X505-q8100

So, I'm trying to get information about the unit in the title. It is currently available to ship from Wal-Mart, PCMall, and others. However, they all have different information, most notably about the display:
1920x1080i
1920x1080p
1680x945

I tried looking it up on Toshiba's website. There is no information. I tried calling Toshiba, but they route you to Toshiba Direct, where they then refuse to talk about any product not being sold through Toshiba Direct (like units sold in retail channels). I tried emailing them, even their PR people, all of which just steered me back to... their website (which has no info) or their Toshiba Direct people (who won't talk about non-Direct items). Brilliant.

I tried contacting Wal-Mart, but they said they could only cite the information on their website (which is contradictory and not necessarily accurate).

Anyone have any idea how to look up information on a freakin' Toshiba product, since Toshiba doesn't want to help?

 

I would personally be shocked if it was 1080p (1920x1080 p/i). It would be more in line with previous Qosmio models that their i5-Qosmio has the 1680x945p screen.
I say this because the q8102 model (i7 chip with other upgrades the 8100 doesn't have, only has the 1680x945 screen).

So, I would expect the 1680x945 screen, but if it does have the 1080p screen, be happy!!!

 

Thanks for the help!
Thing is, if I can't get the information ahead of time, I'm not going to buy it. No way am I spending money on something without being able to know what it is first.
I am shocked that Toshiba literally doesn't have the information up anywhere, and that they apparently have no interest in conveying that information. I literally told the PR people: if the screen is actually 1080p, and you can confirm that, I will buy that product from Wal-Mart. And they STILL don't do anything other than a big run-around and zero info.

I can't fathom who would turn down a sale, if all they had to do was look up the info on one of their own products and share that info.

Anyway. If anyone has more luck than me in getting Toshiba to actually talk about their own product, and can confirm what the display on the q8100 actually is, please share it here.

Thanks, everyone.

 

I know this would be an inconvenient proposal for you, but if you still want the Qosmio, you can buy it and try it out. Since it's from Walmart.com , you have 14 or 15 days to return it for a full refund (I would think you would have no problems returning it if the specs were mislabeled).

Good luck

P.S.
It's now looking official that the SB Qosmios are available again for perspective buyers. Don't be surprised if the Qosmio at Walmart sells out soon.

 

Might buy it and return it if it comes out as the 1680x945. I really prefer 1920x1080 (personal preference, I suppose).

A slightly off-topic question: what are people's opinions vis-a-vis ASUS vs. Toshiba? I could wait for the Best Buy G73SW unit (with the new i7) at $1499. That's about as high in price as I'd like to go -- and the $1189 price at Wal-Mart on the Q8100 is very attractive.

I tried buying an ASUS G73JH twice -- first one had a defective display, returned it; second one would freeze the entire machine whenever anything tried to use the installshield, and kept doing it even after a complete reinstall to factory conditions -- returned it. Is it just me, getting a horrible random draw, or does ASUS have these problems regularly?

 

I was and still am in that conundrum. The ASUS G73s have very nice display screens, are lighter (8.5 lbs vs 10 lbs), have USB 3.0, and the screen opens/closes much easier.

However, like you said, there are many problems that plague the G73 series (lagged keyboard, missed keys while typing [very common], heat issues with RADEON based cards). The specs look very nice, and makes it tempting since they are available now [xoticpc now has the G73SW-A1 avail. for shipping], but these issues make it almost unacceptable.

I'm still leaning towards Toshiba Qosmios (about 70-30).
I previously had a Qosmio (q894 - first gen-i7), and it ran flawlessly. That and a 18.4" screen make it very attractive.


Also, The $1499 G73 at Best Buy is the G73-BST 8. You can buy the G73-BST 6 (lesser screen, etc.., but still i7 and GTX card), for $1299. Just an option.

 

I don't know about that Q8100 at Wal-Mart, guys ... I can't get any response from them as to whether or not it has the corrected chipset in it. I know that in all probability it is the corrected chipset but I would REALLY like some confirmation from someone before I commit to buy. You know?

I'm starting to think that I may just wait until they show up on toshibadirect.com again. That way I can be assured that it is indeed the corrected chipset. Hell .... if I wait much longer I may be able to save a bit more and upgrade to the 8102 like you, Alex.

