WTB: Laptop

[Killgannon]

Looking for a laptop as I'm doing a lot of travel for work and want my own laptop to be able to play games and stuff on.

Basic Specs I'm looking for are dual core, 2GB+ of ram, non intel video, and 15.4"+ screen

I'm a computer tech so if there's stuff wrong with it just tell me up front so I don't have to come down on you...

Looking to spend ~$300 but maybe more

[Tekki]

Gaming + Laptops = Expensive

Your best option, for value, is the Dell XPS series. I had one for years and loved it. My next personal laptop will be the same, just a newer model. The XPS m17XX series are great (Kind of large) I know they make them in 15" series. Still, you'll spend, at the very least, $500 for an older one in decent shape.

If your not wanting to spent a lot of cash and can sacrifice the gaming for now, those $300 netbooks out there are actually fantastic.

[Killgannon]

im not talking major gaming, im talking like emulators for NES/SNES/GB and flash type simple games, I dont have access to a decent enough internet connection while on the road to do any type of actual real gaming and leave that up to when I'm at home with my desktop. Suppose I should have been clearer on that

[Kohan]

Emulators are incredibly undemanding, and could be speedily operated on an older laptop which you can purchase for under $100. As you've said you're a technician, you should be aware of that.

However, you should also know that Flash games can be an entirely different beast. Even on a dual core system, they can and will suffer, and that's even if you have graphic acceleration disabled. Those sorts of games and simple emulators really should not be grouped together.

Nonetheless, if you're determined to find a cheap, modular option, I do know that some of the older Dells have Mobility Radeons in them. There are surely others.

[Killgannon]

Yeah, I'm pursuing a few... my main thing is all about screen size mostly or I'd get a netbook... I've had one before but I just couldnt stand the extremely small screen I'll mostly be sticking to emulators probably due to the fact that the hotel I'm staying at has TERRIBLY bad internet and I can hardly do anything at all ... Last night for example I couldnt even use putty on my shell to type anything it lagged so bad

[Kohan]

If you're really cool with sticking to emulators (which isn't a bad idea, as it literally affords you hundreds of titles to choose from, and gives you an excuse to play systems you never have before), you'll find plenty of cheap options. An old single or dual core would be all you need.

Find one on eBay or CraigsList (if not here) with a big enough screen, and -- I cannot stress this one enough -- ensure cheap battery replacements can be bought from a reliable vendor (e.g., Amazon). Naturally, the more mainstream the laptop, the more likely you are to find battery replacements. If you can do that, you're in business, and potentially for a long time.

[Killgannon]

yeah, I found one i liked on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/TOSHIBA-TECRA-A9...item3367ca65d7 however apparently paypal isnt letting me pay for it for some reason... nfc why

[Killgannon]

Finally said fuck it to ebay and paypal and bought this: http://www.amazon.com/Acer-LX-RD502-.../dp/B004ETLO6C