Laptop recommendations

**Ardesco** · 25 September 2006, 15:29

Does that £1000 include VAT?

I have ordered myself a nice alienware one that cost £1,162.82 excluding VAT. (If you are registered for VAT they don't even add it onto the price so you don't have to claim it back)

Quick rundown of specs:

Display: 15.4" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD with Clearview Technology
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional UK with SP2
Processor: Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2400 1.83GHz 2MB Cache 667MHz FSB
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 2 x 512MB
Video Card: 128MB ATI® Mobility™ Radeon® X1400
System Drive: 80GB 7200 RPM SATA with NCQ
CD/DVD/RW: DVD-Burner: 8x Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24x CD-RW Combo
w/Software
Sound Card: Intel® High-Definition Audio (24-bit, 192Khz) with surround
sound
Keypad: Mobile Keypad - English
Communications: Integrated 10/1000Mb Gigabit Ethernet & 56K V.92 Modem
Wireless Network Card: Internal Intel® PRO Wireless 3945 a/b/g Mini-Card

I paid extra for the high rez screen (I hate only seeing 5 lines of code on screen, high rez is the way to go) so take off some for the screen if you don't want rez that high.

**gingerjedi** · 25 September 2006, 15:45

I'm not knocking the laptop or you for that matter but if I was in a meeting and someone came in a plonked an alienware laptop on the table I would be thinking 'oh god this guy is going to be playing WoW in my time'.

**Ardesco** · 25 September 2006, 15:52

Well alienware had the duo core chips and are also quite reasonably priced as well. it was either that or rockdirect but the high rez screens on the alienware ones is what sold it to me.

If you plonk your laptop down in a meeting you already have the contract anyway so htey should be able to tell how good you are by the standard of work you are delivering, i would say that by the time they see your laptop judgements based on what it is are neither here nor there.

**DimPrawn** · 25 September 2006, 16:21

Laptop envy is a terrible thing. Very New Labour.

**TheMonkey** · 25 September 2006, 16:29

www.apple.com ... use bootcamp to install XP

**Angela_D** · 25 September 2006, 16:34

Dell 9400 series ......... if you are SURE you will never need to call their support monkeys in India.

I've been very happy with mine.

**bogeyman** · 25 September 2006, 16:45

Originally posted by TheMonkey

www.apple.com ... use bootcamp to install XP

That's the route I chose. Very happy with it.

Have a mac Mini and a MacBook Pro both running bootcamp with OS X and XP.

Well, actually have just deleted the OS X partition on the mini to claw back space

leaving it an XP machine only.

I think some people used to PCs will have a bit of trouble with the Mac keyboard for a few days, but that's about the only downside.

**OrangeHopper** · 25 September 2006, 17:29

... deleted the OS X partition ...

May your fingers be eaten by rats and your eyes pecked out by jackdaws!

**bogeyman** · 25 September 2006, 17:38

Originally posted by OrangeHopper

May your fingers be eaten by rats and your eyes pecked out by jackdaws!

And may your dick shrivel and your conkers turn to mush

Well, I don't need OS X on the mini as it's just a Windows dev system running nothing much except VS.NET and Office apps all day long. I can always reinstall OS X if I want it - but more likely will just buy another mini to run OS X only.

My MacBook is normally booted into OS X, for Adobe CS2 and some admin stuff I need on the move.

Tried Parallels workstation, but I thought the performance was lousy - despite all the hype.

Laptop recommendations