 

The email I got from them earlier, while otherwise utterly useless, said that this was the first of the "new" ones.
However, as is normal in this story, they (Wal-Mart) did not answer the question about specifying which display is actually there.

Asus = good specs, but I am very burned on them and can't get past the 2-for-2 defective machines.

I'm inclining toward a Qosmio. I'd prefer a new I7 with a 1080p display (I believe that would be the Q8104, from what I can find, and Wal-Mart has a page for that that says "not available" and the price is $1698). If the 8100 is actually 1080i/p, from what I can see on the benchmarks at (other website), the i5-2410 and a 460M should be more than ample.

I am so torn right now, I'm tempted to do as Alex said and buy it and if it turns out to have the lesser screen just return it.

Another question, if I might: what would the difference be, in gaming, on the laptop's 18.4 screen, between 1080i and 1080p?? I know the difference between i (interlaced) and p (progressive), but i'm not clear on what that difference actually means in terms of gameplay and clarity??

 

I wish I had the answer for your 1080 i/p question. But I have no idea.

Good find on the q8104 find though!!! I'm waiting for Costco to get the Qosmios in (you get 2nd year Toshiba warranty for free, and 90 day return policy incase something goes wrong).

 

MAN!!! You can order G73SW-A1 from xoticpc right now!!!
So tempting! No TAX!!! (as long as you don't reside in Nebraska, I mean who does right?!? lol)

ASUS G73SW-A1 - XOTIC PC - ASUS Gaming Laptop ROG

 

What still makes me leary about this 8100 at Wal-mart is that when you click on the manufacturer's specs link that they provide it lists this as having the HM65 chipset that was part of the batch recall unless I'm mistaken. Would the same chipset be listed even if this was a corrected and re-releases model? Shouldn't it state somewhere in the description that this has the new B3 Stepping Sandy Bridge boards?

Correct me if I'm wrong, guys! I'm quite new to all this myself and only glean info I extract from what I read.

 

yeah, I'm going nuts over here. The Asus is in stock at places like Powernotebooks and Best Buy says within the week or so... but I already tried Asus twice and got burned twice. Despite that... the specs and price are Sooo enticing...

I really like the Qosmio, which is why I'm beating myself up trying to find the correct specs on the Q8100 (and trying to figure out the difference, practically-speaking, between 1080i and 1080p as far as a laptop goes).

HP and I have a good past... but I am the first to admit that the laptop gets too hot, and the heat builds up in the worst possible spot (right where your left palm rests when you're typing). Love the HDX16T, but not the heat. Also, driver support is very sparse -- though with an Nvidia, you can use the drivers from Nvidia without a problem (or I have been able to). I understand the Envy is just like the HDX as far as the heat problem goes.

I keep configuring the Alienware and it goes up too fast.

I'm really, effectively, down to trying Asus again or getting a Qosmio.

The information at Wal-mart (and elsewhere) doesn't go into enough detail to spell out the motherboard details to that degree. I have to assume -- with all the peril that entails -- that these are the first of the "fixed" units.

Ah, the fun of trying to figure out what to get... (sigh)

 

I'm not much of a gamer so I couldn't really say one way or the other concerning 1080i VS 1080p. But with that said I did read once that the average viewer ("average" being the key word) can't tell the difference between either one. If your a videophile and have a keen eye for detail that's a different story.

I know that probably doesn't help you but I figured I'd throw that out there anyways.

If the 8100 at Wal-mart is indeed a fixed version than the packaging must reference the new B3 stepping board. At least that's what I read that they were supposed to do to discern between the fixed version and the faulty one.

 

Only specific manufacturers said they would discern between "fixed" models (I think they were ASUS, MSI and Gibabyte). Toshiba hasn't made any claim to do so. I also don't think Dell, HP, Lenovo, or any other the other OEMs have made a claim to do such.

What I'm guessing is that Toshiba got lazy and just posted the same spec sheet of the "old" 8100 (as it would essentially be the same specs).
I'm sure the chipset is fixed. All the major OEMs are making their SB relaunch now, and it fits that the Qosmios are again reappearing.

If you do buy one, you can go into hardware properties and check the chipset version (it will say B2 or B3).

Keep the thread updated with any new SB Qosmio news.

