Looking at getting a laptop

[Mount Suribachi]

For reasons of space, we're looking at replacing our desktop PC with a laptop. Now, my number 1 proviso is that it must play RTW as our 3 yr old PC is incapable of such an act :help:

So basically we want a laptop thats kinda like a mini PC so as not to take up half a room.

Any recomendations?

(mods sorry if this belongs in the apothercary, feel free to move if so)

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Sounds like you want a "Desktop Replacement" type laptop, ie high specs (can play rome), portability(size and weight) and battery life not as much of an issue.

[SwordsMaster]

Dont get a liquid-screen then, get a black screen one, there is a huge difference in quality.

Actually, Ive been looking at the Hp catalogue a few weeks ago, and there are a few really nice ones there...

[KukriKhan]

This place:

http://notebookforums.com/index.php?

has good user-level info on a variety of gaming laptops.
Alienware, Dell and Sager all make desktop-replacement rigs that can handle the most demanding games.

On the 'down' side: they're pricey (I bought an Alienware Area 51-m in Nov 2004 for just under $3K).

On the 'up' side: they're more upgradeable later than older laptops. Those 3 mfg's sell laptops that can upgrade/replace the CPU, vid card & RAM, so in 3 years, instead of buying a whole new machine, just buy the new parts, and swap.

1 thing to watch for: newest vid cards for laptops come in
PCI-Express, the wave of the future (or at least the next 3-4 years). Don't settle for AGP or PCI cards, that (tho' cheaper) may not be upgradeable in the future.

[Quietus]

Dell Laptop. ~:) Dell (http://www.dell.com)

[Byzantine Prince]

If you want it mostly because of RTW then get Alienware. IT blows away anything else.

If you want it for other powerful programs as well them get Dell. That's all I have to add for that. Most people have better places to look.

[Blodrast]

top of the page gives you a bunch of categories. site is pretty well organized too.
check it out. they even have a bunch of terms explained - if that is an issue for you or for another member of your family.

http://abcnews.com.com/4521-6527_7-5021302-1.html?tag=dir.tp

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Alienware currently has the most powerful laptop, with a 6800 GO and all that great stuff. It has under an hours worth of battery life and is 3.5k. But it is less expensive than the top of the line Falcon Northwest and Voodoo laptops, which are somehwhat less powerful. They have some extras, but in my opinion they are not necessary. Things like upgrade plans and better paint, not better hardware.

[ah_dut]

I think that the X800 is faster than the 6800 but I amy be wrong...
Anyways, one VERY IMPORTANT thing..what's you're budget and how long does it have to last?

[Uesugi Kenshin]

I think the 6800GT is the best mid to high range graphics card. It is Nvidia's standard right now and outperforms the X800 in all OpenGL games and is very closely matched in DirectX. If you see a benchmark for a graphics card make sure to find out which it is in. Nvidia is better with OpenGL and ATI is better with DirectX.