Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

hello all...

I am looking into getting a nice laptop and was wondering if there is a consensus #1 for poker players?

I would like to get one with a big screen (1600x1200 if possible) that is high-quality but is reasonably affordable..
The Dell Inspirion looked nice, but figured id get some input here too.

thx

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

macbook pro.

more expensnive, but if $$ don't matter then it's definitely worth it

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

MacBook Pro with new OS that comes out on Friday is the route I'm going. Dual boot to XP for poker and have a great notebook.
I factored in portability and graphics card in my decision. MacBook pro has a dedicated 128 or 256 meg video card depending on which one you buy.
Weighing in at less then 6 pounds makes it a portable unit as opposed to a bulky desktop replacement like other notebooks I've owned has been.

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

I think a laptop with two external monitor plugs is a good buy, since as a poker player you are probably going to want to play many more tables. So two plugs and a big screen with good resolution. The only ones really worth it are 17" as the 20"+ lappys are VERY expensive. Outside of those considerations, there is a world of choice.

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

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MacBook Pro with new OS that comes out on Friday is the route I'm going. Dual boot to XP for poker and have a great notebook.
I factored in portability and graphics card in my decision. MacBook pro has a dedicated 128 or 256 meg video card depending on which one you buy.
Weighing in at less then 6 pounds makes it a portable unit as opposed to a bulky desktop replacement like other notebooks I've owned has been.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rumor is that Apple stores are just throwing Leopard disks into the bag with new computers Friday since they won't have inventory with it pre-installed. Means you can get it before the 6PM release time if that means anything to you.

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

Or does it mean that they won't hand it to you if you buy the laptop prior to 6pm and instead they make you pay the $10 to get it sent to you?

Would be great if I can just show up first thing in the morning like I'd like to in order to buy it.

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

im about to buy a new laptop too. but im not v computer savvy and macs have always scared me. when did it become ok to use macs? does all poker software run on it?

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

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im about to buy a new laptop too. but im not v computer savvy and macs have always scared me. when did it become ok to use macs? does all poker software run on it?

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You can run Windows, so you can run anything you can on any other Windows-running PC.

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

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im about to buy a new laptop too. but im not v computer savvy and macs have always scared me. when did it become ok to use macs? does all poker software run on it?

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Once they went with intel based processors and their OS made it easy to dual boot.
I just think the macbooks are good to go with as the 15.4'' weighs under 6 pounds. Has an illuminated keyboard. 2 gigs of ram base, and a top notch videocard with 128 megs or 256 megs dedicated (256 megs is about $300 more).
Add in a nice display (optional glossy display but I'd go with the anti-glare), a built in webcam for video conferencing and the fact that I've drank the Steve Jobs kool-aid for the past few years since the iPod came out; the MacBook seems like the next great purchase in the Apple library of items to purchase.

Also I am starting to hate Vista, don't want a brand new laptop loaded with it and the appeal of doing every day tasks using MacOS, switching to Windows XP when necessary has me barely being able to wait till Friday when I'll buy my MacBook Pro with the new OS.

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

Those apple notebooks are just too pricey though. It costs an arm and a leg for a decent computer at 17" from them whilst you could shop around and get much better deals for comparable comps sans the MacOS. For productivity one could then boot to Linux and boot to XP for poker. One could get a very good comp at 17" with a decent video-card and two monitor plugs (for three monitoring) for around $1300 or so.

Basically, I think Apple makes good comps, but given computer price-points today, I think they are more than a bit too pricey, especially if one's needs pretty basic, and sometimes even if they are pretty advanced.

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

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Those apple notebooks are just too pricey though. It costs an arm and a leg for a decent computer at 17" from them whilst you could shop around and get much better deals for comparable comps sans the MacOS. For productivity one could then boot to Linux and boot to XP for poker. One could get a very good comp at 17" with a decent video-card and two monitor plugs (for three monitoring) for around $1300 or so.

Basically, I think Apple makes good comps, but given computer price-points today, I think they are more than a bit too pricey, especially if one's needs pretty basic, and sometimes even if they are pretty advanced.

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Yeah, it really depends on what you want to do with your computer. You -can- do everything from any OS, but you run into the issue of which OS lets you do it the easiest/best way.

I obviously think the mac wins hands down, with linux coming in a close second (if you really know what you're doing). But if the main use is poker and web browsing, you may as well get a vista machine from costco.

