What kind of laptop would you recommend?
 

I'm currently looking for a Windows laptop. I want a top of the line laptop and I don't want to skimp on anything. I have been looking at machines with 3.06Ghz processors and 1GB DDR RAM.

The problem is that I am not sure what kind to get. I have looked at the Dells as I have heard good things about them in the past, although lately I've been hearing mixed reviews about their service during the buying process. I do think that if I was going to go through a mainstream company I would go with Dell. Possibly Toshiba, but I've heard as many bad things about them as good things.

A friend told me about Alienware's, but I wouldn't actually pay the price they want for it, when I can get basically the same machine for less from a company like Sager.

I have been looking at www.powernotebooks.com and at their PowerPro IV:28. I don't know enough about these companies though.


Anybody have any other thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations you can make for a high end laptop? Thanks for any information you can give. It is greatly appreciated!

I would suggest getting one from Toshiba, Dell or ALienware. All are good quality and you can get a very nice extended warrenty plan with the Dells or Alienwares witch would be awsome for a Laptop. I am also currently looking for one, altho I dont have the funds to go quite as high end :P

With the specs you are looking at, go with Dell. Just remember to avoid Gateway.
We are using a M50 Percision for a mobile CAD station. We can run Solidworks and Pro/Engineer on it with out any problems.
It's pretty good so far. 2.4GHz PentIV. 1 GB of ram.

Too bad Fujitsu doesn't sell their stuff here in the US. I just got a model called FMV-Biblo M13D. The screen on the laptop is just incredible. Crystal Clear. Most laptop's have a matte finish for the screen. This one is glossy. And it's a digital LCD screen. Not analog.

I'm in the market for a laptop as well, and so far I'm considering Sager for high end stuff, but maybe a Centrino from Compaq or Dell. Sager has top of the line laptops for way cheaper than any other company, but they are big (size-wise) and don't have very good battery life (1-2 hours). I'll be commuting from home to school so battery life may be an issue. If it is, I'm going to go with a Centrino. So if you're going to be plugged in a lot of the time, you should seriously consider Sager. If you need battery life over 1.5 hours, you should probably look at other companies' laptops.

If you go to http://www.pctorque.com they have a Sager Forum that you can ask questions in (even questions regarding other companies' laptops).

Check the reseller ratings for pctorque: http://www.resellerratings.com/seller3048.html

and powernotebooks: http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1980.html

Both very high, so that's another factor you might want to consider.

I haven't done as much research into Centrino laptops, but I'm very impressed with the processor's performance and battery life.

I got a notebook from powernotebooks. AMAZING service.

They are the same models as the Alienware models (sager)

Dell, Dell and Dell.

Get their top of the line warranty too, for accidental coffee/beer accidents.

dood, you should be getting a dell

Thanks everyone for your recommendations. I really do appreciate your help and input!

Don't know if you already got one, but if you have the cash, IBM makes the best laptops. They are more expensive, but they are the sturdiest around. Their tech support is top notch, and as an added bonus, if you ever want to try Linux, their machines are as compatible with Linux as they are with Windows.

Twinheads N1400 models are really good, they are semi rugged so the keyboard is spill proof, and the case is shock proof up to 5-6 feet off the ground. I bought one recently and havent had any problems out of it.

Alienware is great, but a 1 1/2 battery life does not a laptop make.

Thinkpad.

<a href="http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HelpDisplay?storeId=1&catalogId=-840&langId=-1&subject=2576396">go here for refurbished Thinkpads </a>. Go <a href="http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?lang=en_US&catalogId=-840&categoryId=2035724&cgmenbr=1&langId=-1&cgrfnbr=2035724&cntrfnbr=1&storeId=1&cntry=840"> here for new units</a>.

IBM's may be durable, but I think they're ergonomics are crap. I personally really like Toshiba, I have been very happy with the quality of their notebooks. Dell is a great way to go as well, especially if you look at www.fatwallet.com they have some great prices on refurbed laptops etc. I would look at the d600 or 600m with the Centrino processor. Further, I would ignore Alienware (yes blasphemer I know) but in reality their notebooks are made by Sager and you are paying an inflated price for the name and the color. Additionally, look at the keyboard layouts, I personally loathe having the 'fn' key where the 'ctrl' key should be. I mention this because both Sager and as such Alienware are perpetraitors of this. Don't buy a Compaq or a Gateway, and be careful with Sony. My issue with Sony is that they integrate so many things into their laptops that if one thing breaks, it all breaks.

I have done repair work on IBM notebooks and I can tell you, they are made extreamly well. Small things that made me happy were really good screw mounts, solid braces inside etc. I know this sounds silly, but notebooks can get bashed around about, so i like seeing well constructed notebooks and IBM really tend to be that way.

i have owned a top of the line dell and toshiba for over a year.

get a toshiba. the dell has too many things where you say..." why did they design it like that?"