GridStream Productions

All right everyone, my plan is to not renew my AO account come November 30th because I am now financing for a new computer.

I do plan on coming back, and have no intention of deleting Mumon, and I plan on still playing up until that night. I have no idea when I'll be back (As soon as I have enough money to start paying for AO again most likely).

If anyone wants to see what computer I'm going to try and get that would be this one right over at Alienware. I'll likely be getting the Impressive Value one in a Conspiracy Blue, but if money allows I might get the Desktop Power one.

I'll still be poking around and listening to GSP and what not, and I'll be using yahoo messanger if anyone wants to get ahold of me after November 30th.

(This all might be a moot though if I can't get financed for this computer. But I'm fairly sure I can get financed... if not ah well you all know what to get me for my birthday )

Why a laptop?
You get a "stronger" PC for around $800 if you went with a desktop/tower model (if you built it yourself).

Because I want out of the dungeon... I mean basement.

But actualy I was planing on compairing the desktop to the labtop but their server is a bit busy right this second. Perhaps after work.

Out of the basement eh. Hmm not exactly sure why you'd need a laptop for that other than no real room for a full computer somehow. But other than portability, the 'tops realy have nothing else but drawbacks compared to a desktop. Desktop = lower price, better functionality usually, more upgrade options for future, and more weight

Why a laptop if you want mobility? I would much rather get a fragbox. Some upgrading, the power of a desktop PC (or a little below), and a much more compact package.

Alienware is a good choice Mumon. Their customer service and support are top notch. But the shipping might suck.

All right, I've just not had time to poke around at the dext top options, but when I poked around with it before going to work I tried to set up one that was about the smae as the labtop I set up in power and features.

It was almost half again as much as the labtop.

So as I say I've not had time to poke around with the features and I likely picked some strange option for some strange feature I didn't realy need.

I don't go for subpar, and I don't go for used. The desktop I am currently using is fully upgraded and can no longer be upgraded without a radical rehall. The lap top I have designed at Alienware outperforms every feature of my current computer, and has the added perk of being able to be used at the beach, or the park, or on the couch in my underwear if I so choosed.

Unless I get a flatscreen Monitor (Perhaps that's what put the cost of the computer up when I had been doing the Desktop stuff), I can't fit a bigger monitor on my desk. (This labtop I have designed has a bigger monitor than the one I currently have right now)

So incase you are curious this is the computer I have currently designed as a labtop:

[1] Area-51m™

Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
Desktop Enhancements: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager
Case: Area-51m Case with 15.4" WideSXGA+ 1680x1050 LCD Display - Conspiracy Blue
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor w/ HT Technology 3.0GHz 800MHz FSB w/ 512KB Cache
Motherboard: SiS648FX + SiS963L AGP8X Chipset
Memory: 1GB DDR PC-3200 at 400MHz - 2x512 SO-DIMMs
Video Card: Area-51m NVIDIA GeForce™ FX Go5700 Module with 128MB DDR
Video Optimizer: AlienAdrenaline: Video Performance Optimizer
Sound Card: Sound-Blaster Pro Compatible 3D Audio
Hard Drive: Hitachi 60GB 7200 RPM ATA100 with 8MB Cache
Smart Bay One: 24x10x24 CD-RW / 8X DVD Combo w/Software
Ethernet NIC: Integrated 10/1000Mb Gigabit Ethernet NIC
Wireless Network: Internal Wireless 802.11a/b/g miniPCI Card
Modem: 56K Modem with V.92 Technology
Optional Mouse: Microsoft® IntelliMouse Explorer 4.0 - USB - Conspiracy Blue
Alienware Exclusive Offers: Gamespot Complete - Free 90-day Trial (a $20.85 value)
Alienware Exclusive Offers: 10% off your next EB Games online purchase
Benchmark Software: 3DMark®03 Standard Edition
Free Alienware T-Shirt: Free Alienware® T-Shirt - Black
Area-51m Multi-function Infrared Remote control: Free Area-51m Multi-function Infrared Remote control (a $39.95 value)
Free Alienware Mousepad: Free Alienware® Mousepad


$2,530.00

Which strangely enough is $24 cheeper than it was earlier today... hum odd I checked a few times and I selected everything the same.

Anyways, I challenge someone to come up with a desktop that is as good or better than that (And looks as cool, IE: Alienware desktop)

But here is one realy big reason for wanting a labtop over a desk top: Dust

Desktop computers make all the dust in the world - learn new things all the time

and here I thought it was the bunnies' fault

Why not a ATI videocard? just out of curiosity...

Hum? ATI Video? Well honestly for the video card I just left it at the default.

Mumon wrote:Anyways, I challenge someone to come up with a desktop that is as good or better than that (And looks as cool, IE: Alienware desktop)

I can build a desktop for 1/2 the price with about 40% more performance in my sleep.. Give me a little caffeine and I could do a bit better..

Then again.. i've never been a big fan of dumping a lot of cash into laptops.. Give me something I can write on, maybe play a little music.. But I just don't see the point in spending horrendous amounts of cash on something that'll be a doorstop in 2 years.

As I say I'm not the best when it comes to designing computers. I know by using a computer if it's good or not, but if you show me the speks other than to know that higher is better when you are talking about Ram, Hard Disk Space, Screen Size, CPU Speed... ect... that brands such as Navidia vs Geforce? I have no clue. I'm a software person, not a hardware person. I just want a computer that I can run Sims 2 on that when I decide to throw a party in that game that I'm able to invite more than two people, like I am only able to do with my current computer.

I would like to get a computer from Alienware though because I realy like there cases. I know that realy shouldn't be a deciding factor, so I'm eager to see what kinds of computers other people could put togeather. Things I'm looking for in this order High Power, Cool Looks, and low cost. Gatewate or Dell might be less expensive (Don't know I've not looked) but they don't look cool so I don't want to get a computer from them.

The fact that I chose Labtop is that I like the idea of being able to use my computer out of my basement, perhaps take it with me to work and use it on my break, or take it to various Lan Parties Can't realy do that with a desktop without a big hastle each time.

So everyone that says they can build a computer that costs less than the computer I put togeather over at Alienware, I challenge you to design a cool looking one and show me the links. Otherwize I say you are speaking out of your ass like those Reets that you see in the backyards that are always saying they are going to go get their main.

I'm not interested in compairing *@#@ sizes with anyone when it comes to building computers, so if all you want to say is I could build a better one for a lower price please just shut up unless you want to actualy show me. I know I don't know much when it comes to building computers, that's why I like sites where I can get all my parts from one place and they'll build it for me.

So please please stop asking me why I don't go with a desktop or telling me that a desktop is better. I simply say proove it or I proclaim these people Reets:

Cotless and Timbrewulf.

Fogive me if I seem a bit angry, but unless I see specs side by side next to something with an internet handy so I can look up specs I don't understand I can't tell if one computer is better than anouther.

So Cotless I would love to by a computer for $800, but that just seems like a very low price for a good computer and I think you are talking shit.

Timbrewulf, I'll admit that you could likely build one for half the price with more performance, but me just knowing that you can doesn't help me one bit because I can't myself.

Anyways I'm just a bit stressed out because it's not just you two that are acting that way. There are a few games that I'm taking a break from to finance this computer and I've quite a handfull of people telling me that they could do better. All I'm asking is that everyone that keeps saying that they could do better to just put it back in there pants and do better. It'll take a lot of stress off of me.

All I'm asking is that everyone that keeps saying that they could do better to just put it back in there pants and do better. It'll take a lot of stress off of me.

Couldn't agree more. I don't wanna offend anyone either, but I hate it when I hear the age-old "could put a computer together for half price with double the power blindfolded sleeping drugged up and drunk." Okay, so list a price quote and time you can do it, y'know? Of course they never do. I can put a computer together that's better and cheaper too, it'll just take as many months for me to get off my butt and shop around to order the parts for it and then actually piece it together. Personally, I'm one of the few people who could put a PC together that's still going to recommend buying the system retail. It's not worth the stress on either end, and the better a person is at putting a computer together, the less likely you are to ever see them put a computer together for anybody but themselves. Dunno why, it's just a fact of life, I'm one of those people.

Be that as it may, I'm going to throw in my two cents, on video card alone:

I've been reading reviews and paying close attention to the customer responses on the forums:

Nvidia has more features, faster processing, and better support for their video cards than ATI, who basically treat their customers like crap and have about 1/3rd the video features available.

If you are asking for recommendations on a video card, I cannot stress how much I am flat-out ordering you to go with Nvidia/GeForce. You won't regret it.

(Another example: I just downgraded from my 128mb ATI Radeon 8500 to a 64mb Nvidea GeForce 400MX. The GeForce is working BETTER than the ATI did. And from what I can read on the forums, the same can be said in comparison of the newer cards too.)

Nvidia driver support is light years ahead on almost every platform compared to ATI.

ATI cards are great in the corporate sector. I work with a lot of engineering applications, and hands down the non-consumer level cards made by ATI are beating the Nvidia non-consumer cards. That's just a note there.

