Bye-bye, Crappy Lappy

Current Laptop: Toshiba Tecra A5. Issued to me September 2005, I was adrift the minute I opened the box. Finally, I had a computer of my own (even better, a laptop), and one that actually booted up on the same day, and could run more than just Solitaire and Windows Explorer. Granted, it's geared towards business environments (word processing, e-mail, not playing video games, etc.), but I was happy to have something that could at least load a webpage in under 20 min (not joking).

But alas, I drove it too hard. I added all kinds of memory-intensive programs, played a lot of graphics-demanding games (which it is not at ALL rated for), used it for resource-munching heavy-duty audio and video converting, digitally beating the shit out of my procesor and hard drive (and virtually everything else) in the process. Now, it's on it's way out. The virtual slowdown is quite noticable after four years of the above, and it never really could keep up with even the most basic of games (aside from RuneScape (which is a whole 'nother story), but even RuneScape HD gave it a run for its money).

Physically, I'm glad to say it held up very very well, considering what it's been through in its four years of servitude. The "a", "s", "f", and "v" keys are no longer attached to the keyboard, but the buttons work fine so it's nothing a spot of Scotch tape didn't quickly fix. About a month after having it, I dropped it RIGHT on top of a wireless USB mouse receiver that was plugged in. The two USB ports in the back that sit on top of each other worked fine for about two years until they got fussy and decided they would randomly switch between being semi-functional and fully dysfunctional. The 3.5mm headphone jack hardly works anymore, but after near-incessant use of it (pulling, tugging, wrapping, biting, mowing, and sandblasting) I figured even the sturdiest of outputs would eventually succumb to failure. The screen shows a few randomly colored vertical lines near the right side due to...something. If I clamp a binder clip to the top of the screen near the right-middle the problem is fixed. The battery would last me about 3-4 full class periods (2 1/2 hours?) in my freshman year, including bootup time; I'm lucky now if I can squeeze 30 minutes out of the thing, and that's if it's on already. These are pretty minor issues considering what COULD have went wrong with my laptop (and probably should have, according to Murphy's Law). But as they say, out with the old, in with the new. I present to you...

Future Laptop (sounds spiffy, huh?): Alienware M15x. Unlike most other laptops where you are given a boxed set and have to deal with any shortcomings you don't like (processor, memory, disk drive size, etc.), Alienware lists the options available for your model and lets you choose 'em. Here's the important stuff that I chose:

Video/Graphics Card: 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 9800M GT
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9500 2.6GHz (6MB Cache 800MHz FSB)
Memory: 4GB« Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz – 2 x 2048MB
System Drive: 320GB 7,200RPM (16MB Cache)
Keyboard Options: AlienFX® Illuminated Keyboard

Yes, the keyboard lights up. It's neat-o. Yes, I can change the colors of the lights. It's super neat-o. Yeah, basically all that crap up there equates to a sweet gaming rig. I'm excited. Here's the Alienware page, and here are some shots of the lappy (from Google).

Cost? Yeah, it's up there. Grand total of $2,457.81 (after ~$240 in shipping/tax >.<). Ouch burn. Good thing I've been saving those pennies I earned at the A&P. Actually, after gifts for graduating, a check for working as a stagehand for a week at Yorktown Stage, my two first paychecks from Traffic Works (more about that endeavor later, upon request), and my parents chipping in as a gift for my graduation, that probably more than covers the cost of it. Well, time to go buy all those other things I've been looking at:

Item #1: Kicker ZK500 Zune Speaker Dock
Clicky.VERY nice dock. My friend bought one and the quality is unparalleled, except by maybe an IMAX theater. Plus it looks like Darth Vader. Found it for a steal on Amazon. Greg (or anyone else with a Zune), you should definitely check this thing out, you will be happy you did.

Item #2: Logitech ChillStream
Clicky. I bought one of these for the afforementioned friend as a graduation gift, and he loved it so much that I have to get one for myself.

Item #3: Fantom Drives GF1000EU
Clicky. Finally I found an external 1TB hard drive for around $100. Looks acceptable, got good reviews, and it spins at 7200 rpm like a PROPER HARD DRIVE SHOULD *glares at current external drive*.

Item #4: A FUCKING COOLING PAD FOR THIS NEW GODDAMN LAPTOP
I can't find a good one yet, if anyone has any suggestions please drop a comment. I'm looking for something with a fan that will actively cool, and not just sit there, look ugly, and take up space like most of them that I've seen so far.