Laptop

[Pickers]

After having had it with my desktop, and downsizing to a flat, I am looking for a new laptop...
Heres what I have found:

Dell Studio 15
Intel® Core™ i7-720QM Mobile Processor (1.6GHz, turbo up to 2.8GHz, 6MB L3 Cache
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional, 64bit, English
15.6in Widescreen Full High Definition (1920 x 1080) WLED with TrueLife
4096MB 1333MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM [2x2048]
320GB (7,200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive
512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HP 4570

£768
£710 after discounts and quidco.

Am I going overboard with this?? I dont really do an awful lot of gaming, but feel I want the power of a desktop just in case...
I could go smaller I spose. Dunno if this is a deal not to miss :/


Edit: If I downgrade the display from full HD, It drops to £680...

[Jingo]

I'm not sure of what is out there in your price range at the moment but I will comment in support for Dell.

I still use my Dell of 5-6 years ago when I spent out the best part of £1000 - it got me through my degree (lots of graphics/rendering usage), still plays TF2 / L4D even though it is notably dated in comparison to my new desktop BEAST.

I've never had a problem with Dell (other than a battery charger dying which was replaced to my door within 48 hours or so) - reliable machines that are upgradable if necessary, good company from my experience and worth spending out on as they last. :)

[Pickers]

I still use my Dell of 5-6 years ago when I spent out the best part of £1000 - it got me through my degree (lots of graphics/rendering usage), still plays TF2 / L4D even though it is notably dated in comparison to my new desktop BEAST.


I concur - I'm currently on my old inspiron 5100 that I purchased in 2003.
P4 2.66Ghz
512 RAM
Tas gone through a couple of formats, the old charger unit died earlier this year, and the battery now lasts 3 mins, so it runs off mains all the time. But all the other parts work fine.. its just a little bit.. slow :p

[Daz]

I heart Dell :)

What do you want to do with it Pickers?

[Haly]

I heart Dell :)

What he said :D

3 desktops and 2 laptops in the house all Dell. Excellent stuff touch wood.

[Pickers]

have it for a long time ;)
office work,
photos / movies / music
opportunity for games
and of course... t'internet

[Briggykins]

Don't listen to the fella on Facebook :) Don't know much about laptops but they seem to be getting better and better value. The i7 is a v nice processor and a nice big screen would always be handy for the interweb. I'd be very happy with that package.

[Daz]

Probably more than I'd pay for a largely general use machine, and while that res is lovely, I find it too much on 15.4" screens - 1680x1050 is bob on imo. Should certainly last a while though, not many boxes it doesn't tick :)

[Mark]

Agree with Daz, insane resolution doesn't make sense on a Laptop. No harm at all in stepping down a touch and if you want to watch Full HD, plug it into your LCD and off you go - much better experience all around.

As for Dell, thirded/fourthed (lost count). Dell Workstation, 7 years old, still holds it's own at most things except games. Mind you, so it should for the price I paid. Fell into disuse about two years ago but still works. Two fan failures (both replaced). Old Dell laptop, almost same age, keyboard failed (replaced) but otherwise perfect. New Dell laptop, 18 months old, gets a bit hot and bothered but otherwise perfect.

I treat my hardware with care, but abuse the heck out of the CPU, so it's good that they last. :)

[Haly]

Probably more than I'd pay for a largely general use machine, and while that res is lovely, I find it too much on 15.4" screens - 1680x1050 is bob on imo. Should certainly last a while though, not many boxes it doesn't tick :)

Assuming it has the same options as mine. The screen options are either 1366x768 or the full 1920x1080. I went for 1366x768 as I couldn't really justify the extra £70.

[Daz]

Maybe they only offer that on the Latitudes :shrug:

[divine]

With a Mobility 4570 I wouldn't expect to play any recent games very well.

[Haly]

Maybe they only offer that on the Latitudes :shrug:

Yeah might be just the business ones :/ My old one was a Vostro and had that res available I think (certainly something similar).

With a Mobility 4570 I wouldn't expect to play any recent games very well.

Think it depends on your definition of very well, although that's always the way :p Mine seems to run DiRT2 at medium spec well enough :)

[Pickers]

Aye - Im not that fussed on "new" games. As long as I can play HL2 and maybe BF2 from time to time... That will do me :p

[divine]

Those are about 4 years old so they should be fine :p

[Pickers]

Ok, seems a lot of offers end tomorrow.

If I go for a lesser processor (Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P7450 (2.13Ghz, 3MB, 1066MHz)) I can get it for £600 but I am limited to a HDD speed of 5400 rpm (500 Gig) and seemingly 4 Gig RAM at 800Mhz.

As an alternative, a studio 17 (bigger screen - but leser mobility and battery life?) can be had for about £660 with:
Pentium core 2 duo T6600 2.2GHz
640 Gig 7200 rpm HDD (or 500 gig 5400 for about £580)
4 Gig 1333 MHz RAM

OR do I got for the i7 processor and fast HDD and Ram for said price of £680.. ARGH... :p

[Mark]

Depends how much CPU horsepower you need. If you don't need the latest and greatest then lower spec might get you less weight and more battery. Or it might not. :)

[Pickers]

Thats the problem. Unless I go 17", then dropping the processor also drops my options with HDD and memory clock speed. So, I dont know if its worth it :/

[Pickers]

Well I've only gone and spent £680. Best get the desktop and old laptop sold in some fashion!!

[Haly]

Yay new laptops are fun :D

[Pickers]

so is payday :p

[Desmo]

At last....he made a choice ;D

[Will]

If I didn't have a desktop PC, I'd still use an external screen and a wireless mouse/keyboard for day-to-day use of it so wiouldn't be overly bothered about a smaller screen.

Congrats on the purchase! :)

[Pickers]

At last....he made a choice ;D

No thanks to you, mister indifferent! :p

[Pickers]

w00t its been shipped!! dunno how long it will take! its in China!

[Haly]

Mine left China on the 10th and was with me on the 14th :)
So hopefully you're that lucky too!

[Pickers]

w00t Its arrived! Im a bit afraid to turn it on for some reason!!

[Burble]

Wuss. Get pushing that power button!

[Haly]

Yay for new toys :D