Gamer looking to buy gift laptop

[Jatt]

Hi all, I'm new here, I have been hanging out over on notebookforums.com for over a year and have been reading here for a while, figured i'd jump in the conversation, anyways I am a gamer and own a Sager 5680 nicely equipped to handle my gaming needs(my new 9880 is on it's way as we speak), my problem is I have no idea when it comes to "normal" laptops. I want to buy my fiance a solid system, she isn't a gamer but wants to watch dvd's, edit photos(not video), listen to music, internet of course, also she is an interior designer and uses Autocad to do floor plans, I am looking to spen under $1000 and would prefer to spend less, specs I would like to see:
-New screen, ie: trubrite, glossy...etc.
-512mb-1gb RAM
-1.5-3.0ghz processor

Any suggestions and/or personal expiriences would be greatly appreciated

 

[Wall7486]

Hmm under 1000. I suggest an ASUS Z63A. 14 inch with widescreen. Check it out at istnc.com and proportables.com. If the price is still too much, then my only suggestion is a dell. They have lots of coupon, but I'm not a big fan of them. However, the 700m probably suits her the best.

 

[Jatt]

Thanks for the tips I will check out the ASUS for sure, I am pretty much anti-Dell, I guess I should have stated that in my orginal post, thanks again Wall

 

[cheesehead]

Asus looks to be the way to go. (I, personally, intend to go ASUS for my next laptop. I don't hear complaints about 'em often. Dell, on the other hand, is best avoided.)
JNCS looks to be a decent place to go to buy complete ASUS laptops, as opposed to just barebones. (They have a decent rating at reselleratings.com).
The Z71A is the integrated-graphics of the Z71V laptop, which has recieved some very nice reviews. It's got a decent screen, is purported to be durable, and it's not too expensive. I'd go for a Pentium M, if only because of the improved battery life. It supports all the latest-model Pentium M's (Sonoma chipset), and runs DDR2 at 400 mhz. "Combo" (DVD/CDRW) drive is stock.
http://www.jncs.com/php/sys/index.php?id=as-z71a
The Z33A is Asus' smallest laptop (to the best of my knowledge.) I read that it only weighs 2.7 lbs; I'd reasonably expect more along the lines of 3 lbs. It's only got a 12" screen, but it's far cheaper than Sony's subnotebooks, and it is also compatible with DDR2 @ 400 mhz and all the latest Pentium M's. It's about 200$ more than a Z71V with the same options, and has a built-in combo drive.
http://www.jncs.com/php/sys/index.php?id=as-z33a
EDIT:
Ignore this one. It starts at 1200$.

Another nice option are the Toshiba Sattellite notebooks. I've heard very good things about them. If you find a coupon, you can probbably get one for under 1000$; I think they're normally 1070$ for a basic configuration. (Pentium M, 512mb RAM, yadda yadda.)

A word of advice:
JNCS looks pretty good, but they price gouge on the RAM. For the price of a 512mb upgrade, you could upgrade the RAM yourself to a gigabyte. It's not hard to do, and most RAM has a warranty far longer than that of the laptop.

 

[Jatt]

Great info cheese, it's very appreciated, anybody have an opinion on the HP zv6000? From what I can tell I like it, also you mentioned a Toshiba, I know that they are good systems but I have read a few places that they have starting marking cheaper flimsy cases, anybody heard the same or otherwise? Thanks again:thumbsup:

 

[cheesehead]

The ZV6000 looks to be a very nice laptop. However, it's overpriced, considering the abysmal graphics.

 

[Wall7486]

I don't think you can find a decent toshiba or HP for your price range Jatt. I still think the ASUS is a good choice. I reccomended that to a few of my friends and they loved it. ISTNC is a good store. Fast shipping, they have a screen name on AIM, prices are cheap-moderate, and if anything goes wrong they will get on your case immediately.

 

[Jatt]

Wall, Cheese, you guys rock, thanks for all the solid info, I am getting a killer Sager 9880 and so I am thinking I might trade to work a trade with my Sager 5680 for a newer less powerful lappy for the old lady. The ASUS machines look outstanding and definitely have moved up on my list, seem like outstanding values. Cheese good point on the graphics, they do offer a card with 128mb but I'm sure they charge more than the upgrade is worth....keep on trucking