My performance notebook picks.

[powerpack]

13.3" DeLL Studio XPS 13. It is small it is stylish it can be had very well equipped including leather accent for $1250. I really see no competition overall if you look at cost, CPU/GPU performance. I really see no competition for this, Sony has traditionally had a good footing in this class but both cost and GPU has them losing to DeLL on this one.

14" Asus N81VP-D2. This is a size category Asus has been dominating for several years. They pack the best GPU's and CPU's in. This is no exception I only wish they offered the 16:10 WXGA+. $1060.

15"-16". This is a category with too many offerings to give clear winners. On pure performance their is a clear winner. The Sager NP8690 (Clevo W860CU) 15.6". It has the new i7 and the GTX 280m GPU. It is very customizable. Well configured $1900 but you can go higher or a little lower. For value performance Asus offers G51J-A1 15.6 not as customizable as the Sager but much less expensive. It offers the i7 and GTX 260m GPU. Unlike the Sager it offers dual HDD's but not RAID. The screen resolution is FHD which would be an upgrade on the Sager as I priced out. So for $1400 you get the same components as the Sager less the 280m but you get two HDD's. Real bang for the buck. Of course in any performance I can't forget AlienWare, but sadly at this time it mostly offers lights and styling. Configured the same as the Asus but only one HDD m15x $1775.

17'". The absolute best on performance Sager NP9280 (Clevo D900F). This beast comes with an i7 desktop CPU GTX 280m GPU can sport 3 HDD's in RAID. Well spec'd but still much room to go upward comes out at $2600. If a true mobile platform is more to your liking. Sager NP8760 (Clevo W870CU). i7 mobile GTX 280m dual HDD's RAID comes in at $2160 well spec'd. AlienWare m17x Core2 CPU dual GTX 280m or HD4870m dual HDD RAID. Configured with lowest quad CPU and dual GPU $2800/$2900 depending on Nvidia/ATI. You really got love the lights at that price.

17"+. NP9850 (ClevoM980NU). 18.4". Core2 GTX 280m SLI 3 HDD's. Configured lowest quad $2810.

But hang on guys new notebooks to be announced in January.

[Anewbus]

Dell? Really Powerpack? I would think that Dell doesn't belong in the same catagory as Sager or Asus or anything Xotic offers, especially at that price point. The lowliest Sager would chew up that Dell and spit it out at that price.:D

IMHO When it comes to gaming notebooks or quality uber-power notebooks Dell makes crap and overcharges for it. Just look at the Alienware line. Sure it works fine for the first few months and then things start to happen and by the 11th month it's a paper-weight, out of it's limited warranty and no support to fix it. (Granted, manufacture flaws and things could happen with any notebook no matter who, the price point or what have you, but with some of them it appears to be consistant such as Sony, Dell/Alienware, Toshiba lately and a host of others. It's one thing to have an occasional foul machine, but quite another to just push units knowningly built poorly to max profit or not caring about their quality or the customer just to make $$$).
Granted, a decent general use notebook can be had from Dell if your carefule and don't care about support of any type, but aside from that at least for me, it's Xotic or nothing.:D
I figure if it cost $1250 to $1300 for a Dell and I can get say, a Sager or Asus with perhaps some slight upgrade in parts and better service and support for the same price, then it's almost a no-brainer.

I guess what I am saying is that one can get at least a slightly better build and of course superior support from Xotic for the same price.

[powerpack]

Anew I feel your pain! I agree with much of what you say. Much not all. I am currently having a love affair with that 13" DeLL. There is no such thing as a gaming notebook smaller than a 15.4" as such I let one in with say a big brother type pass. I like small my own slant.

Did you notice or like my AlienWare comments about "if you like lights"?

I wish Xotic sold 13" performance but they don't that seems to be the point of pure mobility. But above that all Sager and Asus I only include AlienWare to not look biased. But I do think I spelled out the case.

To all new members Xotic does offer customer care above and beyond say DeLL. Even if the warranty is from Sager or Asus Xotic will go out of their way to make sure you get connected with the right people. And they do provide excellent customer care. The value of that is hard to put a price on. Also notice on the Sager's the labor is 3 years not 1 year. Xotic on their own stands by you on that one.

Anew have I walked my penance on this? DeLL just has the best 13" at the moment and yes if I buy one I sure hope it does not break. Above that size all Xotic! Happy New Year All!

[Anewbus]

Anew I feel your pain! I agree with much of what you say. Much not all. I am currently having a love affair with that 13" DeLL.

Oh, I see. Well there is the "love affair factor" to consider.:p

Did you notice or like my AlienWare comments about "if you like lights"?

Yes, I did and thought it was spot on!:)

I wish Xotic sold 13" performance but they don't that seems to be the point of pure mobility. But above that all Sager and Asus I only include AlienWare to not look biased. But I do think I spelled out the case.

Uh, perhaps drink more of the XoticPC koolaid? :laugh:


Anew have I walked my penance on this? DeLL just has the best 13" at the moment and yes if I buy one I sure hope it does not break. Above that size all Xotic! Happy New Year All!

Ok, penance completed Powerpack.:laugh::wink2: