Seeking advice...

Lord TSC

Looking to buy a new laptop, since my current one is nearly dead. It overheats, crashes randomly and isn't all that reliable anymore, so thought it would be a good time to get a new one.

Budget is about 1,200, but can go a little over if needs be. Since I have a minilaptop for work and college, this would be primarily used for gaming and surfing the web at home, so I'd like a decent enough device. I'm not looking for something that will still play top new games in two years time. I'm in to WoW, thinking of trying some new MMOs, so I'd like a graphic card that can play current-to-older games pretty well.

Doesn't have to be too mobile since it would mainly be for home use. Preferably Windows. I'm also going to be akward here. Since I'd be ordering with parent's credit card, I have to order from a pretty well known site. Mom's details were stolen a few months back and a pretty hefty bill ran up. As such, she only wants me ordering on repituble sites, rather than unknown ones. I've had past expierence with Dell, and like that they let you customised your laptop during the ordering process. At the same time, if there's better options which are safe, I'm open to trying them out. Warrenty would be pretty important as well.

So yeah. Think I've listed everything that the topic here said I should. Any advice is appreciated

Alanstrainor

Since you have a mini laptop, would a desktop not be better seeing your needs? It's just something to consider, because the difference between a 1200 laptop and a 1200 desktop will be unbelievable.

Lord TSC

I have a perfectly good desktop at the moment, but there's a few reasons I'd rather a gaming laptop of some sorts. For one, I often like to play MMOs with my brother, and thus we need the desktop AND a laptop. The other is I have a bad back, and sitting at the desktop destroys it. Laptops are brilliant because I can sit in comfort on the couch and play away

Voodu Child

You say it doesnt have to be too mobile, but just how large a screen are you willing to accept? Asus 8942G is going to offer the mobility HD5850 for around your budget (depending on processor) but its a hefty 18.4" model.

You're not going to want to sit with that on the couch :pac:, not to mention that any gaming laptop would overheat unless it was on a good flat surface anyway.

Lord TSC

Measuring my current laptop, it's just over 15 inches (You measure diagonally, yeah?). I've no problem with it on my lap, but yeah, I'd imagine that going up to 18" would be a bit of a hassle. <_<''

Also, I don't think I said this, but I'd like a decent battery as well. Know I may be asking a lot here, but it drives me nuts that my current laptop is now down to about 45 minutes battery life....

Lord TSC

Going to bump this a single time before moving on.

Dell have a few good looking laptops but cause I'm not that smart with these things, I was hoping someone could give me quick opinions.