Is NP8662 too big/heavy for college?

Hey everyone!

I am going to be a freshman at Penn state University next year, and I have been thinking I want a great gaming machine in case I ever feel the need to game, but I am nervous to buy the NP8662 because I feel that it may be too big or heavy to bring to classes or wherever I need to go.

I have an Xbox 360 so that would be able to satisfy my gaming needs, but I do also like computer games... So if price didnt matter, would you guys say go with the NP8662, or go for a more mid gaming machine?

I went to Best Buy yesterday and the G51 looked a little thick, and I DO want to be able to use my laptop on my LAP!

What do you guys think I should do? Thanks!

 

The NP8662/M860ETU is about as thick--

BTW, have you filled out this form?

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=377404

 

Yep, I was already suggested the 8662 as well as a few others, but I want to make sure I am making the right decision!

 

8662 is a 15" notebook. It's about as thick as other average 15" notebooks, really.

However, it's a little heavier than normal. This 8662 weighs about 7.5 pounds? But anyway, you'll be carrying this in your backpack or something, so really, 1 pound difference doesn't really make any difference to the feeling.

I have this for school. I love it.

 

just fine for me, i only use it on my lap though in class.

 

If a guy like me can sling this thing around the London Underground, often during rush hour and with no problems I'm sure carrying it around a uni campus would be easy work. As with everyone above, their isn't much difference between this and any other 15", that you'll notice when in motion.

 

On the lap, the NP8662 is fine, a little on the large side, but definitely bearable. The only pain is carrying it around and as long as you have a decent backpack or bag, that shouldn't be much of a problem.

 

Of course, the 2096 is an option, DDR2 RAM and a much weaker GPU, but nearly 2 pounds lighter, more battery life and way cheaper, at the 1500 price point you can have P9700 and an SSD.

 

People who have asked about this notebook eventually get it shortly---

Since you have inquired, it is not really a question of if...but more of when---

Hehe--

Simply the best laptop I've owned-

 

just for notice, i wouldn't advise u use a gaming laptop on your lap, bed or any other soft bottom. Those surfaces tend to block the vent holes at the bottom causing poor circulation and overheating. You really dont EVER want to stress a gaming laptop on your lap.

 

I use it every day in college and I don't think it's a burden at all. From what I have noticed a lot of people are actually carrying around bigger notebooks than me.

 

It's not too large in the sense that there are much larger laptops out there. I have a friend of mine who is running an NP9280 with a xeon w5580, 12GB DDR3 RAM and 3 x 512GB MLC Supertalent Drives in RAID 0. Is it fast, yes... the problem is it weighs almost 15 lbs before the brick. The np8662 is about 7 lbs and that includes a lot of copper for the heatsinks (it's visible from the butt end and underneath the laptop at the vents). What you may want to invest in for the laptop is a slightly better than stock case for it. What's nice about the np8662 is that even though it is a little bit bulkier / heavier than what the "big-box" companies have to offer by a few ounces, it's a very well built machine, with minimal flex / give anywhere on the laptop (monitor hinge included). The extra weight goes thus to reinforcing the laptop and making it more structurally sound. The other thing that's nice is that (and I know this is irrelevant to the topic, but bear with me), it doesn't look like a gamer; rather it's one of the most nondescript machines I've ever seen. A simple black body and a solid chassis that hides tons of fun.

Most gaming laptops tend to weigh a bit more than an IGP-based computer due to the extra hardware and the fans and added cooling mechanisms / techniques required. Copper isn't a light metal, and having dedicated cards, fans, cards, etc. all add weight, but it's necessary to keep the machine functioning. After a while, the extra few ounces won't even be noticeable when you have a laptop that looks like it's "a humble low-end laptop" and in reality it's keeping up with every laptop there is short of SLi'd machines that weigh 9+ lbs each. From 6 lbs to 7 lbs isn't the end of the world with a good bag that helps distribute the weight, but going from a 7 lb 15" laptop to a 17" or bigger one that weighs 9 to 15 lbs to get either a core i7 or SLi is a HUGE jump. It's for that reason that the np8662 is so loved, it's light enough for college, adept for doing day to day notetaking tasks, and yet it can still game with the very best.

GO FOR IT, and while you're at penn state, don't forget to stop at the creamery for the best, richest, ice cream you've ever had. (I went there for 2 summers for high school summer study... ice cream there is addicting!)

 

haha im kinda suprised by the responses here.
i honestly think its noticeably bigger and heaver than majority of 15.4'' laptops and can be cumbersome to carry around on a daily basis, especially with the power supply =|

 

It certainly is bigger and heavier than most 15.4" laptops out there, but some people carry around 17"+ notebooks all day, so the NP8662 is definitely bearable.

 

It's bigger but it's not obnoxiously bigger. There is people with 17' laptops, I have seen very few notebooks smaller than 15', netbooks may be popular with businessmen or travelers but I haven't seen a single netbook on campus. The 8662 is a great sized notebook, don't worry about it.

 

i personally think 'weight' issue is overated. i mean, noone goes jogging with their lappy under their arm. you have a backpack or case that just straps over your shoulder or only your back. i could see if your a petite 110 pound woman or something..maybe its just me.

that being said, what do you need a lappy for at penn state? how much technology really is required to learn to plant corn, tip cows, and invent new ice cream flavors?

 

Have the 860TU, carry it around no problems. To be honest the power supply is more of a problem than the laptop itself due to the bulky nature.