Advice on future laptop purchase.

Hello nice people of the interweb :hi2:,
I’ve been reading many threads on this forum the past week and since many of you posters seem helpful I would like to appeal to you guys for some help. This will be long but don’t give up. Ganbatte! My laptop, which lasted less than two years, was on its last legs. Unfortunately, by cause of a water spill (I’m clumsy and irresponsible) it no longer works so I’m saving up for a new one. I’ll most likely have enough around Black Friday/Cyber Monday but I wanted to get as much information as I could beforehand because usually I am impulsive and will buy things that I feel I NEED to have. But after spending 1,500 on a laptop that didn’t even make it to its second year it’s probably time to rethink that approach. Anyways, I already have my heart set on a laptop, the Pollux 1613 Black, which from my understanding is the Clevo P150SM. I did fill out the “What should I buy form” just in case anyone has alternatives they would like to share. A few questions I would like to ask are:
What are the advantages of the P150SM over the P151SM1?
A dedicated SSD for the OS is what most recommend, correct? If so, then would the SSD go into the primary hard drive space and the HDD in the secondary?
Should I purchase the Dead Pixel Guarantee? (Is it worth it?)
Also, I need this laptop to last. I currently am a very broke college student and would like some reassurance on Clevo’s durability. In my research I’ve seen many complaints (I get that angry people are vocal people) and many people talking about their multiple purchases so I understand that a good amount of posters have money to spend but I personally do not. If anyone that has had their laptop for over 2 years is able to relay their laptop’s condition I would very much appreciate it.
Lastly, as you can clearly see I am really new to this but I want a Clevo because my goal is to learn how to do basic maintenance and Clevo’s look simple to disassemble as opposed to other brands. Also, what questions should I be asking? i.e the important ones because with so much information out there I am getting overwhelmed.
General Questions
1) What is your budget?
Under $2,000
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
15.6-17.3
3) Where will you buying this notebook?
America
4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
Currently only looking at Clevo’s
5) Would you consider laptops that are refurbished/redistributed?
No.
6) What are the primary tasks will you be performing with this notebook?
Schoolwork. Casual Internet usage. Listening to music. Video streaming. (My interests change frequently so I want a laptop that can handle intense tasks if need be.)
7) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places, leaving it on your desk or both?
Both.
8) Will you be playing games on your notebook? If so, please state which games or types of games?
If my laptop can handle it I’d probably play some games but as of now I do not indulge in games.
9) How many hours of battery life do you need?
2-3
10) Would you prefer to see the notebooks you're considering before purchasing it or buying a notebook on-line without seeing it is OK?
Buying online is preferable.
11) What OS do you prefer? Windows (Windows 7 / 8), Mac OS, Linux, etc.
Windows 7
Screen Specifics
12) From the choices below, what screen resolution(s) would you prefer?
1920x1080
13) Do you want a Glossy/reflective screen or a Matte/non-glossy screen?
Don’t care but I’m leaning towards matte.
Build Quality and Design
14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
Not really.
15) When are you buying this laptop?
Late November.
16) How long do you want this laptop to last?
4-7 years
Notebook Components
17) How much hard drive space do you need? Do you want a SSD drive?
At least 500gb. Maybe.
18) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD Burner, Blu-ray Reader or Blu-Ray Burner?
I would prefer a Blu-ray reader.


P.S. I apologize if this is posted in the incorrect area.

 

Polloux 1613 tells me you are quite the smart guy. You have found and directed your love to Mythlogic which I can promise you is the best place you can possibly spend your money. (No offense to any one else, or any of the other resellers or builder) I can promise you that you can find a Clevo with the exact same specs at another location that will be a little cheaper and I know budget is a bit of a concern for you. But I can promise you that the additional money spent with the gang at Myth is hardly money wasted in any way, shape, or form. Their service is second to none. And while ever single reseller and/or builder has some complaints if you search hard enough (and a good chunk of those can be thrown out be realizing the end user probably had some unrealistic expectations or they themselves made a mistake along the way) - I have noticed Myth tends to have the least.

