Computer decision help.

[AlteranEmpire]

So, I'm looking for a nice gaming laptop. I have a gaming PC, built it for around $700 in January, but since I'm a student I really need a laptop. I was looking at the Alienware M14x, is it any good? Any advice on a nice laptop? I don't plan on getting it until around December time and my budget will be at max, $1000. Should I get a new desktop or buy a laptop?

[Leonov]

Gaming or Laptop, You only get to choose one.

I am a university student also, It is very convenient to have a laptop. If you wanted a high end laptop for that price you couldn't go wrong with an ASUS G46VW (http://rog.asus.com/notebook/14-2/g46vw/).

You can get a nicely spec'd one with an I5 in your price range. A little more can get you an I7. But I wouldn't get an I7 if you going to use it for class and such. It comes standard with a 128GB SSD and at minimum a 500GB HDD, so it will boot very quickly. The Graphics card is a GTX660M.

Here are results from Bing Shopping (http://www.bing.com/shopping/asus-14-8gb-memory-750gb-hard-drive-black-g46vwbhi5n43/p/32A0E77173FC61085012?q=ASUS+G46VW&lpf=0&lpq=ASUS%2bG46VW&FORM=EGCA&lppc=16)

I wouldn't recommend alienware to anyone, not anymore.

I am using an ASUS K53E with an I5, It is very good and has never let me down.

What are the specs of your desktop?

Edited April 30, 2013 by Leonov

[AlteranEmpire]

Well, in all honesty I have no idea lol. My brother did it all for me because I'm clueless when it comes to computers. All I know is that it is AMD (I think) for the processor or something. I'll take a look at that laptop you recommended, thanks so much!

[ROFLCopter64bit]

Right now I am using a laptop with an i5, which can handle pretty much every game I throw at it (if I turn the settings down enough obviously), but it can struggle. What games are you intending to play?

[AlteranEmpire]

I play mostly indie games that never really require much in terms of hardware, I think the most demanding game I play is ARMA 2. Keep in mind I'm **** when it comes to computers... So I'm thinking the most demanding game I'd ever play without sitting down at my desktop would be GTA 4 (rarely). Mostly I'd play KSP, Osmos, Universe Sandbox, Binding of Isaac, games like that. I'm not looking for the greatest thing out there, just something to use when I've got free time or I'm on the go.

[AlteranEmpire]

Probably not GTA 4 unless I go out and buy a gamepad though. Grew up on consoles and hate the whole keyboard and mouse thing for a lot of games. KSP is fine though, would be weird to use a gamepad with it.

[Leonov]

I just compared the two and for the budget of $1,000, I would get the ASUS over the Alienware. You get more performance for your money.

For $949 you can have the ASUS with a 750GB HDD and a 128GB SSD, 8GB Ram, a good clocked I5, and a killer Graphics card.

For $999 from Dell you get a 500GB HDD no SSD, 6GB Ram, a low end I5, and a Graphics card

(ASUS)

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+14%22+Laptop+-+8GB+Memory+-+750GB+Hard+Drive+-+Black/6775259.p?id=1218806576744&skuId=6775259&ref=25&loc=SHP&srccode=cii_45538312&cpncode=33-147594600-2#tab=specifications

(Alienware)

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-m14x-r2/pd

[Grove]

Wouldn't suggest Dell's at all, Alienware is overpriced, Asus and Acer is the way to go.

[ROFLCopter64bit]

I'd recommend the ASUS. But, if you want (but not recommended) you can go cheaper to an i3, if you want to play those kind of casual games. But it's not recommended. Leonov, what's your opinion?

[Leonov]

I'd recommend the ASUS. But, if you want (but not recommended) you can go cheaper to an i3, if you want to play those kind of casual games. But it's not recommended. Leonov, what's your opinion?

Laptops for school use rather than performance?

A little netbook would do you fine for surfing/notes in all honesty.

Battery life for anything above a Low end I3 or Celeron is going to be slight issue, for example my K53E with its mid-end I5 gets about 6 hours of battery life.

But if you absolutely want to be able to play just about anything (including KSP) on the go I would get the ASUS.

ASUS's ROG line has a killer reputation for Quality and Performance for the money.

If you step down to an I3 you loose a lot of the "Gaming" applications, which I am assuming the OP wants to keep.

Edited April 30, 2013 by Leonov

[AlteranEmpire]

Also, can you get the ASUS one anywhere with Windows 7 instead of 8? I tried out 8 on my parents (absolutely had to buy it) PC and didn't like the general feel of it. Also I just really love Windows 7.

[Leonov]

Well, I cant say that you can find anything high end without Windows 8 thrown in the mix.

So now your at the mercy of Win 8, you can make it bearable and act like 7 to an extent. See Here:

[ROFLCopter64bit]

And then make it look like Vista by making the taskbar black, adding text to the programs in the task bar and setting small icons.

[Leonov]

If you want Windows 7, You will be throwing ~$90USD into the mix. making neither in your budget.

Edited May 1, 2013 by Leonov

[Foamy]

If you dislike 8 you should still buy it, just spend an extra $10 on some third party utilities to make it usable. You can pretty much make 8 look like 7 for free even, and then you get to enjoy all the enhancements under the hood, like faster boots, better task manager, etc.

You'll also get 8.1 free in a few months that will hopefully resolve a lot of the issues.

[Leonov]

Or a 3rd option. Get a Linux Distro, you can make it look like anything and its free.

Edited May 1, 2013 by Leonov

[DannySwish]

Or just torrent 7, I mean, it's Microsoft's fault for making yet another ****ty OS. There is no guilt to be felt

[Leonov]

While i can not endorse torrenting. (Its an ethical issue and this is not the place to discuss ethical issues).

I can provide the link to the Windows 7 Forum with the ISO image. Using an ISO image you can burn it to a CD as a backup, or activate it with a windows 7 activation code from microsoft. It is 100% legal to do this. Microsoft had misplaced the link forcing many people to needlessly upgrade to Windows 8.

http://www.w7forums.com/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads-t12325.html

If the moderators view this being illegal, feel free to remove this post and replace it with an apology.

[The Destroyer]

I got this one about 20 days ago

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229285

Only $500, runs Just Cause 2 60 fps moderate settings. Reviewers must have bad luck. Perfect shipping and still working like awesome, idk.

[Swifty]

Grew up on consoles and hate the whole keyboard and mouse thing for a lot of games.

Wow I'm now officially old at 25.