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shallowdeep -> RE: What Do You Think Of This Laptop.. (2/3/2012 2:35:55 AM)
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Any idea how the student in question might want to use it? For a quad-core i7, it looks like it's probably a decent price, but how well it would work for a student depends some on the intended use.
The processor is a fairly high-end one with four cores; two cores could be more cost effective – and still offer similar, or even better, performance for some types of use. Not everything is multithreaded, and even for workloads that are, there can be other factors to consider. Depending on the use, something like a faster 7200 RPM drive might be of more value.
Do they intend to carry the machine around with them all the time? How far do they have to walk around campus each day? While probably manageable, it's definitely not the most portable model; it's possible a student would prefer something smaller and lighter. It looks like this particular configuration might be unique to Costco, but a quick search for reviews of what seems to be the same chassis turned up at least one with concerns about the build quality. Especially if it's going to be crammed in a backpack frequently, I'd probably want to look at one in person before purchasing.
Do they play graphically intensive games or do any other demanding 3D work? The graphics on the computer are mediocre, just the integrated Intel part. For general use and even some casual gaming it's acceptable, but there are definitely situations it could be a disappointment. Also, software that can offload some computing tasks from the CPU to the GPU is becoming increasingly common. Trading down the CPU for a better discrete GPU could make sense for some people.
The screen resolution is on the low end for a 15.6" display. You can find the same resolution in most smaller 13.3" notebooks, which have the advantage of being more portable. I'd probably personally want something with higher resolution, but it's less of an issue if it will frequently be hooked up to an external monitor.
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