5720 Received!

Yes, I paid for Overnight shipping.

I just finished installing XP pro and the drivers and after a few million reboots I'm finally done. I installed Warcraft 40,000 Dawn of War also. I'm waaaay too exhausted to go any further tonight.

It's really late at night for me but I've just got a few things to note (much more later):
The Screen is incredible. Haven't seen a flaw yet.
The speakers are wonderful for a laptop. I mean WONDERFUL.
I went all out on RAM, Disk, etc, the machine installed Windows and everything very fast.
Dawn of War maxes at 1600 mode and looked incredible, just incredible.

The only negative is that 1920x1200 native resolution is going to blind me. Even with a 17" screen the fonts are just way too small on websites that control the font sizes.
The non-native 1600 mode is blurry, as you'd expect.

I'm sorry, I'm passing out and barely coherant right now. I just had to share with you folks since this site helped me discover Sager. I'm totally not disappointed!

G'night!

 

Sweet!
You might try increasing the font size to 120 dpi, I believe Dell ships their 1900x1200 laptops that way.

 

I own a UXGA laptop, and that doesn't help too much if at all for fixed-width fonts. What you end up having to do for fixed-fonts is to use a broswer like FireFox and manually inflate the default font size yourself. Unfortunately, this setting also distorts the layout of some sites, but it's either that or going blind.

 

Nice!!

Yeah - the speakers are awesome on that! The same ones are in mine. It's almost like somebody shoved desktop speakers in there!

Let us know if you run any 3DMark benchmarks or play any more games!

Chaz

 

Sounds fantastic!! Makes me even more anxious to get mine. Definitely tell us more after you get some sleep and pics, pics, pics!!!

I opted for the WSXGA+ (1680x1050) screen on my 5720 for exactly the reason you described. I had a WUXGA screen on a 15.4" Dell 8600. For about the first week I loved it. After that, the constant squinting and leaning close to the screen just so I could see it drove me nuts. I've seen the WUXGA on an XPS2 and got the same impression. I think WUXGA on the glossy screens would be even harder on the eyes over time.

I'm still waiting on my 5720 and will post my thoughts when it arrives, on Monday.

Congrats on your new toy!!

 

Awesome! Mine is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow!

 

I loathe you and Reckless with the white-hot intensity of 1000 supernovas!!!

 

I'll be thinking about you tomorrow night while I play F.E.A.R. on it then. ;-)

 

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May you suffer the agonizing fate of terminal hickies!!!

 

Oh man...that's torture in the worst degree I can imagine!!! Teasing someone like that...lol

That is pretty funny Jack...you ordered before they did and they get it before you do!

It will be worth the wait, keep telling yourself that....

Chaz

 

Knowing the schedule of my UPS driver, I have about 24 hours...

 

Have you tried downloading Microsoft's ClearType for running in non-native resolution. I did this on a friends laptop and it helped a lot.

 

I'm using the awesome power of my mind to inflict you with a severe case of hemorroids!!!!

 

LOL Jack I think you are progressively becoming more insane every day you have to wait....

Chaz

 

Me, insane over the trivial matter of waiting for a notebook?? Oh, heaven forbid!!

Uh-oh... I see sirens from my window... people are banging on my door... I've gotta run before those two big orderlies, Ajax and Binky, find me, squeeze me into that d*mned straight-jacket, shove some happy pills down my throat and haul me back to that special place from which I escaped, last month!!!!!!!!!!

 

really? Because that would be really bad, then you would miss your new laptop even longer!

 

That's ok, I'll just sit on a donut cushion while I play with my new 5720 tomorrow night. I've just sent the wife out for a case of preperartion H as well, so I'm ready for all you can dish out!

 

Youz guyz with the "5720 Received!", lets hear some reviews, mini reviews, micro reviews, subset reviews, any reviews, etc. Enough already with the hemorrooids and resolution. If you can't read the small text, go to the optomitrist and ask for computer glasses.

 

The latest from UPS.com:

Nov 7, 2005
7:02 A.M.
DORAVILLE, GA, US
OUT FOR DELIVERY

 

Awesome, Jack! Don't forget to stop by the store and get a case or two of Mountain Dew... you're not getting any sleep tonight.

