I have been debating this for a while now and I would like to get everyones opinion on this as I cannot make a decision for myself after about a year.

I want a laptop. I need it to be able to work on the go. I got the PDA to do some text editing but that is limited in its scope and less functional then doing it on a laptop. Going WiFi is also possible but limited on my PDA (not that I regret that purchase). I have been looking for a cheap laptop that I could afford right now but my budget would not allow for much and as a serious techie I would not be happy with a dirt cheap laptop either.
The other option would be to sell my desktop and replace it with a laptop. I could get no more then €500 for my current rig and, although that does increase my budget by about 100% it would not allow me to buy anything either as good as let alone better then what I have now.

My current rig:
AMD64 3400+
1GB RAM
MSI K8N Neo
GF6600GT 128MB (AGP/XFX)
240GB SATA HDD
Antec SLK3700-BQE

A very decent game PC and good for anything else as well.

I would replace it with this (probably):

ASUS A6Va-Q016H
* Intel Pentium M 740 (Centrino) (Dothan 1.73Ghz; 2Mb L2 Cache; 533Mhz FSB)
* 80Gb harddisk 4200RPM
* 512Mb DDR2 533Mhz (1 x 512)
* 8* DVD+/-RW Dual Layer
* 4-in-1 cardreader/ Interne 1.3Megapxel webcam
* ATI Mobility Radeon X700 128Mb VGA
* 15.4" WXGA ColorShine TFT (1280 x 800)
* Windows XP Home NL/UK/FR
* Internal W-LAN 54Mbps/ Bluetooth
* 2 jaar pick up & return garantie
* Gratis Draagtas, Optische Muis

If I spend another €300 I could get this:

ASUS A6Ja-Q007H
* Intel Core Duo T2300 (1.66GHz; 2MB L2 Cache; 667Mhz FSB)
* 100Gb harddisk 4200RPM
* 1024Mb DDR2 533Mhz (1 x 1024)
* DVD-SuperMulti Drive
* 4-in-1 cardreader/ DVI poort(!)
* 4 x USB 2.0/ Firewire/ S-Video TV Out
* ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 256Mb VGA/ Interne Webcam
* 15.4" WXGA ColorShine TFT (1280 x 800)
* Windows XP Home NL/UK/FR
* Internal W-LAN 54Mbps (Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG)/ Bluetooth 2.0
* 2 jaar pick-up & return garantie
* Gratis Draagtas, Optische Muis

About as fast I am now and a splendid game PC in its own right but a lot more expensive and probably outside my budget unless I start selling things to pay for it besides my PC (like part of my DVD collection).


So what are your ideas about what I could or should do?

can you get a laptop on credit or h.p? you could well end up regretting selling your desktop rig.

Hahah...

Now it depends on what you want to do with it. If it's going to be a game 'console', I'd go for the better one. If it's just a text-editing tool, for internetting and/or playing Dosgames, go for the cheaper one.
O, and, don't go to a shop like Dell. They'll rip you off extremely. My brother works in a computer store, and he can tell you lots of stories. Unfortunately I think 'modding'/'building' a laptop is somewhat difficult (no experience).
Please say something about your goals and method of purchase. :)

I am deffnitly not going for loans or credit. I don't want it.

I would like to keep my desktop but that is not possible if I want to get a laptop.

With the first laptop I would pay an extra €600 after selling my Desktop. a lot of money still and more then I would like to. With the second laptop it would be €900 and thinking about it, that is too much. I could get a decent laptop as an extra besides my desktop for less.

So the options still open are keeping the desktop and be assured a gaming experience in a years time or go for the laptop and the convience of having my computer with me at the University. Right now I do not game as much anymore as I used to and the laptop I would buy does have a decent, if not stellar, video card. It would be a step down from what I have now both in terms of raw CPU and GPU power. I have no desire to play Doom 3 or HL2 but will I regret doing this in a year?

