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Thread ID: 51680 2004-11-27 06:01:00 Custom made laptop ? Misty (368) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
296863 2004-11-27 06:01:00 I have read the threads which say that the best way to buy a PC is to get one custom made at the "local store" rather than buy one of the ready made ones from Dell, Compaq etc , etc.

I presume that this does not apply to laptops which have to fit in such confined spaces and seem to leave little for creativity ?

Is that correct please or am I wildly off key ?
Misty
Misty (368)
296864 2004-11-27 06:22:00 no, you can get custom laptops. Dell (http://www.dell.co.nz) is one. Head over to their website, choose the model you want, and from there you can customise it. Many other companies do the same. Not sure about local brands though =/ Megaman (344)
296865 2004-11-27 09:25:00 Despite what megaman suggests, there is realy not the customisation option as it exists with desktops.

There is no such thing as a "standard" laptop case, or generic motherboards. All are made for that model and make and usually not interchangeable.

The laptop is no more customisable than a TV set, as an example. Pick your model, then you get to choose the RAM size and HDD size, thats about it with Dell. Some will let you have a choice of in-built screen options.

Do not have any expectation of upgrading later apart from HDD and RAM
godfather (25)
296866 2004-11-27 09:30:00 Check those Area 51/Alien units, seem pretty popular in OZ.

D.
drb1 (4492)
296867 2004-11-27 09:31:00 >Do not have any expectation of upgrading later apart from HDD and RAM

what about the cpu? can these be upgraded or are they mounted in the mobo, and the mobo has to be able to support the cpu.
Prescott (11)
296868 2004-11-27 10:22:00 3 things need to be appropriate:

The motherboard must support the CPU (remember the motherboard is proprietary and not usually upgradeable)

and

The CPU must be plug-in (probably most are these days, but historically thats not been the case - they were soldered in for reliability)

and

The BIOS must support it (and these usually are soldered in)

Basically my advice stands - accept it with what it has (apart from RAM and HDD) as its not a practical proposition to upgrade, for the type of laptops generally purchased here.

$6,000 Alienware might be slightly more configurable, but we are talking Compaq/HP etc here.

The technology in a laptop if specialised for miniaturisation, and not upgradeability. Always has been.
godfather (25)
296869 2004-11-27 11:02:00 Godfather,

Buy the time you upspec some of the big dell compaqu they come in around that 6 mark too, so its not totally unrealistic, some of thise big screen Toshibas get pretty scary too.

D.
drb1 (4492)
296870 2004-11-27 20:39:00 ASUS sell a range of laptop shells, where you add the CPU and RAM etc not as customizable as a desktop as your still limited in terms of screen, mobo etc With the recent anoucement of nVidia MXM technology there should also be a greater choice of video options, but currently very few (if any) motherboards and addin card are avaliable. Pete O'Neil (250)
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