 

Thanks for the idea, I'll try that!

 

Ok folks,

I've had it for a few days and I'm sorry to say I haven't had a chance to do any real benchmarking. So all I'm about to talk about is subjective:


Out of the box: Well-packed. Not much more I have say there. The machine itself is decent-looking. The tapered silohette is nice and more appealing than the blockiness of it's rivals. But is is definitely not a stiking asthetic... until to see the screen.

Screen/video card: Nearly perfect. I haven't found a dead pixel yet, though I haven't truely tried. The Native resolution is great for things like excel and such since you can zoom out and see a very large portion of the sheets. But who really cares, I bought this for gaming. That being said...

The World of Warcraft test: Ahem, Part of the reason I didn't have time to benchmark (or eat) this weekend was that in 1920x1200 mode with everything (EVERYTHING) turned to max, WoW is intoxicatingly beautiful. From watching the sun set over the Redridge mountains to the incredible water effects of the Hydraxian Waterlords to the details in the skeletons of the undead in the Eastern Plaguelands... it was all so very beautiful.

I experienced almost no lag in Ironforge. The graphics engine simply dipped to around 20 FPS in full screen mode while loading the hundreds of character models there.

The not-so-perfect parts: The glossy screen is a mirror when the backgrounds are dark. Pretty much as one might expect, but it is even more mirror-like than a CRT.

I'm having go to tinker with the brightness/contract controls more than I expected. I many situations, the whites are extremely bright compared to the other colors. Almost causing whites to feel like glare compared to, say, blue backgrounds and such. I might be able to adjust the settings to eliminate this though.

Keyboard: I love having the numberpad though I do miss having a "pencil-eraser' pointing device. I hate touchpads with a passion, but it's nothing a mouse can't fix. The tap-and-scroll function of the touchpad is very nifty.

The "touch" of the keys is pretty average; basically like most other notebook keyboards.

Battery life: Weak, but not much worse than my Dell Latitude D610 honestly. One important complaint is that the power cord pulls out of the back of the notebook WAY too easily. I was running on batteries twice over the weekend much to my suprise. The cord from the massive power supply is, itself, very heavy and the weight can pull the plug out of the back of the notebook just from nudging either the cord or moving the machine. Kinda frustrating.

I'll say more later, hopefully I'll have time to write more at lunch.

 

The power cord sounds like a real problem... Since a lot of us will use it with the battery off...

 

Agreed. That's the first mention of the power cord problem that I've seen from anyone. I'll see if it's an issue with mine. I think we'll start to see some more balanced/critical reviews as the initial euphoria begins to diminish. I've got a checklist of items that I'll be using to evaluate my 5720. It's comforting that Sager has a 30-day, no restocking fee return policy if I decide that the 5720 isn't for me.

 

SSSOOONNNNUUUVVVUUUHHHB****TTTCCCHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

UPS left a note on my door saying a signature was required for delivery.

 

Call UPS and pick it up tonight! I'm almost always able to do a 7pm pickup from the depot if I miss a signature required delivery.

 

Definitely call UPS and arrange to pick up the package. I can pick up packages up at the local UPS as late at 8PM. Give it a try...it's worth it.

 

Tried that... The box will be on the truck until it returns to UPS, after 8 p.m. The earliest I can get it is tomorrow.

UPDATE: UPS will deliver it to my office on Tuesday. One more restless night!!

 

D@mn that sucks Jack, but at least you know youwill get it tomorrow. After you get it and have some time with let me know how your battery life is with just normal usage(surfing and what not) and gaming (some of the things I am reading about intensive gaming is starting to scare me).

 

Reckless Fable, thanks for posting your impressions!

That is interesting that your power cord comes out easy...I've got the 15.4" version of the 5720, and I have to give mine a good tug to get it out.

Glad to see that the video card is awesome...yes if you do a 3DMark05 test be sure to post what you get!

Oh, and for Jack: good luck getting to sleep

 

I'll let you know!

What do you mean about intensive gaming on the 5720 scaring you? Have you seen some bad stuff?

 

Well, these reviews are based on the European models, but not looking good.
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/78827/rock-xtreme-ct213.html# & http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/78816/evesham-voyager-c720.html?searchString=eversham+c720+c720
The battery times are horrid if this is what they are actually getting. May have to rethink this and either go with the 5320 or even the 3880 as I really need some battery life.