 

Wal-Mart emailed me this morning, apologizing for any inconsistency in the description and stating that they will be contacting Toshiba directly to resolve the question about the display. I am told that they will be back to me with that information within a few days.
When they get back to me, I will post what they said.
It will be interesting to see what the actual spec is.

 

Found an X505-Q8100 in a reseller's hands on Ebay, as "new". I asked him to confirm the display, he said the sticker on the side of the box says "1920x1080".
Interesting...

 

If it's 1920x1080, then i'm shocked! I mean, an i5 SB, 18.4" screen, GTX 460, 500 GB HDD and a 1080p screen for $1200 is a damn good deal. I just assumed it would be 945p.

Hopefully it's true. AND if it is.... then why is the 8102 only a 945p!! Nothing makes sense!

 

Also,

I wanted to add, if you buy a Qosmio, make sure you get an extended warranty plan from Toshiba (it's pretty reasonable).


I'm buying from Costco which means my Qosmio will come with a 2 yr standard warranty. The 3rd yr warranty with EXPRESS-DEPOT Service is only $129 (that's 3 yrs of Express repair service). OR I can buy the On Site Service (onsite means a guy is sent to your house the next day). A 3rd yr Warranty with Onsite Service is only $149.00 [Remember these are prices for me, because I will have 2 yr standard warranty]



For Qosmios with 1 yr Standard Warranty.
Upgraded warranties also apply service to 1st yr warranty. So if you buy a 2 yr Express Service, then you can also use the Express Service during the 1st yr of ownership.

---Standard Extension: 2nd yr = $79, 2nd+3rd = $129
---Express Service: 2nd yr = $99 , 2nd+3rd yr = $199
---On Site Repair: 2nd yr = $139, 2nd+3rd = $249
Extended Service Plans
I also checked these prices on Toshibadirect buy adding a Qosmio q896 to my cart and adding warranty. They are the same price.


In my opinion, it's a pretty good deal! A lot cheaper than any of Best Buy's plans, etc...

 

I agree that it's... weird, out of sync with the normal Toshiba naming pattern (lower-end # = lower-end screen resolution). I'm still skeptical. If it is true, it makes the deal at Wal-Mart, well, ridiculously good.

I found their web-page for the not-available X505-Q8104, which they show as $1698. For its specs, I'd be willing to pay that -- but they don't have any in stock yet. So, -8100 at $1198.

Hmm... still bugs me that the only thing that stands out about the spec sheet on the -q8100 is the phrase "1080i" with the 1920x1080. Would that be a sufficient reason (or have any real effect on the display) to have the higher-resolution on the lower-end unit?

I. am. so. Confused. Even if the Wal-Mart unit turns out to be 1080 (i or p), i'm still confused over how Wal-Mart (and many others) can sell the same thing and none of them can actually confirm what it is they have. I'm confused that Toshiba literally won't talk about product with their name on it if it's in a retail channel. Utterly bizarre.

And, it leaves me sitting here typing on my HDX16T. Grr... (that's not really such a bad thing, but it is since i've got the cash burning a hole in my pocket and I want to buy a new one)

 

What I was just told is definitely not confirmed information, but it is interesting. Evidently, there's some scuttlebutt that Toshiba for the Qosmio line (-q8100 series) will be using ONLY 1920x1080 displays and be dropping the 1680x945 ones. I have no idea if this is true, but it would at least explain the severe confusion reigning on the web regarding this series of laptops.
Again: unclear if this is true or not. Will post more as I get more information. (God, it'd be nice to actually confirm something, or, say, be able to ask Toshiba about Toshiba products... ok, sarcasm off)

 

So would I have to purchase one of the plans at the time of checkout or would I purchase it within a certain amount of time after receiving the computer?

I've never had to purchase an extended warranty before but this is something that I think ....warrants it.

 

you have 30 days from the purchase date to buy an extended warranty. Remember you buy these warranties directly from Toshiba.; meaning you can still buy the Qosmio from Walmart and buy the warranty separately from Toshiba.

 

Okay, that's good to know that I have 30 days to come up with a few hundred more for the extended warranty.

All right .... I think I'll go ahead and pull the trigger on this and place my order at walmart.com!!

 

Congrats Light!!!

Keep us posted of when you get it and make sure to do a review of it.

 

Well, gents, that's it. Wal-Mart contacted Toshiba, and they verified that the specs on the Wal-Mart .pdf are accurate. The x505-q8100 does have a 1920x1080 display.

