Laptop 14-16" with 1080p resolution for around $1000 max

[Stupify]

Hey guys,

As the title indicates: 14-16" laptop with 1080p resolution for around $1000 cdn/usd max ($800 + $200 for 120gb SSD). I would prefer it has the following features:
1) dedicated video card with dedicated memory for mild gaming (think sc2 but low settings)
2) 1080p resolution
3) eSata
4) hdmi
5) usb 3.0
6) dvd writer
7) as light weight as possible (not a big deal but preferred)
as much battery life as possible (not a big deal but preferred)
9) Nice built (if going for 15"+ then would like numpad included too) - think IBM Thinkpads (but can be a bit lower quality if price is the issue)

The purpose of use: Light gaming, heavy programming (hence higher resolution), installing tons of software, loading heavy duty software, ...

Timeframe of purchase - now till January 2011. This opens up the possibility of Sandy bridge based too.

Willing to drive down to US to pick it up.

So far I have found two laptops that are around the budget:
Dell Studio 15 XPS L501x at $750 + $200 SSD should be perfect - only issue - no keypad and ships on 23rd Dec
ASUS N53JF-XE1 about $200 off my budget

[Akram]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220875

You may check Sony store along with coupons you may get something good.

[graf]

Sager makes potent laptops, maybe someone would like to sell it on eBay for 1k$
I see nice x58 based models for about 2k$ on Sager website

[Stupify]

The Asus laptop definitely looks awesome bar the price. I want to stick in a SSD for 120gb instead so need to knock off around $200 that price tag.

[Stupify]

Clevo B5130M $1200
Dell XPS L501x: $1000

w/o ssd both.

[Akram]

NO Clevo!!

Good configuration, bad build quality!

The Dell XPS had s great review from Anandtech. Same components as the ASUS but with better screen. I configured it with a BD, backlit keyboard, bluetooth and 9 cell battery for $1,114.



Forget about having an 1080p laptop under $1000.

[Stupify]

Does anyone know of custom laptop builders/makers?

I checked out Sager and their NP2180 model that came in around $800 however something about it just didn't feel quality - anyone have any words on this?

[Akram]

I wouldn't recommend it. They use barebones from MSI and such, and stuff it with high performance equipment.

[Stupify]

I found a very good deal now: $750

XPS 15 XPS 15 NIX15HN
Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
Processor Intel® Core™ i5-460M (2.53GHz, 4 threads, turbo boost up to 2.8GHz, 3M cache) I5460M
Memory 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
Keyboard Standard Keyboard - English STKYBD
Video Card NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 420M 1GB graphics with Optimus
Hard Drive 500GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
System Color and LCD Silver Anodized Aluminum 15.6" FHD (1080p) B+RGLED Display with Facial Recognition
Integrated Network Adapter Integrated 10/100/1000 Network Card
Adobe Reader Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0
CD ROM/DVD ROM 8X Tray Load CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive) DVDRW
Sound JBL 2.1 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3 JBLSND
Wireless Intel© Centrino© Advanced-N 6200
Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed) No Productivity Software
Anti-Virus/Security Suite (Pre-installed) McAfee Security Center with VirusScan, Firewall, Spyware Removal
Battery 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery 6BAT
Hardware Support Services 1 Year Basic Service Plan
Datasafe Dell Online Backup 2GB for 1 year DOB2GB
Mobile Broadband No Mobile Broadband Selected
Bluetooth Dell Bluetooth 3.0

Everything I was looking for except the shipping date which is December 23rd. So should I pull the trigger or wait for Sandy Bridge?

[Akram]

What was it that Sandy Bridge is coming up with? Better integrated graphics performance.

Get a backlit keyboard.

[Edit]

Revisiting the Anandtech preview it does offer quite more performance, but nothing break dealer other than the integrated graphics performance. However, I wonder what Nvidia and manufacturers will use for discrete gpus if the igp offers nearly same level of performance to low end gpus.

[Stupify]

better performance and power consumption too. i could say avx but doubt if i will benefit at all from it.

