I picked up an ASUS G97JH-A1 today. I was looking at them for awhile and Best Buy had a sale on what appeared to be the G97JH-A2. Same unit without Blu-Ray. So I go down and examine the specs and I find they have substituted the 1920X1080 Full HD LED screen for a 1600X900. Not only that but they stripped out the backpack and mouse from the deal. They say they will price compare but it is irrelevant since they throw their own suffix on the model number, and strip out some goodies to ensure there is no equivalent.

Same big box store BS I have witnessed before.

End of the day I got better value dealing with Canada Computers but it took me an hour to sift through the differences and verify what each had to offer.

Apple lovers enjoy....

Wow, sweet demo video. Looks like a nice machine.

I've never gamed on a laptop, I've never seen much point in it.  I always find the keyboard awkward and no way am I going to use a tough pad or nob to try and use the mouse to game, so you end up needing an external keyboard/mouse anyway.  So if you going to have the external mouse/keyboard anyway, why not go with the cheaper desktop, or take the money you save and buy better upgrades for a desktop.  

Plus, like an iMac, it can't be upgraded beyond adding some RAM.

Quoted from jonny_eh

Plus, like an iMac, it can't be upgraded beyond adding some RAM.

Correct but unlike an IMac I'm betting this rig is cheaper and far better for gaming then any iMac.  

Quoted from jonny_eh

Plus, like an iMac, it can't be upgraded beyond adding some RAM.

You shut your mouth, joHnny!!  

Holy... $1800's a lot of coin to drop on a laptop!  

**edit** never mind that.. I drop over $2k on pins, and they're not nearly as portable  

Congrats on the new notebook.  What are the specs?

I'm waiting on my new Alienware m17x

Nebula Red M17X R2
Intel Core i7 940XM | CrossFire 2x1GB ATI MR5870 | 8GB 1333MHz DDR3 | 17" WideUXGA 1920x1200 RGB LED | Slot Load Blu-Ray burner | Windows 7 64 bit

I get them because of portability.  I will never buy a desktop again.  I can game anywhere there is power plug, since these are terriable on battery life (that's what my mini is for).

Lance

Quoted from jonny_eh

Plus, like an iMac, it can't be upgraded beyond adding some RAM.

Not sure on this model, but most high end laptops are upgradeable.  You can change everything wireless, graphics, processors, HD, RAM etc.

I'm with Cobra99.  I've use a notebook as my main system (with external BT keyboard and mouse + extra large screen for several years now, and despite the fact that I build and have access to lots of interesting desktop units...I wouldn't go back.  The build quality is much better and the aspect of being able to haul my entire office with me on trips makes it essential. (Well that and 2 redundant on and off-site back-ups.)  

Quoted from Vengeance

Correct but unlike an IMac I'm betting this rig is cheaper and far better for gaming then any iMac.  

Better for gaming? Definitely. Cheaper? No. There's a $350 iMac for sale on this message board right now.

Quoted from jonny_eh

Better for gaming? Definitely. Cheaper? No. There's a $350 iMac for sale on this message board right now.

How old is that? You can't order a new iMac with a 17" monitor anymore.  Lets compare apples to apples.

Quoted from Cobra99

How old is that? You can't order a new iMac with a 17" monitor anymore.  Lets compare apples to apples.

New iMacs "start from $1299". Whether or not it's worth the price is up to you, but it's still technically cheaper.

Quoted from jonny_eh

New iMacs "start from $1299". Whether or not it's worth the price is up to you, but it's still technically cheaper.

Oh come on, that's weak.. hell, a calculator from Staples is cheaper than both of them as well.  So's the Sharpie on my desk, here..

Quoted from Cobra99

Congrats on the new notebook.  What are the specs?

Model     G73JH-A1
Operating System     Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit)
Processor     Intel Quad Core i7-720QM (1.60GHz)
Memory     8GB DDR3 1066 Mhz (2GBX4), 4skts, max 8GB
Hard Drive     1TB (500G 7200RPM x2)
Optical Drive     BD Combo Drive
Display     17.3" FHD 1920x1080 LED
Graphics     ATI 5870 1G GDDR5
Wireless     802.11B/G/N
Wired     10/100/1000
Bluetooth     Yes
I/O     4xUSB, 1xVGA, 1xHDMI
Card Reader     8-in-1
Webcam     2.0M
Battery     Li-ion 8 cell
Color     Black
Dimensions     8.0lbs/16.4" x 12.8" x 0.8" - 2.3"
Warranty     2 Yrs Global/1st Yr Accidental Damage/30 Days ZBD
Acessories     Gaming Bag/Gaming Mouse
Special Features     Numeric Keyboard, Dolby Home Theatre

It's not for me it's for my son. I take his hand me downs which this time is a two year old lesser gaming laptop.

Surprisingly the cost to build a desktop with the same specs is not a hell of lot less than the laptop. I wouldn't call this unit easily portable as it is big but portability wasn't the main issue as it primarily goes from desk to desk. The integration aspects of a laptop are why I now prefer this platform. That and a changed opinion on upgrading systems.

In terms of upgrading, I've learned my lessons. Upgrade to me is complete new system. Lesser systems get handed down to those of us with lower system demands. I call it life-cycling vice upgrading. Makes more more sense to me from my experiences rather than throwing costly band-aids on aging systems.

