Dave, I remember reading in some thread somewhere that you were delighted with your new laptop. I may have to purchase one shortly so I''d like to know what it is. If anyone else has any recommendations I''m all ears. My main priority is that it must be extremely reliable (I may be working in India for some time, so there''s not much chance I can get it repaired). I''d also prefer it to have 17" screen but I guess I''d be able to live with 15" if need be.

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ai-junkie.com

If it helps, I''ve had nothing but a good experience with my Sony Vaio purchased last year. The built in wireless is absolutely fantastic (very strong reception).

Check em out

Joel Martinez
http://www.codecube.net/

I have a Dell Inspiron 8200. It is the most brutal laptop on the planet. Here''s the specs on mine - though you can customize it on their site:

P4 1.6
256 MB RAM (I left room for another 256)
30 GB HD
64 MB Nvidia GeForce4 Mobile
Advanced 15" screen that is much brighter than most laptops and has a viewing angle that is twice as big. It also runs native 1600x1200 and looks damn sharp!
Fixed 24x CD-RW/DVD
Modular 40x CD
Modular Floppy
2 Modular Batteries (1 with/1 purchased extra = 4+ hours total)
Integrated 10/100 and Modem
Mini-pci 802.11 wireless LAN card (installable inside case and uses metal frame of computer as antenna)

We also got external optical mice, the port replicator, the external keyboard, the nylon carrying case and a 3 year, next day, on-site warranty with "complete care" - which means that I can spill a beer in this thing and someone will be at my door tomorrow to fix the things for free.

Durability? We have had our 2 Inspirons since last May, Laurie hardly EVER docks hers. She totes it around the house all day (gotta love the wireless LAN!). I go from my pad to hers (where the office is) at least once a day. I also take it to bars, restaurants, parks, my kids'' sports games, airports, etc VERY often. It is TRULY mobile and I''ve had not ONE problem with it physically.

As a note, about 70% of the laptops at the GDC were Dell and about 80% of those were Inspirons. You don''t have to believe me... it seems to be the official laptop of game developers.

I would seriously advise going out to their site and trying to customize one up for yourself just to see what it is you could do with it. Make sure you get the killer screen from hell like I did... You won''t need an external monitor.

Dave Mark - President and Lead Designer
Intrinsic Algorithm - "Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"

Dell all the way; I have an Inspiron 2650. Fast, cheap and reliable. They had an offer on screens recently... look into it!

Great. I''ll check the Dell and the Sony out. Thanks guys.

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ai-junkie.com

Yup Dell all the way. 8200 with the Radeon 9000, 1/2 gig, and 1600x1200 screen.

Goto to dell.com select home->laptops. They are always running specials (150 off instantly, free delivery, free memory upgrade, free screen upgrade, free DVD CDRW upgrade, $250 mail in rebates).

They generally have 3 specials going on at the same time, each special lasts 3 to 4 days and they are all overlapped so that each day there is a new special.

I waited 2 weeks before I managed to save my self around $600. (free shipping, free 128->512 memory upgrade, instant 150 rebate, free DVD->DVD CDRW upgrade and free screen upgrade).

Final cost $1650, without the rebates it would of costed me $2200+.

The screen is astounding and with the 65MB radeon 9000 I am hitting frame rates of 100+ in 1600 by 1200.

Check em out.

D.V.

Carpe Diem

I live in the UK. I''m just checking the Dell site out now. I''m already lost with the warranties! The website doesn''t really go into what they can do for me if the laptop screws up whilst I''m in India... that would be a nightmare from the deepest bowels of hell

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ai-junkie.com

Hmmm... isn''t that covered by travel insurance? You''re thinking about support over there? I''m not sure if any other company would if Dell doesn''t.

Contact them maybe? Or just assume everything will be fine...

I''m may be living in India for several months so I need the support.

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ai-junkie.com

I agree that you may have a hard time finding support for much of anything over there. I''m sure that their website might give you and idea of who/how they do support stuff there.

Dave Mark - President and Lead Designer
Intrinsic Algorithm - "Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"