Sager for college?

After reading through a litany of complaints about Apple's most recent generation of products, I've opened myself to other possibilities for my first laptop. After browsing here extensively, I came across a Sager review or two and said, "Hey, those are pretty cool!" And so I find myself here.

Anyway, I'll likely be using any notebook I buy for graphics classes, web design, and music recording. I expect that I'll be using programs such as Macromedia Studio 8, Adobe Creative Suite 2, and Steinberg Cubase LE; an upgrade to Windows Vista will be an eventual must. I do little to no gaming. The computer will be traveling around campus with me, though I don't need an especially thin or light notebook because of that (I lug around volumes of music and a trumpet, so a laptop will feel like a feather by comparison.) I expect that the notebook with have to last for at least four years, so a wait until Merom may be wise.

I'm thinking about a NP 5750V with a 2.0 GHz Core Duo, 1GB RAM, a 100GB/7200 RPM hard drive, a TV tuner for my university's cable network in the dorms, and Windows XP Professional, which comes out to $1,844, about the same as the MacBook Pro I was considering. Do these sound like reasonable specifications for my needs, or are there any changes that I might want to make?

 

Sounds like that notebook might be a good choice for the money and your needs. However, you can save a few more hundred bucks if you go for a smaller screen and video card... since you dont play games (and keep the same specs) by looking at the NP5460 (14" LCD) or the NP6630 (15.4" LCD)

In any case, Sagernotebooks have a good line of notebooks, but you should check out www.discountlaptops.com because Sagers are also sold there, but with better prices.

Hope this helps,
-Gophn

 

As virtually a non gamer the NP5750 is a good choice because you will be getting a very good video card in the ATi X1600 but will not be paying for the most exotic card from which you will get no benefit.

A 17" screen is a good choice, particularly for your graphics and web design work.

The rest of your configuration is right on. The T2500 2.0GHz processor is the "sweet spot" where you get the best price/performance balance. For graphics, web design and particularly music recording you want a 7,200 RPM drive, and the 100GB (when combined with a DVDR) is the right choice. Plenty of room, but even if you do fill it, you can burn off the stuff you don't use much anymore. 1GB of RAM is plenty for almost anyone...there are only small gains available for the applications you are talking about by going to 2GB, and that would be as silly as getting the faster processor...no price/performance balance there. The TV Tuner is great. It not only saves you space in your dorm, but it has an "always on top" setting that let's you set the TV screen at about a 3-4" size, put it in the corner of your screen, and then you can work and watch TV at the same time. Take it up to full screen (but leave it in its own Window for best clarity) when you just want to watch TV and not work.

Now, check around with the Sager dealers (as opposed to buying directly from Sager) because you will find that same configuration at $1,722 plus shipping handling and insurance if you do, and you can also get 24/7 tech support (Sager doesn't offer it) and usually better service if you do.

 

Thanks for the recommendations, and I'll be sure to browse among the online dealers.