What kind of laptop should I get?

[Mikkamous]

Not sure if this is the right forum for this, but I figure a bunch of computer techies in a hardware help forum would be able to give me better pointers on what to get and what to stay away from so I don't end up having to post more on these boards

I'm looking to get a video editing laptop. I'd like it to be over 3.0 ghz with at least a 1 GB of ram. The thing i can't decide on is the video card, the brand (like toshiba, HP, alienware), and what OS I want. Particularly the OS because I was thinking of just getting Windows Media Center because of the video editing stuff it already has, but I didn't know if that'd be a waste when I can just go get something better? Looking for opinions here. Should I just stick with reg win Xp home/pro and buy all the video editing software/hardware?
Also my budget is between $1000 to $1500 at the moment. I've been searching lots on Ebay, but between scams, being outbid, and out of my price range I haven't had much luck any help would be awesome!

[jbone]

You want Alienware.

You will not easily find a performance laptop for $1000-$1500; at some point, you will likely be disappointed by a $1500 laptop if you attempt to perform any complex or high-end video altering functions.

[DeinReich]

Why a laptop? You'd be better off with a good computer at that price because only OK laptops are around that price.

[Scintilla]

I'd like it to be over 3.0 ghz...

No you wouldn't. As far as I know, the only mobile processors that run at such high clock speeds are the Mobile Pentium 4s, which run hotter and drain your battery faster than either the Pentium Ms or the Turion 64s.

(and my suspicions were right: <a href="http://www.intel.com/products/processor ... x.htm">the Pentium M</a> doesn't pass 2.2GHz, and neither does <a href="http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/Pro ... .html">the Turion 64</a>. the Turion 64 has a TDP of no more than 35 watts, and I think the Pentium M's might be even lower.)

Clock speed is NOT everything, people. Heck, even Intel acknowledged this when they started assigning their processors model number designations (instead of just calling them by their clock speeds like they'd traditionally done) in 2004.

[Mikkamous]

Very interesting. Ok so what processor would you suggest as far as a laptop is concerned? I see what you mean and I had been wondering the same. The reason I want a laptop is because I'm waiting to get a G5 Mac with final cut pro later on. So the laptop is more of a for fun take it to college and watch DVDs and make AMVs instead of studying maybe even play a few games... heck I know I'll end up doing homework on it too *sigh* but altogether that's mostly what I want a laptop for.

Thanks for the info and opinions! Keep them coming!

[Kalium]

Get a Powerbook? They're nice and shiny...

[Mikkamous]

Thought of that... but you know with the whole $1500 budget and all makes it kind of hard so what processor speed would be acceptable for video editing? Or just throw out a processor name like centrino or something I need to know what to look for. At the moment I've been looking at HP Media centers with P4 chips and 1GB ram with a 17" true bright screen. I read the reviews on them and all of them say horrible battery life. So if a slower Pchip will help it last longer and as long as I have tons of ram in it with a good graphics card I think I should be ok. Any agree or disagree?

[Scintilla]

Or just throw out a processor name like centrino or something

Clarification: Centrino is not a processor, it's a platform that includes CPU and chipset at least (I don't remember what else). The actual CPUs that power Centrino laptops are Pentium Ms.

At the moment I've been looking at HP Media centers with P4 chips and 1GB ram with a 17" true bright screen. I read the reviews on them and all of them say horrible battery life. So if a slower Pchip will help it last longer and as long as I have tons of ram in it with a good graphics card I think I should be ok. Any agree or disagree?

Agreed. As I alluded to before, the Pentium M- and Turion 64-based systems are better if you're looking for true mobility and not just a desktop replacement. I don't know how they compare pricewise though.

[dokool]

You will not get a good video editing laptop for $1,500, end of discussion.

My laptop has a P4 EE processor (3.4GHz with the L2 cache), 2GB of ram, 120GB of harddrive, and on battery gets about 90 min (17" widescreen) My latpop is also more expensive than the lease on my car (I got it from <a href="http://www.falcon-nw.com">Falcon Northwest</a>, an even better company than Alienware.)

If you want a video editing laptop, I suggest you save up until you can at least double, perhaps triple or quadruple your budget. It's totally not worth it otherwise.

[SnhKnives]

hehe forget all that. Get an ASUS laptop.

hehe, im just kidding, all of the above would be great laptops as well, but i am just a little biased since i myself have an ASUS laptop.

I got one for about $1700 and it was top of the line when i bought it last year.

Mobile Centrino Processor at 1.8 GHZ (equal to about a 2.8ghz normal P4) gives me about 3.5 - 4 hours of battery life.

1GB DDR333 allows me to run lots of programs at once, so i can use photoshop, after effects, and premiere at once.

Mobility Radeon 9700 allows me to play all the games that are currently coming out with decent resolution and quality.

a DVD-R drive allows me to author and create DVD on the move.