These guys eat, sleep, and breath Cllevo laptops. While in the build process I probably bugged the guys a bit more then I shoudl have. They took every single email in stride and replied at a rate I wouldn't have even thought was possible. On serveral occasions I received a response within 5 minutes to a 2:00 >>>AM<<<< email. I was like seriously - do you guy sleep at your desks??? lol I've only had a couple of very minor issues with my laptop. One being the whle 7970m issues, another was my keyboard being rather unresponsive and goofy.... more so then anythign I had read about. They didn't even waste any breath on it. They just confirmed that my address had not changed and promptly sent me another keyboard the very next day. The last issue was a cosmetic issue. I asked about them selling me a new mythlogic sticker/embelm that goes n the front of the laptop. They insisted I keep my money and sent me a new one. Though - for the first time they have dropped the ball possibly. I haven't received said sticker. But - considering their track record. I'm not ruling out a post office issue. Nor am I even remotely mad about it. It didnt cost me anything - and its not a pressing issue!

Dead Pixel garuntee is really up to you. I would say probably 99% of the time, you are going to receive a laptop with a perfectly working screen like I did. And if you were ordering from a reseller I would probably see the urgency in the decision. But considering the laptop is built/assembled by laptop and often use different screens then what you may receive directly from Clevo - there is a good deal of care going into not only the build process but the care in selecting quality components to build your laptop. I did not elect to get it, and I have a laptop that to this day does not have a single pixel issue. Your mileage may vary - and it does not mean you shouldn't get it. I dont remember the details because I did not elect to get it - but I seem to remember Myth having an even btter dead pixel guaruntee then the competition. Meaning you need to see less dead pixels before they will warranty the unit. Do not take this as gospel though - things change all the time, it may have changed - or I may be a lunatic. Basically, just look into it further.

In regards to the SSD - IMHO, its a necessity for the OS and programs you use a lot and/or want to open in a quick manor. Obviously this is going to also depend on how much of your budget you want to direct to your storage needs. I can tell you 128 gb will take the OS, BF3, BF4 beta, CODBO2, and some other frivilous progs with about 4-8 gb in reserve. I'm about to take the Beta off because I'm sure it will be a whole new download come launch time anyway. I just took BF4 beta off now and I'm up to a whopping 7 GB!!! I do have a bluray reader in my laptop though, and am debating a number of options regarding storage. Just adding an mSATA, which is probably at the top of the list..... removing the bluray so I can just toss it in when I need it.... or upgrading the 128 gb to a 256 gb or higher. I'm not entirely sure yet. But I'm also debating on a gpu upgarde or replacing the entire laptop come next year. But enough about me!

DIY maintenance on these things really could not be easier. ESPECIALLY for the routine cleaning. 4 screws and you have the cover off with full access to the cpu and gpu fans to be able to completely clean out the heatsinks. Repasting is just as easy. I dont even want to tell you what it was like repasting my mothers HP. No joke, I had to literally disassemble nearly the entire laptop. I think there may have been a dozen or so screws that were left un touched. It was sickening honestly. I volunteered to do it for her for free because she is always paying geek squad or something of the sort to do the siliest of things. She'll toss $100 at them to do virtually nothing without batting an eyelash while I'm standing there like ?! I could have actually DONE something for HALF that!!! lol So I decided to take this on for free to show her I can do it just as well if not better then the geek squad idiots we have around here. Talk about famous last words!

In short you couldn't be making a better decision in terms of going with a Clevo and especially where you are looking at buying one from. The little details of what to buy no one can really answer but you. And to be honest with it I have to say from experience, you almost always get your laptop and realize awww .. I should have gotten that bigger SSD, or I wish I would have just got that 16 gb of RAM instead of 8. And things like a matte vs glossy screen are entirely personal preference. I have the glossy and am fine with it. Its not "glossy" by any means.. Dont think your looking at a piece of glass of your screen type thing. But yeah... your I wish yada yada yada's will be all over the place before, after, and even during the buying process. But with a Clevo its no big deal!! You can upgrade WITHOUT voiding your stupid warranty. At mythlogic they will even help you upgrade post purchase at reasonable fees. Or you can just have them send it to you and you can toss it in there yourself. These things are well built and are SELDOM going to have an issue inside of 12 months. Which is why I honestly think anything but a really long extended warranty is a waste of money. Within 12 months your basically rooting out any manufacturing issues for any of the components. I havent had any real issues with mine at all. Though I did opt for the cheap upgrade to the two way warranty so shipping was covered in both directions should something happen in the first 12 months. I think it was like $20 or $25. I figure what the heck, its an extra few bucks in these guys pockets. Considering how much I bugged them - I didnt mind spending it with them.

If you have any questions - feel free to post here or even shoot me a PM. Good luck with the decision! Just make sure it says Mythlogic on the lid!!! And I hope I helped a little!

