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[*MAFIA* Meeester]

I have to get a laptop for a few of my classes once I start this fall semester. It will have to handle alot of 3d modeling with CAD and be able to write simple code in java. What i've come up with is either an HP Pavilion or Alienware m11x. A netbook is also out of the question here.

with $1200 budget here is what both options give me

m11x:
11inch screen
4.something lbs
low-voltage intel i7
4gb ram (can upgrade later)
335m gpu
NO INTERIOR DRIVE
500gb 7200rpm
Office NOT included

pavilion:
17inch screen
7.something lbs i believe
2nd gen i7 (not low voltage)
8gb ram
6870 gpu
Microsoft Office included
Blueray
750gb 7200rpm

BOTH have a 2year warrenty, 64bit Win7, 5hr battery life on them but only the HP will give me a studen discount of %10. I am personally leaning toward the HP b/c it has everything better but I had to make sure and consult someone other than myself.

TL;DR question: Is it better to get a smaller laptop if im carrying it around all day or is the bigger one worth the extra weight? I still have my massive desktop in the dorm to come back to with office already on it. Also thank you for any advice.

[Waffleboy]

I'm in pretty much the same boat as you.  I'm bringing up my desktop but need a netbook or laptop for school.  If you're going to GT, I was there this weekend and they recommend a laptop over a netbook (depending on your major).  From past experience, I would stay away from a 17 inch laptop though to be honest.  I had one and it was cool but was really a big pain to carry around.  It just ended up staying on my desk most of the time.  For myself, I'm either getting a netbook or (more probably) a moderately sized laptop (15.4 inches).

[MeZmoriZe]

I'm in pretty much the same boat as you.  I'm bringing up my desktop but need a netbook or laptop for school.  If you're going to GT, I was there this weekend and they recommend a laptop over a netbook (depending on your major).  From past experience, I would stay away from a 17 inch laptop though to be honest.  I had one and it was cool but was really a big pain to carry around.  It just ended up staying on my desk most of the time.  For myself, I'm either getting a netbook or (more probably) a moderately sized laptop (15.4 inches).

Georgia Tech sucks.  Hokies all the way.

[*MAFIA* Meeester]

I actually changed my major so I had to go to a different college than GT. But that's irrelevant 

[Waffleboy]

Georgia Tech sucks.  Hokies all the way.

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-doctorate
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public

Just sayin'

Anyway, regardless of what college, I would still go for the netbook or for a 15ish inch laptop.

[*MAFIA* Wasserfaller]

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-doctorate
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public

Just sayin'

Anyway, regardless of what college, I would still go for the netbook or for a 15ish inch laptop.

#1, eat it!

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities-west/top-public


regarding the laptop, go for HP.

[*MAFIA* Scooby]

regarding the laptop, go for HP.

You best be trolling nigga.



Dell business laptops are great and reliable. Can't say the same for the Home product line though. Don't get that Alienware shit. It's like the Apple of the PC world. Shitty and normal components in a ricer case with LED's make fags like you think it's cool and must be fast. Protip: it's a huge waste of money and you will probably be ridiculed about it.

I currently have an IBM ThinkPad which is awesome. Just get any Acer or Lenovo laptop. Look on Newegg for daily deals and top sellers.

Also, you really don't need a super powerful laptop for the CAD and 3D modelling that you speak of. You don't do that intensive of projects that would require you to have extremely powerful laptops. Old desktops from like 7 years ago with WinXP in our school can still run AutoCAD and several modelling programs. Trust me, you'll be doing simple enough things that any computer from the past 5 years can easily handle.

[*MAFIA* Meeester]

Point well taken. Saw a good lenovo on tigerdirect for $900 that was more than enough so I'll find a decent one for $500 and grab some warranty for the full 4 years ive got ahead of me then take it from there.

[Waffleboy]

I think you'll be happy with that.  I've never owned a Lenovo personally, but I've heard great things about them.

[*MAFIA* Scooby]

See if something from here stands out to you. Also good to read the feedback on those products.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006740%20600003988%204802&IsNodeId=1&name=Top%20Sellers

[*MAFIA* Wasserfaller]

I've had my acer for 3 years now and it still works fine, but it's a netbook and i pretty much only use it at school.

[MeZmoriZe]

#1, eat it!

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities-west/top-public


regarding the laptop, go for HP.

Eat it, because it tastes better than what you have over there.

http://www.studentprograms.vt.edu/publications/pr2010.php

On topic: Get a Mac so you won't get viruses from porn.

[*MAFIA* Malbert]

Well I have an HP from almost 3 years now and it is getting a little slow; and gameplay has diminished from the graphic card shutting down while playing games because of overheating. Supposedly from looking up some reviews the place where the graphics card was put was a bad one in this model so point is if u plan on playing games check the overheating ratings. Totally agree with Scooby on the level for the computer science things, you won't need a great computer to do work. Whatever you get you will do fine in school with as long as it doesn't have problems, which I have never had problems with my HP for the almost 3 years that I have had it, but a lot of my friends who have DELL are always shipping their laptops away for fixing so whatever you do don't get a DELL! So all you need performance for is what you will be doing in your free time(gaming, downloading lots of crap, etc...); longevity of the laptop is what you will need for school from it. I don't know the other laptops but from my experience with an HP it was prime for gaming for 2 years, this last year I've had to blow a fan on my laptop to get the best performance from it which is as good as it was when i bought it. This last week though my charger actually fried! Plugged it in, it started to smoke, pulled it out, then it sparked, burnt right through the outer casing of the wire and was done; but here I am with my new one. So nice to see you all again.