I guess I'm springing on one this morning. Wow. I didn't actually expect that confirmation.

Now, the next question is: does that mean that the new q8102s will also have that display, or will it be the only unit in the line to not have it???

Thanks, guys, for all the replies and back-and-forth.

 

Congrats for you too jms!!!

It's glad to hear the 8100 has a 1080 screen, I think all the Qosmio models should have that screen.

The 8102 has a 945p screen. There were some reviews on Newegg before it was pulled and one of the reviewers complained the Newegg specs said 1080, but it was a 945 when he recieved it (Toshiba spec sheet also says 945).

Good luck jms and make sure to do a review when you get it.

 

Also, I would wait a couple weeks before buying the extended warranties (though make sure you buy it before the 30 day cutoff).
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/acat.to?coid=-29900

This way you can play around with your new Qosmio and make sure it doesn;t have any problems (incase you need to exchange it or return it).

I can see where returning your Qosmio and trying to get a refund on extended warranties could get messy.


Good luck with your new Qosmios!!!

 

I bought this laptop last year to replace an old desktop; so far I've noticed the following problems that some of you might be able to assist me on fixing.

1. The speakers fade in & out while playing music w/ iTunes, very irritating. Any way to fix this?

2. The i7 CPU is slower than my old Quad-Core desktop computer causing the computer to lock up while editing pictures. I have a little Samsung 430r I bought while in South Korea w/ Duo Core CPU & SSD HDD, it can edit video without crashing; I had thought the i7 CPU was supposed to be better?

3. The SD card reader sometimes doesn't read the card and the computer must be restarted.

4. The SSD is very slow compared to the one installed in the Samsung, not very impressive.

 

I'm going to worry about warranties after I get it and have a chance to make sure everything's good and that I won't have to return it.

I am still half-expecting to receive this and find it only has the 1680x945 screen -- though it is Toshiba's own .pdf that says 1920x1080. You'd think they'd want to move quickly and correct the information the public has so all of this was clear.

Anyway. I'll take the Channel Partner associate I spoke to at Wal-Mart -- I'll take his word for it. And we'll see when it gets here. (crosses fingers)

 

1. For 1, I too noticed this. It mainly happens when I tab through programs. It plays the sound for the main program your looking at, when you tab to another program it will decrease the volume of the program put in the background. I forgot how I fixed it. It was either turning off "Dolby Surround Sound" or Turning off "decrease program volume" in windows phone/webcam setting.


2. The Core-2-Quads are pretty fast (desktop). Most are based on 45 nm technology and have overclocking ability. The mobile first-gen-i7s, had limited OC (unless you had i7-9XX series) and is also based on 45 nm technology. Also, it's not fair to compare desktop processors to laptop processors.
However, the 2nd-gen i7s (Sandy Bridge) are 32 nm technology and have a faster core clock. They're 20-30% more efficient than mobile first-gen-i7s.

As for freezing, I blame that on the GTS 360m card. Most of the "horror" stories I've seen regarding Qosmios are BSOD, freezing and random restarts (overheating). MOST of those problems can be traced back to the GTS 360 (very buggy card; I read somewhere that the GTS 360 is actually a GTS 260m that is overclocked). I won't even consider buying Qosmio with a GTS 360m. (very few manufacturers actually used teh GTS 360m)

The next line has GTX 460m, which performs extremely well!!! Never had a BSOD, it ran games very smooth, and very cool (GPU temps mainly in 60s, rarely low 70s). In fact, I haven't read any of the above problems with the GTX 460m card. Also, maintenance is very important, and it is essential to make sure dust does not accumulate in fans/heatsinks.


3. Never experienced that problem. Sounds like driver issue (need update).


4. The SSD that comes with the Qosmio is very small and stock (probably doesn't even have TRIM; infact the q810X series don;t have SSD drives; the q8104 does have a 500GB - Hybrid 7200rpm + 4 GB SSD). I would not buy a Qosmio with a stock SSD as it is overpriced. Your better off buying a lower model and buying a SSD online and popping it in (save money).


Good luck

 

Thanks.

I'll try ... but to be honest I've never done a review of anything before. But I'll definitely post what my impressions of it are.