[graf]

Do not pay aftention to phrase " built quality"
Dell,Asus,HP got their laptop parts from the same China-Taiwan factory,
It's all the same junk so buy what you need after checking warranty repair responses
/not buy if number is deaf or compliants present on the web
I used to think Asus is a good brand ......it sucks....like Toshiba, threats of suing forced them to issue RMA and I'm not happy

Powerwise....electrical outlets and car lighter adapters are everywhere. I can't imagine situation that you use laptop away from power sources..

[Akram]

The same damn "factory" produce lots of stuff, ranging in quality and price target. However, when premium materials are good designs are used I'm more than happy to pay because it deserves.

Woobly keyboards, crappy screens, glossy finish, awful touchpads and poor rigidity are things that I'd pay for. Yeah you can get good configurations, but unless the custom company offers the same thing I'll not consider it. And this is not a mobile workstation in which the custom machine is more than $500 cheaper so the price has certainly a high factor.

[Hammer_Time]

The same damn "factory" produce lots of stuff, ranging in quality and price target. However, when premium materials are good designs are used I'm more than happy to pay because it deserves.

Woobly keyboards, crappy screens, glossy finish, awful touchpads and poor rigidity are things that I'd pay for. Yeah you can get good configurations, but unless the custom company offers the same thing I'll not consider it. And this is not a mobile workstation in which the custom machine is more than $500 cheaper so the price has certainly a high factor.

You would PAY for a woobly keyboard and crappy screen??!! ( just teasing your grammar here, pay no mind... )

[Stupify]

Do not pay aftention to phrase " built quality"
Dell,Asus,HP got their laptop parts from the same China-Taiwan factory,
It's all the same junk so buy what you need after checking warranty repair responses
/not buy if number is deaf or compliants present on the web
I used to think Asus is a good brand ......it sucks....like Toshiba, threats of suing forced them to issue RMA and I'm not happy

Powerwise....electrical outlets and car lighter adapters are everywhere. I can't imagine situation that you use laptop away from power sources..

thanks graf on that. I know that most of these computers are built by pretty much the same company/companies. However some differ by the material used. Anyhow reading reviews on how owners of the Dell XPS 15 systems, I feel comfortable with that series. And I can bet that I am paying some premium for the better material/components too on them. I am sure that these are still a bit inferior compared to the good ol' ThinkPads years ago that IBM made.

As for the power, I want to avoid lugging the power brick around and also want the option of having a longer lasting battery for those 12 hours trip I make to my sister's house.

[Hammer_Time]

The nVidia GT240M gpu performance:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Gra ... 844.0.html

#69 on that list, 3DMark 06 score = 5998

Mobility Radeon HD 5650 is #52 on that list, with 3DMark 06 score of 6504.

The 5650 is slightly stronger but nothing to get too worried about. GT240M should handle SC2 at lower settings no problem.

The specs you listed for that XPS 15 look quite nice, nice laptop for $750...

[graf]

Akram , brand name is a trap . You pay more for brand name and reality of business is such that when you establish brand you use cheaper parts to maximize profit -example ? APPLE
Dell is using prison laborers to assemble and pack their gear , your new xps could be screwed together by serial killer and child molester.
prisoners are paid half dollar net for their work /per hour , rest of profit is divided between wardens and DOC /not doctor - dept of corrections/
Speaking of Dell my last XPS worked 4 years till fourth hard drive failure , mechanically it still works but I have no use for it so it rots in the basement, buying another mobile drive is too much trouble and battery is also kaput ,holding power for one minute






is this quadruple toaster I see?

[Akram]

Brand name CAN be a trap. Buying Sony TVs and laptops when they were crap was a brand trap. However, probably most of us on the forum are not that naive since we have some basic background. Brand name is there however large or small it depends on the company. Human rights or not, the custom companies don't manufacture anything.

[Stupify]

420M but is slower than the 5650 however it should be fine compared to 3200 IGP that I have. I can't choose 435M with i5 and I don't want to push up the price by going i7 and also lose out on battery life (i7 has no integrated video - hence no optimus benefits).

[Akram]

I'd say wait for Sandy Bridge if its not that critical. Plus 6GPS Sata will be default, which is already getting saturated by latest SSDs.