Big, Bad Laptop...

[zonda]

Well I'm sure if you just politly asked your proff, they would let you jack in somewhere without a problem... unless, of course, their name is Adolf or Joseph

[RAHK]

Eh we may have a problem.

 

 

 

it's going to be hard finding a great laptop that has enough battery power for 4 hours.

 

 

 

Well, I could plug it in between classes so maybe 1.5 hours? No clue on their lifespans, lol. Other than class it will always be plugged in.

[Stuart_G]

What are you more worried about, an uber powerful system or portability and battery life?

 

 

 

You cant really choose both cause uber system = uber power useage.

[RAHK]

What are you more worried about, an uber powerful system or portability and battery life?

 

 

 

You cant really choose both cause uber system = uber power useage.

 

 

 

Power is by far more important but it still needs to be somewhat useful unplugged. It is likely that I can plug in during at least one class a day, if not more. What are the normal times for power hogs like this?

[Stuart_G]

To be honest, I'm not totally sure. But hey, you have all this money to spend on one, you can always get a second battery. Keep it close and when your current one looks like its about to run out, save all your stuff, turn it off, swap to the fully powered battery and yeah, you'll have more power once again.

 

 

 

Didn't think of that before, but the second battery is an option which lets you run your laptop for twice as long, cause there's two batteries you can have at your disposal.

[Mr_Putter]

Why can't you spend part of the money now, and part in 2 years?

[Nadril]

hmm also, I don't know if they do this for top of the line desktops, but some i've seen have 2 video cards in them. One is a nice, top notch one and the other is just a built in.

 

 

 

The reason they do that is because if you need a lot of battery life (but don't need the power) you can switch to the onboard video instead of the video card. the video card is there for your needs for a powerful laptop :D .

 

 

 

Try searching for that. Again, I don't know if falcon northwest / alienware does it or not.

[RAHK]

Why can't you spend part of the money now, and part in 2 years?

 

 

 

My understanding of how this works is that I get one shot at a computer and can't get another until that one is essentially worthless. Since we are talking about the military here that could easily be 10 or 15 years in their eyes. :roll:

 

 

 

hmm also, I don't know if they do this for top of the line desktops, but some i've seen have 2 video cards in them. One is a nice, top notch one and the other is just a built in.

 

 

 

The reason they do that is because if you need a lot of battery life (but don't need the power) you can switch to the onboard video instead of the video card. the video card is there for your needs for a powerful laptop :D .

 

 

 

Try searching for that. Again, I don't know if falcon northwest / alienware does it or not.

 

 

 

Since I do not know the impact that would have on my overall search (it might limit options for example) I think that I will stick with the double battery option. Most of the places that I dug through listed that as a standard upgrade, anyway. Whoever thought that dual-card thing up, though, is a flippin' genius. :shock:

[Guest XplsvBam]

What are you using this laptop for? There really is no best computer, I could easily build a $10,000 computer that sucks at gaming, or build a $10,000 computer that's not for AutoCAD. So first of all, what are you using it for?

how the hell could you spend $10,000 on a computer that sucked at anything?

 

 

 

easy.

 

 

 

Those PC's are made specificly for 3d programs such as 3d studio max, ect. ect. Many graphic designers use them.

so you are telling me that those computers wouldn't be able to run video games? my little laptop runs video games and 3dsm...

 

 

 

I quote:

 

 

 

I could easily build a $10,000 computer that sucks at gaming

 

 

 

It probaly could run games, yes, but it wouldn't run them near as good as a normal PC could, the video cards aren't made for gaming.

How is rendering gfx in 3dsm any different then rendering a game engines gfx? Thats total bs that you can spend $10,000 that can't be top of the line at running both graphics programs and games.. Considering dream systems only cost around $3,000...

 

 

 

Sorry it just pisses me off when people say "well it depends on what you want to use it for." when in truth no matter what you use it for its going to need a good cpu, ram, and graphics card. Sure if all you use it for is emailing and word processor you can take out the graphics card. But 10 year old computers can run the internet and word processors... It is true that if you plan on playing games like fear and doom you are going to want a better card, but my god how thick can you be to say "well it depends on what you use it for." If you are going to run top of the line software you need top of the line hardware... that easy.

 

 

 

obviously this guy only needs a laptop that costs $1000-2000. He stated right away he dosn't no much about computers. So obviously he isn't running programs like 3dsm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[insane]

Why not just approach a laptop company and offer them $40 000 to make you a personalized super-awesome laptop? :P

[Nadril]

What are you using this laptop for? There really is no best computer, I could easily build a $10,000 computer that sucks at gaming, or build a $10,000 computer that's not for AutoCAD. So first of all, what are you using it for?

how the hell could you spend $10,000 on a computer that sucked at anything?

