Blu-ray laptops

[Blzer]

Long story short, looking to buy a new PC laptop (with Windows 7 installed) with a built in Blu-ray player.

I'm not savvy with computer technology terms so I wouldn't know which would have the best processor, RAM, or whatever else. I suppose I'm just going off how good the quality of the monitor is, how well it performs, you get the picture.

I'm sure I'll need some questions thrown my way to make some suggestions (like price ranges and such), but let's assume the price point is negligible within a reasonable amount, like no $2000 laptops.

Suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

Best Buy shows these as being their best laptops with blu ray drive/HDMI out. These 2 also have the best specs/features. (I'd assume you can find them cheaper elsewhere):

Sony Vaio ($1349): http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+V...&skuId=9987998

and HP Pavillion ($1299): http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pav...&skuId=1016548


I can vouch for the HP Pavillion. My dad has a similar (older) model that has a blu ray drive. Works well for the most part.

[Blzer]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

and HP Pavillion ($1299): http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pav...&skuId=1016548


I can vouch for the HP Pavillion. My dad has a similar (older) model that has a blu ray drive. Works well for the most part.

Okay so now if we assumed that price points are suddenly an issue what about this HP Pavillion also listed at Best Buy for $799?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Laptop+/+AMD+Phenom%26%23153;+II+Processor+/+17.3%22+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Brushed+Aluminum/9979217.p?id=1218204944141&skuId=9979217#BVRRWidgetID

The screen size is the same but the hard disk size is halved which is fine. I'm just trying to find out where the deficits are pinpointed here (that is, that knocks $500 off the price). Obviously a different processor and RAM size, but the resolution is the same as well as the audio and they both have HDMI out. I can also get the $799 model in store it seems and not the other one.

Basically, is the extra 2GB ram size and different processor worth the extra $500? Or are there more negative components to the $799 model that I'm omitting? I'm not sure about what drivers are included, but I'm sure many of them can be downloaded.

Thanks for your help, by the way. This laptop I'm on now is simply breaking internally and externally, and I just need one where I can play my Blu-ray discs on now.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

Honestly, I'll defer to someone with more laptop expertise in terms of the trade-offs. I was simply pointing out the benchmark blu ray laptops.

I'll ask my roommate who works with laptops for a living if nobody gets back to you.

[Blzer]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

Honestly, I'll defer to someone with more laptop expertise in terms of the trade-offs. I was simply pointing out the benchmark blu ray laptops.

I'll ask my roommate who works with laptops for a living if nobody gets back to you.

Well thank you, kind sir. I simply used your first two suggestions as benchmarks for what should be considered as viable choices, so hopefully the $799 HP Pavillion would suffice. The reviews are superb, but I just am wondering why the other one is $500 more and if the differences are worth the extra cost.

[mudman]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

Well thank you, kind sir. I simply used your first two suggestions as benchmarks for what should be considered as viable choices, so hopefully the $799 HP Pavillion would suffice. The reviews are superb, but I just am wondering why the other one is $500 more and if the differences are worth the extra cost.

One of the links didn't open ($799 one), but, for most people, the extras won't be worth $500. The more expensive one has a bigger hard drive, more ram, and a faster processor. Well, the bigger hard drive isn't an issue since external ones are so cheap (if you did need more space). More Ram and a faster processor are most likely things you don't need. Is speed really a need of yours? If so, maybe it's worth the extra money, but I really doubt it. That faster processor and ram won't help you surf the net faster...unless you're doing a bunch of things at once.

Ok, I just looked through best buy's website and found the other laptop. There was only one with blu-ray and $799 so I'm sure it's the same one. It has a Phenom II processor and 4GB of ram as oppose to the core i7 and 6GB or ram. That is where most of the extra money is going. Some of the extra money is going to the graphics card.

[Blzer]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

One of the links didn't open ($799 one), but, for most people, the extras won't be worth $500. The more expensive one has a bigger hard drive, more ram, and a faster processor. Well, the bigger hard drive isn't an issue since external ones are so cheap (if you did need more space). More Ram and a faster processor are most likely things you don't need. Is speed really a need of yours? If so, maybe it's worth the extra money, but I really doubt it. That faster processor and ram won't help you surf the net faster...unless you're doing a bunch of things at once.

