New work/home laptop

DamoKen

Hi guys, been looking through the threads here so have a rough idea of what I'm looking for. However always been a desktop builder/user so unfamiliar with chipsets/card names etc in laptops.

So firstly budget wise I'd be thinking max 2k but from what I've seen there's some beasts out there for around 1500. If there's a difference of 200 between 2 machines though and the more expensive out performs by a significant margin I'd spring the extra.

Usage would be working from home as well as the odd game, music recording and editing using apps like cubase. Work apps would all be java based so need a beefy processor. From what I've read the I7 quad would be the way to go here?

So to summarise, a graphics card capable of playing the latest games, a powerful processor, screen size 17+, ram 4G+ and hard drive 500GB+.

I wouldn't be too fussy on the make though from a post by Dr Bollocko Asus & Toshiba seem to be the most well built with HP coming bottom on the table.

Anyway if anyone has recommendations would really appreciate it. I'd normally spend a lot of time researching this myself, however just landed a new job and been given a budget to get myself a laptop by the weekend and buy at my own discretion

Voodu Child

Kobalt G870 (also known as Clevo W870CU)

Asus G73JH

Alienware M17x

They're all available with i7 quadcore and ATI Mobility 5870 (currently the fastest laptop GPU). They're also all pushing 2k by the time you spec them up, but if someone else is paying.... :pac:

To be honest, if you can live without the high-end GPU, you can get something with a i7-720QM for a lot closer to 1k.

TheAmateur

Do you by any chance use a firewire interface for recording music? Cos I'm actually looking for a laptop for recording/gaming too, and it's been really difficult finding with the right firewire chipset (Texas Instruments).
Found this website though. Their laptops are expensive enough(by my budget anyway, but they're actually within yours) but they're built specifically for professional recording. Only thing is the graphics cards they come with aren't amazingly good though... Oh and they all come with that chipset (Texas Instruments)

DamoKen

Voodu Child wrote: »

Kobalt G870 (also known as Clevo W870CU)

Asus G73JH

Alienware M17x

They're all available with i7 quadcore and ATI Mobility 5870 (currently the fastest laptop GPU). They're also all pushing 2k by the time you spec them up, but if someone else is paying.... :pac:

To be honest, if you can live without the high-end GPU, you can get something with a i7-720QM for a lot closer to 1k.

think I'll have to go with something a little less obviously "gamey" unfortunately but cheers for the links. I was looking at an Asus one the other night, think it's the same series as the gamer one you've linked to above but don't have the link in work. I'll post it up later.

@TheAmateur I use an external piece of kit which connects through USB. It's got it's own soundcard so not reliant on the laptop in that respect. Just use that for emulators such as Guitar Rig for effects and Cuebase for recording.

If you're looking for a cheap option for your firmware and it's instrumental recording might be worth checking out. Both Waltons and Music Maker stock some decent hardware for around 120.