Reading into alienware m17x and would prefer NOT to spend that much money, but won't mind doing so if it's the only available choice - any ideas?

I've heard things about using a macbook? Price/performance comparisons?

Thanks,
Darius

getting a middle of the road desktop would be the cheapest.

I only want a laptop.

Obviously just find a laptop that will meet your minimum requires but also supports the resolution of a 30 inch monitor. As far as I know most laptops out there that have video cards that support 2560x1600 aren't cheap.

I don't need a cheap one, but a relatively cheap, reliable option. If the cheapest and pretty reliable option is the alienware m17, I'll get it - I'm just trying to see what other options are out there. Do you know of any laptops that support it?

All the current macbooks support 30" monitors.

Dell support told me the xps 17 with i7 and 3gb graphics card configeration would too, though check this as they've been known to be wrong on these things.

HP Envy range might too, though I'm not sure, may be worth looking into those options further. The vast majority of laptops dont support 30" monitors at full 2560 x 1600 resolution though, so your options are very limited, and it can be hard to get definitive answers on what will support 30" monitors.

Assume that any laptop without a displayport (or minidisplayport) output will not support your 30" but don't assume any laptop with one will.

Even teh cheapest onboard graphics will support 30" monitors.

The problem is the connection ports. HDMI ports, as currently sold on laptops, will not support 30". DVI and DisplayPorts however will.

I'd say at this point displayport/minidisplayport is most reliable. You'd need a POWERED adapter to drive a dual-link DVI monitor @ 2560x1600. They are $100 or so for the adapter. The Dell one is popular. The Apple one had/has problems.

Also look into corporate laptops.

In the "Beats, Brags & Variance" tab found under "General Poker" there is a thread that is often on the first page or two called "Most Baller Setups". Scan the last few pages and you find pics and a description of an impressive HP Elitebook laptop hooked to a 30" monitor. The guy says it is a PC equal to a Mac in terms of performance, etc. Check out that thread and read comments.

Depending on what model and options you are talking about, the HP Elitebook might be cheaper than the Alien.

Do these displayports work with most laptops? Can I buy these at online retailers where I buy laptops, and if so, which one do you recommend?

Browsing through google but a lot of it seems to be in computerspeak.

Nevermind, it seems that Mac laptops can use the 30 inch monitor displayports - true?

As usually, Apple went the proprietary route and created their own mini-displayport. You will need to give Apple some additional money by buying one of their mini-displayport to displayport cables.

seems like a macbook is the cheapest option, so I got one - can I use it with a dell displayport or do i have to buy an apple one? i know freakin cited issues with the apple ports.

also thanks for your advice lady - i went into the bbv thread but the hp laptops start at 2k, would rather not

The dell one should be fine, like Freakin said though make sure you get a powered/active minidisplayport to dual-link DVI adapter.

With that starting price you're probably referring to the flagship model of HP's Elitebook line.
I'm 95% sure that cheaper models of HP Elitebook line are also capable of outputting 2560x1600 resolution. At least they come with a displayport connection and a graphics card that should be capable.

For example this one: http://h71016.www7.hp.com/dstore/cto...wPrice=$979.00

AFAIK most new laptop graphics cards are capable of 2560x1600 but it's the lack of proper connections that stops most new laptops from running a 30" monitor @ 2560x1600 resolution. They simply don't have a displayport or a dual-DVI port as an option for outputting graphics, just lousy VGA or HDMI.

It's really not fair to call it a proprietary connector; it was just a redesign of the existing displayport standard. They are also freely licensing the design.

At this point DP or MDP looks to be the frontrunner for laptop display connectors, IMO. We will see less and less HDMI and DVI and more M/DP (and WiDi).

You can also freely purchase your own MDP to DP cables for under $5 online.

I, for one, welcome our new MiniDisplayPort overlords. The options are
-HDMI that supports audio + video but no 2560x1600*
-DVI that supports 2560x1600 but no audio + video
-Displayport/MiniDisplayPort that supports both

HDMI 1.3 has high enough bandwidth that it *could* support 2560x1600 but I have not seen any implementation of it in action.

is this the correct one?

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...=baynoteSearch

I think macs are "cooler" so I don't mind paying the 20$ premium to get one, and free shipping is also the nuts!

Hmm... that one is displayport, not minidisplayport so it won't work with the apple. I could have sworn they had a mini one but it looks like I was mistaken.

Here's another thread where I talked about this stuff and mentioned an alternative for the MBP.
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/48...ookpro-958611/

Which one is cooler is obv subjective and I personally find Elitebooks' rugged gun-metal design more attractive than the thin white aluminium of MacBooks but each to their own ofc.

Just for fun - comparison of EliteBook 8440p 14" and MacBook Pro 13" - both with default options and starting price of $1199

From performance/usage point of view the cons of MacBook Pro are as follows:

- smaller display and smaller resolution
- slower and older processor
- smaller and slower hard drive
- no Windows included (if u want to have one, u have to pay extra for it)
- mini-displayport instead of displayport (There has been some issues with those)
- couldn't find what graphics card it comes with but probably with something slower than Nvidia NVS 3100 in HP

From performance/usage point of view the pros of MacBook Pro are as follows:

+ longer battery life
+ more portable because smaller and lighter
+ 4gb of RAM instead of 2gb in 8440p as default

Also, one more potential contender might be Lenovo's Thinkpad W510, actually it might even be the best out of those three, hmmm...

But if ur making any serious money from poker, I'd just say **** it and dump $3k-$5k on a nicely configured 8740W, Macbook Pro 17" or Dell Precision M6500

OSX and the other included apps is also a plus depending on who you are talking to.

Yea ofc, I hear OSX is actually pretty neat. But considering how the IT world spins, ur probably still going to need to buy Windows also and go dual-boot.

I do have windows from another computer, and am currently running parallels with it - any tips on optimizing performance?