Notebooks, now or later?

[kernkraft]

Recently, all my friends got laptops for university and it left me coming at small lan parties we throw with a hundred pounds of equipment while all they gotta do is plug-in their snazzy laptops. Anyhow, I don't start university until october of this year and I thought: why wait? Why not buy a laptop right now? How much would I really save by waiting 6 months? So I'm stuck in between these two options: now or later. This is the laptop I wanna buy:

--------------------------------------------------------
Alienware Area-51m 5500

Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
Case: Area-51m 5500 Case with 15.4" WideSXGA+ 1680x1050 LCD Display - Conspiracy Blue
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor w/ HT Technology 3.0GHz 800MHz FSB w/ 512KB Cache
Motherboard: SiS648FX + SiS963L AGP8X Chipset
Memory: 512MB DDR PC-2700 at 333MHz - 1x512MB SO-DIMM
Video Card: Area-51m 5500 ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON™ 9700 Module with 128MB DDR
Sound Card: Sound-Blaster Pro Compatible 3D Audio
Hard Drive: Hitachi 60GB 7200 RPM ATA100 with 8MB Cache
Smart Bay One: 24x10x24 CD-RW / 8X DVD Combo w/Software
Ethernet NIC: Integrated 10/1000Mb Gigabit Ethernet NIC
Wireless Network: Internal Wireless 802.11a/b/g miniPCI Card
Modem: 56K Modem with V.92 Technology
Optional Display: No Monitor
Optional Mouse: Microsoft® IntelliMouse Explorer 4.0 - USB - Conspiracy Blue
Free Alienware T-Shirt: Free Alienware® T-Shirt - Black
Desktop Enhancements: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager
Free Alienware Mousepad: Free Alienware® Mousepad
----------------------------------------------------
C$3,169.97 with tax, s & h included

I used to follow every single news about computer hardware but I've been slacking off for a couple months so I don't really know what's coming up soon in the notebook field. Anyway, it's itching me to just go and press that checkout button right now but the other side of me keeps saying to be patient. What should I do?

 

[destrukt]

Don't get Alienware, very overpriced.

 

[kernkraft]

Actually, I compared it with Dell at the performance range I'm looking and it's cheaper! I also forget to mention that two of my friends have had problems with their new dell laptops. One of them overheats (he literally has to put ice packs under it), the other's sound system crashes randomly. So I ain't too keen on buying a dell.

 

[TrippyG]

well Alienware & Dell are not the only manufactors of laptops :dozey:
there are many laptops that are better and much cheaper
my advice is that u should do more research

 

[Pressure]

Recently, all my friends got laptops for university and it left me coming at small lan parties we throw with a hundred pounds of equipment while all they gotta do is plug-in their snazzy laptops. Anyhow, I don't start university until october of this year and I thought: why wait? Why not buy a laptop right now? How much would I really save by waiting 6 months? So I'm stuck in between these two options: now or later. This is the laptop I wanna buy:

--------------------------------------------------------
Alienware Area-51m 5500

Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
Case: Area-51m 5500 Case with 15.4" WideSXGA+ 1680x1050 LCD Display - Conspiracy Blue
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor w/ HT Technology 3.0GHz 800MHz FSB w/ 512KB Cache
Motherboard: SiS648FX + SiS963L AGP8X Chipset
Memory: 512MB DDR PC-2700 at 333MHz - 1x512MB SO-DIMM
Video Card: Area-51m 5500 ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON™ 9700 Module with 128MB DDR
Sound Card: Sound-Blaster Pro Compatible 3D Audio
Hard Drive: Hitachi 60GB 7200 RPM ATA100 with 8MB Cache
Smart Bay One: 24x10x24 CD-RW / 8X DVD Combo w/Software
Ethernet NIC: Integrated 10/1000Mb Gigabit Ethernet NIC
Wireless Network: Internal Wireless 802.11a/b/g miniPCI Card
Modem: 56K Modem with V.92 Technology
Optional Display: No Monitor
Optional Mouse: Microsoft® IntelliMouse Explorer 4.0 - USB - Conspiracy Blue
Free Alienware T-Shirt: Free Alienware® T-Shirt - Black
Desktop Enhancements: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager
Free Alienware Mousepad: Free Alienware® Mousepad
----------------------------------------------------
C$3,169.97 with tax, s & h included

I used to follow every single news about computer hardware but I've been slacking off for a couple months so I don't really know what's coming up soon in the notebook field. Anyway, it's itching me to just go and press that checkout button right now but the other side of me keeps saying to be patient. What should I do?

I bought a desktop computer that's better than this over two years ago for around $1300. I would just stick to desktops because they're a lot cheaper and more powerful. I go to UCF and haven't seen a reason yet as to why I would need a notebook computer. If all you're going to do is take notes on it you can buy a paper notebook and pen for a lot cheaper. If what you're worried about is LANs and having to haul around bigger cases and you don't mind spending more money than buy a notebook but don't get alienware they're overpriced. Look into some other companies.

 

[kernkraft]

I understand what you mean pressure but that might differ from universities and programs. I will be taking a software engineering class so I might have more needs for that laptop and I already have a desktop that I bought like you, two years ago which I'm very happy with .

 

[PvtRyan]

I've got an Acer Aspire 1511LMI

Specs:

AMD64 3000+
512 MB DDR
GFFX 5700 64 MB
60 GB HDD
15" screen

€1100 - €1200

Very happy about it, plays HL2 and CSS very nicely with everything on medium and some stuff on high. Only con is that the screen view angle is pretty bad.

 

[X|Rolando]

Wait until the x800 mobilitiys come out or mobile chips with sm 3.0... Once they come out all your uni friends will be Ooo-ing and aaa-ing

 

[Tr0n]

I can't wait to see notebooks with sli.

Also there are way better notebooks out there than alienware.

Everyone seems to say Sager makes the best gaming notebooks.

http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.html

 

[frusion]

well Alienware & Dell are not the only manufactors of laptops :dozey:
there are many laptops that are better and much cheaper
my advice is that u should do more research

i agree there are alot of companies that charge cheaper (try viciouspc) slap on a good vidoe card and make your friends drool

 

[DrDevin]

If you dont really need a notebook look for a good small form factor case. You can have much better components then a laptop at cheaper prices for a little bit larger size plus they are upgradeable.

 

[kernkraft]

Thanks guys, btw, what's up with these new Pentium M processors? I see laptops clocked at 2 Ghz with those processors more expensive than regular P4s at 3 Ghz!

I think I made my decision though, I'm gonna wait until august when the X800 will probably be available with 15" wide monitors. 17" is just too big. I'm probably going to go with a prostar. They have some very competitive prices and I've heard good things about them.