New Laptop

[suipsychic]

I'm new here, and I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but nowhere else seems to fit.

I'm looking to buy a new laptop to replace my PC. I would like something with at least 1G RAM and 100G HD. I would prefer an AMD processor, DVD Burner and a video card good enough to play some newer games (NWN2, ES:Oblivion, Half-Life 2).

The problem is, I only have around $1000 to spend.

Has anyone seen any laptops around that are a good deal for what I need?
Thanks.

 

[Detson]

Why would you want AMD? The new Cord 2 Duo mobile chips pretty much decimate Turion. Also, there's no way you'll be able to afford a discrete videocard equipped laptop for 1k. You can spec out a Dell M1210 for about $1500; I doubt it will play Oblivion all that well.

 

[g-paw]

Detson's right, it will be tough to find a laptop with a higher end discrete video card, other wise if you're in the U S, stores like Best Buy and Circuitcity have pretty good sales every weekend. Dell always has things on sale and at least with Dell you can order a Windows CD and reinstall the OS and get rid of the junkware all laptops come with. I'd stay away from Acer, had to re-install everything on 2 for a friend and my kid won a Acer Ferrari that had to be sent back because of a bad mobo. Their support is awful. HP and Gateway both seem to have pretty good reputations and Dell isn't bad though support isn't great from any of the companies.

 

[zenmaster]

For $1000 forget it.
I was able to just configure an HP DV9000z laptop with

1gb, 100gb HDD, AMD Turion(TM) 64 X2 Dual-Core TL-50(1.6GHz/256KB) , and a decent GPU w/dedicated ram for about $1100.

However, a "decent" GPU is not what you need for HL.
This laptop would play many games decently though.

I would plan on a budget of $1500-$2000 for a good gaming laptop.
For those Dell seems to have the best deals.
Lower end Dells have GPUs that use all shared ram which just blows for gaming.

 

[zenmaster]

In regards to Dell Support, I need to give them a plug because we hear so many bad things.

I bought a laptop a little over a year ago w/ a 3yr onsite warranty.
Well I just need to call because I wore out my mouse bad buttons and one was now permanently depressed.

I called Dell and was not on the phone for more than 10-15 minutes "diagnosing the issue". (I had all the facts in hand and did my own testing so things went fast.)

They had my PC fixed on Tuesday with a Sunday call.
They next dayed the replacement part to the local repair guy who came to my house.
I could not have asked for more.

 

[sunangel]

You'd be better off going to Notebook Review for help selecting a notebook. Their reviews helped me tremendously.