Opinions on this laptop?

Nissan11

Nissan11

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Location
Marston, NC
I'm looking for a new laptop. I want a big screen and good sound for watching DVDs. I also want something FAST for image processing, which will be the primary purpose of the laptop. I don't want to spend more than 700. I've been looking at Dell, toshiba and HP. I think this is what I am going to order:

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...lp/psg/notebooks/High_performance/dv7t_series



I will order it with the i5-460m processor, which is pretty fast from what I have read. Anyone familiar with this laptop and/or processor?
 
Brand only matters so much.
The major components are one of the most important factors...along with your preferences and what you like in a laptop/features.
Intel i5 is a very good processor. Probably more than you will need, as i3 is a very good processor as well.
 
to be fair, a laptop that will be FAST enough for image processing for under 700 might be hard to find...

I suggest

www.newegg.com

or

www.ibuypower.com

Check those places and see what you can find. Honestly for what its worth, as far as DVDs, Id look at a nice set of headphones to augment the sound. Most laptops SUCK in that department.

Go with AMD processors if possible. They save a fair bit of money and operate essentially the same. I love mine, and will never ever go back to Intel.

Will this be a laptop you carry around frequently or more of an at home deal? Keep in mind a 17 inch screen will add considerable weight.
 
Yeah, what you're looking at there isn't so much a "laptop" as it is a portable computer. Anything that size is going to be too big, too heavy, and too hot to sit in your lap.

But if you pick something smaller, you have to deal with the smaller screen. That's the trade-off.

"Image processing" encompasses a huge range of possible uses... but if all you're talking about is running some Photoshop, then what you've got is more than enough. Hell, that machine will do 3D modeling. It says it's got 6GB of DDR3... should be fine. I'd probably opt for the video card upgrade, so long as it doesn't cost a fortune.
 
If you are looking for a image processing/graphic design laptop, all the designers I know that use non-mac laptops have the Dell M6400.

I also recommend checking out the reviews at newegg.com. The reviews on there are generally the best on the net when it comes to computer parts.
 
loki_racer said:
If you are looking for a image processing/graphic design laptop, all the designers I know that use non-mac laptops have the Dell M6400.
I also recommend checking out the reviews at newegg.com. The reviews on there are generally the best on the net when it comes to computer parts.
Click to expand...

You're talking $2500+ for a Precision laptop. He said under $700.
 
Couple of things:

I have found the big screen laptops to be too heavy and unwieldy. A smaller, ~15" screen is going to be A LOT lighter, easier to manage and just as good.

HPs are good units. I've got 2. However the FIRST thing you do when you get it is do a COMPLETE wipe. They come from the factory with so much crap on em that slows it down, its not even worth it. Once you get rid of all the junk, then its a good computer.

BTW, my HP desktop is over 3 years old and my HP laptop is over 2. The Desktop needed a hard drive about 2 years ago and the laptop just keeps working. Both are used for gaming, word processing and images (I'm talking photoshoot work). The desktop is getting long in the tooth but I'm gonna do some minor upgrades to make it last for another 2 years. The laptop has no trouble.

For images, IF you are serious, get a device to calibrate your screen.
 
loki_racer said:
Sub $700 is stiff price requirement.
Click to expand...

How do you figure? The machine he picked out has equal specs to a 17" MacBook Pro... on several points, it actually has BETTER hardware than a top-of-the-line Mac.

If all he's looking to do is tweak photographs in Photoshop, he could do that with any $400 laptop.
 
saf-t scissors said:
How do you figure? The machine he picked out has equal specs to a 17" MacBook Pro... on several points, it actually has BETTER hardware than a top-of-the-line Mac..
Click to expand...

Aren't most windows machines going to have better hardware than a top of the line Mac for around 700? :lol::lol:
 
Before you buy an HP DV series make sure you look up the issues they have. I see a lot of these at work (I do computer repair at ATD Computer Solutions). I've seen them come in DOA, wireless cards go bad, DVD drives go bad, speakers, screen inverters, screen back-lighting, actual screens, pretty much every part of the HP DV will go out eventually and I mean normally 2-3 years. We have had 2 DV series HP's one a DV7 and one a DV9 die on the bench while getting repaired. The DV6000 is definitely the worst model but they all have the same issues. The reason for these issues is because they heat-sink that is used to cool the CPU is all connected to the GPU (graphics processor unit) and the fan that is supposed to cool this heat-sink is extremely small with very little vents for air flow. So the laptop will create so much heat that it melts the solder and they lose connection to the board. It is fixable but it's a PITA and there is no telling how long it will last. I'm not saying you shouldn't buy one just make sure you are well informed before you buy any laptop. There are plenty of laptops out there that will do exactly what you want for a pretty decent price.
 
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