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

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Those apple notebooks are just too pricey though. It costs an arm and a leg for a decent computer at 17" from them whilst you could shop around and get much better deals for comparable comps sans the MacOS.

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That depends on your definition of "comparable."

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

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Those apple notebooks are just too pricey though. It costs an arm and a leg for a decent computer at 17" from them whilst you could shop around and get much better deals for comparable comps sans the MacOS.

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That depends on your definition of "comparable."

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Example:
Apple MacBook Pro
15" widescreen
1 DVI-port
multiple USB
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667
Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.4 Ghz
nVidia 8600M GT w/ 256 SDRAM
160 GB HD @ 5400rpm
Price: $2500

Asus F3SV-A1
15.4" Widescreen
Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.0 GHz
160 GB HD @ 5400 rpm
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667
1 DVI port, 1 VGA port
multiple USB, et cetera
nVidia 8600M GS
Cost: $1350

Given the above, I think there is no way I could reasonably purchase the Apple unless I simply had to have the extra bit it gave. Cost-to-gain, Apple loses here hands down.

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

is the video on the Asus dedicated? Whats the weight of the laptop?
Both are items that when traveling are very important. I want dedicated video ram and a light weight notebook. I also think the illuminated keyboard is a plus.

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

[ QUOTE ]
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Those apple notebooks are just too pricey though. It costs an arm and a leg for a decent computer at 17" from them whilst you could shop around and get much better deals for comparable comps sans the MacOS.

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That depends on your definition of "comparable."

[/ QUOTE ]
Example:
Apple MacBook Pro
15" widescreen
1 DVI-port
multiple USB
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667
Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.4 Ghz
nVidia 8600M GT w/ 256 SDRAM
160 GB HD @ 5400rpm
Price: $2500

Asus F3SV-A1
15.4" Widescreen
Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.0 GHz
160 GB HD @ 5400 rpm
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667
1 DVI port, 1 VGA port
multiple USB, et cetera
nVidia 8600M GS
Cost: $1350

Given the above, I think there is no way I could reasonably purchase the Apple unless I simply had to have the extra bit it gave. Cost-to-gain, Apple loses here hands down.

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You didn't post the size of the laptops. You didn't post reviews of the screen quality for each system. You didn't note the fact that you can get a MacBook Pro that supports a 30" display. Those are just the first few things that come to mind.

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

Screen quality edge almost certainly goes to the Macbook. However, they have the same resolution on the primary screen. Also, the external monitor support is pretty much identical too (except you can hook up one extra monitor to the Asus). As for the size issue, yeah, the Asus is about a pound heavier, like 6.5 for the Asus versus 5.5 for the Macbook Pro. However, isn't it worth the extra pound to save well over $1000?

Yeah, the things you mention do perhaps come to mind, but these are certainly comparable given the prior specs and the above resolution/size/external-monitor support information.

Seriously though, what is next, do I need to compare battery life to see if the Asus is a better value given that it is $1150 cheaper?

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

I really depends on how often you use the computer. If you use the laptop 20 hours a week 52 weeks a year thats 1000+ hours in one year. I'd most certainly pay $1 an hour of use for a screen better on the eyes, a cheaper unit and a better system for playing poker.

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

Well, I gave the edge to the Mac on screen, but the resolution is the same and the quality is probably more similar than dissimilar. And further, with the Mac, you have to use an emulator while buying the XP OS and/or buy an additional OS (namely XP or Vista) to run your poker games, while you won't have to buy any additional OS for something like the ASUS.

And again, if you really move up and using three monitors becomes the norm, paying for the extra monitor plug becomes useful as you don't have to come up with a complicated and more expensive method to play on a third monitor.

Call me crazy but I think ditching the Macbook is a no-brainer unless you like spending extra money for little reason (and/or you REALLLY love Mac OS).

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player? *DELETED*
 

Post deleted by SamIAm

Re: Best Laptop for a poker player?
 

Do you really need a 17" screen - especially if you are using external monitors? If not, the macbook (rather than the higher end macbookpro) is much better value (approx $1500 with reasonably comparable specs, 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB memory, 120GB hard drive).

Also, dont forget the large amount of great software that you get pre installed with the mac - and none of the rubbish you get with other computers.

All in all though... if its just for poker, maybe a mac isnt the best choice - but im sure you wouldnt regret one if you did buy eventually.