Buying a laptop..

[Sir Jeremy]

Yeah, title says it all.  I've been saving for a bit now and I want to get myself a medium laptop.  No beast or anything, just an around $600-$700 laptop.

I have one in my mind which I might be getting tommorow.  Any ideas?


Click here to look at it.

Kazuki's given me some insight into it.  It has a pretty bad graphics card he said.  But I do like it's sleek look, and I don't think the small screen size should be a problem?

Here's another one!

Another one.. Refurbished one.

Also thinking of buying a wireless mouse with it, and I'm not sure but would a cooling fan be okay for the laptop or unnecessary?

Plus the person at the futureshop said it's Wireless N and will just pick up internet signals, so I can go home, put it on and it has internet.  Is this true? :s

[jrgp]

Wireless mice are terrible. Sure, they may be all cool and snazzy at first, but as the batteries start to die you're fucked if you aren't comfortable with the touch pad.

Plus the person at the futureshop said it's Wireless N and will just pick up internet signals, so I can go home, put it on and it has internet.  Is this true? :s

If the laptop has a built in wifi antenna, sure. If you're near a wireless hotspot (such as your home wireless router or one in a coffee shop or wherever) then yeah.

[RafiPZ]

Try this one, it has a slightly better graphics card but it still won't play any graphic intensive games too well.

[Sir Jeremy]

Try what Rafipz?

[ds dude]

Lawl. He forgot the link.

Anyway, here's one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115538

[Sir Jeremy]

Thanks ds dude, that laptop looks pretty good.
Checking out some of it's reviews now. 

If the laptop has a built in wifi antenna, sure. If you're near a wireless hotspot (such as your home wireless router or one in a coffee shop or wherever) then yeah.

The first laptop I posted has this written by its specs.

Networking   
Ethernet Port  10/100/1000
Integrated Bluetooth  No
Integrated WiFi  802.11b/g/Draft-N Wi-Fi Certified

So, does it have built in WiFi antenna?

Also this is it's graphic card Intel GMA 4500M.  Can that even run any games? Soldat for example or something like RuneScape or COD, WOW, or Assassins Creed?

The video card I have now is You Have: Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller (Intel(R) 82845G Graphics Controller).

Is the laptop one better?

[RafiPZ]

Try this one, it has a slightly better graphics card but it still won't play any graphic intensive games too well.

Christ... http://www.futureshop.ca/marketing/vendor_coop/proddetailpc.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10111628&catid=25315&PCName=Coop%5FHP&logon=&langid=EN

[Sir Jeremy]

Oh yes RafiPZ I had looked at that one.  I just noticed now it has a very nice graphics Chipset, and the 70GB difference isn't really too bad.  It's $50 more though, mhm..

Also, that one is 1.9GHz, the other one was 2.0GHz.  Don't most games need like 4GHz to play them?

Thanks RafiPZ.

[RafiPZ]

Oh yes RafiPZ I had looked at that one.  I just noticed now it has a very nice graphics Chipset, and the 70GB difference isn't really too bad.  It's $50 more though, mhm..

Also, that one is 1.9GHz, the other one was 2.0GHz.  Don't most games need like 4GHz to play them?

Thanks RafiPZ.

You shouldn't notice much of a difference from the processor speeds from both laptops. Also most games mention a dual core as a requirement but I'm not too sure on the specifics (i'm more of a console gamer).
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9172851&type=product&id=1218044029604
This one looks cool though.

[8th_account]

Even though you're only looking for laptops in the $600-700 range you ought to look for ones with 7200 RPM harddrives and an actual graphics card.

So far RafiPZ provided the best option for a gaming laptop.

[Wormdundee]

If you want to play Assassin's creed I imagine you'll have to pay more than what you have budgeted. Generally they don't put video cards in them unless they're 800$+ (roughly). It HAS been a while since I've looked at laptop specs so that price may have dropped, but I think for the price you've listed you're only going to be getting stuff with Intel chipsets graphics wise.

And that ain't gonna play Assassin's Creed or anything that requires video technology at the Pixel Shader 3.0 level.

[Fireman]

Why a laptop?  Get a desktop, with that budget you can get a okay one that will play most games ( Custom built )

[a-4-year-old]

Why a laptop?  Get a desktop, with that budget you can get a okay one that will play most games ( Custom built )

This man speaks the truth:
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0%2C2845%2C2346481%2C00.asp

[Sir Jeremy]

I would, but my parents somehow want me to get a laptop because it's more practical seeing we might be moving soon. Etc, etc.

I'm actually not a heavy gamer or anything, I just wanted to make sure and see how good it is.

I agree that the one that RafiPZ posted might be the best one to look at.

Also, looking forward to getting my other questions answered.

Thanks.

[Hair|Trigger]

I really think you should get a real GPU, if it's a big investment I would seriously consider this (you'll regret intergrated graphics.  So get an nVidia or ATI).  Also keep in mind that Windows 7 is within months of release, it's probably worth holding off IMO.

Good luck man

[jrgp]

The first laptop I posted has this written by its specs.

Networking  
Ethernet Port  10/100/1000
Integrated Bluetooth  No
Integrated WiFi  802.11b/g/Draft-N Wi-Fi Certified

So, does it have built in WiFi antenna?

Yes, that's what the Integrated WiFi spec is.

For Windows laptops, I swear by Toshiba Tecra's and Satellite's.

[Amblin]

For Windows laptops, I swear by Toshiba Tecra's and Satellite's.

Judging by the Satellites (granted, old ones) I've seen, you only want one of those if you need something made out of cardboard.

[Sir Jeremy]

What do you mean Amblin?

Also, thanks for the advice Hair|Trigger.

[Farah]

For Windows laptops, I swear by Toshiba Tecra's and Satellite's.

Judging by the Satellites (granted, old ones) I've seen, you only want one of those if you need something made out of cardboard.

yeah completely agreed, i run a satellite a300 which i got for free off my school and it sucks dick.