Screen size matter much?

I know it affects it in terms of heat and all that bs..

But, I have been dead set on a 15.4 inch screen for a while..

My father (who is helping me buy it and ****ing me off) first tried to talk me into a 14" screen because "under that is girly and over that is a pain in the *** to carry around" according to him.

Well I got the specs on the one I wanted.. and finally convinced him that 15.4 would work fine. Well... he asked... but, not about what I wanted him to.. he kinda over looked the actual specs and then got hellbent that 15.4 inch is not big enough.

"your only going to take it to college and play on it at home.. and at home your going to use a regular keyboard and a regular mouse" he says... yet, I find his logic.. really rather lacking.. because I have used a laptop once or twice and the keyboard doesn't hinder me as much as he thinks it will... and the mouse.. well for gaming.. I will definitly use a mouse but, outside of that I can use touchpad/point stick just fine. so.. is there really any point in upping the size?

I mean he give ****y logic as to why I should.. I personally find it stupid to use an alternative keyboard.. I thought he was talking about a docking station at first and a different moniter altogehter.. but, I have every intent of using the keyboard it comes with.. so any real point in upsizing?

I mean I found the excate model and specifications I was happy with.. the nc8430... plays oblivion pretty well.. can do anything I need it to.. I really don't feel like changing now.. especially since I was content with it.. I mean.. a mouse? yeah its reasonable to use a mouse even with a laptop.. especially at home.. but, a keyboard? thats just.. well ***..

leave it to my father.. to come home with no useful information or programs.. (which is what I asked for) but, rather some lame *** problem with the laptop I was so intent upon getting..

I am also thinking about throwing out an ultimatum.. "if I have to upsize then I'm going for an alienware which you can't get a discount for and its going to have dual graphics cards"..

 

17" notebooks are not very portable in my opinion. I personally would say 14" or under if you are carrying it every day, but the nc8430 is quite light for its size.

 

Most 17" notebooks come with numpads, that's the only real reason I see to upsize. As ZaZ said, best to stick to 14" - 15.4". I have never used a 14" notebook, but I carry a 15.4" on a daily basis (and a heavy one at that) and it is not fun. Most of the notebooks I test are 17", and they are definitely not good for portability. Power yes, but power that belongs on a desk.

People have different reasons for using external keyboards. Generally, a reason to use an external keyboard is to create a desktop-like setup, although that sort of negates the point of getting a laptop in the first place. An external mouse is a good idea though.

I think the HP nc8430 is your best bet for a portable 15.4" gaming/school notebook, and also consider 14" machines - the Asus A8Js and Compal HGL30 are ideal choices.

 

If this is going to be your sole and primary computer, I recommend against a 14". You'll find the screen too small for daily use; after I switched to my A8Jm, the screen just wasn't cutting it for me and I bought an external monitor for it.

You can find a good thin and light 15.4" notebook if you shop around for it. 17" is way too big.

I'm sure someone here can recommend a breezy 15.4". But 14" is going to be too small for continual use; at least it was for me. Though if you're comfortable with that, the A8Js comes highly recommended.

 

I second the opinion. 14"s are just too small for my liking. I bought a DV2000 a while back, but found that reading small print on its screen strained my eyes. So I decided to go with a 15.4". I'd say that the majority of 15.4" notebooks are 'more powerfully' configured than comparable 14" notebooks (unless you buy a custom one). And about size and weight, 15.4" laptops aren't all that much bigger than 14" laptops; just a bit longer and wider, and of course, heavier. In my opinion, if you get a relatively thin-and-light 15.4" notebook, portability won't be a problem. I carry mine every single day to school together with my Calculus text book in my backpack. Just be sure to get a nicely padded case; carrying it around campus (in hand) is no problem at all either.

I've seen people carry around 17"s and it always makes me wonder how they get it to and from school every day. It must be torture. Personally, I don't see any point to a dedicated num pad unless you are an accountant or something.

 

Well, everyone seems to say that 17" notebooks are too big. Personally, that's for you to decide, and you really shouldn't take everyone else's word as gospel. If you are a bigger person (tall, muscular or otherwise), it may not be a problem for you. See, I defy the odds. I in fact do carry my 17" around campus quite often, and if there's not too much else in the backpack, I don't even notice. Part of this is due to getting a good backpack (I def recommend getting a backpack for a 17"), but part of this is due to the fact that some 17" notebooks just aren't as heavy as everyone likes to think. Take my M90 for instance compared to an Inspiron E1505. The dimensions are within 1-1.5" in all respects, sometimes less, and the 1505 starts at a weight of 6.2 lbs (with Intel GMA and a 6-cell battery) whereas my M90 only comes in at about 8.5 lbs (with standard dedicated GPU and standard 9-cell battery). By the time you add a 9-cell battery to the E1505, you're looking at about 6.5 lbs or so. If you can't handle 2 more pounds and an extra inch in each direction, then a 15.4" is probably too big anyway. By the way, your nc8430 weighs in at 6 lbs starting out.