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for such a detailed response.
*loud whispers* it's smart girl :laugh:
Yeah, originally I was stalking Xotic PC but I quickly realized I wanted a builder rather than reseller and Mythlogic seems like my type of quirky. The What da Puck?? option is a nice touch. Also thank you for reassuring me in my choice of Mythlogic. It's cool to hear of such good experiences.
My previous laptop was actually an HP. The Envy 17 3D I believe and that thing was impossible to take apart. I tried and I almost broke the entire thing. Not the best choice but at least I'm learning from my mistakes.
I'll be lurking on here until I make my purchase (and hopefully even after) so I may have to impose on your gracious offer of help. BTW does the Killer 1202 make a difference in your opinion?

Really you helped a ton even to the point that If I don't have an adequate amount of money to purchase the 1613 Black by the time I need it (next semester) I'll downgrade to the 1513 or 1413 just to stay with Mythlogic.

 

Thats hilarious.... the Envy 17 is the laptop my mother had that I had to work on. lol Please blow that thing into a million pieces immediately and get your Mythlogic laptop ASAP!!!

Sorry about the gender confusion. Its hard to smell over the internet!

I can't really say if it really makes a difference, but it did in my head and it was a cheap upgrade so I figured why the heck not? It kep the bluetooth functionality which I wanted for a mouse, the orochi. I've had nothing but good experience with the range of the card - which yes also has to do with your router.... but just sayin. Also when I'm on a good internet connection my pings are indeed amung some of the lowest in the server. So - I'd say for the what.... $13 on average? Its worth a roll of the dice.

I actually have the 15" myself. I have always gone with 17" laptops in the past but for some reason I just went 15 this time as much as it pained me to do it. At the time the price difference was only like $75 because of some sales so it wasn't money that made me do it. I was buying it with school and travel in mind. I figured if I really needed a bigger screen, that's what buying a 23 or 24 inch monitor is for. An actual big monitor vs a 17" just barely bigger monitor. At least thats how I looked at it and I haven't regretted a single moment of it. At first when I opened it up and saw how crisp and awesome the display looked - I completely forgot about the entire 17 inch thing.

The only thing that might get me back into a 17" laptop is if I upgrade next year to either a dual gpu laptop or the DTR bohemouth. But at neearly $4k I just dont know if I can justify it. But, I travel around a lot so there is a lot to be said about basically dragging a desktop around with you everywhere you go. I think it will have lot to do with the GPU tech that comes out next year. IDK, its all up in the air. Or I may just upgarde the crap out of this thing. We shall see!

If you need any help, feel free to PM me any time.

EDIT : BTW - now that you've announced your of the female persuasion - I'm sure you will find plenty of advice coming your way! lol

 

There is always advice on here coming people's way regardless of gender lol, I make sure of that

 

Lol no problem about the mistake. Just wanted to clarify so if it ever came about it wouldn't be awkward.
Yeah I should probably check our wireless setup before I decide if an upgrade will work. Lol.
Awesome. I was kind of worried about going to a 15 inch because I tend to use huge, heavy laptops but I wanted the option of bringing it to class if I have to.
And here I thought my gender would be a hindrance.

 

Is it creeperish to say that your helpful posts on other threads made me seriously consider Power Notebooks?

 

I don't think any resellers will hide that's kind of the point, but even though you did not go with us you will still get my help, even if you work for another place you would get it I do take a pleasure in correcting them though I have to say

If you think the 15 inch is heavy you should see the alienware 18 or the clevo 570WM, those things will make the 15 inch seem ultra portable ^-^

 

clevo 570WM is enough to make a soldier weep (with the dual graphics and dual power supplies).

 

It looks like I have time to wait on the 570wm ivy-e update. Im still in flux on what system I want.

 

Still getting used to the fact that so many sellers can coexist and play nice. I usually never see that unless the people know each other IRL.

*evil laughs*

I'd imagine. That's one reason why I chose to ignore anything AW. That and how they look (very flashy) I'm a disaster magnet and knowing me someone would probably steal it.

 

With great power comes great responsibility. Haha. I would be at a loss as to how to utilize that much power.

 

You have asked your questions in the Clevo/Sager subsection. You might want to post in the What notebook should I get section. The reason I say this is because you don't really seem interested in games. I think Clevo/Sager make really good models for gamers, or people that sometimes game. I fact, I plan to get one.

But if you don't game, then another model might be better. For example you might like super light weight, or super long battery life.

