Recommend Me A Laptop

l would definitely recommend a Thinkpad, for reasons that I previously mentioned here:
http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/3...

I said buttons. That's not a button. It's too easy to get gestures and multi-touch wrong. I don't even like LEFT clicks on the damn pad, since they happen all the freaking time; putting right clicks there too is going to be an exercise in frustration.

Further, Apple drivers don't work in anything but XP32, so if you want a secondary button in XP64 or Win2K3, you're sh*t out of luck.

It's a deal-breaker for me. Two buttons minimum; three buttons preferred.

Malor wrote:

I said buttons. That's not a button. It's too easy to get gestures and multi-touch wrong. I don't even like LEFT clicks on the damn pad, since they happen all the freaking time; putting right clicks there too is going to be an exercise in frustration.

Further, Apple drivers don't work in anything but XP32, so if you want a secondary button in XP64 or Win2K3, you're sh*t out of luck.

It's a deal-breaker for me. Two buttons minimum; three buttons preferred.

Sadly enough this is also my reason for not liking Macs. Hell my mouse has a tilt-sensitive wheel, thumb button, left & right buttons, and three DPI settings adjustable with two buttons under the wheel. That's what? 6-7 buttons? At this point anything less than that's a loss of functionality I'm simply not willing to deal with.

Actually the Gateway Laptop doesn't just look good on paper:

see review from notebookreview.com

Sigh, if only I knew about this notbook earlier...

trip1eX wrote:
Malor wrote:

Macbooks have only one mouse button. You can work around this in OSX or with drivers in XP, but that only works with XP32; if you want to run anything else, you're sort of SOL.

I'd recommend them wholeheartedly if they had two or three buttons.

Here you go.

Just finished watching that video. That guy was so annoying. I personally hope he tries punching someone one day with that fist. The sound of his thumb breaking inside his balled up hand would be priceless!

Gaald wrote:

The sound of his thumb breaking inside his balled up hand would be priceless!

Hah, just watched the video and was about to post something to that effect :). Also, if my voice was that nasal I wouldn't dream of ever recording anything. Moving on...

From your earlier statements, sounds like you may usually roll with an external mouse attached, but if not, make sure that you try out the Thinkpad "nipple" before buying one of those. The ones I've used are very flat and nubbly, and not at all comfortable for extended use. A quick look at Lenovo indicates that they still have this same annoying design.

Of course, you may be one of those crazies that can handle an enabled touchpad, which for me is simply a recipe for endless accidental clicks and scrolls while typing. Cursed dangling thumbs.

Mr Crinkle wrote:
Gaald wrote:

The sound of his thumb breaking inside his balled up hand would be priceless!

Hah, just watched the video and was about to post something to that effect :). Also, if my voice was that nasal I wouldn't dream of ever recording anything. Moving on...

From your earlier statements, sounds like you may usually roll with an external mouse attached, but if not, make sure that you try out the Thinkpad "nipple" before buying one of those. The ones I've used are very flat and nubbly, and not at all comfortable for extended use. A quick look at Lenovo indicates that they still have this same annoying design.

Logitech G5 wired all the way

7 button mice work with the Mac.

Also the 2 finger tap for right mouse button functionality works quite well. You can also hold 2 fingers on the pad and click for that same functionality. That works nicely too.

trip1eX wrote:

7 button mice work with the Mac.

Also the 2 finger tap for right mouse button functionality works quite well. You can also hold 2 fingers on the pad and click for that same functionality. That works nicely too.

I believe the original point was to have the touchpad or trackpoint have 2-3 buttons instead of one that must be modified by touchpad usage.

boogle wrote:
trip1eX wrote:

7 button mice work with the Mac.

Also the 2 finger tap for right mouse button functionality works quite well. You can also hold 2 fingers on the pad and click for that same functionality. That works nicely too.

I believe the original point was to have the touchpad or trackpoint have 2-3 buttons instead of one that must be modified by touchpad usage.

Actually I'm just replying to some misinformation and misinformed opinions in this thread and giving out my recommendations based on my real world experience using Macs for nearly the last 2 years and Windows for the last 17 years or so.

trip1eX wrote:
boogle wrote:
trip1eX wrote:

7 button mice work with the Mac.

Also the 2 finger tap for right mouse button functionality works quite well. You can also hold 2 fingers on the pad and click for that same functionality. That works nicely too.

