New Laptop

[Shaxx Attaxx]

Hi guys, thanks to the people for allowing access to post a thread

I have had my Sony VAIO VGN-FW27GU http://www.sony-asia.com/product/vgn-fw27gu for a few years now and it has been a great laptop. It runs Windows 7 and Photoshop pretty easily but I think it's finally time for an upgrade when Windows 8 comes out.

As much as I would love another VAIO I have heard they are a little overpriced (correct me if I'm wrong). My main uses for the computer would be office work a bit of photoshop and it would be nice to play a game or 2(doesn't have to be amazing graphics). I also enjoy the larger 16.4 inch screen for multitasking and I'm used to the 1920x1080 res.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

 

[Shaxx Attaxx]

Ohh I forgot. I would spend around $1000 to $1500 for the laptop. $1500 would be the absolute max.

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

Ohh I forgot. I would spend around $1000 to $1500 for the laptop. $1500 would be the absolute max.

You might struggle to get a well known brand at that price, for the screen size you want
If you can stretch it to $2k then something like this looks v.good
http://www.jbhifi.com.au/computers/hp/pavilion-17-inch-notebook-sku-86677/

if you look around you might find that model at a better price, but note it has 2TB hard drive (with 32GB SSD, that you could use for OS ... assuming Windows 8 fits on that! I can't remember what it needs), 8GB RAM and 2GB graphics

Although you might find that model cheaper looking around, I think you'll struggle to get 16"+ screen for $1500
Drop a bit in screen size (and therefore res. say 1366 x 768) and the price drops dramatically (sub $1k)

Even if you're willing to drop res (without dropping screen size) say to 1600 x 900, then you can get sub $1.5k
http://www.acer.com.au/ac/en/AU/content/business-models/travelmate
http://www.battech.com.au/acer-ac67354a-ati-6670m-i5-8gb/
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ASUS-GAM...4581409?pt=AU_comp_laptop&hash=item2a21233321
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ws/eBayI...2522&item=160853407771&lgeo=1&vectorid=229515

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

Forgot to mention portability
How portable do you need it to be? The bigger screen you get, the heavier that sucker is going to be
That HP one (first link) is something like 4kg

 

[Shaxx Attaxx]

I would take it from work to home so doesn't have to be too portable. My screen on my Vaio is good but I could go for a smaller screen as long as the resolution can still be high. In face now that I think about it, I could go to a 15 inch, I think (by memory) the Vaoi's do a 15.4?

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

Yeah they do
I haven't looked through all the specs but the third one in this list says 17" AND 1920 x 1080 for $1400 (that's the price on the Sony site, so no doubt you could get it cheaper). Could be just what you're looking for
http://www.sony.com.au/product/Comp...VE15118FG&models=SVE15117FG&models=SVE17115FG

 

[Shaxx Attaxx]

Interesting, I did have a quick look at that. http://www.sony.com.au/product/Comp...p_en_AU_i&models=SVE15118FG&models=SVE17115FG are these just the same but different screen sizes? and a bigger hard drive on the smaller one? I do see the resolution is lower, how does 1366 x 768 compare? Also compare to my old laptop is it a big enough upgrade?


Thanks a lot for the help by the way

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

17" model has a BluRay drive (don't know if that's important to you or not)
The 15" has a bigger hard drive

And then apart from resolution (and weight ... 15" is half a kilo lighter) much the same
There would be a reasonable difference between 1366 x 768 and 1920 x 1080 as far as icon size and stuff is concerned, but in actual image quality, not a lot I'd say. Hard to say if it's such a big difference that matters to you. Maybe get to a store that has some models on the floor so you can compare. The bigger department stores might have these (Harvey Norman carry a lot of Sony ... not sure if there is one near you. There's probably a fricken awful Harvey Norman ad near you)

How old is your current laptop? Biggest difference between the specs on that link you posted and the Sony's listed here is the processor
I was never a big fan of Centrino processors, but apart from that the model you have now looks pretty schmick (I'd say it was very schmick, in its day)

 

[Xtreme]

If you do end up sticking with Sony - JB Hifi currently have 10% off their Sony laptop range.

I got my mum a basic Toshiba laptop last week, tempted to make the jump and buy (another) laptop myself .

 

[Shaxx Attaxx]

Yeah it is probably about 4 years old by memory. Was pretty schmick back in it's day! Had this new thing called a blueray which I have used for Bluerays a total of once. How would it perform game wise? I see in this comparison the cheaper one has a better graphics card? http://www.sony.com.au/product/Comp...p_en_AU_i&models=SVE14A15FG&models=SVE15118FG

Like I said I wouldn't go to crazy on the games it would just be nice to have it there if I needed it.

Thanks Xtreme, A sale on Vaios is a rare thing.

 

[red+black]

Colleague obtained a new Asus Zenbook through work. Very nice.

 

[Shaxx Attaxx]

Well what a ridiculous coiendient! My laptop has exposed wires and 1 decided to break!!!! so its barely touching as I copy my hard drive to a portable. I have just purchased a http://www.sony.com.au/product/sve15118fg and upgraded the ram to 12gig. Thoughts on that purchase? 1360 all up including the upgrade. Update: It only cose me 1230!

 

[SugarShane]

Looks like i'm late to the party but i would've recommended Toshiba. Absolute workhorses of machines and some great models for good value around.

 

[Shaxx Attaxx]

All good mate. Yeah I went Vaio because thats what I was used to and save me complicating things with all the other good brands out there. My laptops power wires were exposed and broke so and my battery doesnt work so I was in a hurry to get one on Saturday. I was lucky this one was on sale. I'm happy with my choice, it's very fast. By the way soldered them back and all good with my old laptop, might use it for a little multimedia hub or something. Not sure.

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

Well what a ridiculous coiendient! My laptop has exposed wires and 1 decided to break!!!! so its barely touching as I copy my hard drive to a portable. I have just purchased a http://www.sony.com.au/product/sve15118fg and upgraded the ram to 12gig. Thoughts on that purchase? 1360 all up including the upgrade. Update: It only cose me 1230!

Looks like a nice choice, and can't complain about the price
Amazing how cheap laptops have become really

I'm sure it will be fine on the gaming front for the most part. Depends on the game of course, but fire up something like Gotham City Imposters and see how it goes!

 

[zoeybob]

Run Photoshop software, the most basic configuration.
In order to meet your needs, it is recommended to choose the configuration higher brand Notebook.
Notebook prices between 1000 dollars to 1500 dollars enough.

 

[Swansujelly]

Ohh I forgot. I would spend around $1000 to $1500 for the laptop. $1500 would be the absolute max.

bit of a bump but for 1600 new on ebay i got an Asus g75vw i7 3610, 256gb SSD+ 1tb drives, 16 gb ram, nvidia gtx 660m 2gb, wireless etc. A few months old now, and for a few hundred more could've got better overseas, but didn't want to pay more. But it is big. 17.3", and about 5kg with power pack. But it will do ok for now, being a laptop tho the GPU will be dated soon, but on some forums they rekon you can get ASus to fit a better card for a fee, no way i could install it. Oh, and this apparently has some of the best cooling ever in a laptop. Did I mention it's big! How does your Sony go?

 

[Shaxx Attaxx]

Massive. Very good buy!
The Sony is going well. I was used to such a slow start up with my old pc and now it's very quick. No time at all since the windows 8 update. Very happy with the purchase, still in the babying stage always carrying it in its case lol