Now, to be completely honest, a 17" is not ideal for sitting on a university desk. But if it's gonna be sitting on the desk in your dorm... you'll never notice anyway. So basically, the difference in power will typically far supercede the difference in weight or dimensions, but that's just my opinion. If you think a 17" is too big, then don't get it. But really, the weight and dimensions shouldn't make as much of a difference as you would think. I'm not trying to convince you to go 17", but if you like gaming, it may not be a bad idea anyway (thought I think getting an SLi Alienware is a bad idea... can anyone say CPU bottleneck?). Just keep your options open and try some out whenever you get a chance. At least your dad is open to a 17" gaming notebook... my dad was pissed when I got a 17".

 

I was just getting to that point. I'm a 6-footer, so carrying my 15.4" around is a breeze. Also, 17" will not fit on a lecture desk (unless yours are bigger than mine). My 15.4" just barely fits. Lucky that your dad supports you in getting a gaming rig. Mine are ****** off every time they catch me playing a game I also had to work for a couple of years just to earn enough money to buy this cheap PC; it took a lot of work just to convince my parents that I needed a laptop in the first place.
Well, whatever notebook size you choose, enjoy it and have fun.
Cheers

 

I find mine 15.4" S96J to be the perfect size for mobility and desktop home use, its really not that heavy at all and rather thin.

So a 15.4' weighing at or under 6.5lbs would be good, but for my next laptop, I will probably be getting a 14.1" for my next.

 

Seeing as I'll only have one pc at a time, and that from now on it'll always be a laptop, I won't go any smaller than a 15.4". I believe it really does make the difference when it comes to things like DVDs and games. On an Asus F3J, I just thought the units in games were too small. (Not to mention the smaller screen really affects the distance you can successfully sniper at.)

 

If it's your only machine at college, I'd recommend a 14", and get a secondary LCD and keyboard for use in your dorm. I had a 15.4" for 3 years which was heavier than most (an eMachines M6805), but it was a pain to cart around. Just upgraded to the HGL30 in my sig, and I couldn't be happier. The only thing with smaller laptops is that you can only get a 1280x800 resolution. For real work, I prefer many more pixels, hence the secondary LCD for use in your room. The main laptop display is fine for basic work and games, though.

If that's not an option, I'd suggest getting a relatively light 15.4" (possibly an HEL80, which will have a better graphics card than any 15" Dell's, and I think most comparable HP's and such) and making sure you get 1650x1050 resolution. You'll thank yourself for doing it after you start having to use it. 1280x800 just isn't quite big enough for serious work.

 

Looking at them side by side, I really didn't see enough of a difference with the 14" to bother getting it over the 15.4. My GF may, especially for the weight, but to me an extra pound or two really isn't going to ruin my day (my hockey bag weighs about 55 pounds, I think I'll be ok)

 

It's not the weight so much as it is the extra few inches in each dimension. It's just ungainly, and the 14" fits on laps and desks much easier. Not to mention that the 14 inchers come with the same graphics cards that the 15.4" lappies do, so unless you need the pixels more than you need the smaller machine, there's no compelling reason to go with a 15". You'd have to go to 17" or larger to get an increase over an X1600/Go7600 graphics card.

 

Meh.. my issue comes in with being happy with a particular rig. I found the nc8430.. it was excatly what I was looking for (or at least seemed to be).. powerful decent card ect ect ect.

I am fairy strong physically so weight itself isn't an issue.. I just fail to see the logic in using an extra keyboard (unless I end up doing accounting work as stated before).. I mean unless I am getting a docking station.. an extra keyboard is flat out retarded....

(my parents HAVE to be open to a gaming rig.. I was going to buy it with or without their help.. and the more moeny I spend on a rig.. the less I have saved up incase something horrific happens).

 

Plus remember a 15" will have less issues with cooling (generally) than a similarly specced 14".

Also, I think both can be used equally on desks. If there is a lap you can fit a 14" on, but not a 15" on, you're not going to have room to type comfortably enough anyways.

 

The screen size choose is offen just a choose of how good battry life you want to have. 17" notebooks is not much heaver then 15" notebooks, the biggest issue is the battary life. If you dont care for battary, get a 17" with gf7900 or x1800, if battary life is importent, get a 14" with gf7700 or something like that.

 

See how the answers are all over in this thread?? That's because NOBODY can answer this for you!! I use a 17" all the time, carry it from one end of campus to the other (Michigan State has a pretty big campus) and use it in class. It's fine. My wife has a 13.3", and I hate it because the screen is just way too small for everyday use.

She would say the exact opposite. Nobody, including your dad, can tell you what YOU will like. It's all about personal preference. So since you seem to be very happy with your current choice, BUY IT.

There's only a problem here if your parents are buying the notebook, but it sounds like you're buying it yourself. So get what you want and your dad will get over it. He isn't using it

 

i agree with the other guy that posted earlier dont take everyones opions as fact. go to a store and look at them ask one of the sales guy to let you hold different models and whatever feels right to you get it. that is if it fits ur specs.

 

I have a 14.1 and a 15.4, I don't think i'd ever bother with a 17 or larger on a laptop, my desktop screen however is huge so thats enough for me.