NYT: The New Breed of Gaming Laptops Get Serious 312
securitas writes "The New York Times' Seth Schiesel writes about hardcore gamers and the growing trend toward high-performance gaming laptops. Traditional enterprise computer manufacturers like Dell and HP are entering the gaming markets dominated by VoodooPC and Alienware, with the specialty high-end PC makers going the other way and breaking into corporate markets. There are some accompanying graphics and quotes from hardcore gamers about the Alienware Area 51m, Dell Inspiron XPS, and VoodooPC Envy m:750."
I don't know... (Score:5, Insightful)
But How often do you need to be in that kind of situation to buy a gaming laptop? I have a desktop PC specifically for gaming (among other things) and a laptop for remote work in the library. Is the high latency/low brightness/low color quality of the laptop screens really a good idea for gaming?
I don't know, I always keep my laptop strictly for work and my desktop for everything else. I don't know anyone who would seriously game on their laptop.
They need to be easily upgradeable. (Score:5, Insightful)
We really need a common standard for laptop video cards.
Why game on a PC and not a console? (Score:1, Insightful)
To the topic, I can see if you want to game on an airplane you would need a laptop or some console that doesn't exist today, but isn't a great deal of excitement in games these days all about interconnected gaming with the First Person Shooters?
thats comical (Score:5, Insightful)
Shane M. Kluskowski, 16, leaned over the row of empty caffeine drink bottles that separated him from Victor and said that he was washing dishes 20 hours a week at a nearby diner to pay off his own $2,100 laptop.
"It's the best investment ever," Shane declared. "I am going to keep it for the rest of my life, probably, because I won't be able to afford another one."
Thats what I said about my 266mhz K6 laptop I bought in 1998....
I think every geek felt that way once, when the world was shiny and new.
Maybe I'm bitter... (Score:4, Insightful)
but if I were a teen today I don't think my parents would buy me a $3199 laptop for playing games. linky [nytimes.com]
Yeah, this is probably off-topic... (Hey, you kids! Get off my lawn! Meshugganah brats... *grumble*)
PS If your kid is saying "It works as good as a normal computer" perhaps games shouldn't be a priority. I'm just sayin'.
Are they easily upgraded? (Score:2, Insightful)
Which of course leads to my other rant: I wish they would design PCs so the average joe could upgrade them without having to open the case. Aside from taking away business from companys that upgrade PCs, is there any reason why CPUs, video cards/network cards/etc (except the motherboard of course) couldn't just be encased in plastic modules so that Joe Schmo could just plug them right in (something along the lines of the old video game cartridge)? (Something like the slot1 pentium cpus) This would require drastic changes to the ATX layoug, but it seems like it would be a good thing in the long run.
Re:I don't know... (Score:5, Insightful)
LAN parties (Score:5, Insightful)
Anyone think of battery life? (Score:3, Insightful)
Will this stimulate upgradability of laptops? (Score:4, Insightful)
Many personal users, especially gamers, have held the opposing view - buying the best machine that their cash can buy and supporting the machine themselves. Many machines have been given new leases of life through CPU, memory, sound- and graphics- card upgrades. Desktop PCs architecture is incredibly open.
I wonder if the manufacturers will cater to this new breeed of laptop buyers. Will we see upgradable graphics cards? How about an upgradeable motherboard? Will there eventually be a range of components from different manufacturers that could be used to build a completely custom laptop?
I guess that it's time for a new standard. Desktop PCs have had the AT and ATX standards to help ensure physical interoperability between components. Newer standards (FlexATX, MicroATX etc) have helped spawn smaller desktops.
AFAIK, no such standard exists for laptops. Yet.
Re:I don't know... (Score:5, Insightful)
I parked it on my desktop for another 9 months and then sold it on Ebay. Got a little more than half of what I paid for it, but that was still enough to buy a decent desktop machine from Dell and a 20 inch monitor.
The only time I really missed it is on plane flights, but whats the point of buying a laptop that only leaves your desk twice a year?...
The laptop I buy has to wieght less than 5lbs, have more than 5hrs battery time (without an extra battery) and have kickass specs. So maybe in 2010...
More than just a few years- (Score:2, Insightful)
You could have a Porsche and Rick Mears will still own you with a Cavalier.
Re:eMachines too... (Score:3, Insightful)
I recently replaced the battery on my brother's PowerBook. Apple's supposedly top-notch hardware failing less than six months from purchase.
Shit happens. And then is when you wish for good support. (My international warranty was honored, but had to wait weeks while they imported the battery)
Gaming laptops, too early (Score:3, Insightful)
You dont need top of the range to play. (Score:2, Insightful)
On the other side it is your money and you can do what you want with it. (Beer, bedroom companions, laptops
Maximum PC (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Desktop... (Score:4, Insightful)
Can't imagine the temperature issue of a graphics card inside a laptop.
