New Laptop Need input

[mckillwashere]

Hello all,
I am looking at getting a new laptop.
I have my hart set on one model, with several variations.

I was wondering if yall may be able to help me out on making my decision.

Here is the first one
Amazon.com: ASUS G73JW-XA1 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black): Computer & Accessories

• No definitive answer on to which kind of optical drive this has... Some reviews say it has a BR others says DVD.
• Slightly cheaper
• Biggest HDD

ASUS G73JW-XT1 Laptop Computer - Intel Core i7-740QM 1.73GHz, 8GB DDR3, 500GB HDD, Blu-ray Player/DVDRW, 17.3 Full HD, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, Black, 2-Year Warranty, 1-Year Accidental at TigerDirect.com

• Cheapest
• smaller hdd

Amazon.com: ASUS G73JH-X5 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop - Black: Computer & Accessories

• Blueray for sure.
• most expensive
• decent hdd space
• 1.6 ghz processor over 1.73
• ATI 5870 1GB not the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M 1.5GB not an issue since im more of an ATI person

Guys/Gals help a fellow member out and help me decide.

 

[StalkeR]

I'm for ASUS G73JH-X5

 

[mckillwashere]

I'm for ASUS G73JH-X5

Any specific reason?

 

[Orbital Shark]

If money's not an issue I'd go for the ASUS G73JH-X5

With Blu-Ray capabilities and a full HD screen you can't go wrong. Decent HD space and CPU with 8GB of memory will make for a rather fine machine

 

[StalkeR]

Mainly for the bigger hdd thah G73JW-XT1

 

[Bill2]

Go through the customer reviews, those'll tell you what the cons of each model are.

 

[mckillwashere]

I have read/Most all the reviews.... Some people say that the XA1 have some BlueRay and some dont....

 

[mckillwashere]

Mainly for the bigger hdd thah G73JW-XT1

If I got a XT1 I will be getting me a SSD for boot drive for the second HDD rive.

 

[StalkeR]

Well If you have in plan to buy SSD,than you can take XT1

 

[mckillwashere]

Well If you have in plan to buy SSD,than you can take XT1

If I am stuck having to get that one due to limitations, I will but I think I will continue to try to obtain what the true specs on XA1 is

 

[Bill2]

Mckill, there are many reviews of the XA1 on youtube and they all say it comes with blu ray. Checkout those.

 

[mckillwashere]

Thank you Bill.
This line here is what threw me off.
"Super Multi Optical Drive"
Once again thank you mate.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
as a HUGE and regular traveller I've been there and back when it comes to laptops.

You basically have TWO scenarios to consider and THEN you are in a position to decide what you want. The two scenarios are totally different so its important to decide what you actually WANT to do with your laptop.

If you want a Desktop replacement and aren't too worried about lugging a heavy load and don't use airports a lot then a large screen HDMI laptop with at least a dual core and 3 - 4 GB RAM is what you would probably need.

However if like me you travel a LOT then go for a smaller Netbook like say an ACER 10.1 inch --- you can up the memory to 2GB RAM (recommended and its easy and cheap to do) and also up the internal disk to a 320 / 500 GB 7200 RPM one instead of the bog standard 160 GB 5400 RPM one usually installed by default.

This type of laptop with a decent AMD processor --better than the slowish INTEL ATOM will be OK even for running Photoshop and even bringing up a Virtual Machine.

You could get an external DVD for these but with really cheap self powered 1 TB USB disks available you don't really need a DVD drive any more --copy the HD Movie to the HDD and play it.

These small ACER netbooks also have HDMI output too and it's good quality.

I'd only really go for a laptop with a large screen and BLU RAY etc if this was being used soley as a desktop replacement or instead of a Desktop.

As I said I"ve been there and done it -- much as I love laptops with HUGE screens -- I'm not taking them through airport security any more.

BTW also if you break the small ACER netbook it only costs around 280 USD to get another one too.

Cheers

Jimbo

 

[mckillwashere]

I am about to move and be relocating between 2 locations twice a week and will need/want a powerhouse computer.... (So i need a portable Desktop)
Thank you jimbo for the great words of wisdom as always

I still have my 15.6 inch laptop that fits snugly inside my tactical bag and my tote backpack for the new 17.3 powerhouse... That way people cannot tell I have 2 laptops on me at most times

 

[mckillwashere]

Hello again.

I got my new laptop, and sadly no BlueRay, But the body and insides are the same as one of the other modles that comes with it so obtaining a BR drive wont be an issue. Does anyone else have a laptop this huge? If so what kind of case did you get?

 

[Bill2]

Hello again.

I got my new laptop, and sadly no BlueRay, But the body and insides are the same as one of the other modles that comes with it so obtaining a BR drive wont be an issue. Does anyone else have a laptop this huge? If so what kind of case did you get?

Darn, did I mislead you? Everyone of those videos said it has a bd, heck there was even a bd logo on the front, bottom left panel.

 

[jfar]

I'd say when it comes to choosing a case for your laptop, that the world is your oyster,
there are so many to choose from, here take your pick and good luck with your new machine.
Amazon.co.uk: laptop cases 17

 

[mckillwashere]

Hello again.

I got my new laptop, and sadly no BlueRay, But the body and insides are the same as one of the other models that comes with it so obtaining a BR drive wont be an issue. Does anyone else have a laptop this huge? If so what kind of case did you get?

Darn, did I mislead you? Everyone of those videos said it has a bd, heck there was even a bd logo on the front, bottom left panel.

Its fine mate. There are about 5 different versions of this laptop..... all with something different...

 

[mckillwashere]

I'd say when it comes to choosing a case for your laptop, that the world is your oyster,
there are so many to choose from, here take your pick and good luck with your new machine.
Amazon.co.uk: laptop cases 17

Im on there right now. I live over in the United states... I check the .co.uk more than I do the .com version cause the quality/selection of yalls products are slightly better.

 

[Trucidation]

Do you prefer sling or backpack? I'm all about backpacks, usually because I don't seem to have much luck with slings; they're either always bumping around the hip (my ouch) or getting swung into something (laptop ouch)

They're not the cheapest, but I've had luck with Targus packs. They're fairly water resistant but usually I drape a hankie just under the cover when I zip it up.