ayv26
07-29-2008, 05:42 PM
A quick backstory- I bought a Toshiba laptop around 2 years ago. Despite the fact that it's performed quite well for the two years I've had it, a lot of the programs I was running were relatively intensive programs, so much so that my programs were either locking up or performing somewhat slower than I would have liked. I am currently in the process of selling this laptop to a neighbor of mine for $400, and using that money plus money I've saved up to purchase a new, custom laptop-- so I decided to check out XPC. Anyway, on with the rest of the stuff.
1) What is your budget?
>> I'd like to keep it under $1250, preferably $1100ish.
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
>> 17" would be nice but I can manage with another 15.4".
3) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in.
>>USA
4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
>> My concern is with the laptop performing to its ability. A quality motherboard and quality parts make the laptop, so basically it doesn't
matter so long as it works and works well.
5) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
>> Aside from gaming, I'll most likely be using the laptop for writing papers and occasionally graphics-intensive tasks such as ProEngineer, CATIA, AutoDesk, and the like, as they pertain to my major, in addition to being able to run Visual Studio (though I find any computer can do that well nowadays). I don't need them to run like a champ, but I need them to be much more stable than my previous laptop.
6) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
>>90% of the time it will be on my desk, occasionally I will probably take it out to a class or something to work on schoolwork.
7) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
>> Nothing too intensive aside from most likely TF2, which is about the extent of my graphics-intensive PC gaming.
8) How many hours of battery life do you need?
>> 2-3
9) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
>> Never done it before but I guess to avoid getting a generic cheap brand notebook that partially works at times from some store it's worth the risks, and XPC seems to have a good rep.
10) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista), Mac OS, Linux, etc.
>> WinXP, though if it came down to it, I could start using Vista if necessary though I don't hear a lot of good about it.
Screen Specifics
11) Would you prefer standard or widescreen?
12) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
>> Standard: 1400x1050 SXGA or Widescreen: 1680x1050 WSXGA+. I tend to like the widescreen laptops more for some reason, though.
13) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non glossy screen? (Read below on differences)
>>Doesn't matter too much, though I did like my glossy screen (even if they are harder to clean).
Build Quality and Design
14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
>>Not especially, I (usually) prefer function over style in electronics.
15) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?
>> I intend to buy this laptop when I return from my trip next week (and hope to have it before the beginning of September). I'd like it ideally to last me the next 5 years, at least-- if not more.
Notebook Components
16) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 500GB?
>> At least 200GB
17) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a CDRW/DVD-ROM, DVD Burner or Blu-Ray drive?
>> DVD-RW (which seems to be the stock drive on all models).
Thanks in advance for all your help, and if things go as they should I may order from XPC within the next few weeks or so! :)
1) What is your budget?
>> I'd like to keep it under $1250, preferably $1100ish.
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
>> 17" would be nice but I can manage with another 15.4".
3) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in.
>>USA
4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
>> My concern is with the laptop performing to its ability. A quality motherboard and quality parts make the laptop, so basically it doesn't
matter so long as it works and works well.
5) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
>> Aside from gaming, I'll most likely be using the laptop for writing papers and occasionally graphics-intensive tasks such as ProEngineer, CATIA, AutoDesk, and the like, as they pertain to my major, in addition to being able to run Visual Studio (though I find any computer can do that well nowadays). I don't need them to run like a champ, but I need them to be much more stable than my previous laptop.
6) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
>>90% of the time it will be on my desk, occasionally I will probably take it out to a class or something to work on schoolwork.
7) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
>> Nothing too intensive aside from most likely TF2, which is about the extent of my graphics-intensive PC gaming.
8) How many hours of battery life do you need?
>> 2-3
9) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
>> Never done it before but I guess to avoid getting a generic cheap brand notebook that partially works at times from some store it's worth the risks, and XPC seems to have a good rep.
10) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista), Mac OS, Linux, etc.
>> WinXP, though if it came down to it, I could start using Vista if necessary though I don't hear a lot of good about it.
Screen Specifics
11) Would you prefer standard or widescreen?
12) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
>> Standard: 1400x1050 SXGA or Widescreen: 1680x1050 WSXGA+. I tend to like the widescreen laptops more for some reason, though.
13) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non glossy screen? (Read below on differences)
>>Doesn't matter too much, though I did like my glossy screen (even if they are harder to clean).
Build Quality and Design
14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
>>Not especially, I (usually) prefer function over style in electronics.
15) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?
>> I intend to buy this laptop when I return from my trip next week (and hope to have it before the beginning of September). I'd like it ideally to last me the next 5 years, at least-- if not more.
Notebook Components
16) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 500GB?
>> At least 200GB
17) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a CDRW/DVD-ROM, DVD Burner or Blu-Ray drive?
>> DVD-RW (which seems to be the stock drive on all models).
Thanks in advance for all your help, and if things go as they should I may order from XPC within the next few weeks or so! :)