I am guessing that Alienware with a processor upgrade of about $1000 and dual crossfire GPU's cards must be coming in over the $3K mark. I was looking at the Alienware for that aspect but from what I have read Crossfire doesn't deliver the kind of performance improvement you would expect with multiple GPU's.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

Model     G73JH-A1
Operating System     Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit)
Processor     Intel Quad Core i7-720QM (1.60GHz)
Memory     8GB DDR3 1066 Mhz (2GBX4), 4skts, max 8GB
Hard Drive     1TB (500G 7200RPM x2)
Optical Drive     BD Combo Drive
Display     17.3" FHD 1920x1080 LED
Graphics     ATI 5870 1G GDDR5
Wireless     802.11B/G/N
Wired     10/100/1000
Bluetooth     Yes
I/O     4xUSB, 1xVGA, 1xHDMI
Card Reader     8-in-1
Webcam     2.0M
Battery     Li-ion 8 cell
Color     Black
Dimensions     8.0lbs/16.4" x 12.8" x 0.8" - 2.3"
Warranty     2 Yrs Global/1st Yr Accidental Damage/30 Days ZBD
Acessories     Gaming Bag/Gaming Mouse
Special Features     Numeric Keyboard, Dolby Home Theatre

It's not for me it's for my son. I take his hand me downs which this time is a two year old lesser gaming laptop.

Surprisingly the cost to build a desktop with the same specs is not a hell of lot less than the laptop. I wouldn't call this unit easily portable as it is big but portability wasn't the main issue as it primarily goes from desk to desk. The integration aspects of a laptop are why I now prefer this platform. That and a changed opinion on upgrading systems.

In terms of upgrading, I've learned my lessons. Upgrade to me is complete new system. Lesser systems get handed down to those of us with lower system demands. I call it life-cycling vice upgrading. Makes more more sense to me from my experiences rather than throwing costly band-aids on aging systems.

I am guessing that Alienware with a processor upgrade of about $1000 and dual crossfire GPU's cards must be coming in over the $3K mark. I was looking at the Alienware for that aspect but from what I have read Crossfire doesn't deliver the kind of performance improvement you would expect with multiple GPU's.

Very nice .  I also am getting mine with the 720QM but ordered the 940 and installing it myself for 1/2 the price.  They say you will not get a 50% increase with xfire but 25-30%.  Dell is replacing my XPS 1730, so the AW is costing me nothing, since I had high specs with my old machine they had to give me Duel 5870s.  The machine is around $3300 with the 720.  Can't wait since my 1730 cannot play SC2 without overheating  .

Makes sense if you can sell off the i7 720QM. What are the going rates on the two processors?

I know the G73JH will support the i7 820QM and 940XM.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

Makes sense if you can sell off the i7 720QM. What are the going rates on the two processors?

I know the G37JH will support the i7 820QM and 940QM.

These are extreme processors XM(unlocked core multiplier)
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140422076978&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160465190755&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

It's a giant leap from the QM processors

I've owned 2 ASUS laptops now, I love their stuff...but I will never own one again.

Their tech pairings are good, components rock solid...but build quality on everything else? (ie the housing) UTTER a**!

My bezel on current is cracked in not one, not two but THREE places. Think I can get a replacement? Nope...they had parts available for less time than the product was available on store shelves.

I'm on my second keyboard for this unit, previous unit also had a replacement inside of 14 months. The cooling fan on my CPU is on it's last legs, gets noisy as hell until the system is warm enough that I guess the bearings in have heated the grease enough.

I'll stick with ASUS in my desktops, but I'm not touching another one of their laptops with a 10 foot pole. Considering I don't even use it outside of my home more than 1 or 2 days a year, they are mess for what they are intended for, portability.

Quoted from Cobra99

It's a giant leap from the QM processors

That's another 50% leap in cost to up to the XM and dual GPU's in an M17. Don't think he really needs the power quite frankly, at least immediately. The computer was selected on a price/performance basis based on realistic expectations of performance from a single 5870 and decent i7 CPU. Take price out of the equation and I am into what your building, but another grand + I am having a tough time justifying.

I suspect the furnace could be left off this winter with dual 5870 GPUs running.

Ken. Not saying it's any better than what you have, experience will tell, but the case on this system is completely different from it's ASUS predecessors.

Cobra, any reason for siding with ATI over NVidia?

Quoted from necro_nemesis

That's another 50% leap in cost to up to the XM and dual GPU's in an M17. Don't think he really needs the power quite frankly, at least immediately. The computer was selected on a price/performance basis based on realistic expectations of performance from a single 5870 and decent i7 CPU. Take price out of the equation and I am into what your building, but another grand + I am having a tough time justifying.

I suspect the furnace could be left off this winter with dual 5870 GPUs running.

Ken. Not saying it's any better than what you have, experience will tell, but the case on this system is completely different from it's ASUS predecessors.

Cobra, any reason for siding with ATI over NVidia?

Yes I agree but since this is a replacement I can splurge and buy the fastest processor.  ATI over Nvidia well the only choice is the ATI for the 17x but there are rumors of the 620 coming but I have to get the replacement now since the one I have doesn't work 100%(m1730) and I am alittle miffed at Nvidia for the 8800 issues I have now.

Quoted Text

In terms of upgrading, I've learned my lessons. Upgrade to me is complete new system. Lesser systems get handed down to those of us with lower system demands. I call it life-cycling vice upgrading. Makes more more sense to me from my experiences rather than throwing costly band-aids on aging systems.

The biggest problem with "upgrading" is that very often the CPU/memory/Motherboard are tied together.  By the time you want to upgrade, you'll usually need to replace all three of them, since the CPU and memory specs would have changed, so new CPUs won't work in the old board and vice versa.  Yes, you can save on not replacing things like a case/hard drive, and you can breathe some new life into an old system with a graphics card upgrade, but major upgrades almost always end up being pretty close to new system builds anyway (maybe within $100-$150 of the same price).