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    Laptop Design Thread

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by milesc3, Aug 19, 2010.

  1. milesc3

    milesc3 Notebook Geek

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    Like many of you I have been searching for the ultimate laptop for my needs for several months. Every time I get close to pulling the trigger on one I find some feature, bug, series of complaints that dissuades me buying that particular model. Can you say ANAL? From what I've read, I'm certainly not the only one here. ;)

    What I'm suggesting in this thread for the membership to comment on features they love, dislike, or would like to see in forthcoming models (i.e.; a return to a 4:3 Display aspect ratio screen). This forum has a huge, well-respected membership but also a number of manufacturer's representatives that also hang out here. Who knows, they might just listen and add some or all of the features we suggest to a forthcoming model. To keep from having a flame issue lets discuss model types instead of a specific manufacturer (i.e.; Business, Multimedia, Ultra-Portable, Gaming, Netbook, and etc.).

    A few years ago on a desktop enthusiast site the best ideas in a thread like this ended up being incorporated into what became at the time a hugely popular new enthusiast grade motherboard, so it can really happen if we take a little time and keep it professional.
     
  2. 5482741

    5482741 5482741

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    My ideal laptop would be a 15.4"/15.6" laptop, with a resolution of 1920x1200 or greater, an MXM 3.0B card slot, and extreme quad-core support.

    Or a relatively-thin 17.1" laptop, with a resolution of 1920x1200 or greater, multiple HDD slots, a single MXM 3.0B card slot, and extreme quad-core support.

    Seems simple, but such laptops don't exist today.
     
  3. milesc3

    milesc3 Notebook Geek

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    I totally agree! Seems like the display and its quality and resolution on most laptops is the major issue with most buyers. That coupled with a reasonably strong CPU and GPU that you can't fry eggs on. I'm not a huge fan of the wide angle displays, but I guess the day of the 4:3 aspect ratio is history. Now if they'd just make a quality HD wide angle display, with a decent color gamut that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, I'd be happy.
     
  4. Macpod

    Macpod Connoisseur

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    the Dell precision 6400 has all those minus the MXM but when was the last time anyone upgraded a graphics card
     
  5. 5482741

    5482741 5482741

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    I've done that in 4 out of the 6 laptops I've owned, so I like the option.
     
  6. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

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    Yes, the Precision is arguably the best at this--but it does cost an arm and a leg. Still, if they give me what I want, I'll buy it.
    Because of design, or because they didn't want/need to?
     
  7. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

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    I have a thing for Acer's Timeline series. Brilliant design IMO. Thin, powerful, huge battery life, perfect screen size options, dissipates heat well, thin, professional appearance, oh, and thin.
     
  8. SoundOf1HandClapping

    SoundOf1HandClapping Was once a Forge

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    15-inch screen/form-factor
    Dual hard drive bays
    1600x900 or greater (or an equivalent 16:10 measurement; I'm not picky)
    Powerful MXM GPU, preferably nVidia
    Quad core CPU, the more next-gen, the better
    Good cooling
    Dual hard drive bays
    HDMI, at least 2 USB 3.0, multiple USB 2.0, eSATA, Ethernet, 3.5mm audio jacks, expansions card slots
    As for design/looks, I tend for more sedate designs, but those aren't gamebreakers.
    Dual hard drive bays

    (The Asus G53 and MSI GX660R fit the above descriptions, so I guess my wants aren't too hard to satisfy)
     
  9. ChinNoobonic

    ChinNoobonic Notebook Evangelist

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    Seconded! Easy access to bottom panel, with a little room for copper modding as well ;). Oh most importantly, bios overclocking options. Alienware seem to have gotten that one right.
     
  10. SoundOf1HandClapping

    SoundOf1HandClapping Was once a Forge

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    I'm seconding those. Forgot about easy access and modding room.
     
  11. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    which timline do u have? Is it the new core i5+ ATI 5650?

    Anyways, i'm happy with the G73 offers although GPU wise it isn't easy to upgrade.. but at most , if i ever, the hard drive or RAM will be upgraded,
     
  12. Bullit

    Bullit Notebook Deity

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    I agree with much of what i have been said like dual bays etc.

    With current tech:

    17.3" laptop. Full HD screen, which can be use outside in non direct sun.

    Elevated back/keyboard for confortable use and good heat evacuation.

    Screen can be rotated 180º and the multimedia remote can control the laptop multimedia functions from any side of it.

    For perfect machine a tablet PC screen.
     
  13. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

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    I agree with the first two out of the three. Although they both could be fixed with aftermarket products: a hood for the laptop, and most extended batteries raise the notebook. The screen swivel seem gimmickry, since you can just rotate the laptop itself.
     
  14. abaddon4180

    abaddon4180 Notebook Virtuoso

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    - 14'' screen
    - Under 5 pounds
    - Optical drive
    - backlit keyboard
    - Dedicated graphics card around what I have (switchable)
    - 5+ hours of battery life
    - Good cooling system
    - High build quality with no keyboard flex

    The Envy 14 fits most of what I want but I don't like the design and battery life is disappointing, also it is a little heavy
     
  15. manutd18

    manutd18 Newbie

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    hi I'm new :GEEK:

    I was wondering if anyone knows if I can connect my netbook like this:

    Netbook--->VGA cable--->RCA cable--->S-video--->an old Samsung 32 inch TV(not HD, not flat-screen)with an S-video slot.

    I know these will connect but I was wondering If the picture would stream all the way through to the TV?

    help much appreciated :smile:
     
  16. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

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    Why would you want to make all those connections? When making any connections you want to minimize connections points. Since you're starting off with an analogue connection you're signal will likely degrade with each connection point.