My question to silentpcreview is this: Should I use only a laptop and spend the extra $$ to have a faster one with more storage? Or should I use the money that I would be spending to buy a small and quiet desktop computer?
This is the laptop I have been looking at, a Dell Studio XPS 16. The minimum specs that I will have are as follows:
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Processor: Intel T9600 (6MB Cache, 2.8GHz, 1066MHz FSB)
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium
Display: Full HD Widescreen 15.6 inch RGBLED LCD (1920x1080) W/2.0 MP
Memory: 4GB DDR3 at 1067MHz
Hard Drive: 500GB 7200rpm Sata Drive
Optical Drive: Slot Load Blu-ray Disc (BD) Combo
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4670 1GB
Wireless Card: Intel 5300 Ultimate-N Half Mini Card (3x3) with MyWiFi
Battery: 84 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
TOTAL PRICE: $1614
Upgrades that I would consider if I did not have a fast desktop to compliment my laptop:
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Processor: Intel T9900 (6MB Cache/3.06GHz/1066Mhz FSB) [color=darkred]Adds $275[/color]
Memory: 6GB DDR3 at 1067MHz [color=darkred]Adds $165[/color]
Hard Drive: 256GB Solid State Drive [color=darkred]Adds $445[/color]
If I did buy a desktop, these are my goals in order of importance:
1) Silent/Extremely quiet
2) Small in size (ie mATX or mITX)
3) Fast
4) Long lasting (ie won't be completely obsolete within a year or two)
I would be interested in what silentpcreview can come up with as a solution to this problem I am having.
NOTE: If silentpcreview thinks that any of the upgrades for the laptop should be added, be aware that this money comes out of what could be put into a desktop computer.
NOTE: Total amount of money I am willing to spend on this project is $2500.
I will listen to any advice that is given and consider other opinions. I will not be buying until the summer, but I want to have an idea on what kind of options I should be looking at. So don't just tell me that I should wait until it is closer before I think about buying. This will help me keep thinking about what I should be working towards buying.
Thank you again for all your help. I have learned so much from this website and it has completely changed my idea of what computing should be.
PS: I forgot to say what I will be using the desktop and/or the laptop for. I will only be using them for school work, web browsing, and watching movies. If I do any gaming at all it will be very light gaming like Diablo 3 when that comes out. I do not see any problem with a graphics card such as a 4670 running that game.