What to buy with $2500 budget?

I am considering Thinkpad W500, Dell XPS M4400, and Alienware maybe.
The following things are important to me:

(1) computation speed. I will use it to run some computation intensive programs.
(2) graphics.
(3) portability. 15" screen is preferred.

I like the design of W500 the most, but its graphics card is not impressive. Anyone know the brand of its WUXGA screen? is it LED backlight? is it good?

Any suggestion will be appreciated.

 

Whether or not you will be using it for gaming is an important consideration as to whether you should look at business notebooks or gaming notebooks such as an AW.

 

My boss will be mad if I use it for gaming.

 

I would get the Dell Precision M4400 since it offers a quad core for the best computational power, better optimized graphics power for CAD, 3D, OpenGL work, and the RGB-LED is a better screen than what Lenovo and AW offer.

 

if you have that much money, might as well get a super nice MAC

 

Then I would suggest against the AW (or flashy gaming pc's).

 

Macs are far inferior to business level notebooks and cost more... just because someone has money to spend, doesn't mean that they should throw it away.

 

Well said sgogeta4.

 

Do you really want to spend that much for a laptop? You can get much more computational power if you build or buy your own desktop. Just my 2 cents...

 

OP specified wanting portability as one of the criteria so I would assume a desktop is out.

 

Ha.

hey look, i dont like MACs.. but i can concede that they are NOT "far inferior"

edit: don't like MACs because they are expensive....duh

 

For business use they are not worth the cost. Spending more doesn't scale well with performance with macs.

 

doesn't scale well with laptops in general either, now does it.

but if he has the money, why not get something that can perform equally awesome and looks way nicer.

 

It performs far worse than a Dell loaded with a quad core, workstation level graphics card, RGB-LED screen, build quality AND costs more for what, only aesthetic appeal (which is personal considering some users think that Thinkpads look awesome)? I'm not a mac hater, I'm just stating facts.

 

Thanks a lot for your input.

I pretty much decide to buy a W500. Precision M4400 is very nice, but I don't like its design and I am a little worried about its heating issue.

Two things about W500 that I am not sure:
(1) P9500 vs. T9900. P9500 is cooler with less power consumption, while T9900 has more computation power. Is it worth upgrading? Does T9900 have any heating problem? Money is not an issue here. If P9700 is an option,I think it would be the best for me.
(2) WSXGA+ vs. WUXGA. I don't run intensive graphics applications much. So I guess my question is which screen is better for daily use? I have used WXGA for 5 years, so maybe the WUXGA is too much for me?

Any suggestion will be appreciated.

 

They are inferior. That's what Maddox says.

 

Couldnt have said it better myself.

Again I like the way you think. Some of us prefer power, and usability over a silver (circa 2004 looks imho) aluminum block. When we know we can get rugged magnesium alloy chassis packing more power and MUCH higher res screens then what Apple can offer. I too am not a mac hater, macs do have thier place BUT hardcore multitasking/work is not that place. Now in the starbucks lounge or managing pictures, movies, or music that is the right place.

I will have to agree the W500 is great, but the lack of quad core limits its computing power.

 

You're asking the question in the Lenovo section, so expect some ThinkPad pushing and Mac bashing. I personally think the W500 is an awesome system and you'll save some $$ off that $2500. Better yet, outfit it with a second 9-cell, a good mouse (VX Nano) and case, etc to reach your $2500 budget.

 

Really if you want to spend that much and go with Lenovo, I would almost advise you a W700, but I guess that is off since you say you want a 15". Have you checked out the W700?

 

I want a new Thinkpad also but I think I'm content on waiting for newer models. Part of me is waiting for better screen options.

 

The new Lenovo's won't come until Q1 2010, so if you can wait, then wait...

 

I am looking to buy. But I have an XPS m1530 right now, so maybe patience would pay off.

Are we talking Jan 2010 or March 2010?

I am looking for a 15" wuxga that can play games like half-life 2 based games (Team Fortress, Left4Dead, etc).

The t400 and t500 look great but I am a programmer and designer and will desperately want the wuxga screen. I think the w500 is my best option for the immediate need.

 

Well Q1 2010 but it usually takes a couple months for things to start shipping in a more reasonable time frame.

 

For $2500 I'd look at a W500 4061-32U. It has darn near anything you could want save for the WWAN. Buy.com has it for $2100

 

Got my 4061-32u on eBay for about $1600 shipped. You can get a way better price than the quoted Buy.com price.

 

Did you see the Lenovo 15% off coupon on the W series through the end of September?

15% off ThinkPad W Series & X Series Laptops, 10% off ThinkPad T, R, & IdeaPad Laptops

Expires: Sept 30, 2009
Code: USPBANNERS

 

I was looking on eBay and Buy.com was that only listing for that configuration. I got my x200 tablet Config# 7449f9u for 1150 off of ebay. It was NIB too. Add 225 for the ultrabase and I have the equivalent of the 7449eku less the ATT WWAN and 2GB turbo memory for 1350

 

I do have to say I miss wuxga for coding, but I have shrunk my environments down a bit and I can have a few open on my t400 and its OK. But then again i wasn't planning on giving my dell away. A w500 with WUXGA and quad core CPU options would be pretty cool, until then ill wait and stick with the t400.