Any recommendations on laptops for running sw2006?

Hi all,

This is my first laptop foray - totally green an unknowledgable. I
want something fast enough to demo stuff and clients but not so fast it
breaks the bank etc.

If you have any pointers I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,

Zander

 

I've used a Dell M60 with the high-res 1920 pixel wide screen for the
last 2 years and wouldn't change it for anything less (currently
running SWks 2005 SP5). I design plastic parts exclusively and don't
work on a desktop anymore (5 years on Dell laptops).

Alienware, Boxx, Dell, and Sager have been mentioned by many people,
but price and warranty and support options vary widely. A fully
configured Dell will run above $4,000, and some people on the newsgroup
have touted the other mentioned (& HP & Sony, I think: You can search
these terms on the Newsgroup), and some of those are maybe $1500
cheaper than Dell. Some do NOT offer the compatible video card
SolidWorks requires for best work.

Regardless of the brand, I would be sure of the following:

1. Same or better nVIDIA video card as Dell M70

2. No less than 1.5 gigs DRAM

3. 7200 rpm fast hard drive

4. No less than 1600 pixel wide screen (I personally have good vision
and like the 1920 pixel)

5. Bluetooth and 802.11 WiFi cards built-in (or you will keep tweaking
external cards) (Bluetooth is invaluable for quick file transfers with
other computers without disrupting network connections and also
terrific for BT Mice and keyboards)

6. Gigabit Ethernet & FireWire for fast transfers and backups

7. Processor: Intels Pentium M (for mobile = Centrino) as fast as you
can get is no slouch compared to the PIVs offerred in laptops, but
consume much less power/fan time, and do seem to be as fast a many or
most PIVs.

8. Laptop Bags: <Personal Opinion>Get one with a foam protective
separate sleeve to carry & provide extra cushion protection for the
laptop and you'll eventually thank yourself when the eventual dump off
the top of a desk ocurrs.

9. Docking Station: Dell offers them & some people love them, but I
haven't used one.

10. Warning: <Personal Experience> Don't put coffee and beverage
cups anywhere near a laptop, because sooner or later...you'll have to
replace something expensive.

11. SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE: I bought Dell's CompleteCare because
for an extra $300 or so I get 3 years of next day repair/replacement
service, and believe me it is worth it the first time something bums
out. I've had video cabling result in intermittent lines on the
screen, and within 18-20 hours a guy shows up and changes out the
screen, backlight cables, & video card. I thought just a cable or
maybe a video card would do it, but the repair guy says they play it
safe, as Dell loses big time if they have to come out a 2nd time and do
it over AGAIN.

There may be other options and choices but these are key to having a
happy productive life with SolidWorks and a Laptop.

Bo

 

I've used a Dell M60 with the high-res 1920 pixel wide screen for the
last 2 years and wouldn't change it for anything less (currently
running SWks 2005 SP5). I design plastic parts exclusively and don't
work on a desktop anymore (5 years on Dell laptops).

Alienware, Boxx, Dell, and Sager have been mentioned by many people,
but price and warranty and support options vary widely. A fully
configured Dell will run above $4,000, and some people on the newsgroup
have touted the other mentioned (& HP & Sony, I think: You can search
these terms on the Newsgroup), and some of those are maybe $1500
cheaper than Dell. Some do NOT offer the compatible video card
SolidWorks requires for best work.

Regardless of the brand, I would be sure of the following:

1. Same or better nVIDIA video card as Dell M70

2. No less than 1.5 gigs DRAM

3. 7200 rpm fast hard drive

4. No less than 1600 pixel wide screen (I personally have good vision
and like the 1920 pixel)

5. Bluetooth and 802.11 WiFi cards built-in (or you will keep tweaking
external cards) (Bluetooth is invaluable for quick file transfers with
other computers without disrupting network connections and also
terrific for BT Mice and keyboards)

6. Gigabit Ethernet & FireWire for fast transfers and backups

7. Processor: Intels Pentium M (for mobile = Centrino) as fast as you
can get is no slouch compared to the PIVs offerred in laptops, but
consume much less power/fan time, and do seem to be as fast a many or
most PIVs.

