Ask Engadget: best desktop replacement laptop?
By Darren Murph 
posted July 22nd 2010 10:37PM
posted July 22nd 2010 10:37PM
We're going to suggest looking Clevo's way if you'd rather not pay the Alienware label premium, but we've got a feeling some folks in comments may know a few more underground avenues for securing a well-built beast-of-a-laptop. Help a brother out, won't you?"I'm looking for a desktop replacement laptop. It needs to have at least a Core i3 processor, 3GB of memory and a 320GB hard drive. Of course, more is always better, but I'm not looking to spend a fortune. Recommendations?"
the macbook pro i7 17 inch
@wbeardell
I agree but for it to become a truly solid consideration, one wouldn't mind its price + the absent of Bluray.
@zuben20 then why, my good chap, am i downranked?
even wired news said it was a viable desktop replacement
sniff
@wbeardell: Apple hasn't released a 17'' i7. Stop posting.
@Squalor sorry. 15"
@wbeardell
viable != best
here's my pick:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834157279
@wbeardell it's expensive. i think the asker said he doesn't want to spend a fortune, which would have to do to get a Macbook Pro 17 inch.
@Squalor Then please explain why I am on a 17" i7 right now...
@wbeardell
Dell m6500.
MacBook? It's extremely limited on CPU/GPU, and even more limited on things that should be considered standard.
The m6500 runs COOL with a 920xm extreme i7 and 100 watt quadro 3800m. It's got four mem slots and is alot more portable than other comparable mobile workstations.
I know people are going to tout off asus's asinine product names, but really, these aren't workstation notebooks. They're over glorified books, and for businesses, don't offer comprehensive and CONSISTENT model cycles you can count on like precisions and hp elitebooks do.
Source: 5 years of selling and testing dozens of thousands in hardware.
@bpmarkh i actually just checked. you can get it custom, but it's not a pre-configured machine.
@wbeardell
Depends how long you want the laptop before you have to replace it. Go MacBook Pro. You might pay the extra now but it's better than what it will take to keep an alternative running after a year. You can always bootcamp Windows if you'd like.
@drumstx87: you can always virtualbox or parallels or fusion windows, linux or almost anything else, if not everything.
@wbeardell
what was the one toshiba laptop's model number?
engadget reviewed it and i remember it had a real good processor and everything just barely under a $1000 with an amazing battery life but imo it put skid marks on the macbook with its price and functionality
@manofchao5 Portege R705?
@wbeardell There isn't a desktop replacement. I got my i5 720 @ 2.6, 6 mo ago, then i got the Noctua NH D14 and now i have a quad core @4.2. Also got the 285 gtx and after 6 mo instead of upgrading it got another 285 gtx + 8gb of ram. IT ROCKS! You can't upgrade your laptop. You pay 1000$$ to a laptop and you stick with it until you buy another one..
my .2 cents
@elvinu yeah. i can see how that would rock. also, apple laptops are less upgradeable post-purchase than other laptops
"@wbeardell I got a macbook pro 17" i7, HP HDX 18" blu ray like both of them except when I carry the HP feels like it's going to break.
I have been using Lots of laptops and pcs for over 20 years, IT prog and design, and just got a macbook pro since last October, it is the best experience I ever had, I really recommend it, honestly and with good faith. Btw I use lots of apps at the same time , cs4, compilers, email, openoffice docs, xampp, etc and works perfectly.
@JeremyBenthem But where do I plug in my thumb drives?
@wbeardell
"I'm not looking to spend a fortune" kind of rules out that choice... $2,500 seems a bit much ;)
HP and Lenovo are my favs based on my limited experience w/ laptops (I only have owned 2 laptops and 1 netbook). Dell = crap IMO It should be easy to configure a HP or Lenovo laptop with those specs for less than $800, depending on screen size and other features.
@joeuu
assuming your "thumbdrives" are USB flashdrives, you can use one of the 2 USB2 ports, the USB2/eSATA combo port, or the USB3 port if it's a USB3 drive
@ Cameron
Toshiba Qosmio with i7 (880 and up)
Best laptop you can get for under 2g's. Mine has Blu-ray, USB 3.0, USB Sleep-n-charge, HDMI out, 3 USB 2.0, 18.4" screen, i7 (1.6 GHz, 2.8GHz TurboBoost), 500GB 7200rpm HDD with HD Impact Sensor, 4GB (initially, but got it to 6GB).