Anyway, I've been gaming for several years and I've used various brands of video cards that have appeared on the market. I currently have an ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 9700 Pro. I have to say, it sucks.

It sucks. My Geforce 3 64mb card is awesome. Works on everything, perfect picture. My Radeon9700 does weird stuff on the screen, and it was a known bug with the hardware. I had the run around for months trying to get an RMA replacement because I was getting sick from the screen.

Now I'm used to it. It's kinda weird when I watch tree's and stuff outside, I start seeing the lines in my vision moving up and down. Must be because I'm crazy.

I cannot stress it that Nvidia is a great product and you cannot lose with it. ATI has a decent product, but their support for their products doesn't compare to Nvidia. Nvidia constantly provides support in their driver revisions for older hardware, and while ATI does as well, Nvidia usually gains great strides in better performance out of the older cards.

Plus Nvidia video cards look better! Except the fans on some of them are pretty cheap with copper paint on them.

I just checked Newegg.com for prices and put together a system similar to mine.
Motherboard: Asus P4C800-E DELUXE
Processor: Intel Pentium 4/ 3.0E GHz 800MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology
Case: Antec Sonata
PSU: 380W incl. with the case
Soundcard: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 PCI Sound Card
RAM: 2 x Apacer 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200
HD: Maxtor 60GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
CD/DVD: Samsung Black 52X32X52X16 DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
GPU: Nvidia GeForce 5700
Mouse: Microsoft IntelliMouse
Keyboard: Microsoft
OS: Windows XP Home

Total $1038

I know this is a couple of hundred bucks more than I said, but I didn't need a mouse, keyboard, and I got WinXP for $10 through my school, and I got a cheaper case (big mistake).
Granted this rig is not portable, but it is cheaper and at least comparable to your dream machine

I would probably get a better graphics card, asside from that it oughta be sweet.
I'll put it together for you and FedEx it to you if you want. Just let me know. Or you can put it together yourself, there really is nothing to it. Sort of like expensive legos

me still needs a new computer.
i would like to have an alienware tower, but i doubt i can afford it
so in the end i ll probably get a selfmade again....

it would look kinda like your example coltess,
but without keyboard, os and with bigger gpu, harddrive and a dvd writer instead

I've been wondering alot about the Desk vs Lap subject lately and I must admit, the thought of bringing it with you is rather appealing.

That said, I'm an avid gamer and know only too well, than less than 19" screen wont do. I guess the females can agree with me here. Size DOES matter!
Problem is, you could easilly just attach a screen and keyboard to it while home, and use it as it is when not. My biggest worrie is the mouse. Need a propper surface and those are not readilly available.

That and laps are very expensive compared to desks, with less versitility for on the move upgrades. So I'm at a cross roads. It'll be a lil' while before I upgrade again, don't have the cash, tho I'd sell my body for it *sigh*
The piece of junk I'm using now really needs it. Oh well, I guess I'll find a way ^^

And even tho the export is gonna kill me... I'm SO considering AW... I want that lap! *droolage!*






Tm

Coltess wrote:Sort of like expensive legos

Well as for putting it togeather that wasn't the problem for me (I agree it is like legos), I thank you for the site suggestion and today after work I'm going to check it out and see what kind of things they have to offer.

Anouther site my mom suggested to me was Spartantech.com (She recomended it to me when I told her one of my coworkers was planing on buying a new computer... I don't like to let her know I plan on spending money). So I'll likely try that out, and try to plug in the exact same specs you just gave me there and see what it would cost through them. But I'll have to do that after work... I've only so much time before work and I want to get in some Sims 2 so that my own motives are up when I drive off to work.

Oddysee wrote:That and laps are very expensive compared to desks

Um... laps are free, desks cost money (unless you get a handme down or something...)

All kidding aside... is it Laptop or Labtop? I've heard it both ways (I've also heard notebook). So I'm mainly wondering was it originaly a B or P

I haven't thoroughly read this entire thread, but another GREAT online place to try that has never failed me (even for complete systems) is www.compgeeks.com

Those guys basically just rebuild and refurbish used PC's and PC equipment, and resell it at very good prices.

Mumon wrote: is it Laptop or Labtop? I've heard it both ways (I've also heard notebook).

ok, here is what i think:
its WAS called laPtop,because that kind of computer was previously used on top of your laP. but those were a little different than todays, they had a fixed screen.
The laPtops of todays are called notebooks, because they are foldebar ( is that the right word) like a book.