Any users here of RAIN computers?

Just wondering if anyone here has any experience with this company? With an expected $11K outlay for the configuration I'm interested in, just trying to do my due diligence.

See:
LiveBook V - Mobile 3D + Video Workstation | Rain Computers

 

No experience, but those look like Clevo rebrands to me, do they offer something over other resellers?

 

Clevo huh? Thanks.


The 'different' that caught my eye was:

See:
LiveBook V | The Rain Custom Shop | Rain Computers

Reminds me a little of Voodoo Computers before Sood went to HP...

 

Well, I'm not 100% certain, but the keyboard layout, and gallery of the sager NP9170 (Clevo P170EM chassis) are strangely similar. Not that Clevos are bad or anything, but it really does make you wonder whether the services (and hardware) they offer are worth the increase in price.

 

tijo,

I have to agree with you - based on the images those look like the same system.


Not quite the same when both are maxed out with all the options (that I want) - but there is still a $7K difference!!!


I'll have to keep looking...

 

What was it that drew you to those, aside from their tuning that is?

 

they sure do look like clevo's

tilleroftheearth, i guess you are in america as that link is in $ but i also see they have a site for the uk. ive never heard of them but after looking at the config of one of the laptops and a upgrade nvidia quadro K5000M for $3000/£1951 i think that is a little (ok a lot) pricey but im no expert when it comes to quadro cards.

if you like the look of those laptops i would recommend taking a look at
Gaming Laptops - XOTIC PC - Gaming Notebooks - Custom Laptops - Custom Notebooks
Best Gaming Computer | Best Gaming Laptop | Cheap Gaming Laptop Computers | Gaming Notebook | Pro-Star.com
Custom Gaming Laptops by PowerNotebooks.com™ - Gaming Notebooks & Custom Built Laptops
who have very helpful reps on here that can give advice.

 

unless that RAIN company has killer customer support. I would go with the other clevo resellers. Most machines in this class of performance are either Clevo or Dell Precisions, I think MSI are also in the race but they're not as good since they're geared more towards gaming.

 

$1000 to 1500 for a Quadro sounds about right for North America, that's about what the upgrade to a K5000m costs for a M6700. Given that in Europe, you usually keep the same number and just switch the currency...

@Marksman, you forgot the elitebook 8770w.

 

The only good deal in their pricing was the 3-year warranty for $150. But still, a $6000 markup for a fully loaded system is a steep hill to climb.

 

Definitely looks like a Clevo to me.

 

Likewise. I've done a quick search around their website and I have no idea how they justify the massive increase in price.

 

If they really are taking the same parts available elsewhere and getting Windows 8 to give ~15% higher performance than the next guy, that's huge (and I can make a case to make them cost effective to me - if they are also as reliable as they make them sound...).

But, I am not going to be a guinea pig for them to the tune of $7K any time soon.

I have paid more for ThinkPAD's (the IBM originals), but those were obviously better than anything available on the planet (and proved themselves by being reliable (used daily) for up to a dozen years or so).


Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Sanity check complete.

 

tiller, I thought you were smarter than this. Have you been drinking, maybe felt like a little trolling?

Also they are not saying that their "RAIN tuned Windows 8" rolleyes has 10-15% better performance than Windows 8, they say it is 10-15% better than "previous operating systems."

As far as I am concerned, they are scam artists.

 

@tilleroftheearth

if you are thinking about buying a laptop and have found this company and like the look of its products (clevo rebrands) can i ask what you are buying the laptop for? general use, gaming, high end 3D gaming, cad, heavy duty video editing and rendering etc

also have you checked the links i posted above. all of them are respected resellers of the same laptops that have had thousands of customers come through our forum for advise and left happy customers. check out the feedback thread Sager Reseller and Clevo Reseller Forum, Sager Laptops

im on my second clevo now and wont buy anything else. when i get a chance i will do some digging on their uk site and compare to what ive got now.

 

All marketing mumbo jumbo. Though 8 is about 15% faster than 7.

 

the top of the range is a 17" livebook v3 (clevo P170 EM or HM not sure)
they dont have 680 option so i went for 675M
hard drive 480ssd
3740QM

just done a spec on 17" with same spec as rain.
£2300 from rain
£1700 from mysn

uk warranty standard 1 year rain
mysn standard 2 years (almost all suppliers now come with a standard 2 year warranty including courier,parts,labour)
mysn gpu is 675MX while rain is older 675M

 

Did anyone notice that the LiveBook V has an optional upgrade to a 680MX? Isn't that entirely impossible, and they're lying about it? I mean, unless they're tearing apart a high end iMac for every laptop (might explain the price hike), then downclocking it or supplying a larger PSU.

Also, am I the only one that hates the Apple-style upgrades, that don't tell you what you're paying so much for? 2.4ghz Intel i7 or 2.7ghz Intel i7? WHAT PROCESSOR?

Edit: Also, as an audio guy, you rarely need big hardware unless you're pushing some BIG plugins, or 50+ tracks. It always bothers me when people recommend high power for audio work. Hell, 90% of the work that's done on the move (which is everything beyond studio work) would do fine with an i5+HD4000.

 

i didnt see that one. will check when i get home.

 

The quote from their website is pure marketing. There's nothing in there to indicate they did anything, much less anything worth anywhere near their markups.