Large screen, crap resolution.
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Help Thoth buy a laptop
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large screen = good. My eyes aren't quite what they used to be.
But crap resolution = bad. Hmmm.....this http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_i..._id=072012 seems better. What resolution should I be looking for? And how does that change if I buy something with a smaller screen?
fnord
Personally I think that's a reasonable resolution for that screen size. Optimally, I would say 1920 * 1080 is better, but it might not be a difference worth paying a lot more for.
As much as I love online shopping this might be an instance where it'd be good to go see one in person and see what you thought of the resolution.
Also keep in mind if you're using integrated graphics the lower resolution is going to be easier to drive. You can also run at non-native, which works much better on the super high res displays in fancier notebooks, but it's still a potential complication.
I'd just make sure I handled a 17" notebook if you've not used one before. I don't care for that form factor at all, but it may not be an issue for someone who won't carry it around too much. (May 17th, 2015, 19:26)BRickAstley Wrote: Personally I think that's a reasonable resolution for that screen size. Optimally, I would say 1920 * 1080 is better, but it might not be a difference worth paying a lot more for. I'll definitely be going out to look at the machine before I buy.  I'm using the internet to browse and get some ideas of possible rigs before I go into the store to actually kick the tires.(May 17th, 2015, 19:31)sunrise089 Wrote: Also keep in mind if you're using integrated graphics the lower resolution is going to be easier to drive. You can also run at non-native, which works much better on the super high res displays in fancier notebooks, but it's still a potential complication. I'll mainly be using it as a desktop computer but I want something I can take with me to play my Pitboss turns on when I'm off visiting for a few days. So a bit of size and weight are an ok tradeoff for a nice big screen. Both the machines I was looking at had graphics cards in them but I haven't googled the cards yet to see if they are any good or not. The higher resolution would be nice to have if I can get it without too much of a performance hit.
fnord
May 18th, 2015, 02:38
(This post was last modified: May 18th, 2015, 02:39 by sunrise089.)
 (May 17th, 2015, 23:52)Thoth Wrote: Both the machines I was looking at had graphics cards in them but I haven't googled the cards yet to see if they are any good or not. Just FYI, the "Intel HD Graphic 4600" in the machine you linked to is an integrated GPU, not a discrete solution. That part is sort of midrange in the Intel space, though it's technically irrelevant since the store listing has a typo and the correct GPU is the HD Graphics 4400. I have no idea if you can find a laptop so equipped, but your ideal part in the desktop replacement scenario and without too much of a price increase is a 28 watt i5, which includes the 4258U, 4278U, 4288U, and 4308U parts. Due to the increased power envelope all of these have a base clock way higher than 15 watt processors like the 4210U in the linked to laptop, and they also have the Iris integrated graphics solution, which is the best option in the Intel space. I have no idea what availability or retail cost would be, but the list price CPU delta between the aforementioned CPUs and the one in the linked to machine is only $35.
Would that laptop run your existing monitor? Then you've only got lower resolution when you're on the move.
Completed: RB Demogame - Gillette, PBEM46, Pitboss 13, Pitboss 18, Pitboss 30, Pitboss 31, Pitboss 38, Pitboss 42, Pitboss 46, Pitboss 52 (Pindicator's game), Pitboss 57
In progress: Rimworld
well, I've bought the damn thing. Looks good so far except.....
I dislike windows 8 and all the crap that comes preloaded.  also: Firefox has lost the address toolbar at the top of the screen. How do I get it back? (I mean the space near the top of the browser window where I can drag a web address to create a shortcut icon) edit: HAH! Google to the rescue! I've got my bookmarks bar back. 
fnord
Holy crap!
What a difference in performance from my 10 year old mono core <1GB of ram pos.  \Civ isn't mushy. It's like a whole new game.  And it doesn't take 5 min to alt-tab between Firefox and Civ.  Win 8 is still annoying.....but that may lessen as I actually figure out how to do stuff in it. Thanks again for the advice guys!
fnord
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