That said, the Clevo/Sagers are popular, they do seem to have really good build quailty, they are easy to upgrade or work on, and they tend to have lots of options.

As for the dead pixel guarentee, that is up to you. The displays are checked at the factory, so always on pixels are caught and turned always off. Always off pixels are so small they are super hard to see. And the manufacturing process is getting better and better, so issues are rare.

As for Killer over Intel, if it is the 7260ac, I prefer the 7260ac more. I saw someone in the forum had both and the performance was the same. The killer did come with some bandwidth optimizing software, but my router does that.

Did I miss any questions? (btw, my answer is gender neutral.)

 

I'm set on Clevo (even if I'm not a gamer) just because I want to go to a boutique dealer rather than buying a big name brand.
Options keep me sane and my hobbies change really quickly and I have a tendency to become immersed in something if it catches my interest. Anyways, what I mean is most of my friends are gamers and if I did have a capable laptop I'd be more prone to play with them instead of being a "backseat player" (which no one likes)
Thank you for you input! Especially about the pixels! after reading so many threads where people talk about how the that one dead pixel they had was soo bothersome and visible I was worried I'd be a bit neurotic if I saw a dead pixel.

Oh gosh, hopefully I don't get labeled as a person too stuck on gender! Haha.

 

Lol it's not you but others it seems lol, the sager machines are very flexible.

 

That is what I'm looking for so I appreciate the reassurance.

 

Well, if you are looking at the P150, then I like the P157SM. It looks a little different, for example it has a design on the touchpad. Keep in mind the touchpad light can be turned off. Also the P157SM supports one more drive than the P150SM. That makes the P157SM my favorite right now, because of the extra drive space.

What games do you think you might play? That will give you a better idea which gpu to get. I am a gamer and I want the laptop to last as long as possible, so I favor the top end gpu, the 780M.

 

I like the P157SM but I want to take baby steps into this (new to me) foray. Even though the P150SM and the P157SM are basically the same I feel more comfortable with the 150.
I really don't think I'll ever need the 780M but what do I really know
Most of my buddies play League of Legends, StarCraft, Skyrim, Dota2, and the usual FPS. (i.e. BF3, Bioshock, Crysis, etc.)
But I'd most likely stay away from the FPS's.
Btw when do you think you will be purchasing your laptop? I would love to know your final decision.

 

I was just about to order it when Clevo/Sager changed the special edition deal. Without the special deal, the same configuration price was raised by about $100. So I am kind bummed I missed that deal. I am hoping Nov 1st there will be another deal.

 

What have you configured? (My awk way of asking the specs)

 

They had a special bundle that included 16gb ram, the 780M, blu-ray, IC Diamond paste, all for a lower price than if ordering seperately. I didn't need it all, so it was like getting some free upgrades.

Most people only need 8gb ram, some use a optical drive, but others don't. I would get the 1TB 7200 HDD and pair it with a SSD. SSDs will boot the OS much faster and load programs much faster. I already said I like the Intel 7260 over the Killer.

 

I'm thinking about just getting a 500GB or 750GB HDD and a 128GB SSD since I don't know how to install them myself yet. Then if I need more space I could learn how to install them. Thank you for being so helpful srsly.

 

Yikes people, I didnt realize I had to define my statment about her being a girl was going to garner a lot of attention/suggestions. And as it is - when is the last time a "what should I get" thread ended up at 3 pages in 24 hours? lol

Again - I really dont care, its nothing against her or anyone here. Us guys naturally run to help out a girl when she's in need. And at the end of the day lets face it, we dont see many around here.

 

I think it only ended up at three pages because I replied to everything. Haha.

Anyways thanks to everyone who has helped. Being new is scary! If anyone else has suggestions or thoughts on my post I'm still very much open to them.

 

I get nothing out of this, other than helping someone nice.

Based on your current computer, you should have an idea how big a drive you need. As for SSD, they really help speed up the system, but of course cost more than a regular hard drive. 128GB SSD will be big enough for the operating system, and some programs. But it can fill fast, so you will have to keep an eye on it. And of course your data will go on the regular drive, and some programs may have to go there as well.

 

Go it. I had 1TB but I usually move things I don't need into and external hard drive.
I hope you get your laptop! If you plan to do a review I shall keep my eyes open for it.

 

In about three weeks we should see the Clevo/Sager black friday deal. Based on last year, it was on one model with all the high end options added. Specifically it was the Sager/Clevo9150/P150EM Gaming Laptop! i7-3630, 680m, Bluray, 16GB, Killer 1202 WiFi. And the deal saved $280 on that bundle. So after the savings it was $1800. I would expect this year they will also pick a model and add simular options, so the laptop will still cost about $1800 or a little more.

