Elliot Posted February 19, 2005 Share Posted February 19, 2005 Hello, I am doing some research for a friend of mine. We are trying to make a list of high end laptop manufacturers. Could you share with us some names or links of these kind of manufacturers. Preferably ones using ATI 9800 256mb video card. Thanks ELliot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 A friend of a friend works for a gaming company in Austin. Both of those friends purchased the Toshiba Satellite P35, and both are very pleased with it. The gaming guy actually uses his for production modeling on a regular basis. http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cmod.to?seg=HHO&coid=-28641&sel=0&rcid=-26367&ccid=1291021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriella_A Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 Hi Elliot... At the end of last year I was searching for a laptop with "high end" charateristics... I was looking for a laptop with a "strong" CPU, lot of ram and very good graphic card. Now I'm very satisfied, I bought a Clevo (a corean brand that makes laptop for lots of european brands...) It has a 17" wide screen ,it's like a panoramic display... wonderful with 3dsmax Ati 9700 256 mb, 1 gb ram, 2 hard disks... and pentium4 3,2 HT (and lots of other fun stuff... tv tuner, webcam, multiple slots...) They start with a "barebone" machine and fill it with the componets you like... Also the price was very interesting...and 3 years of warranty I'm very happy with it, and I have to suggest for this brand... if you search good components and good price. Hope it helps Gabriella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Posted February 21, 2005 Author Share Posted February 21, 2005 Gabriella and Eric Thanks for your input. In the past I have had Clevo computers, 4 of them. They are good. Now I am looking into something that will have the X800 or the ATI 9800. I have a plugin for Power Point that let you present 3D images but it does real time rendering like a game engine and requires a very powerful computer and video card. http://www.pro-star.com/index.cfm?mainpage=productdetail&model=9096 http://www.sagernotebook.com/pages/notebooks/product2.cfm?ProductType=9860&SubType=S http://www.clevo.com.tw/products/D900T.asp http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/inspn_xps?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd http://www.amazinglaptops.com/prostar-9095specs.htm Thanks Elliot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animart Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 hello the most fast video card that i have seen for 3d in a laptop is in dell precision workstation laptop M70 it have the quadro fx 1400 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Posted February 21, 2005 Author Share Posted February 21, 2005 Fernando, I understand this Quadro FX is what they call Core 5 chip and it is about 3 years old technology. The application I have requires a newer Core chip. I have been almost full time trying to buy a computer from DELL for the last 5 days. These people are almost impossible to talk with. I am concerned if I am having problems when buying a computer with them, how will it be for after sales service. That's why I am researching into another brand name I have lost my patient with the Call Center in the Phillipines and India that do not have an idea of what to do with my order. It is really incredible. Mike Dell should go and buy a computer from himself. He would get very frustrated. Thanks Elliot Fernando, Los call center no hablan Ingles y no se pueden comunicar efectivamente con los clientes. Es un gran problema y esto ahora es de mi preocupacion. Que sera desdpues cuando se dañe....!!! Hable con el call center de Panama y ellos off the record me dijeron que ellos en Panama tienen el mismo problema. Te imaginas, de un Dell a otro Dell.....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny English Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 Elliot, what is the 3D plugin you use for Powerpoint and what does it do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisHolland Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 Elliot, I've purchased a DELL Inspiron 9100 multimedia advanced laptop last month with an ATI Radeon 9700 256MB. It's running quite allright with a (maximum) 2GB RAM. You're right about the lack of service, at least the fact that they are a bit too enthousiast in their campaigns, but nevertheless it's worth thinking over to go for a DELL. Sure, it depends per country, but down here in Holland the service is as good (or worse) as every other supplier. I don't keep up on a daily bases with improvements in video cards, but is there allready a stronger device on the market yet? Also, would you mind sharing where to buy the PP plugin? It sounds great! Good luck with your purchase. Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Posted February 26, 2005 Author Share Posted February 26, 2005 Johnny and Dennis, Sorry I didn't see your posting earlier. The laptop I purchased is basically the same one you have. The only difference is the video card. This thing is running the ATI 9800 which has 256mb of video ram. This is an AGP connection. The Clevo, Sager, Allienware and ProStar are using a 3.6ghz processor with the X800 video card. The X800 is the same as the ATI9800 but it is a PCI Express connection to the motherboard. The program that runs on top of Power Point is called OfficeFX and it published by Instant Effects. This program allows you to bring the 3D Max / Viz 2005 objects as an 3D object into Power Point. Once you are doing your presentation the program will allow the presenter of the Power Point show to rotate the image from withing Power Point. It has other features as well. It is a very interesting tool for anybody doing Power Point presentations. I already tried with some clients and it is really a fantastic tool. It requires a powerful video card because they do real time rendering like a game engine. That's the reason I am buying the laptop from Dell. Only some of the 128mb video cards are supported by the developers. Here is the link http://www.instanteffects.com/products_officefx.html to their site. I have been working quietly with them for a while and I am very impressed with them as a company as well as the software. My first test with the LCD projector and using a workstation instead of a laptop was a very impressive show. Not only you can move the 3D objects. You can also create moving backgrounds. For example, if you place a sky background you can see the clouds moving around. As far as I am concern it is a must for anybody doing high end presentations. Good Luck Elliot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisHolland Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 Hi Elliot, I had an appointment yesterday with a 'coder/not-normal guy' who's on top of everything that has got something to do with improvement and development of the Vid-cards. It seems that NVidia is about to launch a new and more powerfull card for 32 bits and automatically supports 64 bits when it enters the market. As I've understood, the card also can run parralel with a second one (in the same machine) for even better performance. Again, i'm not very much into all this so I could be wrong. Don't know the ins and outs, but I'll ask him to join up here for some advice in this. I'm sure he'll be happy to inform all of us IT-nobrainers;-) Take care, Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Posted February 27, 2005 Author Share Posted February 27, 2005 Dennis, That sounds interesting..? Please let me know....! Elliot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisHolland Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 Okay Elliot, stay on this topic, I have a sitdown with him tomorrow before he's leaving back to Italy (Bologna) again. A little background? He came down here (Netherlands) to have a brainstorm with me about my new website. After that was sorted, we talked about how a slower machine can affect the overall pleasure and quality of our work. He knew the answer right away and suggested a dual card, from Nvidia that is and 'on the fly' he was drawing a complete flowchart of how it's done, included a concept-network with only 3 (powerfull) computers to outsource rendering and a complete plan of action and costs, that is something else... I'll write it all down while having the sitdown, otherwise I certainly will forget half of it;-) Regards, Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisHolland Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 Elliot, this is what I was talking about: http://www.nvidia.com/page/sli.html There's another one, a scheme of how to increase the graphics calculation even more (I'll make a pdf incl. diagram and upload it to my server tomorrow). Enjoy, Dennis (by the way, this has got nothing to do with laptops anymore;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Posted February 28, 2005 Author Share Posted February 28, 2005 Dennis, I imagine you were talking about SLI technology. It has been around for just a short while and it is a big thing with gamers. However, I would like to see if you get anybody that has tested the technology. I have friend that is familiar with these SLI and he thinks it will outperform many of the video cards that we use for graphics. Elliot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archimniac Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 Mentioning about high end laptops, i have recently been researching on this topic. Most of the high end laptops i have come across excluding apple, most high end pc laptops are HEAVY! thus very travel unfriendly! Also, most of these "high end " laptops usually comes with adaptor charger that's as big as the laptop. Correct me if i'm wrong. Lastly, i'm curious why no one has mention any gamer-laptops like alienware,voodoo or even BOXX? COuld someone please please....tell me if you know a high end laptop which is light and comparable to an apple laptop? (**Weep