 

 

 

easy.

 

 

 

Those PC's are made specificly for 3d programs such as 3d studio max, ect. ect. Many graphic designers use them.

so you are telling me that those computers wouldn't be able to run video games? my little laptop runs video games and 3dsm...

 

 

 

I quote:

 

 

 

I could easily build a $10,000 computer that sucks at gaming

 

 

 

It probaly could run games, yes, but it wouldn't run them near as good as a normal PC could, the video cards aren't made for gaming.

How is rendering gfx in 3dsm any different then rendering a game engines gfx? Thats total bs that you can spend $10,000 that can't be top of the line at running both graphics programs and games.. Considering dream systems only cost around $3,000...

 

 

 

Sorry it just pisses me off when people say "well it depends on what you want to use it for." when in truth no matter what you use it for its going to need a good cpu, ram, and graphics card. Sure if all you use it for is emailing and word processor you can take out the graphics card. But 10 year old computers can run the internet and word processors... It is true that if you plan on playing games like fear and doom you are going to want a better card, but my god how thick can you be to say "well it depends on what you use it for." If you are going to run top of the line software you need top of the line hardware... that easy.

 

 

 

obviously this guy only needs a laptop that costs $1000-2000. He stated right away he dosn't no much about computers. So obviously he isn't running programs like 3dsm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

The cards put in the workstation machines generaly have a large ammount of memory on them. I'm not sure how exactly they work but I don't think they focus on rendering stuff such as video games in motion.

 

 

 

 

 

anyways, it was a legitimate question. Plenty of people in college would much rather need a good workstation (if they have that kind of money to spend on one).

 

 

 

Usualy a workstation is probaly a waste of money, but for a company soley built on doing large 3D projects they can help.

 

 

 

 

 

Anyways, I don't know much more about those PC's in general, and we are derailing this topic ;).

 

 

 

 

 

I like that idea insane, lol. "hey, yeah, I need a $40,000 laptop made for me please :lol: .

 

 

 

I shudder to think of the battery for that thing.

[-mbball-]

Why no apple? Is that a joke or what? I myself am on a mac and love it to death. I think you havn't heard about the knew intel macs 8-) They can run both windows and Mac OS X. You can easily afford a maxed out one that would do great for anything. You really need to give macs a try, because not only is Mac OS X one of the best platforms but now you can use windows too, so there's no excuses to not getting one. I'll link you up with some stuff about Apple's new version of Mac OS X that's coming out sometime next yr I think.

 

 

 

Mac Pro, a top of the line labtop: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/W ... MacBookPro

 

 

 

Information about Mac OS X Leopard:http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/index.html

 

 

 

Once you get it you'll love it. Also, when using Mac OS X gets barely any viruses.

 

 

 

-mbball

[RAHK]

obviously this guy only needs a laptop that costs $1000-2000. He stated right away he dosn't no much about computers. So obviously he isn't running programs like 3dsm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

While it is (very) true that I know little of computers at the moment, I am going for a degree in computer sciences to remedy that. I find computers fascinating (especially the fact that you can get bugs/glitches from 0's and 1's which would seem straightforward in performance) and would like to know more. Before this I was just as interested in weapons, explosives, and parachuting and... let's say that my curiosity is quenched. :wink:

 

 

 

Not to mention that $1200 of this is from my own pocket. They make you pay for benefits that are later apparent to be nearly useless. I would like to get as much from this as I can due to the fact that I will never be able to use it all up before it expires.

 

 

 

Why not just approach a laptop company and offer them $40 000 to make you a personalized super-awesome laptop? :P

 

 

 

Lol, that would be GREAT! The big problem is that I need to be able to semi-justify the expenses. They would likely pay for top-of-the-line processors but would laugh if I wanted a custom paintjob (best example I can give with my enormous amount of computer spec knowledge). From what I have been told they are not easy to convince when it comes to personalized equipment; they like packages with options at best. Mmm, $40k worth of laptop... =P~

 

 

 

Why no apple? Is that a joke or what? I myself am on a mac and love it to death. I think you havn't heard about the knew intel macs 8-) They can run both windows and Mac OS X. You can easily afford a maxed out one that would do great for anything. You really need to give macs a try, because not only is Mac OS X one of the best platforms but now you can use windows too, so there's no excuses to not getting one. I'll link you up with some stuff about Apple's new version of Mac OS X that's coming out sometime next yr I think.

 

 

 

Mac Pro, a top of the line labtop: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/W ... MacBookPro

 

 

 

Information about Mac OS X Leopard:http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/index.html

 

 

 

Once you get it you'll love it. Also, when using Mac OS X gets barely any viruses.