If I had a digital camcorder I would take a stab at one of those "unboxing" videos I see on Youtube .... I always did like those type of videos

Hopefully it will be here by the end of next week.

 

Okay, guys, I got the x505-q8100 from Wal-Mart two hours ago.
I returned it one hour ago to the local Wal-Mart.
Despite Wal-Mart "confirming" the resolution as 1920x1080, the unit was actually (as we all suspected) 1680x945. Further, the RAM in the unit was DDR3-1066, not DDR3-1333 as was claimed on the website and on Toshiba's own PDF spec sheet.

Now, I also didn't particularly care for the clacking, plasticky keyboard. That's largely irrelevant, as the display not being what they swore it would be is the deciding factor for me.

So, back to square one: what the heck do I buy? I just want a good gaming laptop that preferably has an 18" screen but I'll settle for 17.3", with 1080p, I've actually got 8GB of DDR3-1333 sitting here (2 4Gb sticks), so the ram in the unit is irrelevant as I'll just boost it, prefer an Nvidia 460M. Blu-Ray doesn't matter to me, nor does Bluetooth.

(sigh) I really thought this process of buying a new laptop was over this time.

 

Sorry for the bad news. I was afraid my suspicions would be correct.

My preference, I liked the Qosmio keyboard (more old school style, and not fully an "island key" type setup most other manufacturers have).
It's also a shame that it cam stocked with 1066 MHZ ram, as the SB motherboard supports 1333 MHZ ram.

As for gaming laptops, I think the only viable option is the ASUS. I would recommend going to your local Best Buy and checking out their G73-BST6 version (although the BST6 is 1680x945, the BST8 available @ bestbuy.com is 1080p).

There was that ASUS NX90 that had a 18.4" screen (I posted it in your "What to Buy" thread). It's more expensive than the Qosmio, but could be to your liking.


Good luck and sorry to hear of your disappointment.

 

I also have a few questions:

How did it initially look? Any signs of the laptop being opened? (as all Qosmios had to be opened at the depot and have the motherboards replaced).

Any bad Pixels on the screen? Did Windows start pretty smooth, etc..?

What is your overall impression of the Qosmio (excluding the above mentioned shortcomings).

Thanks!

 

Exactly how do I find if the Qosmio has the defective chipset?

 

My memory was a bit clouded on how to check, but it looks like you cannot directly go into Hardware properties, but you have to use a FREE program called HWinfo.

Here's the post I read back in Feb. 2011

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hardware-components-aftermarket-upgrades/551902-sandy-bridge-design-flaw-21.html#post7123499


I will be doing this once I get my Qosmio.

 

It was completely sealed, as though from the factory. Pristine physical condition. Display, other than the resolution, looked clean, no bad pixels. On that huge 18.4" screen, the lower resolution sitting by my HP HDX16T with the 1080p display -- the background looked less distinct on the Toshiba.
Start-up was very quick -- even setting up the network was ridiculously quick and easy.
I didn't like the touchpad, it was very finicky, didn't seem to *quite* translate the movement of my finger exactly on the screen.
The keys look great, but typing on them made a steady clack-clack sound that seemed... cheap. I'm a speed typist, and I got the feeling I'd be dropping letters and not having letters register. It seemed... well, cheap.
So: the display wasn't what toshiba's own .pdf spec sheet claimed; I didn't particularly care for the keyboard or the touchpad; impressively, the machine was ridiculous fast, fast to load, fast to set-up (fastest set up I've ever done). If the display had been as advertised (and confirmed by Toshiba!), I'd have kept it -- the other stuff wasn't irritating enough to warrant returning it.

I'm looking at Amazon.com: Amazon.com: ASUS G73SW-XA1 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop (Dark Grey): Computer & Accessories

At $1399, that's a great set of specs.

I might just wait for that for the Best Buy unit, can't decide: Asus - Laptop / Intel® Core™ i7 Processor / 17.3" Display / 8GB Memory / 1TB Hard Drive - Black - G73SW-BST8

Since Best Buy got rid of their restocking fee, and you just return items to the local store -- that's appealing. Not that I want to return anything, but I'm getting really tired of defective/defective/falsely-advertised. Just want to make sure I'm covered...

 

The sweet thing is, I had ordered 2 4GB sticks of DDR3-1333 to put in the Toshiba. I'm keeping those, so I'll have them to add to whatever machine I wind up getting. So the Asus units, which have 4 ram slots, could easily take the additional 8GB.