I would not buy from DELL, I know what they are like. It would be ASUS and nothing else. They have a free two year waranty that appeals to me. It saves about €100 from the price.

If you need The Laptop sell you Desktop but if you dont NEED it dont. Just save some money...

Yes, you will regret this in a year, if not sooner, though if you will actualy admit it to yourself is another thing.

You are in between selling your fine desktop system, using that money and hundrends more, to get a laptop of less speed and upgradability, for some extra convenience. If I were you, I would keep my money into my account, keep my desktop, and don't spend all that money for a laptop.
Now....if owning a laptop is actually going to bring more money into your wallet, so that you could for example buy a desktop next year, go for it. BUT, in that case, wouldn't it be better to buy the cheapest laptop available
(with a quick search I found this )
that will be fine for your editing.

As I have fallen into the trap before, a word of advice. Be absolutely certain that the only reason you want the laptop is for work/editing your documents. If you want it
because you just want a nice toy (though perhaps not admiting it ) then you will regret
it if you go for the plan of sellling your desktop pc and getting a mid-high end laptop.

I would keep the desktop save your money and buy a desent laptop to use with it selling a rig like that is somthing you WILL regret.

I advise against selling your desktop machine just to get a better laptop. The primary point of laptop computers is their mobility. It's pretty much their only superior feature over desktops.

Yeah, you guys have convinced me. I'm keeping my desktop. I am going to get my vacation money next month. Maybe with a few extra days of work over the summer I can buy a decent laptop beside my desktop. Thanks for the input.

I speak for all when I say your welcome.

No problem :ok:

I have done some more surfing and found a better candidate then the ASUS A6Va. It is the MSI M645.

* Processor: Intel Pentium M with 1.8 GHz (750J, Sonoma)
* RAM: 2x512 MB PC-400 TMT 16ch/DS/CL 2.5
* Video Card: nVidia Geforce 6600go with 128 MB memory (351 Mhz core-, 700 Mhz memory clock)
* Display: 15.4" TFT WXGA, resolution 1280x800 Pixel
* Hard disc: Toshiba MK-8032 GAX with 80 GB capacity, 5400 rpm, dimension 2.5" and 16 MB Cache
* Optical drive: LG DVD 8x +/- GCA-4080N SlimLine DVD Multi
* Connections: 4 USB 2.0, analogue sound connections, modem, Firewire, 3in1 Cardreader
* Network connections: Bluetooth, WLAN 802.11bg, 54M/Bit
* Dimensions: 35.5x25.5x2.5cm
* Weight: 2.7 kg (lighter than the M635)
* Power Supply: 550g, 13x6x3cm
* Accumulator: 1x Li-Ionen-accu, 27x4.5x2cm
* Input devices: Touchpad
* Software: Win XP Home Edition (M635 with Professional Edition)
* Service: 24 months pick-up garanty
* Accessories: micro fiber cloth

It is €100 cheaper then the ASUS and has almost the same specs. The X700 is rated a little higher then the GFGo 6600 but it is not a big difference. This one is even a little lighter then the A6Va (200 grams). Let's hope it drops to about €800-900 in two months so I can get one with my vacation money and anything I might get for my birthday.

That is a good deal nice find.

It's a good laptop, but, isn't it a bit too powerful (read:expensive) for editing documents on the move? :whistle:

He may wanna play a few games on the move as well :whistle: .

Sounds like a nice deal.

I do want to be able to play a few games on it from time to time yes. The specs are not entirely the same as the one I would be able to buy btw. That one has a slower CPU and only 512MB RAM. Those specs are from a review example on site recieved. Figures that it is a better model then the one people actually buy.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for a good gaming laptop.

When I got my laptop it was the best laptop on the market.
Fastest graphics card etc.

BUT, 1) I got it as a replacement desktop
2) I regreted buying it because for the same amount of money I could have a better desktop and enough money for upgrades for the next couple of years.