 

Ouch. The same thing happened to me. I called UPS, had them contact the depot, who I then had page the driver, who in turn called me. We then met on his route about 10 miles from my house. Laptop delivered in the middle of nowhere Washington on a rainy night.

 

Yeah, that's not very good battery life at all. On the DiscountLaptops.com forums, they're reporting 1-1.5 hour battery life.

My biggest concerns will be the size/weight. I hope it'll be fairly easy to go to/from work every day. Games are becoming less important to me. I really haven't even gotten into FEAR very much since I bought it a few weeks ago. I'm looking forward to seeing how the 5720 handles Maya and other workstation apps.

 

Hey robnix, where in Washington are you at? I live just south of Olympia.

 

Well, if anybody is looking for an alternative to the 5720, check out the model I have, the NP-5320. It's very powerful - I use it as my primary gaming machine. And, you can get 3-4 hours on the standard battery, plus another 3 if you get the modular bay battery.

But, if you think about it, the 5720 is only a pound heavier than the 5320, and packs a bigger gaming punch. If you are worried about the size/weight, I suggest keeping it for at least a week - it may seem big at first, but you could get used to it. You never know.

 

That's what I'm counting on, Chaz! I really hope the 5720 wins me over, but if it doesn't I'll decide between your 5320 or Dell M70.

One more 'effing day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I am more concerned with battery life over gaming punch. I would really like to be able to take this places and be able to play on the battery, but if I am only going to get 35mins. then there is no point in it. May go back to the 5320 if you are getting 3-4 hours. Then only games I am playing right now anyway are GuildWars, Dungeon Siege 2, and SW Battlefront (until I get 2).

 

I can't see getting more than an hour and a half gaming on the 5320...I never tried it, but while surfing/listening to music, with the display on 70% brightness, I get 2:30 +/- a few minutes, so if you are running at 100%...

I'll try a test sometime and let you know how I make out.

 

Thanx Chaz, even an hour and a half is better than 35mins.

 

Then you would not have needed the 5720 in the first place, right?

 

Nah, but I was really in love with the 7800GTX. And there are other games I own that are more graphics intensive, and I have never liked ATI much. Although the scores people are getting with the 5320 in 3dMark05 are respectable. I figure I will probably end up saving myself some money about $500.00 by going with the 5320 too. I think I was just expecting too much in the ways of battery life on the 5720.

 

DELIVERED!!!!

My big Sager box is propped up against one of my desks here at work. Now, I need to concoct some excuse to leave early.

 

Nice, now I am sitting on the line of 5320/5720. Reasons are I have now read that those 35min. battery readings may be false and that they weren't using a fully charged battery. Plus I have a friend who just got the Dell M170 w/7800GTX and I really don't care what the battery life is after seeing it. Also, after some extensive research I figured out that my desktop scores higher in 3dMark05 than the 5320, but not the 5720. Ahhhh D@mn gonna have to think about this one some more.

 

I read about those false battery tests, too. My SFF desktop w/ATI X800XT scores between 4290-4310 on 3DMark05. That's higher than most notebooks, except for those with the 6800 Go Ultra. Unfortunately, I get a lot of heat-related crashes/restarts while playing games. As I get more involved in 3D animation and digital content creation, I don't want to take chances on losing my work to these crashes. I also figured that if I'm going invest the $$ to upgrade, then I oughtta REALLY upgrade. So, now that my 5720 is here, it's time to find out if this is the machine for me. I'll post some pics ASAP and then follow up with my review as time permits over the coming days.

 

Can't wait to see the pics and am looking forward to your review. I probably will order it(5720) by the end of this week or start of next week I hope.

 

I just got home and opened the Sager box...

OMFG!!!!!!!!

A few first impressions:

It looks incredible
Weight is NOT an issue
Very solid "feel" to the build

I haven't even turned it on yet, so much more to come. Stay tuned!!

 

Eagerly awaiting the review Jack !

 

You type like you want to marry your laptop... And not so strangely, i do not blame you. Turn it on! Are there dead pixels?

 

yes, any dead pixels? mine comes next week I hope it has none