Need a powerhouse notebook for my dad

[bejabbers]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: in the next month or so

BUDGET RANGE: $3000

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: photo editing, internet, other stuff

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: this will be a notebook, so everything should be together

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, ncix.com, anywhere with the best deal

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US

PARTS PREFERENCES: needs intel i7 CPU, prefer ati gpu but not imperative

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: not required

MONITOR RESOLUTION: must be 1080p, needs to be at least 17"

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: needs to be a notebook computer, prefer dual hard drives (want one to be a SSD)


Alright, so here's the deal, my dad's been doing work for a friend of his and he's trying to pay my dad with a year old notebook that he says is worth around $3500 and he won't listen to me when I'm telling him that his friend is trying to jerk him around and that he'd be better of taking the money and buying something on his own (sorry for rambling). I sent him a few examples, but I think that this community could probably offer up some even better alternatives.

 

[Alvin Smith]

Go to the DELL site (mydell.com ?) and tell their system you are looking for a notebook for Video Editing (they have pointers to certified systems) ....
... My point being that the editing systems are hi-res and are certified for ALL ADOBE CS4 type tools (including Photoshop). Would prolly be a little overkill but the prices are right in that range. (You are parenting your Dad? ... None of MY beez-wax!)

HP also has certified (workstation class) notebooks.

The key term, here is "Workstation Class Notebook" ... That means "fast, with big, hi-rez screen" and larger drive(s).

= Al =

 

[Alvin Smith]

Mobile Precision M6500

Starting Price $3,666










Discount Details

Preliminary Ship Date: Unavailable

Print Summary











Your Selections Contains: 0 ErrorsPlease Take a Moment to Review

Review Your Mobile Precision M6500 Date & Time: 2/19/2010 10:23:18 PM


Mobile Precision M6500
Dell Precision M6500 Mobile Workstation, Genuine Windows® 7 Professional, 64-bit

Unit Price: $3,666





SYSTEM OPTIONS


Dell Precision M6500 Dell Precision M6500 Mobile Workstation edit
Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Professional, 64-bit edit
Processor Intel® Core™ i7-820QM Quad Core 1.73GHz 8MB edit
Memory 4.0GB, DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM, 2 DIMMS edit
LCD Options 17" Wide Screen WUXGA LCD Panel w/ microphone edit
Internal Keyboard Internal English Backlit Keyboard edit

GRAPHICS OPTIONS


Graphics 1.0GB ATI® FirePro® M7740 Graphics edit
Misc Cables & Accessories None edit

STORAGE OPTIONS


RAID Configuration All Hard Drives, Non-RAID, 1 or 2 drive total configuration edit
Primary Hard Drives 64GB Encrypted Mobility Solid State Drive edit
Secondary Hard Drive 160GB 7200rpm Hard Drive with FFS edit
Media Bay Devices 8X DVD+/-RW tray Load w/Roxio and Cyberlink PowerDVD™ edit

NETWORKING OPTIONS


Wireless LAN (802.11) Intel® WiFi Link 5300 802.11a/g/n Draft Mini Card edit
Mobile Broadband None edit
Wireless PAN Options None edit
Modem No Modem edit

SECURITY OPTIONS


Fingerprint Reader Options No Fingerprint Reader edit
Contactless Smartcard No Contactless Smart Card Reader edit

POWER OPTIONS


Primary Battery 9 Cell Battery edit
Extended Battery Service None edit
AC Adapter 210W 3P, A/C Adapter edit
Additional Power Options None edit

SOFTWARE OPTIONS


Productivity Software None edit
Security Software None edit

ACCESSORIES


Docking Solutions None edit
Input / Output Devices None edit
Speakers None edit
External Monitor None edit
External Monitor None edit
Carrying Cases None edit
Notebook Security Options None edit
Accessories None edit

DOCUMENTATION


System Documentation Resource DVD and Quick Reference Guide edit

OTHER OPTIONS


Asset Protection Software - Installed None edit
Operating System Recovery Option None edit

SERVICES OPTIONS


Hardware Support Services 3 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 3 Year NBD Onsite Service edit
Complete Care None edit
Installation Services None edit
Data Protection Services None edit
Keep Your Hard Drive None edit
ServicesReady None edit

ENVIORNMENTAL OPTIONS


Dell Recycling None edit
Environmental Options None edit

Mobile Precision M6500 Qty 1

Dell Precision M6500 Mobile Workstation, Genuine Windows® 7 Professional, 64-bit Unit Price $3,666.00


Description FIXED at Today's Prime Rate of 3.25% on ANY Precision using Dell Business Credit
This promotional rate is valid for the life of qualifying purchase balance! View Details


Catalog Number: 18 MLB1178
Module Description Show Details
Dell Precision M6500 Dell Precision M6500 Mobile Workstation
Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Professional, 64-bit
Processor Intel® Core™ i7-820QM Quad Core 1.73GHz 8MB
Memory 4.0GB, DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM, 2 DIMMS
Internal Keyboard Internal English Backlit Keyboard
Graphics 1.0GB ATI® FirePro® M7740 Graphics
Primary Hard Drives 64GB Encrypted Mobility Solid State Drive
Fingerprint Reader Options No Fingerprint Reader
LCD Options 17" Wide Screen WUXGA LCD Panel w/ microphone
Modem No Modem
AC Adapter 210W 3P, A/C Adapter
Media Bay Devices 8X DVD+/-RW tray Load w/Roxio and Cyberlink PowerDVD™
Contactless Smartcard No Contactless Smart Card Reader
Wireless LAN (802.11) Intel® WiFi Link 5300 802.11a/g/n Draft Mini Card
Secondary Hard Drive 160GB 7200rpm Hard Drive with FFS
System Documentation Resource DVD and Quick Reference Guide
RAID Configuration All Hard Drives, Non-RAID, 1 or 2 drive total configuration
Primary Battery 9 Cell Battery
Hardware Support Services 3 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 3 Year NBD Onsite Service

TOTAL: $3,666.00

 

[bejabbers]

trying to stay away from dell, they seem to be over-priced.

I've been trying to show him that he's better off with just 1 SSD and an external HDD, it'll save him lots of money.

and when I say he'll be doing photo editing and stuff, he's pretty amateur and really doesn't need anything professional grade. If he really needed something professional grade, he'd be better off building a tower for half the price.

I'm not so much trying to parent him as I am trying to show him that he's wasting his money.

 

[Alvin Smith]

Here might be a good place to start:

Using NewEgg's "power search" I chose screens "17 in. and larger" and also "screens supporting 1920x1080"

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=32&Description=&Type=&N=2034940032&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&PropertyCodeValue=398%3A6696&PropertyCodeValue=398%3A47205&PropertyCodeValue=398%3A39989&PropertyCodeValue=400%3A40986