Fake plastic trees (Score:1, Insightful)
astroturfing n. The use of paid shills to create the impression of a popular movement, through means like letters to newspapers from soi-disant `concerned citizens', paid opinion pieces, and the formation of grass-roots lobbying groups that are actually funded by a PR group (astroturf is fake grass; hence the term). This term became common among hackers after it came to light in early 1998 that Microsoft had attempted to use such tactics to forestall the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust action against the company.
This backfired horribly, angering a number of state attorneys-general enough to induce them to go public with plans to join the Federal suit. It also set anybody defending Microsoft on the net for the accusation "You're just astroturfing!".
Methinks slashdot needs to be more careful about who gets moderated up in these discussions. Of course if parent poster is not guilty, let them prove it.
Re:Convenience vs. Necessity (Score:3, Insightful)
For you it may not make sense. For some people who have high disposable incomes but not much living space (like those in NYC), a high power laptop capable of gaming is a fantastic option. Saving $1500 is nothing compared to not having a huge desk (with a massive 21" CRT and a huge tower) eating up a huge chunk of your space. Since you're going to buy a $2000 laptop anyway, adding another $1000 to make it a kick-ass gaming system is not a big deal.
Re:Problem is still motion blur (Score:1, Insightful)
Then again, I'm not the type of person to bitch if mp3's have "degraded sound quality" in comparison to cd's. If I can hear the band and they sound good, then I'm happy. If I can see your head explode as I fire the lightning gun, then I'm happy.
I'm a college student. Even with the brightness all the way up, bluetooth and 802.11 enabled, I can still make it through the day taking notes and playing games in between classes. The battery life isn't bad at all, but I don't think that's such the big deal for the kids buying these laptops (or, more accurately in most cases, having these laptops bought for them). I think it's just easier to lug around a 12 pound laptop than it is to lug around your 21" Flat Screen CRT and Antec Mega-Tower with 30 pounds of water-cooling equipment in it. These kids aren't going out to Bryant Park to play Everquest, they're not gaming on the bus. They're bringing their computer with them to friend's houses, home to visit the parents, to the library, all places where they most likely will have easy access to 110VAC.
Re:Know what, gaming kitties? (Score:2, Insightful)
What would you say to someone who DOES enjoy games, but learned Java in 3 months while TEACHING 15 hours a semester? Would you acknowledge that person as superior and redouble your efforts to exceed him?
Re:Why game on a PC and not a console? (Score:5, Insightful)
Sigh. This isn't even an apples and oranges comparison at this point. It's an apples and bicycles comparison.
To go to the heart of the argument -- console vs PC gaming. The two are completely different and serve different markets and needs. The PC is somewhat more expensive (yes... somewhat. I can build a PC capable of running all current games, as well as all games planned for release in the next couple years, for $617 ($525 w/o OS)), but can do considerably more than just play games. It also runs those games at resolutions and polygon counts that console gamers can only dream of -- even the Xbox on a HDTV is lower res. Some games -- FPS, most RTS or turn-based strategy games, and MMORPGs -- are simply best on PCs due to the better controls available. The networking, upgradability, and mod scene is far better on PCs as well (although consoles like the Xbox are making strides on those). Games are cheaper on PCs (which is countered by the lack of a rental or resale market, but not everyone rents or resells console games either).
Consoles are easy to setup and play, have a lower initial investment, and are far better for head-to-head playing. Some game types are far better on consoles -- particularly fighting games, platformers, driving games, and most sports games in general. The downsides are largely covered above (poor graphics, poor online support, poor/non-existent patching or mods, higher long-term cost).
But why, you ask, did I say it was an absurd comparison? Because you're trying to compare a console to a highly specialized laptop. Take that console, put a 15-17" LCD screen on it and then make it run purely from battery power for 1-3 hours. You might want to contemplate wireless networking too, in order to try and level the playing field a bit more. Let me know what the cost is then.
Oh, and a perfectly capable gaming laptop can be had for about $1500, as several people have posted. To be fair, a console is $99-$179... unless, of course, you want a memory card or more than one controller, or online support...
Re:Warning!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Fake plastic trees (Score:4, Insightful)
Methinks slashdot needs to be more careful about who gets moderated up in these discussions.
I absolutely agree. Posts such as yours should never be moderated this high. Just because someone is clearly impressed with a laptop that they've purchased (one that I am considering purchasing, as well) does not mean that they were paid by the laptop manufacturer to advertise it.
Of course if parent poster is not guilty, let them prove it.
Ever heard this expression: "innocent until proven guilty"? It's quite a popular phrase, and I think it very well applies in this case. The burden of proof is on you, so if you're going to accuse someone of astroturfing you better have some real proof. Show a connection between rosewood and eMachines, especially considering the number of "Insighful" and "Interesting" posts in his post history.
Laptops really can replace desktops now (Score:2, Insightful)