Laptop Design Thread

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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?

 

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.

 

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)

 

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.

 

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

 

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,

 

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.

 

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'' 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

 

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:

 

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.