My point is, if you want to play new(ish) demanding games, you might want to get the cheapest available laptop, and have your desktop as a gaming machine instead.
And that if you want to save money :-p
Anyway, the machine you mentioned is indeed good, though if you want to play games too, I advice to have 1GB of ram and a 7200 drive. Laptop drives, even the 5400 are too slow for some games, that you will find out sooner or later...

There are many older titles that this setup will run flawlessly.

This setup is comparable to what my brother has in his desktop (he has a 9600PRO, which is very like the X700M), the CPU is even a little faster in the laptop so I know what it can do.

It will still be at least two months before I can buy a laptop. I hope I can get a good deal at that time. Something this side of €900 would be great.
The laptop is not a gimmick for me. I find that I am often uncomfortable studying behind my desktop but I do often require a computer while I am learning. For this I now use my PDA and that works but it is not as simple as using a full PC.
I also need a PC with me when I am at Uni and again a PDA only goes so far.

One more question GF6600Go or X700M?

X700M I think ATI is better.

Just remember you pay for what you get. no point of buyin a cheaper laptop due to battery life. Most of the laptops are slow now a days best to wait and save and wait for intel to bring out a new processor that maximises your process speeds. As you know the IT Industry is always moving forward so fast. There is no point buyin a laptop then in 6 months its obselete and worth peanuts. But if you really insist of buying a laptop make sure you save up your funds and buy something quality due to the IT Growth rate. i would hold it off for a few months save and reconsider your choices.

Thanks

Wayne
MWeb Internet
Technical Support

Thanks Wayne but I do believe you are wrong with your advice. It is true that computers are not a good investment if you want to keep your money but laptops keep their value a lot more then desktops. If someone does insist on throwing away their money buying the newest models is a good way of doing that. Not that I am going to sell any computer I buy in six months time or, in fact, ever. As with all computers nowadays, the true speed of a computer is almost never used and this is especially true of the laptop I will be buying as it will mostly be used for text editing and browsing. Lastly, a laptop has much more need of battery life then "maximises your process speeds".

Hate to come down on you like that but from a professional I would expect better advice then this.


p.s. I have removed the picture you posted since it served no purpose then shameless advertising.

Yeh some points i agree with you BUT. in australia atm the quality of merchandise isnt good at the moment for unknown reasons. The product around here is quite expensive and the cheaper notebooks are not very good with short battery life. I dont know why that is prehaps they cut corners reselling to the Australian market or what not. The Package deals they have advertised are of poor quality or really prehaps expensive. It is always cheaper goin wholesale and build it yourself but then it will forfeit the part warrenty if wired incorrectly.

As much as I love my laptop, it is absolutely horrid for gaming. It overheats when I think about turning it on (okay, maybe not that bad, but..). It works very well for school and work, but as a gaming PC, eh.

If you sell your desktop, I would have to agree, you will likely regret it.

I reakon that the only thing laptops need is good battery life not speed.
Also I.T is moving fast these days so unless you are por get a laptop that has the latest and greatest feature for your needs.

The Niles are you the "pickard" i remember? :)

My only experience with laptops is from my brother's computer. It is a laptop computer, a Toshiba Satellite M30X. As i know when he bought it ( about a year ago ) he ordered it with some custom parts ( a radeon 9700 instead of the on-board gfx that the system had, and a bigger HD since it had only 40GB ) and so the whole system cost around 1200 euros, i dont remember how much excactly now.

The "goods" is that it is a very good system regarding its performance, it has a very good screen, the quality of manufacture is very good. The bad is that it has a bit short-lived battery.

Thats my only experience with laptops, i thought that since you are looking for one you might wanted to hear it
:ok:

Yes, he is. I don't know why did he change his account name, though.

I harldy remember him being the pickard.

Please, Picard. But yes it is I. I changed it to Niles as I wanted to get rid of my Star Trek image.

I have moved beyond that.

I never liked start trek :whistle: