Laptop Advice

[DaGamingMonkey]

I recently landed a job that has me traveling quite a bit, I'm looking for a lap top that can keep up with me on the road and still run some alright games.
The last time I bought a computer was in 06 so I'm behind on what's "up to date" and have no clue what is a good deal or not.

Few things

Want to spend 600 or less
Need to be able to buy it from best buy (have a few gift cards)
I prefer a full keyboard (with the numpad on the right)
Size isn't THAT big of an issue although the heavier it is the less appealing it would be.
I would also prefer HDMI out but don't need it.

Main uses for the computer

Internet Browsing
Music
Lil bit of gaming (Minecraft is one I will be getting into I'm sure)
I've never used Steam and I've heard good things so games on there would need to be able to run.


Thanks in advance

[jeffro11]

600 will get you nothing I'm sorry to say. You can get an Acer... with a sub par video chipset, thats about it. Youll have to spend at least 800 to be able to even play Left 4 Dead 2 decently for example. Bad Company 2, forget it. Portal 2? Maybe on super low settings.

You say you need a full keyboard. These only come on 17" models, the entry level 17" models will run at least 600. These have a really shitty intel video chipset that will struggle with Minecraft.

In all honesty, you are much better off buying a used laptop from craigslist, or ebay that was top of the line a few years ago as these are infinitely better then laptops found in stores today. Sad but true.

Sorry for the rough news.

[YoshiEgg25]

If you're looking to spend around $600, it's a better idea to check out Costco for computers than Best Buy. I got my Gateway NV59C there for $650 or so, and it can easily run those games.

It's actually going for significantly less than that online now, since it's an eight month old computer and there's better stuff out there.

[Ziggy]

I got my HP on sale for about $600. Wouldn't have been able to afford it, but I have a New Egg preferred account, got 12 months no interest on it.

Few things

Want to spend 600 or less
Need to be able to buy it from best buy (have a few gift cards)
I prefer a full keyboard (with the numpad on the right)
Size isn't THAT big of an issue although the heavier it is the less appealing it would be.
I would also prefer HDMI out but don't need it.

I believe my laptop meets your requirements.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834157117

As you can see, it's been phased out. But I'm sure whatever current model they have is about the same price and specs.

I have no clue what gaming is like on this thing though, never played anything but Window's games. I suspect older games would run fine, but I've never installed any. Outside of gaming, it's been a pretty solid computer. I have my desktop as my main PC, I just use the laptop for portability.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Unfortunately, 600 will get you at best a mediocre computer with a terrible screen, terrible game performance, and terrible durability. Especially ones from Best Buy. I've never seen a decent computer there in my life.

[DaGamingMonkey]

Let me add to this
For games I'm interested in older games (starcraft, halflife, diablo 2)
MineCraft is really the latest game I'm looking to play.
Portal 2, Bad company 2, L4D2 and Anything more modern I can just play on my console when I'm home.


When looking @ specs what is the nows "average" because most likely it's better then what I've been running.

[Niode]

Let me add to this
For games I'm interested in older games (starcraft, halflife, diablo 2)
MineCraft is really the latest game I'm looking to play.
Portal 2, Bad company 2, L4D2 and Anything more modern I can just play on my console when I'm home.


When looking @ specs what is the nows "average" because most likely it's better then what I've been running.

You might want to look at slightly older hardware and going for linux. It will save you buying an OS and linux can easily run all those games via wine or natively under Java/openGL.