Need some opinions on a good gaming laptop

Now I know your all itching to say it but I do not want to hear about how "bad" a gaming laptop is compared to a full PC. I travel a lot and we don't have the physical space in our house for another computer and a laptop is the next best thing.

I mostly want to run RTS games on it *cough*Starcraft 2*cough* with maybe the odd FPS hear and there. Now I was kinda looking at this one: http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-alienware-m17x?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs#reviews

I am willing to pay big bucks for something that will last me. The reviews however are putting me off a bit and I have read that tech support for it is bad and that it seems to over heat frequently so the person had to carry around a cooling unit.

I've also heard that a brand called "Falcon" was better but I haven't been able to find one at a Canadian vendor yet (or maybe I'm just not looking hard enough).

Too the point: I want some recommendations for gaming laptops and some opinions on what is best and what isn't. I'm a computer noob so that will explain my lack of knowledge on this subject.



Thanks.

Specs:

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit Edition) with Service Pack 1

LCD
17-inch WideXGA+ 1440x900 (900p)

Processor
Intel Core2 Duo P8600 2.4GHz (3MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB)

Memory
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz – 2 x 2048MB

Hard Drive
250GB 7,200RPM w/ Free Fall Protection

Video Card
Single NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M, 1GB

CD ROM/DVD ROM
Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW)

u dont have to listen to me...

but if you can afford it go with a high end alienware

I too am a computer noob, but I know this will help.

How much is big bucks to you?

I would also like to point out that I love my laptop more than any other of my electronic do-hikckeys, despite poorer specs.

Falcon North West is EXTREMELY prestigious... like, the respectable version of an AlienWare... but my god, they are even more expensive than alien ware.

That laptop you're looking at will certainly run any game....

I have a lot of things I could tell you about why a desktop is such a better option... but I'll spare you that lecture.

Kislany wrote:
but if you can afford it go with a high end alienware

Is your super computer an Alienware? I cant really remember.

Cheese wrote:

How much is big bucks to you?

I'm willing to spend 4000-4500 bucks. At least to me that's big bucks, I don't know about the rest of you though.

ReconToaster wrote:Falcon North West is EXTREMELY prestigious... like, the respectable version of an AlienWare... but my god, they are even more expensive than alien ware.

Define "respectable".

That laptop looked smexy! Im going to look up this falcon shit now..

Ascendant Justice wrote:Define "respectable".

Well... Alien Ware just comes off as sort of 'gaudy' I guess.

Falcon Northwest laptops are very sleek and edgy.

I'm not really sure which company has the best build at this point though. I would probably bet on Alien Ware, as they seem to stay more in tune with the competition.

Oh wow...

Their laptops can be customized with art! Look at their gallery!

Link

ReconToaster wrote:

Ascendant Justice wrote:Define "respectable".

Well... Alien Ware just comes off as sort of 'gaudy' I guess.

Falcon Northwest laptops are very sleek and edgy.

I'm not really sure which company has the best build at this point though. I would probably bet on Alien Ware, as they seem to stay more in tune with the competition.

Hmmm then I'll probably stick with Alienware. I've still got a lot of time to decide on it so there's really no rush.

Ascendant Justice wrote:

Kislany wrote:
but if you can afford it go with a high end alienware

Is your super computer an Alienware? I cant really remember.

Cheese wrote:

How much is big bucks to you?

I'm willing to spend 4000-4500 bucks. At least to me that's big bucks, I don't know about the rest of you though.

ReconToaster wrote:Falcon North West is EXTREMELY prestigious... like, the respectable version of an AlienWare... but my god, they are even more expensive than alien ware.

Define "respectable".

I have about 160$, so that's big bucks for me...

Alienware are what are called 'boutique' computers. Nearly a quarter (its clsoer to 50% for dekstops) of what you pay goes to the style of the device.

And I've alwasy found gaming laptops (even simple HP ones) to work awesomely with a wireless mouse and everything.

but if you're gonna be focussing on RTS, get a notepad laptop, so you can just straight up touch the screen to get shit done.

I suggest a cordless mouse for the laptop as an extra... I've tried playing shooters with a touch pad and I can tell you it doesn't work well.

lol halo 1 on lengendary, with a touch pad.... -.- jests Christ never again...its hard on normal

Touch pad just sucks for gaming in general.

I hate how it is unpredictable (for me) during any RTS, and how much you have to scroll to get anywhere on the map.

go with alienware man they make some very good computers

KristallNacht wrote:Alienware are what are called 'boutique' computers. Nearly a quarter (its clsoer to 50% for dekstops) of what you pay goes to the style of the device.

And I've alwasy found gaming laptops (even simple HP ones) to work awesomely with a wireless mouse and everything.

but if you're gonna be focussing on RTS, get a notepad laptop, so you can just straight up touch the screen to get shit done.

I've never really had that great an experience with touch screens. But would a wired mouse work just as well?

Alienware, Mac, or Dell.

Wired mouses will work, but its better to have wireless so you don't get tangled up in the wire

Nocbl2 wrote:Alienware, Mac, or Dell.

He said 'gaming laptop'

I'd go with a Falcon Northwest FragBook DRX.
Go here, select the FragBook DRX (description mentions something about a kitchen sink)

Mac is going to be one of the PC's specifically realeased for SC II, and would easily be able to run it.

Macs are not gaming computers though

Nocbl2 wrote:Mac is going to be one of the PC's specifically realeased for SC II, and would easily be able to run it.

How is a Mac a pc?

Elabajaba wrote:

Nocbl2 wrote:Mac is going to be one of the PC's specifically realeased for SC II, and would easily be able to run it.

How is a Mac a pc?

well the term 'PC' really just means personal computer, but we've sort of made it to mean any kind of desktop/laptop computer that ISN'T apple. So yeah, a mac is not what we call a PC.

I got a Dell