I believe the original point was to have the touchpad or trackpoint have 2-3 buttons instead of one that must be modified by touchpad usage.

Actually I'm just replying to some misinformation and misinformed opinions in this thread and giving out my recommendations based on my real world experience using Macs for nearly the last 2 years and Windows for the last 17 years or so.

I expect nothing less.

I should add that I'm perfectly aware that MacOS supports multi-button mice flawlessly, so when considering a desktop, the lack of extra buttons on the default mouse is pretty much irrelevant. It's the single-button laptops that drive me bats; it's stupid to have to carry a mouse because the laptop's design doesn't have enough buttons.

The format I've liked best so far is the one on the Thinkpad T20. Because they didn't have a trackpad, just a pointer stick, there was lots of room, and they put in three buttons; a left and right on top, and a much wider third button underneath the first two. Nice format, easy to use, hard to get wrong.

A pointer stick?

Sounds like a slow as molasses way to move your cursor round, and it would be ripe for breakage, or just get worn out.

I understand wanting a second button for right clicks on a laptop. I don't think it is really that necessary, as the two fingers on the touch pad works so well. Honestly, it's the only way I would want to right click on a laptop now.

Jayhawker wrote:

A pointer stick?

Sounds like a slow as molasses way to move your cursor round, and it would be ripe for breakage, or just get worn out.

I understand wanting a second button for right clicks on a laptop. I don't think it is really that necessary, as the two fingers on the touch pad works so well. Honestly, it's the only way I would want to right click on a laptop now.

I believe its more that we are afraid of change. Much like the republican party.

trip1eX wrote:
Malor wrote:

Macbooks have only one mouse button. You can work around this in OSX or with drivers in XP, but that only works with XP32; if you want to run anything else, you're sort of SOL.

I'd recommend them wholeheartedly if they had two or three buttons.

Here you go.

The classic angry geek.

The trackpoints are great, super responsive and just generally excellent. The harder you push, the faster the mouse moves, so you can aim with amazing accuracy. I really like them.

The sticks themselves never wear out, but the little rubber domes on top do. You can buy a package of 10 new ones for like $10, and that'll last, geeze, five years or so.

Malor wrote:

The trackpoints are great, super responsive and just generally excellent. The harder you push, the faster the mouse moves, so you can aim with amazing accuracy. I really like them.

The sticks themselves never wear out, but the little rubber domes on top do. You can buy a package of 10 new ones for like $10, and that'll last, geeze, five years or so.

Sounds like a good argument for playing FPSs on consoles!

t0W wrote:
trip1eX wrote:
Malor wrote:

Macbooks have only one mouse button. You can work around this in OSX or with drivers in XP, but that only works with XP32; if you want to run anything else, you're sort of SOL.

I'd recommend them wholeheartedly if they had two or three buttons.

Here you go.

The classic angry geek.

Yeah he's mad cause Justin Long took his spot.

trip1eX wrote:

7 button mice work with the Mac.

Also the 2 finger tap for right mouse button functionality works quite well. You can also hold 2 fingers on the pad and click for that same functionality. That works nicely too.

They work if you have drivers. I have yet to find a free driver for my logitech MX610 that I don't have to pay for. 2 fingered scrolling is wonderful. I dont miss the second button on the track pad much at all. It takes a little getting used to but it works fine. It isn't quite as convenient as a 2 button pad but it's not bad at all.

EvilHomer3k wrote:
trip1eX wrote:

7 button mice work with the Mac.

Also the 2 finger tap for right mouse button functionality works quite well. You can also hold 2 fingers on the pad and click for that same functionality. That works nicely too.

They work if you have drivers. I have yet to find a free driver for my logitech MX610 that I don't have to pay for. 2 fingered scrolling is wonderful. I dont miss the second button on the track pad much at all. It takes a little getting used to but it works fine. It isn't quite as convenient as a 2 button pad but it's not bad at all.

Yeah it's best to double-check that the mouse supports OS/X before purchasing it. Logitech currently makes at least 7 different mice for os/x. Like you found out the 610 is not one of them. The 620 however is.

I'm left handed and the 610 comes in an ergonomic left-handed version so I won't be getting another until they come out with another left-handed ergonomic mouse.

EvilHomer3k wrote:

I'm left handed and the 610 comes in an ergonomic left-handed version so I won't be getting another until they come out with another left-handed ergonomic mouse.

