Clevo's 18.4-inch M98xNU gaming laptop packs a lot of junk in its trunk

You'd think with an 18.4-inch panel, the engineers at Clevo could figure out a way to stretch the components within the case into a more horizontal orientation. Instead, this beast is as thick as ever (at least, it sure looks that way), but we suppose you need a good bit of breathing room when tucking a quad-core Intel processor, twin NVIDIA 9800M GTX GPUs and gigabytes upon gigabytes of RAM within a "portable" enclosure. Word on the street has it that the machine -- which also features a 1080p panel as well as a hybrid graphics system for times when hardcore frames-per-second pushing isn't necessary -- will be officially unveiled next March at CeBIT. Our initial thought is "wow, that's a long ways off," but maybe that'll give the size some time to grow on us.

[Via NotebookReview, thanks Vinícius]

[Kris120890 @ Dec 12th 2008 10:05AM]

I really want that. Problem is its going to cost a lot. More than I can afford.

[Flashpoint @ Dec 12th 2008 10:11AM]

18.4 inch screen...

dammmmmmmmmmmmn

[PyRo1509 @ Dec 12th 2008 10:14AM]

twin gpu's in a laptop...

The battery life must be horrid

[finite_rings @ Dec 12th 2008 10:16AM]

"i are beast"

[Byzil Mystwing @ Dec 12th 2008 10:17AM]

Why is everything turning to gloss these days? Sure it's shiny, but only before you touch it, then it's just ugly. Matte is so much better D:

[NoAndThen @ Dec 12th 2008 10:48AM]

Having used both extensively, I can see the advantages of matte, but seriously, anybody who's used a gloss screen for a while will tell you that matte screens just don't have the same clarity. Period.

Although I agree with the smudges comment.

Low rank me if you dbags must, but I think apple wentthe right route on adding glass over the gloss screen, as it protects the LCD, is way effin easier to clean, yet still gives the clarity advantages of gloss.

[BigDaddyM @ Dec 12th 2008 11:48AM]

I agree matte is the way to go... I hate the shiny stuff on the keypad area. They can do it on teh utside, but I do not like working while starring into a mirror or having to work in the dark.

Having used both I can confirm that a glossy screen does not improve clarity. PERIOD. It INCREASES contrast (not improve). Further, as a graphic artist, matte screen produce a more accurate image. Further, matte acreens are much less reflective further reducing eye strain.

I just ordered the Sony AW for the screen. I agree that their are faster laptops out there (its not quad core) but the screen makes it worth it.
M

[blah @ Dec 12th 2008 5:05PM]

i agree with NoAndThen, glossy screens appear brighter and sharper. matte screens just look dull in comparison.

as to the visibility in high lighting conditions, a glossy screen will be hard to see, but so will a matte

[Adderz @ Dec 12th 2008 10:35AM]

I never understood these beasts.

This might have everything but the kitchen sink, but it also costs as much as a small car.

This is obviously for gaming, but youll only be gaming for an hour with the DREADFUL battery life, plus youll get carpal from the un-ergonomic keyboard and mouse not to mention its barely a laptop at all because of the size and weight.


If you need to game, wouldnt it be much better getting a desktop? You dont game for 10min, so with a laptop youd be tethered to an AC adapter anyway?

Light gaming on a laptop sure, but i dont see the sense in these things.

[Hamidxa @ Dec 12th 2008 10:45AM]

They are called portable desktop replacements.

Me, I personally build my own gaming desktops (which will always be more powerful than laptops at time of build, and even 1+ year later, and for half the cost), and then for mobility purposes, I just carry around a fairly adequate $600 laptop.

But for those who are really tight on space and travel a lot, yet enjoy gaming as well, then these systems make sense.

[Adderz @ Dec 12th 2008 10:52AM]

But then comes the questions.

If they travel alot, who wants to carry around a 6t laptop with a 3t power brick?

And if they dont travel alot, why not just get a desktop? Surely you cant be THAT strapped for space.

I understand there may be a market for these things, but it seems like its a rather large market and i cant understand why...


"Me, I personally build my own gaming desktops (which will always be more powerful than laptops at time of build, and even 1+ year later, and for half the cost), and then for mobility purposes, I just carry around a fairly adequate $600 laptop."

I would do the exact same thing....

[Period.Man @ Dec 12th 2008 10:55AM]

Yeah that's basically it, I mean I'm in the military so I travel alot, and even if I'm in one place I'm always switching dorm rooms and whatever.

So while yes, I'm probably never going to be using a bulky laptop like this if I'm not plugged into a wall-socket with a usb mouse, etc.. When its time to pack up it still all fits in one backpack which is quite a deal more convinient than your normal desktop.

[yyyeeeaaahhh @ Dec 12th 2008 11:03AM]

Take it not as a portable laptop but rather a transportable laptop

Had I a gaming desktop I'd certainly not bring it on a plane or train when I work away ; and I don't have a car (in Paris... I'm not crazy enough), so I couldn't bring it to my friend's place for LANs.
Plus the laptop (without external screen) uses much less power to provide something like 3/4 of gaming power of a desktop.
I'm ok with the fact that you CAN'T play on battery or watch a DVD, though :(

[Sevenmack @ Dec 12th 2008 9:32PM]

I run a media and policy consulting business. Much of my job involves traveling between DC, New York and Indiana for months at a time. It also involves graphic design work (I can write it, lay it out, even do the drawing) when necessary, which means the entire Adobe CS4. A laptop like this is lovely to have for non-gaming stuff. Hell, it's better than owning a desktop.

[Period.Man @ Dec 12th 2008 10:54AM]

That thing must have some insane ventilation going on. I have a dell XPS laptop that runs super hot and it's got nowhere near those specs.

[Daniel Colonnese @ Dec 12th 2008 12:03PM]

Yeah, just a tad pricey.

[Kyle @ Dec 12th 2008 12:46PM]

I love my Clevo Based Sager np9262. Its massive yes, but it packs 2x 512 9800m gts, 4 gigs of ram and an Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHz. This puppy lets me play all my games on the go :). I cant imagine what that machine is packing!

[TareX @ Dec 12th 2008 5:04PM]

If it's in the sub $2000 price range, then it's MINE.

It's a long shot... but again with mass production, you can never guess the prices...

[Vinicius @ Dec 13th 2008 1:42PM]

You're welcome,its difficult to write my name correct here(isn't your fault,they do'nt accept some symbols in the site) XD