Another laptop thread --- desktop replacement.

[Monte Carlo]

Many years ago (five, actually) I asked a question here about gaming laptops, which led to me getting an Alienware MX-series laptop.

 

Five years on it's still working just fine. It was a great buy, it's now at the point in it's life-cycle where it will either become a back-up machine / spare or be donated to a nephew. I'd recommend Alienware, FWIW, crap battery-life (comes with the territory) and it'll give you a hernia to carry around but man what a great machine in terms of build quality, reliability and coolness.

 

Now I want a 17" desktop replacement laptop for my study. I'll mainly be writing on it, and surfing and maybe some light gaming. My main gaming rig lives elsewhere in the Schloss.

 

I want to try something else other than Alienware this time, just because there's so much out there, so am looking for recommendations.

 

The brief, ladies and gentlemen: I require a fast, stylish, big-screen multimedia laptop that isn't Apple and I'm not really bothered about price. Am happy to drop two grand UK on it if I have to. A mechanical keyboard would be epic too, can you get a laptop with one?

 

Any ideas?

[ShadySands]

MSI GT80

 

Only one I've seen with a mechanical keyboard 

[Monte Carlo]

Excellent spot, Shady, but that's a bit too much of a lairy, dragon-emblazoned monster-truck type machine.

[mkreku]

Asus G771JW?

 

http://www.asus.com/Notebooks_Ultrabooks/G771JW/

 

(Core i7, GTX960M, so good for more than light gaming and it's not a monster truck design)

[Monte Carlo]

Asus G771JW?

 

http://www.asus.com/Notebooks_Ultrabooks/G771JW/

 

(Core i7, GTX960M, so good for more than light gaming and it's not a monster truck design)

 

I really like the look of that, 17.3" monitor an' all.

 

Edit - my only issue with some gaming laptops is the rear-positioned keyboard... it seems squished too far back or is it just a trick of the angle the machine is photographed? I do a *lot* of typing.

 

Edited April 15, 2015 by Monte Carlo

[ShadySands]

Excellent spot, Shady, but that's a bit too much of a lairy, dragon-emblazoned monster-truck type machine.

 

Ha! I actually laughed out loud at that

 

It is rather garish looking

[Humanoid]

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Notebookcheck-s-Top-10-Gaming-Notebooks.98628.0.html

[Monte Carlo]

The MSI G80, btw, does have a sensible keyboard configuration situated at the leading edge of the case but it is simply too... over the top for my requirements.

[Gorth]

Only thing I lament on my current Alienware is the physical size. It fits in no normal laptop bags

[Monte Carlo]

Indeed, I schlep my AW about in a Tactical 5.11 field bag, it fits nicely but it's not exactly what I'd call portable.

 

But when I get the beast out and boot it up people usually come and take a look because it's awesome in every way.