Weep** Unfortunately Autodesk doesn't accept apple. otherwise, we all would be buying apple.) As the saying goes, "an apple a day, keeps the doctor away" Guys, help me! i'm trying to decide on a laptop too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Posted March 4, 2005 Author Share Posted March 4, 2005 Daniel, That is one of my main concern. I just came home after a 4 day trip around several cities in Canada. This trip with several stops in various cities of Canada has made me really re-think what I will do. First, the main purpose of my trips is to meet with decision makers to discuss contractual issues with them. We have prepared several real interesting presentations that require an LCD projector. Think about this, I am travelling between several cities in a small aircraft, the Canadian Regional Jet. There is almost no place to store your high end toys above your seat. I carry the laptop on one bag and the projector on the other bag. Some other equipment as well. Now you can not fit it above your seat and the flight attendant wants you to place 9 thousand dollars of equipment in the baggage compartment. Your brain thinks.... not only the risk of loosing the equipment because it's value but additionally you will not be able to give your presentation...! The attendant at Delta was un-pleasant and abusive. She said either to the baggage compartment or out of the plane. I went out of the plane... I will try to never fly with DELTA again. Air Canada said we understand but placed my equipment on top of a balance and placed on my two carry on bags a label identifying them as heavy carry on.....! Two carry on bags and a small suitcase..... this is way to much for an old guy.... Have you gone through the Toronto airport... you have to walk a million miles between gates. I am convinced the laptop and the projector have to go.... I am not carrying these things any more. Another solution is to get a nice suitcase designed for carrying electronics and check it with the luggage.... risky... but I am not going to hauling 15 kilos of equipment anymore.... On the other issue of video cards. My presentation requires a video card for gamers. My 3D software requires a video card for workstations. There is differences among the two.... no questions about it.... Now are these differences man made by the video card guys in order to get more money..... Yes....! These people have made software enabled differences by using the drivers... This means that all these video cards either gamer or workstation are the same... I decided to stay with the video gamer on this laptop because the importance was not the 3D stuff.... it was the presentations. At any rate I don't think too many people are going to be doing 3D while on a business trip. I have seen on other posting how people talk about all these laptops and how passionate they are about them. In the past I have had four Clevos (same as Sager, Allienware, ProStar and many other), one Toshiba and lately two Dell's. I don't care how good Dell's may be..... Dell's customer service issues should be enough to prosecute them. As far as I am concerned they behave on an intentional negligent manner. I would not recommend any purchase from Dell. If I find of any group trying to do a class one lawsuit against Dell I definitely would join them. Dell has caused a substancial loss for our small business. They were intentionally un-responsive. It is a long story that it is beyond the scope of this forum. My advise is to stay away from Mike Dell computer company. They intentionally overcharged my credit card and on top were late on the delivery of the machine. To top it off they duplicated the order, I got two computers and now they are giving me troubles to return the extra laptop. These people have done this intentionally. Part of the problem is that their call centers are in the several countries around the world and the people in these facilities can not speak English. It is a tax shelter for Dell. Also an abusive issue since they do not pay these foreing workers what they would have to pay in the US or Canada. Stay away from Dell, do a goggle search engine "Problems with Dell" or "Issues with Dell" you will get a lot of very interesting information. My experience with Toshiba was outstanding......! It is still outstanding... the Toshiba is built like a tank. The Clevos are good but too mechanically fragile and the electronic component have too many failures. The decision on a laptop should not only be based on performance it should also weigh in the mechanical characteristics ass well as the quality of the components. All my Clevo's had bright pixel in the center of the screen. Upon contacting Clevo about these they were very eager to tell that the industry could not guarranty a screen with a 100% quality on all the pixels. There was no way to get different laptops. All 4 laptops had the same problem. Two of them were very noisy. Two of the had component failures on the motherboard and all of them had structural problems with the plastic case. Good