Ok, I just looked through best buy's website and found the other laptop. There was only one with blu-ray and $799 so I'm sure it's the same one. It has a Phenom II processor and 4GB of ram as oppose to the core i7 and 6GB or ram. That is where most of the extra money is going. Some of the extra money is going to the graphics card.

Gotcha, thanks. That's something I definitely don't need and I'm glad that I skipped out on it. Yesterday I caved and went with the impulse buy on the 4065 model, and I'm loving it! I'm typing on it right now in my car on the way back home from vacation, so all is good. I even watched The Dark Knight and Kick-*** BDs on the same car ride so it's been good fun. Heh I even snuck on Chat Roulette now that I have a webcam on my computer and people all commented on me being in the car. Kind of awkward, but cool.

Anyway, I already have a 1TB external HDD, so I definitely don't need the extra 500GB of space. Though I do shoot a lot of film in 720p and archive it, the space available is more than enough for me, plus another 800GB on two PS3's at my house. I think I'll be set, and I don't do much PC gaming at all or anything so I think I should be plenty content with the RAM and processor that's on this laptop.

Thanks guys, this was a great purchase! My other one is simply falling apart. Oh well, now it will be my pr0ntop! (never had one of those )

[DaImmaculateONe]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

Hows the battery life on the
AMD Phenom™ II

Does it get anywhere near 4hrs? Are u able to watch two movies consecutively before having to recharge?

thinking about gettin this one to replace my old 17inch pavilion

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

If you watching movies on a laptop, on battery power ONLY, hell no it don't get 4 hours of play.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

Good to hear.

[Blzer]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

Hows the battery life on the
AMD Phenom™ II

Does it get anywhere near 4hrs? Are u able to watch two movies consecutively before having to recharge?

thinking about gettin this one to replace my old 17inch pavilion

I was at about 85% when I was watching The Dark Knight, and up to the interrogation scene I had about 19% left and had to charge. Backlight was on 3 the entire time.

Doesn't seem like it lasts through movies well, despite what people said online. Otherwise it does look to get about 4 - 4.5 hours on the lowest backlight through normal browsing.

[DaImmaculateONe]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

Well i have a dv9000 and i get about 2 hrs of movie watchin time on the hp recommended setting, granted usually watch dvd rips so i dont know if using the dvd drive or bluray kills the battery faster. But even just browsing the web my battery will only last about 2 and half hours. Im suprised that u couldnt get thru the dark knight which is only 152mins.

Also have a inspiron 14z with intel graphics card which the battery is supposed to last for 5 and half. Was able to get thru shutter island and the spy next door no problem, i get about 4hr and 15min movie time on that one. Was hoping this hp would get near the same stats

[Blzer]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

Well i have a dv9000 and i get about 2 hrs of movie watchin time on the hp recommended setting, granted usually watch dvd rips so i dont know if using the dvd drive or bluray kills the battery faster. But even just browsing the web my battery will only last about 2 and half hours. Im suprised that u couldnt get thru the dark knight which is only 152mins.

Also have a inspiron 14z with intel graphics card which the battery is supposed to last for 5 and half. Was able to get thru shutter island and the spy next door no problem, i get about 4hr and 15min movie time on that one. Was hoping this hp would get near the same stats

Perhaps I'm misinforming you, but I don't think that I am. However, I was just capturing TDK images using some different software, and it didn't seem to kill as much battery. In fact, when did I last post? Whenever I did, the battery was at 81%. Right now it's at 30%, and that's while running the BD for most of that time.

So that was 51% in just under two hours. I did not always have the backlight on the lowest setting and again, I was using a different media player than the one this computer came with so I could do image capturing.

[Jonesy]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

and HP Pavillion ($1299): http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pav...&skuId=1016548


I can vouch for the HP Pavillion. My dad has a similar (older) model that has a blu ray drive. Works well for the most part.

That HP is one i have and I love it. Blazer does the cheaper model have a blu ray burner as well or just the blu ray player / dvd burner combo?

[Blzer]

Re: Blu-ray laptops

That HP is one i have and I love it. Blazer does the cheaper model have a blu ray burner as well or just the blu ray player / dvd burner combo?

That's a good question. How would I know if it also has a Blu-ray burner? Would the drive have to be RW? If so, it claims it has a Blu-ray Disc-enabled DVD±RW/CD-RW drive. That may be a bit ambiguous when determining whether it means it can also burn Blu-rays, but I'm thinking it might not be able to.