Large screen laptop -can anyone recommend one?

[5MUG]

Can anyone recommend a large screen laptop? I was going to replace my old machine with a nice flat screen desktop, but am having second thoughts as it would be really handy to be able to do the odd days' work at home (accounts!). I have been looking at the 20in screen one from Dell.
Thanks for any replies.
Sarah

[2something]

I have one of these:

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/product...



Which works nicely for me, it's only 17" but you can hook it up to a dual monitor display as well (most laptop graphics cards will only let you do one monitor + laptop monitor)



Pretty heavy at 4kg or so.

[ThePassenger]

Have a Dell XPS M1710 (and a Gen 2 before that)... never again. The 17" screen is nice if your on a desk all the time but not al that 'portable', too big to use on a train or airplane IMHO and gets rather heavy after a while.



It's symptomatic of the two Dells (and their none XPS derivatives) that the hinges tend to wobble slightly as the laptop is jostled when open... I believe more than one person has had the hinges fail.



17"'s (and above) will chew through their battery very quickly; 3 hours looks good until you realise a 12 or 15 screen is getting double that (screen backlight is THE main energy drain for a laptop).



Not trying to disuade you, just pointing out that whilst they look really good you're often better off with 'cheaper, smaller laptop' + USB keyboard & huge monitor at home. As to which brand... personally, Dell, Acer, Novatech, Sony, IBM/Lenovo... all pretty much of a muchness, plunk for the best waranty option possible though because a) better safe than sorry b) You really want to wait 4 weeks for them to fix it?

[2something]

I can't disagree, I rarely use my 1710 on battery, usually transport it places by car and have it plugged into monitors + wireless keyboard most of the time. So it's more of a portable desktop for me than a laptop. I rarely take it on planes and trains as it's quite heavy despite my extremely high level of physical fitness ...

[roadsweeper]

ThePassenger said:

...you're often better off with 'cheaper, smaller laptop' + USB keyboard & huge monitor at home. As to which brand... personally, Dell, Acer, Novatech, Sony, IBM/Lenovo... all pretty much of a muchness, plunk for the best waranty option possible though because a) better safe than sorry b) You really want to wait 4 weeks for them to fix it?

Agreed. I have a Dell laptop with a 17" screen which was absolutely top specification when purchased and intended (and worked perfectly well) as a desktop replacement. However, I use it 90% of the time at home on a docking station with a 24" screen and full size keyboard and mouse attached. When I replace the laptop I'll be going for one with a smaller one for all the reasons mentioned previously: battery life, portability and the fact that I use it docked most of the time.



I'd recommend going for a powerful, highly portable laptop and spending the moeny you save over a 20" model on a decent screen, keyboard and mouse for use at home.



Finally, HP laptops are probably the best, but more expensive. Dell, Sony, Toshiba, etc. are all good brands.

[Whitey]

what are Acer laptops like?



cheers

whitey

[markduffy]

Have you considered a large screen & docking station for use at the desk and a light portable laptop for when you are away?? The dell M90 (17" screen) weighs in at almost 4Kg (and the XPS M2010 (20" screen) weighs over 8Kg)

Edited by markduffy on Wednesday 23 May 22:55

[UK_WS6]

5MUG said:

Can anyone recommend a large screen laptop? I was going to replace my old machine with a nice flat screen desktop, but am having second thoughts as it would be really handy to be able to do the odd days' work at home (accounts!). I have been looking at the 20in screen one from Dell.
Thanks for any replies.
Sarah

,
,
,
Too heavy.
Go for 17 wide screen
MAX