Didn't you ever find it strange to learn to use a mouse left-handed? I'm also a leftie and I've got to admit: I use a mouse with my right hand, always have. Hell... not sure I could do it any other way now.

I use both hands but I go solely lefty when playing games as I'm a little more accurate. If it weren't for games, I'd probably succumb to the mob. I used to work as an IT Trainer and used my right hand all the time. After that was done I kept both a left and right to switch back and forth an d alleviate stressing one hand too much. Now I use the touchpad and the MX610 so I'm slowly going more lefty.

The Build Me A PC thread is all about computer parts, and I only found this one on laptops so...

IMAGE(http://blogs.sundaymercury.net/weirdscience/Young%20Frankenstein.jpg.jpg)

ARISE!

My 3 year old Compaq CQ-70 is starting to get wonky, and I'm getting a tax rebate in a month. So I'm looking for a new lappie!

Requirements are simple:
- Has to be able to play Civilization V (DirectX 9 will suffice)
- I'm tired of plasticy corner-cutting laptops, I want good build quality this time
- PC, not Mac
- Blu-Ray is a big boon, I always use my laptop as a portable media player on vacation/weekend trips

Right now I'm looking towards the Sony Vaio F-series. I can't post a link, as I composed it on the Belgian Sony website. But the specs are:
- Intel i5-2430M 2.4Ghz
- 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM (upgrade possible to 8GB)
- 500GB HD 7200rpm
- Nvidia 540M Graphics Card (as powerful as a desktop 7900GT)
- Blu-Ray player
- HD Screen 1920*1080
- Gratis engraving

All this for 900 euro (which is my budget). Only big disadvantage I see is that it only has 1 USB port.

My main question though is: what experience do you guys have with the different brands, when it comes to build quality? I'm avoiding Acer and HP, but what about Toshiba, Asus, MSI, Samsung, ...? Well not Samsung, as they only seem to offer a choice between crappy Intel graphics laptops or uber-gamerigs of +1500 euro

Also: for a Sony laptop, there's a choice between HD (with full HD resolution) and HD Premium, which is supposed to be more vibrant, with more accurate colors etc. Is it worth it if you're not a designer?

My wife and I both have had serious problems with ASUS gaming laptops. I really disliked a Sager that I owned, though in retrospect it was better than the ASUS.

We were both happy with our Dells back in the day, but now Dell gaming laptop means Alienware, which is pricey. I think if I were going to buy a gaming laptop again (I don't plan to; these days a desktop for home and an iPad for travel do me just right), I would probably suck it up and get an Alienware, even if they are pricey.

I love my Alienware M14x.. its a tad on the "heavy" size for a 14" laptop.. but its GPU can't be beat for its size/weight/price profile.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

My wife and I both have had serious problems with ASUS gaming laptops.

Speak to me of these problems, for I have just acquired one and I enjoy foreshadowing sorrow and angst.

I'll check into the Dell / Alienware line, thanks. I'm not really looking for a hardcore gamelaptop, as they are way too expensive. Plus, I don't like that kinda heat near my cojones

I would also be very interested in your issues with Asus laptops, Fedaykin.

edit: Alienware laptop, even the cheapest one, is way above my budget. Sony offers better quality for a lower price, except for the G540M instead of the G555M.

Heat is heat.. has nothing to do specific with Alienware.. its all about the GPU.. the more powerful the GPU the more heat it will dissipate.

Gaming Laptops and Heat kinda go hand in hand.. as well as size and weight.

The 540M is decent.. it will chug with many games at 1920X1200 and will require some decent cooling.

ColdForged wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:

My wife and I both have had serious problems with ASUS gaming laptops.

Speak to me of these problems, for I have just acquired one and I enjoy foreshadowing sorrow and angst.

Build quality isn't the greatest, on my Asus laptop the screen hinge has degraded to a point where I will not close it in fear that it will snap. Any laptop with plastic is a disaster waiting to happen. I did some light gaming with my Asus for about 3 months while I was on sabbatical, had a cooling pad and everything. Despite my prudence I cannot put that thing on my laptop comfortably for more than a minute. Any longer and I'll probably need to go to an ER.

Unless Asus has started releasing aluminum bodied laptops I think you would be best served to look elsewhere. I have a Sony VAIO that has never failed me and it's about 4 years old. And don't knock out Mac immediately, I have friends who game quite comfortably on their Boot Camp partitions. It's not my cup of tea personally but at the very least you can expect longevity out of a Mac product.