I wish Amazon or Best Buy already had these in stock...

 

Well it appears Walmart is royally f***ing everyone!!

My Qosmio arrived way too early to be true. I think they're trying to dump all their bad stock. Just checked the chipset specs with HWinfo32 .... B2!!!!

Guess I'm in for a fight when I take this over to my local Walmart for a refund tomorrow.

Anyone know how to restore this to factory specs so my info and password for my wifi is purged?

 

WOW!!!! I'm really disappointed in that!

Don't mention the B2 problem, as they won't know what the heck that is. Just say the resolution isn't 1080 like advertised.

As far as getting rid of your information, just delete it, and get CCleaner. Make sure it has wipe free space and set it on 7-pass. That should wipe any information you had on it.

Download CCleaner 3.04.1389 - FileHippo.com

Not a good week

 

Interesting... perhaps Toshibas PDF is correct for the re-released models but the old stock walmart is pushing on folks have the old screen res and B2 stepping.

 

Definitely play with the ASUS before you buy it... there is a fairly common keyboard issue with them going back to the JH models and I confirmed that the microcenter SW model sold before the recall had it too... asus never openly acknowledges the problem.

Essentially one some units the trackpad driver interferes with the keyboard so you end up dropping about 1 in 10 key presses. So if you type alot you will get lots of typos. The only way so far to beat it 100% of the time is to turn off the trackpad in bios.

Btw, I asked one of the resellers if they could build me an g73sw and test for the keyboard problem and they refused... said that ANY asus g73 can get the problem at any time so they wouldn't check for it and if I bought one and got the problem I'd have to RMA it to Asus.

 

Light, also try this utility:

6 Series (Sandy Bridge) Motherboards SATA Check utility & B3 stepping swap form

This program will tell you if your laptop is affected by the recalled chipset and if any SATA 2 ports are being used.

 

Funny thing is, ToshibaDirect is now selling their first Sandy Bridge model (x500-q930X). It's basically a q8104 with windows professional. The funny part is that the pre-recalled version was called "x500-q930 S", now it's called "x500-q930 X".

Maybe it's just me.

 

All packed up and set to return tomorrow.

jms, I think I'm starting to lean towards the Asus as well. I watched a video on YouTube of a review about the G73jh. One comment asked about it's shortcomings and the response was that all those problems have been fixed via bios updates; including the keyboard lag and the dropped keys as well as the GSOD. Of course all of that info has to be taken at face value simply because of the nature of the Internet. But is promising.

:sigh:

More decisions... More waiting I suppose.

 

The two I linked to earlier, the Asus units, spec-wise look great. I've also read about the various problems -- keyboard/touchpad interaction, Atheros WiFi behaving erratically, but as you said, most of the info I can find says that most of these problems have been fixed by updates.

I'm getting sick of the waiting game, too. Oh well. I read something, can't recall where, that Acer is also bringing out a new 17.3" laptop with i7-2630, but the release date was well into April. That's a bit too long for my taste...

 

I looked into the ASUS extensively and would have bought one already if the problems had been solved or were definitely fixable. As recent as the pre-recall SW models the keyboard issue was still present... the problems gone back through all the generations of the g73... talking to folks in the forums alot of people have the problem but don't care because they primarily game so typing isnt a big deal. To me typing on a computers kinda basic though.

In short... updating bios fixes it for some, reduces it for others and does nothing for the rest. reinstalling the synaptic touchpad drivers works for some, removing the synaptic drivers and just using the default microsoft driver with reduced capability works for yet others... and for the rest the only options are to live with it or turn off the trackpad in bios.

I went 'shopping' one day, went through 3 bestbuy JHs and 1 SW at microcenter... the only one that didnt have the keyboard problem was one of the bestbuy demo models.

If i went with asus Id go with the g53... it uses a different trackpad that doesnt have keyboard problems. You can get the g53 with 4gb (expandable to 16gb), 460m and 1080p screen with an 740qm i7 for $1199 at newegg. I've thought about that one seriously.

 

For me, I've made the decision to buy a laptop that has "On Site Repairs". There's no way I'm sending my laptop in, and waiting 4-6 weeks for a repair.