Luck with Laptops. My recommendation is to buy from somebody local who has a written polocy about returns and that has service capabilites. At any rate.... STAY AWAY from DELL Thanks Elliot Elliot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugga_Guy Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 Suck to hear what you went through, but did you at least see the floating cubes in a giant fishtank in toronto's new terminal 3, pretty neat? Sorry to get off topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Posted March 4, 2005 Author Share Posted March 4, 2005 Brian, Ah... I didn't see the fish tank.... I was on terminal 1 and 2.... I was there on Tueasday during the snowstorm. I used to fly many years ago... I was impressed how these guys land on a blinding snowstorm. I went to the cockpit and ask them how....? They showed me their head up display... Very interesting. I was impressed. Another thing I was impressed... On the takeoff run here in Atlanta the spoiler where deployed.... Thats like going on the highway at 70mph and switching the transmission to reverse. These guys manage to stop before the end of the runway.... people screaming and the flight attendant crying.... I was just having fun.... this happen before we took off.... and there was plenty of runway....! A kid came in with a laptop and reset the plane.... rebooted and off we went.... Very Interesting....! I am going to Canada next week again.... I will look for the fish tank.... Elliot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Posted March 4, 2005 Author Share Posted March 4, 2005 Does anybody has one o these Dells XPS..... Are they noisy or is it my imagination....? Are they slow or is it my imagination.....? They look to me like a $3,000.00 dollar piece of garbage..... I am going to find out how can I return this piece of junk..... My old Toshiba is faster and more quiet..... The graphics are better on the Dell.... but is a piece of junk.... It horrible on top of all the mess they duplicated the order and charged me twice for the garbage.... In order to operate it I am going to need a pilot helmet with noise supression.... Don't buy this piece of junk.... Ellliot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archimniac Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 Hahaha...Elliot, sorry to hear your misery. Yeah, Don't ever take delta! talking about dell, i have never been impressed by it. Toshiba would definitely be a better choice! As for laptops in general, PERSONALLY, i would think apple would be the best fit. Its small, stylish, light and even more powerful than most of the PC laptops out there. The only setback is Autodesk doesn't support Apple. So all autocad users like myself would have to stop daydreaming of getting a mac. Unless, one, autodesk is being introduced into apple. Or the entire industry switchs to vectorworks or other mac-cad platforms. If either that happens it would be FABULOUS! Just today, i was having a conversation with one of my peers. And she was sharing with me how surprise she was went she went for her job interviews, most firms are either mac-based firm or most of them are seeking employees with vectorworks knowledge. That was one of the better news that's inclining me to get a mac. Anyhow, i'm still undecided and not really in a rush to get a laptop soon. Hopefully, my prayers for either situations would be answered. Then, i wouldn't be having such headache deciding which PC laptop to get. DAN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot Posted March 5, 2005 Author Share Posted March 5, 2005 Dan Delta and I have an on going fight. I live in Atlanta and they control this market. They are a horrible company... they used to be a nice company. I guess they copied the business model of PanAm and Eastern... Abusive, Arrogant and non-atentive to the needs of the clients. You know that sticker the pilots have on their car bumpers... "I rather fly" Well here it is "I rather drive" He he he he Dell.... well....! They share the first three letters of the alphabet.... Del..... I guess thats why the are behaving the same..... My wife says that as I am getting older I have become very impatient.... He he he At any rate this little computer (10 pound plus a 2 pound Power Supply) or I rather say this big computer, it is an absolute piece of junk.... He he he he Never Again I will buy one of these things. It makes me wonder about all those guys that recomend Dell, maybe I am missing something.... The Toshiba I have has been an exellent machine.... Well that's enough for today.... My 7 year old came to the room a while ago and saw the Dell's (they duplicated the order) and said that I should return the second one because he likes the Toshiba better. The Dell is to big for his school bag.... He also added that it is to heavy for me.... He he he See you Elliot PD: Don't fly Delta or buy Dell..... they are bad at Delivering Services Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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