 

 

 

-mbball

 

 

 

I know as much about apples as I do about platypus anatomy, aka zilch. :oops: The counselor that I spoke with specifically told me to avoid them and Dell's. Don't know why and I don't really care because they grade my assignments, lol. I have heard rumors that macs have gotten a bad rap for no reason but would prefer to stick with a pc for the time being. No offense to the Apple-folk at all, of course. :D

 

 

 

I like that idea insane, lol. "hey, yeah, I need a $40,000 laptop made for me please :lol: .

 

 

 

I shudder to think of the battery for that thing.

 

 

 

Bah, no problem. I will just lug a gasoline-powered generator behind me. Just have to avoid small closed-in rooms with poor ventalation... :XD:

[Chris]

I know as much about apples as I do about platypus anatomy, aka zilch. :oops: The counselor that I spoke with specifically told me to avoid them and Dell's. Don't know why and I don't really care because they grade my assignments, lol. I have heard rumors that macs have gotten a bad rap for no reason but would prefer to stick with a pc for the time being. No offense to the Apple-folk at all, of course. :D

 

 

 

 

 

I reckon that judgement would have been based around the recent battery pack explosions...

 

 

 

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=32550

 

 

 

I can't find the Apple one too, but if you Google it, you'll probably find it.

[zonda]

In reference to the person raging about the other person who said "It depends on what you want to use it for" he is completely correct. If your building a server box, for instance, you could easilly put $8000 into it, and make it run increadibly smooth with several servers running on it.... and yet you wouldn't be able to play a single game on it.

[Nadril]

In reference to the person raging about the other person who said "It depends on what you want to use it for" he is completely correct. If your building a server box, for instance, you could easilly put $8000 into it, and make it run increadibly smooth with several servers running on it.... and yet you wouldn't be able to play a single game on it.

 

 

 

yup ;). Different boxes, different tasks.

[Guest XplsvBam]

In reference to the person raging about the other person who said "It depends on what you want to use it for" he is completely correct. If your building a server box, for instance, you could easilly put $8000 into it, and make it run increadibly smooth with several servers running on it.... and yet you wouldn't be able to play a single game on it.

 

 

 

yup ;). Different boxes, different tasks.

where does it say that he is getting a server? no where..

[zonda]

In reference to the person raging about the other person who said "It depends on what you want to use it for" he is completely correct. If your building a server box, for instance, you could easilly put $8000 into it, and make it run increadibly smooth with several servers running on it.... and yet you wouldn't be able to play a single game on it.

 

 

 

yup ;). Different boxes, different tasks.

where does it say that he is getting a server? no where..

 

 

 

Yea... because we asked. Had we asked "what will it be used for" and he said 'server', the posts in this thread would be completly different then if he said "email / ms word" or "playing quake 5 and half life 4"

[Firebird75]

Well Alienware is quite good and has probably the best performance

[RAHK]

Just wanted to update people on my situation if anybody was curious. Due to the fact that the instructor determines what and how much of what I need, he basically was the one to choose, lol. The counselor who told me no Dell, no mac, did not know my instructor very well because he chose an PowerBook Pro with all the bells and whistles. I don't mind since apparently it is the best apple laptop on the market and it can run windows, which I am familiar with. I will likely have that puppy on permanent windows boot camp for a few months, lol. I get it in three, count 'em, THREE weeks so am excited to bring a sledge to my current laptop. :twisted:

 

 

 

Thanks all for your advice. It helped me tell the VA what the instructor meant and made it easier to defend the choices.

 

 

 

Thanks again,

 

 

 

-RAHK-

[IceBlackIce]

oh a PowerBooooooook (goes zombie)

 

could i have one too please?? pretty please?

[das1330]

if you actually have 50000$ to spend, i would get a falcon. custom painted :D

 

costs like 20 grand tho

 

http://falcon-nw.com

[Willsellanything]

so... u would rather get a powerbook than a pwnage falcon??

 

 

 

YOU ARE !D!0T

 

 

 

1. powerbook are very hard to upgrade cuz u cant do it urself so u hav 2 take it in to the apple store and they charge u $$$$$

 

 

 

2. batteries are hard to remove on those

 

 

 

3. apple doesnt make the hi-hi-end only falcon does

 

 

 

4. i kno u prefer windows but u can also get OS X to run on your falcon

 

 

 

5. 2 gfx cards in falcon

 

 

 

6. hi end audio in falcon

 

 

 

7. 2 dvd drives vs. 1 on apple

 

 

 

8. more!

[zonda]

what are you smoking....

 

 

 

the OP said his counselor decided for him which laptop he would be getting, and the poster before that said he WOULD get a falcon if he could have.

[Willsellanything]

no they suggested which one to get