So happy talking about its specs.
@wbeardell
the macbook pro isn't really for this application. it is designed for professionals. they opted for a higher end processor that is able to conserve power and still maintain clock speeds of a 720 or 820. the 320m hybrid, discreet gpu isn't on the 'affordible' side either, but it is useful if you need that kind of power. bluray isn't really an issue unless you are buying this laptop to exclusively watch hd content. most laptops equipped with bluray don't even have the battery life to watch a whole movie without being plugged into a wall [it's just pretty on the spec sheet]. keep in mind the latest acronyms look good to geeks on a spec sheet, but are often buggy and power hungry [in other words the fastest i7 chip or the most bad ass gpu means you get about an hour of battery life, that's not portable, if that is truely what you are after]. the macbook pros have a lithium polymer battery. this gives them nearly 7 hours of actual usable battery life. they also have an ips [in plane switching] display which isn't good for gaming, but it is on the other hand ideal for color accuracy, something required for taking screen content to print. the macbook pro is an amazing machine who's specs are often dismissed due to ignorance, but it's not for everyone. it is expensive because it is designed for a specific user: pros, who need these features to get paid for what they do. and well, i don't think that's you [or most of the people that buy them or bitch about them].
i would recommend the hp envy series. beautiful machines with good specs at an affordable price. don't forget, you ALWAYS get what you pay for even if you don't know what it is or how to make use of it.
@wbeardell
Lol over 2000 for a computer. You can actually buy a pretty nice used car for that price. Who are you trying to impress buy overpaying for a computer like that? A 700 dollar Dell or HP will be just as good for a lot less. Apple makes crazy profits because idiots like you overpay for their products.
@unf2011
as it turns out jackass: some people actually get paid tens of thousands of dollars for what they do on 'that laptop'. like a car is the pinnacle of value. yeah, i could put 2 grand in a cd [you know the kind you get at the bank, not the kind that are hazing musics on it] and actually make money on it. that doesn't really solve the problem though. i still need a portable computer to make money! what an idoit.
@movies
Actually, using beleive they have IPS panels, the 320m is actually quite weak, two is a gaming card and not a professional card, and three the only option for graphics?
Everything else you listed is just Steve vaders death vice taking over your vocal chords and ability to ever consider alternatives once you purchase a cookie cutter Mac.
@movies Apple sucks!
@elvinu 20% of a penny? How useless, move on please.
@Failbait
* I beleive they do not have IPS panels.
@Luisbo69
"experience" is the buzzword to describe apples 'magic'. The truth is, you're excited at something new. I get excited too, but can recognize it's a purely stimulated-moments excitement and remain smart enough to really gauge whether or not a Mac is a truly great solution, and my answer is an un-mindcontrolled 'no'.
I have to quote a movie- 'if you want an experience, go see a jimmy buffet concert'.
@wbeardell
If you need a REAL computer, go for the HP elitebook series. Very durable, very customizable, all options needed.
@zuben20
Sony Vaio F series is one of the best on the market.
Brilliant Full HD 1920x1080 16.4" display (non reflective);
magnesium body, nice keyboard and stylish design;
blu ray reader/writer and Dolby® Home Theater surround sound;
Intel Core i7(or i5) processor and 4-8GB RAM; HDMI output for TV;
Different prices for various F11 and new F12 series models and customizing available at SonyStyle website.
The only regret - the previous FW series was with included free Adobe Elements+Premiere software (ready for photo and video processiong).
@movies Great tribute to the MacBook Pro, having said that, they're for almost anybody. If you go on Apple's site, they're focusing on Students, at the moment. And, even the newest MacBook Pros don't have IPS, yet. Only iMacs, iPads and iPhones have this technology in Apple's line up. I love my MacBook Pro, and it has more value than the HP, running all of the OS' and all.
@Squalor
Macbook Pro i7 for the win!
Here's a link to prove it if you don't think it exists... ;)
http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC024LL/A?mco=MTc0Njg1NzI
@jergru yeah, thanks for the support.
