Laptop suggestions....!!

[JamesTaylor]

i will be purchasing a new laptop soon, so was hoping to get some feed back on a couple i have picked out.

 

not much heavy work - i.e modelling - will be carried out on the machine but i do want it to able to render heavy scenes as it may be used as a render node.

 

the two i have picked out are:

 

http://www.asuslaptop.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=Asus_Laptop_A7Cc-7S002XM

 

http://www.asuslaptop.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=Asus_Laptop_G2PC-7R004P

 

i'm leaning towards the cheaper one, A7C, the specs are slightly less than the G2PC but they both have 2gb RAM and will i really notice any difference in performance (other than the graphics card) for a saving of pushing £500??

 

If anyone has any other suggestions feel free to throw into the ring!

 

Cheers

 

James

[AJLynn]

Looks like the only differences are in the video card, a bit faster CPU and a few differences in case design. The cheaper video card is certainly good enough if you don't want it for heavy modeling work. The main concern I'd have with either is that they're 17" screens, which means they're big and heavy, but the screens are only 1440x900 (in contrast, with Apple, 1440x900 is a 15" screen, and a 17" is 1680x1050) so you're gaining size without the benefit of a lot of pixels.

[JamesTaylor]

Thanks Andrew,

 

checked my currrent laptop after your comments to find that its actually 15.4" running at 1280 x 800 which is fine for me again.... don't know why i thoughtit was 17"!!!

 

so i'd actually probably be better with this one, for an extra £50 and the fact that i actually don't need a 17" screen!

 

http://www.asuslaptop.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=Asus_Laptop_F3Jp-AP025P

 

 

what are your thoughts about windows on an apple?? i seen people writing about it etc. but i know nothing about macs were as i'm comfortable with pc's etc. Is there a huge benefit from going down the mac laptop route instead of a pc laptop, especially as mac's generally tend to be more expensive than pc's??

 

Cheers

 

James

[Tommy L]

Hello James,

I have a dell inspiron E1705 and it kicks ass. Cost $2000(US) has a go7900gs grapchics card, 17" screen (1900x1250) 2gigRAM, core 2 duo 2gig and i would HIGHLY recommend those specs and that laptop. The screen is the best Ive seen, laptop or otherwise. I have it hooked up to a 22' widescreen viewsonic. Only problem is it weighs 900 pounds (but i dont take it anywhere out of the house).

 

Before you buy, 2 things to consider:

 

Do you want it portable?

Are you going to get another screen?

 

Oh, my machine would be alot cheaper now. I got it about 5 months ago.

 

Both important questions, as your laptop screen could effectively become your secondary monitor, therefore a 15" would be enough and make it infinately more portable and cheaper.

[AJLynn]

James-

 

Are you the real James Taylor?

 

Anyway, that smaller one looks good. You'll probably want an upgrade to 2GB. You like 1280x800? Maybe I've been using high res screens for too long, but to me anything less than 1600x1200 or 1680x1050 isn't enough to work on. But if you're comfortable in that screen res, I'd go and look at a Macbook - 13" screen 1280x800, Core2 Duo, runs Bootcamp, and small and light enough my grandmother could carry it.

 

BTW, in my experience Dell laptops have been way too much trouble to be worth it.

[JamesTaylor]

Tom, i want the machine to be portable, to be honest its main use will be basis stuff, surfing etc. etc. wirelessly at home, but i also want it to be powerful for rendering as my desktops are a couple of years old now, although fine for working / creating on they're a little slow come rendering.

 

Andrew, well i am real!!! Its amazing how may people have asked me that over the years, particularly going through school!! Unfortunately i have to admit to practically tone deaf!! i think i could clear a room with my signing voice! ...there are actually two famous musical James Taylor's one being the solo artist and the other being a Jazz Band... perhaps there are more too??

 

I always work at 1280 x 1024 (1280 x 800 on the laptop widescreen) buti do use dual 19" monitors... if that makes any different!!

 

Should have mentioned the 2GB upgrade was included in the price ending up at an additional £50

 

wouldn't 1280 x 800 on a 13" screen be physically smaller to view than 1280 x 800 on a 15" screen?? Other than Macs looking the part is there actually significant advantage / time savings during rendering etc.?

[AJLynn]

The Mac, when being used as a PC, is just like a PC with the same spec. So the only advantages are that Apple manages to make them quite small yet well built, has good service and is generally better at designing things than other companies. They're a bit more expensive but they're a notch above the competition in those areas.

 

I was suggesting the 13" model because it seems like a pretty reasonable size to me - it comes out to something like 115 DPI. I used to have one of those 15" UXGA screens and that was 133 DPI, so maybe my thinking on these things is a bit skewed The 15" screens with the same number of pixels give you a bigger image but not more information.

[James]

Just wanted to backup AJ's comments...

 

I've recently switched to a Mac (17" C2D Macbook Pro). For day-to-day CAD stuff I boot up into Windows. It sits on my desk with a USB keyboard, mouse & external drive hooked up to it... essentially using it as a monitor. Resolution is set at 1680 x 1050. After a week, I had to use my old desktop with 17" LCD. Can't remember what the resolution was set to, but everything looked HUGE. Suppose it all comes down to what you get used to. Might get a second monitor at some point, but neither the workload or finances demand it.

 

Anyway, can't recommend the Mac route enough. Once you take the plunge, you won't look back!

 

James.

[JamesTaylor]

the Macbook's do look interesting, certainly better design style, but i think this time i'll be sticking with the cheaper PCs

 

Thanks for your comments tho guys!

 

James