That forces me down to: Dell, Toshiba, HP (any others? My understanding is that ASUS does NOT provide On Site repairs. That and the "keyboard" issue has me running away from them).

Dell:
An Alienware would be nice (though I really do not like how they look). They offer onsite, but is the MOST expensive option.

Toshiba:
I liked my previous Qosmio (really regreting returning my 894 for a SB 8102). I like the way it looks (many disagree), I liek the keyboard over what others offer (I really dislike the island keys other OEMs have), and it's a gaming grade laptop that is affordable and I can purchase 3 yrs of "On Site" repairs for $150 more.

HP:
THERE IS NO WAY I'M BUYING AN ENVY!!! ENVYs have extreme heating issues (despite offering a lower end GPU compared to ASUS, Alienware, or Qosmio). Needs to be redesigned.

Sager:
I really did consider these guys. My problem is there really isn't much known about them. People on here rave how great they are (I have told others of SAGER as a buying option), but if you dig hard enough, you'll find the same horror stories with SAGER that exist with Toshiba, HP, Dell, ASUS. What this means is that although people on here look at SAGER as a godly item, it's no better than what the other OEMs offer. They do offer great specs at good prices and it is tempting; but I need a company with more name, and more reputation. (AND they don't offer On Site repairs of course).


To everyone their own treasure. I'm not here to persuade anyone, but I want you all to make informed decisions and I hope you purchase the laptop that will fit your needs.

BTW: I'm watching the pac-10 Tournament. GO HUSKIES!!!

Good luck!

 

I agree with the hesitancy with Asus. I've already gone through two -- one with a defective screen out of the box, one that would freeze completely whenever you tried to install anything. So I'm gun-shy to begin with.

I need a larger screen, so sub-17" isn't going to happen.

The HP HDX16T I have was great, but it got hot (especially where your palm rests). I've read too many negative things about the Envy to go there, and the specs of the Dv7 are far from acceptable.

Thing is, the Dell XPS line has as many complaints and reviews that go into detail about the heat problems that has. That leaves Alienware, which I couldn't configure well for under $2k -- too expensive.

I can't get a grip on Sager or Malibal, some swear by them, but there's a lot of people who have massive troubles with them (especially their customer service). 1 or 2 complaints is one thing, but the well-written complaints I've read are... disturbing.

So... I'm left with... no real clue where to go from here. I'll probably roll the dice on a third Asus through Best Buy (because I can return it if it, like the others, is bad)... but if that one is like the first two, that'll be the end of Asus for me.

With respect to Toshiba, I find the fact that they sent a .pdf spec sheet out and confirmed to Wal-Mart that the .pdf was accurate -- a .pdf spec sheet that was completely inaccurate. That they are so dishonest as to do that is unacceptable. If I assume Toshiba's reps sent the spec sheet out by mistake -- that doesn't speak well of them either, since it just makes them incompetent. I was also irritated by their refusal to talk to me directly -- if it isn't currently available on Toshiba Direct, they wouldn't talk about it (even though it's their own product!). The cheap plastic, the weak-feeling hinge, the keyboard that is definitely not designed for those of us who type a lot and type very quickly -- they don't build confidence in Toshiba, either.
On the flipside, I had a Satellite 17" laptop that was solid, well-built, well-spec'd (this was 6 years ago), only problem was a truly epic overheating problem, and the fact that Toshiba's driver support kept claiming to "fix the problem"... and didn't.

So my head is spinning. The best gaming laptops I can find, review-wise, are Qosmio, Alienware, and Asus G73 line. I've had out-of-the-box trouble (or misrepresentation) with the 1st and 3rd, and the 2nd (alienware) is too expensive. So, again, I have no idea what to do, and that's leaving me staring at a "please God let a third round with Asus actually work".

 

I swear this threads has been all over the place :lol:

Let me ask this ...

Taking my original specs from the "What notebook should I buy" thread, do you guys think that a low end 17" (it has to at least be 17 inches) Alienware (the M17x I suppose?) would suit my particular needs. Not being a hardcore gamer and only using MAME and the occasional Sims games on occasion and using the computer more for media than gaming ... I'm starting to rethink my choices concerning Toshiba OR Asus.

If it weren't for all the damned bells and whistles on an Alienware they might actually appeal to more media-heavy users like myself as well as gamers ... but the added gaudiness of all that is a turn-off.

What do you guys think?