@Squalor Damn you're stupid, of course Apple sells i7 17inch MacBook Pros, you should stop posting.
@JeremyBenthem
I'll be honest. I'm a big fan of Apple (as if you can't tell by my screen name). However, if we're comparing specs only, go with the HP Envy 17. It's a beast of a laptop for the price. Apple is really going to have to step up it's game with the MacBook Pro line to compete with a machine like that with the price point and features that it has.
That's a ton of computer for the money.
@Squalor
You're wrong. Go to apple.com, select 17" and then select the processor upgrade.
@JeremyBenthem Portable oven :)
@JeremyBenthem
Envy is nice
For a cheaper option, I would pick
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220702
Alienware M17X
@benbuch1368
I'm on an M15X right now, I'll have to down rank you.
Alienware is now an utter piece of shit.
That is all.
@Redyz
Agreed, have had my M15x lid repaired TWICE under warranty so far. Second time they replaced my motherboard for no apparent reason, with one with a non-working wired ethernet jack, requiring it to be shipped back *again*.
Took almost a month to have some basic repairs completed, even having purchased the best possible 3 year on-site warranty (in actuality, Alienware products NEVER qualify for an on-site visit).
@Redyz I haven't used the M15X, but my M17X is awesome. I got a core i5 with a GTX260m for 1200$ in the Dell Outlet Store. It's been perfect. The games work great. I can run Crysis on slightly lower than full settings.
Plus, I can switch over to the integrated graphics card and get THREE HOURS OF VIDEO BATTERY LIFE.
Plus, this laptop is easily upgradeable. I have a second internal hard-drive (which I run Snow Leopard on). And in a couple years, if my graphics card or processor gets too outdated, I can easily upgrade that)
@Redyz
Have you ever considered you got a lemon?
I too am typing this from an M15x, and its been nothing but great so far.(Excluding the freaking touch-pad)
Plus, if you check out the consumer reviews the laptop gets on Dell's website(I know it snot the most reliable source but still, and there seem to be a lot of pleased costumers on notebookreview's Alienware forum.
So, Id say Alienware is an awesome candidate for a desktop replacement laptop.
@Hirshologist
to be honest, calling Alienware super expensive is so 2005, it's still a mark up but after the Dell takeover, the prices are much more reasonable
@tomservo291 I guess the Alienware M15X has a lot of issues, but the m17x is different (at least from my perspective).
But as far as customer service goes, I have also had a great experience. I have the standard 1 year warranty. I have had two problems. One was a fan issue (it made a wierd noise). They came to my house and replaced it...no problems. The other issue, I accidently spilled water on the keyboard, but I BS my way to having them come back and replace it for free.
Also, when I bought my secondary internal HD, they sent me the bracket, adapter, and screws for free.
@Hirshologist i am curious about the part of your comment where you said you had a different OS running on another HDD. I am fairly new to computers and such and i was wondering if i could buy another hard drive for my gateway desktop and run some sort of mac software like snow leopard on the same computer(i want to create apps for iphone/itouch). i have windows 7 on one and just was a mac software on it w/o buying a whole nother computer. i didnt think this was possible but any response would be appreciated! Thanks!
The Alienware M17x is about as good as anything on the market. It's solid, upgradeable, and looks good too. Sure, some people have problems, but it's usually a fairly well built machine.
The Eurocom x7200 is also a beast, and uses a desktop CPU. Price-wise it's about the same as the M17x, but doesn't have the aluminium shell.
The Asus G73JH range perform well, when they're not broken. There have been some quality issues reported on them.
Sager and Clevo also have plenty of 17" models with good processors and at least 8GB max memory. Any of those should do nicely.
@benbuch1368
Typing on my i7 M11X, it runs games and does everything I need, an external DVD drive, total cost: $1300 (including the DVD drive, 4 GB RAM, and core i7 1.2ghz processor (don't worry it overclocks and turbo boots pretty high in the 2.6ghz range) and a sweet 1GB VRAM NVIDIA card).
All I have to say is that, super-glossy kinda small screen aside, its a pretty awesome computer and it rarely gets hot to the touch.