Spec me a laptop!

The new Samsung series are supposed to be very good. Have you tried PC specialist? You can spec up exactly what you want.

 

There is a fantastic Samsung about, very compact in width & height, i7, latest 2670 chip, 1k's worth, but it hasn't got a VGA socket, meaning new extra screen needed via the HDMi socket. If it had VGA, I'd be all over it.

Cheers for the mention of PC Specialist, here for anyone following the thread.

 

Scary site! Soon out of my depth on what I was speccing, though I did like the option of a matt screen, rare these days to find?

The kit seems unbranded also

 

How about http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Samsung_RF711__-__NP-RF711-S07UK/version.asp

 

It's a 17.3" screen, so too a big an item for myself. Showing at 411.4 mm wide.

 

Hmmm, just been looking at the release dates for the new intel CPU's.

Seems June 2012 the new line of i5 cpu's are out, called 'ivy bridge', so prices on older models will definitely be dropping. Might be a good idea to hold off for a month or so and see how the prices change.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_future_Intel_microprocessors

 

No, just pointing out it's very similair to what you have now. If you're happy with what you have, all good. If you're expecting something very different, you'll be disappointed.

TBH, it looks like that's ticking all your boxes, so I'd go ahead if I were you. If you order online, you can always return it within 14 days if you don't like it.

 

I guess I wasn't, but I am now!

So 15" screen res has gone up in quality, way above this?

 

1680x1050 or thereabouts has been available on 15" laptops for a few years now, and makes for a much more pleasant viewing experience, imo - especially for viewing video & photographs.

 

Hey up Chris

Its only a small screen though. You dont really need anything above that!

I think anything above the laptops 'Native resolution', especially this Lenova, the GPU performance whilst running intensive things will start to struggle, it would kill the performance of the battery aswell. Thats why the 1366x768 is in place. You cant have it both ways with these things it seems.

Now if you were going to bite the bullet and purchase the Samsung Series 7 Chronos you looked at, with the AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics, you would be seeing the 1600x900, but at the extra cost.

I hope you find what your looking for Chris. I dont know how urgent you need a new machine but I would seriously think about holding off though. The whole new range of CPU's will be out very very shortly, i3 i5 i7. The newer laptops will be more powerful as standard

See how the market changes like. You could save some dollar and get the spec you really want.

 

Thanks Barry, I'm itching to junk my Dell, but any chance to stave off obselecence makes it one big dilemma!

The Samsung is off - no VGA plug, so I cannot see the point. It's uber compact, just it's too compact.

I reckon I can compromise on screen, but a new range of i3, i5, i7? Damn. They know how to get you by the short and curlies!

What difference in performance potential are we talking here? I took the advice on this thread, so I've been a stickler for a current i7. I've dismissed anything else, so I'm already looking at the faster machines in the here and now. How far and how quickly will they fall from grace?

+ surely the price is only going upwards for new i3/5/7?

 

I think Pluginz meant the price of this machine will drop shortly when the new range comes out, so you'll get this for less, or something currently out of budget for this money.

 

Yep yep, thats exactly what i was thinking. I would hate for you to buy one of the current models right now, only to find they drop 100 in the next few weeks, months.

Sorry if im throwing a spanner in the gears but these new ivy bridge laptops do look very tasty indeed

The new onboard graphics are showing to be very powerful compared to this generation. Some tests on gaming ivy bridge laptops here. Im not saying go and buy one , but something to read on the new models. If they will play hardcore games like this though, they will basically do anything you throw at them.


http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33642_...rder-intels-ivy-bridge-in-a-laptop-right-now/

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33642_7-57418061-292/at-long-last-a-credible-3d-gaming-chip-from-intel/

I can imagine its probably doing your head in right now trying to choose a model

 

It is!

I don't use the laptop for gaming (never going to happen), but it needs to be robust enough to laugh at video editing suites and Photoshop and a load of internet windows, which my current one stuggles with.

Does that alter the outlook?

Also, is Windows 7 not due for replacement by now? Not that I'm going to wait for that!

 

No, not at all. These new rigs look good. More efficient too. But yes, Its still a combination of the two, CPU and GPU, lol and the ram

I was thinking you could try and get a nicely specced machine at some point, that will also allow you to upgrade the ram yourself. Buy the cheaper model with less ram , then upgrade it yourself. DDR3 is very cheap right now. Just thinking of ideas to save like

Yeah , looks like Windows 8 could be in the mix, its looking like early tests show its a tad quicker than Win 7 in some things. But i thought Win 8 was more for touch screens?

 

Windows 8 is out later this year, but not worth waiting for. I've played around with it, and it's just the same with a kind of apps screen first. Nothing to get excited about until PCs come with touch screens.

A current i7 model will do what you need Chris, as long as you have enough RAM.

 

That Lenovo is showing 8MB of RAM, plus I presume more with the graphics side.

I think a Google rake is in order to check there's not a higher spec version of the same laptop (say the screen).

600-800... tbh, it's the purchase hassle and in the in-use hassle. You can't put a price on the hassle. 200 to lump a problem outta the way is something I view as well spent.

 

Ello Sparrow

Yep, ive tried Windows 8 developer preview myself. Very flash isnt it?

I really like the main menu itself, but from a Windows user point of view, mouse and keyboard like, its just not friendly enough.

 

Thats a good idea, same laptop, but go for the better GPU!!! The best GPU there is that you can afford, otherwise it will only ponder in your mind when performance is concerned.

Its the same as the components for your motor, only the best will do, no compromise. The research i did just to find the best coilovers for the money was starting to explode my mind, but i think ive got there now.. Well, ive bought them now!!!!

 

GPU?

lol, what did you buy?