Not sure which I should go for NP5165, NP8130, or NP8150-S1

Looks like the Matte Type 1920x1080 stock screen is available as an option again. Unfortunately, it is the same cost as the 95% Gamut Glossy Type screen. Not sure what to do here.

 

Take the matte over the glossy. a matte screen is a better investment than 95% gamut unless you're used to a high gamut screen.

 

Yes, definitely go matte. You won't regret it. Just look through the owner's lounge thread a bit and for the majority of the owner's, one of; if not the favorite feature(s) is the matte screen.

 

Matte, get it. I was walking past some apple computers and their screens were so reflective, I actually laughed at them. They could barely see outside.

 

Alright, I know the build I want, I can afford to buy it right now too. Could easily get the cash discount and pay by check, just would have to make the transfer from savings to checking.

List of Changes from Stock choices:
-1920x1080 Matte Screen
-i7-2720QM
-6X Blu-Ray Reader/8X Super Multi Combo Drive
-Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230
-Windows 7 Professional

Going to cost me $1565. To be honest, I'd be just fine with the stock WiFi card, the 2630QM, and W7 Home Premium, but I want the extra juice for down the road. In a perfect world, I'd be getting the NP8150-S1 with the 2820QM and 1600MHz RAM but I don't need to be spending $2400+ on a laptop that's only difference in performance will be that I'll get more frames running StarCraft II on Ultra/Extreme.

I still need to help my dad and sister get new laptops. My sister is heading off to college and my dad wants to replace his 6 year old Inspiron (man that thing is huge). Of course, they'll probably be getting a Toshiba or HP since they don't need discrete graphics cards nor i7 or i5 class processors.

 

^^I'd still get them i5 class processors. I never recommend anything less.

 

Very true. There's always something to be said for future proofing. Something just "passable" when buying a new computer will get old fast, and they'll be wishing they had it better. Best to churn out the cash first and fast; you'll save more in the end anyway; rather than buy low-end stuff then replace it sooner than buy medium-high end stuff and have it last far longer without being obsolete.

 

Great build. I also second the >=i5 too.
Newegg is actually have a pretty good deal on an i7 Acer right now. $700 bucks shipped. Could fork out another $1400 and have both your dad and sister covered

 

Well, my Dad is buying for my sister and himself, he just wants my "expertise". He has lasted 6 years on an Inspiron running a Pentium M 1.6GHz with 504MB of RAM and a 6+ year old desktop that's got a Pentium IV at 2.4GHz with 2.5GB of RAM (he added 2 of the gigs not even a year ago) and both have and still serve him well (yes, his laptop is slow, but still does what he needs). Priority goes to my sister. Literally, she only uses a computer for 5 things and never, never anything else: Internet Browsing, iTunes, and Micorosft Word/Excel/Powerpoint. It is a waste of money to get her an i7 or even i5 processor. Something in lower power will suit her fine, and provide an optimal battery life. As for my dad, other than the same media usage, internet, and microsoft suites, he does have more uses but absolutely nothing performance intensive and likely never will, considering he hasn't in the 14+ years he's had computers he's never used anything that even comes close to maxing out his computer's performance.

Now, I showed him the Acer, but he refuses to buy an Acer claiming they suck, and I stick by him with that thinking. Anyway, this is way off topic.


I'm starting to think now, if it is worth dropping the extra $95 for the 95% Gamut Matte screen over the stock Matte screen. I have no clue what the difference in appearance is, even between Matte and Glossy. I might have to find a Mac store in order to be able to see that. But the Gamut, I'm not sure on.

 

This is what the comparison between a Glossy and a Matte screen looks like. As for the colour gamut, I think it's a larger brilliance of colours in general, like how HDTVs running Street Fighter 4 look so much better than it does on my laptop. >_>.

 

Ya, I saw that picture. After using my dad's inspiron I think his is a Matte screen, but the quality of it is weak so it is hard to tell. I'm just not sure on this one. I know I like the glossy screen that I have. I'm sitting down stairs tying right now which isn't common, usually I'm in my room, light off or on I never notice a glare. I am getting a glare right now on the couch but for typing on a forum page, I don't care.

I'm going to find an appopriate subforum to ask for recomendations for my dad's and sister's laptop. I just offered to sell my dad mine if I get a new one, and to install Windows 7 in it for him if he buys it, he's thinking about it. I was just cruising HP's website and saw a 14" pavilion for $500, comes with a 2.4GHz 3MB L3 Cache Core i3-370M processor with the Intel HD graphics (according to Intel's site it has 2 cores 4 threads), 14" 1366x768 screen, 4GB RAM. An interesting contrast to my 3 year old $1250 laptop with a 2.1GHz 3MB L2 Cache Core 2 Duo T8100 (2 cores 2 threads), ATI Radeon Mobility HD 3450, 15" 1440x900 screen, 4GB RAM.

 

If it helps... I've used a dell for the last 4 years with a glossy screen and never had any issues using it around campus, today I got my NP5160 with the 1080P glossy and the lowest brightness setting compares to the highest I could get out of the dell!!! IT'S BRIGHT!!!!!

 

Glossy or Matte is one of those arguments that has very few people in the middle

I've had glossy screens on nearly every machine I've ever owned and never had an issue. I've also used Mattes, but still prefer the look of a glossy. Considering you can get the same 95% color gamut in either matte or glossy, it's primarily up to your usage and preference at that point- there's no other huge differences.

Some people swear by one or the other, but you really can't go wrong with either really. They're both excellent choices regardless and very few notebooks even offer screens at 95% color gamut.

 

I personally don't mind, my desktop has a matte type monitor and to be honest, other than the low glare, since I have windows behind me, the difference is nill... and the fact that I wasn't gonna pay an extra $95 to get the 95% gamut screen in order to have a matte screen, lol

And again... This thing is VERY BRIGHT!!!! actually hurts my eyes @ max brightness...

 

I have the stock Matte and it's great, although I wish I would have went with the 95% Gamut just for the extra umph.

As for the Acer, I somewhat agree. Acer has it's good and bad models. As for the one I linked you guys to, I have no idea

Another one: I hate Vaio's, but if your dad likes them and you are a student this could be a great opportunity. $704 shipped

Free Xbox with purchase if you have a valid .edu email address.
Sony Vaio VPC-EB46FX/WI 15.5" Core i5 Notebook

 

I think in the history of consumer-grade laptops, the majority trend has roughly been like this:

Bad matte screens --> Bad glossy screens --> STILL bad glossy screens + a few high quality (high gamut, glossy/matte) screen options for mid/high end laptops.