I think there is about a 30% percent chance it will work out for me, as it depends on which model they pick to do a special bundle of. Since you said the 780M is too much, and you only need 8GB ram, I expect it won't be a good deal for you. Of course I am just basing this off last years deal.

 

I'm not counting on Black Friday deals per se, for me it's more along the lines of that's when I'll have saved enough money. My new semester starts around Jan 14th also so buying it then would hopefully ensure that it arrives before classes start.
If Myth has some good deals that would just be icing on the cake
Are you buying direct from Sager or going through a reseller?

 

I like LPC-Digital. I have never seen a bad, or even slightly bad post on them. And on reseller ratings they had a perfect 10. My feelings on Mythlogic is that they are good, but they are better at custom versions. Because of the custom work they do, their cost is a bit higher. And I am also on a very tight budget.

So here is the bookmark I check every couple of days to see if the price changed. http://www.lpc-digital.com/sager-np8250-special.html

 

I too have seen much positives on LPC (especially Larry) and thought about them too but, even on my limited budget, I'd rather not have to contact the company and then ship it off to Sager (although it probably wouldn't be too bad since their company is located in California). Middlemen are very useful but in my case if I did have to return my laptop for any reason I'd like to know updates probably regularly which would be easier from Myth in my opinion.
And LPC-digital prices are awesome Haha.

 

Yes, definitely one of the many benefits.

I also had the luck of ending up with a processor upgrade for free because when I ordered the 3610qm's were still being sold. During the week the 3630qm's came out and they promptly built my laptop with it instead of the 3610qm. Granted a minor thing - but I thought it was pretty awesome that even though the processor was JUST released - I didn't have to even ask for it, it was just sent to me with the new one. Its one of the many little reasons Mythlogic earned itself a lifetime customer. And a vocal one at that!

 

If you left a review on the reseller forum I think I read yours.
I'm glad you shared your experience or I'd still be flippy flopping. You made my life much easier. lol

 

I am not sure if I understand your concerns with LPC. You might want to post some questions in the long LPC review thread and get answers from the owners that used LPC. I have emailed Larry and he is responsive. Plus he offered me a further discounted price below what the website showed. It was not a lot, but it was something.

 

Lowering the price isn't what a person should be after when talking to the place they are looking to buy their laptop from.

A person should be more concerned with understanding and coming to the conclusion of where their money is best spent.

It would take a SIGNIFICANT price drop to get me away from Myth. I'm talking like $200 to $300 or more. Money can't buy the piece of mind Mythlogic has given me. This is something I believed to be true a few weeks after buying my laptop. And is something I have lived through and believe as gospel now that I have lived through taking care of some "issues" post purchase. Of which I've spent $0. And always ended with a smile on my face as I type on my Mythlogic Pollux right this moment.

 

Everything should be taken into consideration, not only the laptop. If you aren't going to get any after sale support then saving a minimal X amount of dollars might not be worth it. That's why it's always best to come to discussion forums and read reviews and such, not only on the hardware but after purchase as well.

 

I am very much in agreement with this. The offerings of boutique dealers tend to be similar so it's important to also look at the support they offer.

 

LPC has great reviews as a reseller but I'm looking for a builder (because I'd like to have contact with the person directly in charge of my machine) which is the the main reason that I'm set on Myth. That and their standard dead pixel policy (2-3 pixels and none in the center quadrant) is pretty awesome. I think all of the resellers currently active on the NBR forum are all great dealers but Myth offers what I'm personally looking for and if I have to shell our 100 extra for peace of mind I'm willing to do it. (people place different prices on different things and I'm neurotic so I place high priority on peace of mind )
Also, thank you for all your advice/suggestions. They were very informative and helpful.

 

When are you ordering? I remember being in your shoes.... knowing I was going to be ordering in a few weeks/months.... it just ate at me every day.

 

Omg are you a mind reader. It's embarrassing how many times I find myself refreshing Myth's page. I'm planning on late November (probs Black Friday) if I quit spending my money (Urban outfitters had a sale and I bought too many things and my Amazon Prime is hard to resist) I'll have enough money by then.

 

Returns are always a good thing, at least until you get your mits on your laptop!

 

I'll probably end up using my coveted Amazon gift cards so I don't end up spending all of my money. Haha.