I need a new laptop...

[RadioHead84]

My laptop is basically dead..it is slow, the battery doesn't work, and I am tired of it, so it is time to buy a new laptop.

I have been out of the game for so long I am not sure what I am looking at anymore. I want a laptop, not a portable desktop. I would like to get a macbook pro but they are too expensive..instead I would more like to get something as good but for cheap via PC open market goodness.

I would like it to be able to play games. Nothing crazy, I don't need things on high specs blowing everything away, but good enough to play modern games, maybe just not at the highest specs. I don't play a lot, but when a friend wants to load up some L4D quick just for a short game session I would like to be able to shoot the zombie at least once before my head is no longer attached to my body.

I like large resolutions so I can plug the laptop into a monitor when needed.

Other than that, I guess the better the battery life the better.

DVD/CD not really needed.

Windows 7 Preferred...I would like to try to put OSX on it for fun, but not sure if thats ok to talk about here.

I guess I am being very vague, but I am not sure really what else to say.

I am trying to keep this in the $700-1000 range. My last laptop was a Dell..and I will never buy a Dell again.

Should I just wait for Black Friday?

 

[CurseTheSky]

Playing games + high resolution for $700-1000 is a bit tough to satisfy. I'd suggest something along the lines of a 9650M GT or HD 4670 minimum, and something like a GTX 260M would be a bit more up to the task. Don't expect good battery life with those specs, though.

If you're willing to sacrifice gaming performance, look into the ASUS UL80Vt. Anandtech just did a review of it. The specs aren't amazing, but the build quality is good, the price isn't bad, and the battery life is wonderful. I have the smaller cousin - the UL30A, which only has Intel graphics. Aside from the fact that I can't game at all on mine, I love the thing.

 

[RadioHead84]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
Playing games + high resolution for $700-1000 is a bit tough to satisfy. I'd suggest something along the lines of a 9650M GT or HD 4670 minimum, and something like a GTX 260M would be a bit more up to the task. Don't expect good battery life with those specs, though.

If you're willing to sacrifice gaming performance, look into the ASUS UL80Vt. Anandtech just did a review of it. The specs aren't amazing, but the build quality is good, the price isn't bad, and the battery life is wonderful. I have the smaller cousin - the UL30A, which only has Intel graphics. Aside from the fact that I can't game at all on mine, I love the thing.

I guess the high resolution is more important. I really would like the laptop so I can do light travel and sit with it on the couch, but then be able to hook it up to a monitor. I like to have a lot of desktop space and the bigger the resolution the better. The gaming is not so important...if it can run TF2-L4D kind of games..fine..and then maybe run Diablo3 in some realm of playability that would be cool. How much higher do I need to put a price on to get that?

I'll check out the ones you recommended..Thanks!

For some reason I am also drawn to Lenovo. I guess I like thier build quality and the red dot...

 

[RadioHead84]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
Playing games + high resolution for $700-1000 is a bit tough to satisfy. I'd suggest something along the lines of a 9650M GT or HD 4670 minimum, and something like a GTX 260M would be a bit more up to the task. Don't expect good battery life with those specs, though.

If you're willing to sacrifice gaming performance, look into the ASUS UL80Vt. Anandtech just did a review of it. The specs aren't amazing, but the build quality is good, the price isn't bad, and the battery life is wonderful. I have the smaller cousin - the UL30A, which only has Intel graphics. Aside from the fact that I can't game at all on mine, I love the thing.

The UL80vt does seem pretty sweet. I wonder when they will have one on display at BestBuy and such. Being able to switch between graphic cards is genius in so many ways.

But...180 price difference between that and a mac..thats not really that much for such a large item as a laptop.