Hey,
Just looking for some input on what laptops anyone here would recommend based on experience. My previous one was a Dell Insiprion 9300 1.8GHz with 256 MB Geforce 6600 Go in it unfortunately for me the MB died on it a few months back(lasted me 4 yrs). Since then I've built a desktop system (i5 750, Asus P55P7 Pro, ATI HD4770, 4GB Super Talent DDR3, WD Cavier 500GB, Antec Sonata III).
Basically looking for a laptop around $1000 that can do internet, moderate gaming and possibly Microstation V8 XM. I've been looking at Asus laptop based on reviews I've read but am open to other suggestions as well. (Tosiba might take me some convincing thou based on 5-6 people in my dorm 3 years ago that had their brand new ones die on them within 2-3 months of starting the year)
This requirement has come up due to upcoming travel with work and the girlfriend's old Dell Dimension 3000 getting older then time itself. Basically a laptop gives us a computer when we're away and her one that's mobile around the house.

Games currently on the Desktop;
Batman: AA
Bio-shock
C&C: Red Alert 3
Crysis, Crysis: Warhead
Fallout 3
Torchlight
WoW
World in Conflict

All do not need to be playable on the laptop on high settings but would like something to do besides hotel TV.

Prefer;
Duel Core
ATI discrete graphic (Nvidia if its a good one)
Min 2-4GB ram
HDD size doesnt need to be 500GB, 160-320GB works for me.

Thank you for any help and reading that wall of text.

SideWinderDX

I am also in the market for a new laptop.

Just the other day I was looking at a brand new Gateway NV59, i3 w/4GB, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470.

Funny that one certain retailer had them in stock, but as of this post, Gateway doesn't even list it!

One of the few leaks online

http://www.daemonnews.org/business-tech ... -cost.html

I went with a custom made laptop when I was going to school. It was around $1500 from Sager and I loved it. Now thats $500 more than your asking for, but also that current laptop dropped in price quite a bit by now too. I was able to run all the highend resource programs like Maya, Zbrush to stress the memory out, and I could do some moderate gaming on it when I did. This is more my story about sager, but go onto their website and check it out, I found the prices to be pretty good and when my laptop plain died on me (I blame the MAC lab I walked into). I sent it back and they had it fixed within the week and sent it back to me no charge, all my files were there and in full working order.


http://www.sagernotebook.com/product_cu ... pid=177856

15.6 inch screen
45nm Core2duo P8700 3mb L2 Cache, 2.53ghz, 1066mhz FSB
ATI Mobile HD 4650 512mb DDR3
Windows 7 Premium
4GB DDR3 1066mhz SDRAM
320GB 72000RPM SATA
8X DVD+R/RW/4x+DL Super-Multi Drive
Intel Wifi
Bluetooth too

$979 with the promo of $100 off!

Thanks for the replies so far,

In looking earlier today and searching for more information on the i3 one from Gateway I came across alot of stuff that came out over the weekend thanks to CES. And wow is there alot coming.

The Gateway is nice for what your getting and found out more details. It was listed on Futureshop.ca for $692 with it being in stock. This looks realistic as I've found a new Dell and HP ones using i3 and/or ATI 5xxx Series mobile chipsets with a shipping or availiblity date of Jan 17/18th.

Looking further I found some posts about incoming Asus, Acer, Samsung and Sony ones using the i3/5/7 cores and ATI 5xxx cards. But again with no solid prices or full details. Although from knowing basic prices I can see the Samsung and Sony ones being higher then my $1000 max. However Asus and Acer typically have nice ones sub-$1000. (have heard bad things about Acer though, anyone able to confirm?)

So I'm probably gonna sit on this for the next week or so and see what comes up.

Helpful link for news in the new stuff;
http://gadgets.softpedia.com/news/Portable-computing-systems/

SideWinderDX

PS - I've typically noticed that vendors seem to have the systems and specs online before the actually company making the product.