V!|2g3d
07-29-2003, 03:03 PM
Howdy from Texas:
I wanted to talk to you all if possible about my next laptop decision. I've been given the A-OK to purchase a laptop (up to about $2,000), and I'm really hesitant as to which one suits me best.
To start, I'll mention that I'm a gamer. I have a gaming rig that will remain in my college dorm room, so it's not too important for my laptop to be a gaming hauss. If anything I want it to atleast run Counterstrike/Quake3 so that i can pass time waiting for the bus, etc.
In truth, I need something that I can take with me to class for notes and presentations, browse the web wirelessly with at the local 24 hour coffee shop, watch movies on during plane flights, and edit all kinds of documents from excel sheets to premiere movies.
Also, I am very hard to please artistically. 90% of the new laptops out today disgust me because they don't match my style - too many curves, rounded edges, etc.
So after two weeks of searching, I've only found two or three laptops that fit my style standards: the VPR Matrix 220A5 (looks wonderful!), the Sony TR1A/P (uber small, uber cool, but could it hurt the eyes?), and the Panasonic toughbook that lara croft whipped out in the Tomb Raider sequel (too bad i can't find it on their site - maybe it's just a prop).
Unfortunately, while each of these laptops have qualities I adore, they also have traits that scare me:
-VPR Matrix: What's up with the heating issues? and will I actually have support when needed for the keys popping off and screen becoming loose? (all things that I have read about on these forums). I want to get it sooo bad, but I don't want to be left out there with a disfunctional machine and horrible warranty support from Best Buy. =(
-Sony TR1A: This thing caught my eye so fast in CompUSA! Everything about it's look i loved from the neat keys to the integrated cam. To top it off, it even ran the Half-Life Uplink demo at a semi-respectable rate!! While I doubt it can do any damage with Quake 3 Arena, I still think that as a college kid, I should keep my gaming to a minimum anyways, plus I can just play games on my dorm room's desktop. I wonder though - how will this ultra-portable perform a year from now?
-Panasonic Toughbook: Lara Croft pulled out this sleek, shiny, powerful toughbook to show a map to her friends in the tomb raider movie. It looks freaking awesome, but in visiting Panasonic's website, I can't find that exact model. It looked silver and white in the film, but none on their page are like that. They don't even mention the movie, which I'm sure they paid an endorsement for =(
So, hopefully you are someone else can help me decide, or provide a solution to one of the problems/concerns I'm having with my current picks. I really appreciate any advice.
I wanted to talk to you all if possible about my next laptop decision. I've been given the A-OK to purchase a laptop (up to about $2,000), and I'm really hesitant as to which one suits me best.
To start, I'll mention that I'm a gamer. I have a gaming rig that will remain in my college dorm room, so it's not too important for my laptop to be a gaming hauss. If anything I want it to atleast run Counterstrike/Quake3 so that i can pass time waiting for the bus, etc.
In truth, I need something that I can take with me to class for notes and presentations, browse the web wirelessly with at the local 24 hour coffee shop, watch movies on during plane flights, and edit all kinds of documents from excel sheets to premiere movies.
Also, I am very hard to please artistically. 90% of the new laptops out today disgust me because they don't match my style - too many curves, rounded edges, etc.
So after two weeks of searching, I've only found two or three laptops that fit my style standards: the VPR Matrix 220A5 (looks wonderful!), the Sony TR1A/P (uber small, uber cool, but could it hurt the eyes?), and the Panasonic toughbook that lara croft whipped out in the Tomb Raider sequel (too bad i can't find it on their site - maybe it's just a prop).
Unfortunately, while each of these laptops have qualities I adore, they also have traits that scare me:
-VPR Matrix: What's up with the heating issues? and will I actually have support when needed for the keys popping off and screen becoming loose? (all things that I have read about on these forums). I want to get it sooo bad, but I don't want to be left out there with a disfunctional machine and horrible warranty support from Best Buy. =(
-Sony TR1A: This thing caught my eye so fast in CompUSA! Everything about it's look i loved from the neat keys to the integrated cam. To top it off, it even ran the Half-Life Uplink demo at a semi-respectable rate!! While I doubt it can do any damage with Quake 3 Arena, I still think that as a college kid, I should keep my gaming to a minimum anyways, plus I can just play games on my dorm room's desktop. I wonder though - how will this ultra-portable perform a year from now?
-Panasonic Toughbook: Lara Croft pulled out this sleek, shiny, powerful toughbook to show a map to her friends in the tomb raider movie. It looks freaking awesome, but in visiting Panasonic's website, I can't find that exact model. It looked silver and white in the film, but none on their page are like that. They don't even mention the movie, which I'm sure they paid an endorsement for =(
So, hopefully you are someone else can help me decide, or provide a solution to one of the problems/concerns I'm having with my current picks. I really appreciate any advice.