you buy it, you will have to mod it.
BuuHuHaHAAAAA-aAAAAA!!!!

[DaveW]

The Dell laptops are fairly good build quality. As Minty said, they're slapping a tag on someone else's work.

Dell are advertising the second one there as a 'Portable media center'. I think it has a TV Tuner and everything, but it's not getting great reviews.

If you're looking for a Pimped laptop, get yourself The Rock. (http://www.rockdirect.com/viewNotebook.php?pName=XTREME%20SL%20PRO)

20" screen, dual SLI...honestly, take a look. Apparently it comes with a very comfy backpack too-well, it would need to, with a 20" screen.

-Dave

[Redundant]

It seems Dell may have a problem with grounding their laptops:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/

Apparently, some people get shocked when ever they touch ports or screws on their notebooks.

[Crimson Sky]

I'm happy with my DELL Inspiron