8. Laptop Bags: <Personal Opinion>Get one with a foam protective
separate sleeve to carry & provide extra cushion protection for the
laptop and you'll eventually thank yourself when the eventual dump off
the top of a desk ocurrs.

9. Docking Station: Dell offers them & some people love them, but I
haven't used one.

10. Warning: <Personal Experience> Don't put coffee and beverage
cups anywhere near a laptop, because sooner or later...you'll have to
replace something expensive.

11. SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE: I bought Dell's CompleteCare because
for an extra $300 or so I get 3 years of next day repair/replacement
service, and believe me it is worth it the first time something bums
out. I've had video cabling result in intermittent lines on the
screen, and within 18-20 hours a guy shows up and changes out the
screen, backlight cables, & video card. I thought just a cable or
maybe a video card would do it, but the repair guy says they play it
safe, as Dell loses big time if they have to come out a 2nd time and do
it over AGAIN.

There may be other options and choices but these are key to having a
happy productive life with SolidWorks and a Laptop.

Bo

 

I will second Bo's suggestion of the 7200 RPM drive. We have some M60's
with the 5400s and they are lethargic compared to the M70's with the 7200s.

Ken

 

If you want a desk top replacement then an M70 but if you want
something you can carry around to meetings then an M20.

The M20 is what I have and its great as an occasional use machine -
but only because I use a workstation for most of my work - I don't
need to be a weightlifter to take the m20 with me with all the other
stuff , like presentation boards etc when meeting a client.

TTFN

Jonathan

 

I would agree with everybody else, and would say that you should get a
laptop that is as close to a desktop workstation as possible. If you are
looking for other brands/merchants, you could try CyberPower Systems.

Also, something else to get would be an external laptop mouse. I really
like the wireless type because a standard desktop mouse has a 6 ft cord,
which is too long if you are connecting to a laptop.

 

Check out the RadTech BT500 wireless mouse.

http://www.radtech.us

Initially, everyone thinks it is too small to be usable, but once you
use it for a bit (at least when you travel), you find it works just
fine.

Bo

 

Not bad, but I have a Logitech wireless mouse that is about the size of a
normal mouse, but the batteries last longer. It has a single scroll wheel
that can also go side to side for horizontal scroll bars.

 

And something just between the two Dells: the HP HP Compaq NW8240. Runs
great here.

-Marc

--

 

Regardless of what wireless mouse you use, check out the 15 minute
recharging batteries and its dedicated charger from Radio Shack (which
handles both AA and AAA battery sizes).

The one time charge to buy the RS charger can be made up in savings by
not having to buy batteries which used to cost me more in 2 months than
the RS charger cost.

My first set of RS rechargable batteries lasted 2 years before I had to
buy a new set. The money saved was probably hundreds of dollars of AAA
& AA batteries.

Bo

 

I just got done installing 2004 on a work Dell M70.

2.14 GHz processor
2GB ram
GeForce Go Graphics card.

41 seconds on the STAR benchmark which is comparable to an AMD64 2X
4400+.

 

It is difficult for a some people who haven't seen a high end laptop
performance with SolidWorks to believe that it is highly capable. I
think that comes from the performance of most consumer laptops, and
probably older ones at that, with older CPUs.

Both Intel, with their Centrino processors, and laptop manufacturers
are seeing the massive shift to laptops, where they are getting near or
over 50% of market share.

I won't be surprised to see the next rev of the Dell M70 to be even
more capable and power effecient when it hits in 2006.

Bo

 

From our VAR:

Dell, ATI, and SolidWorks Corporation have partnered together to bring
you the Creative Freedom contest. The winner will walk away with a
complete mobile CAD solution designed to deliver the freedom and
flexibility of a notebook with the power and graphics performance of a
workstation. Fuel your Creative Freedom with:

Dell Precision M20 - maximizes productivity through superior
performance, exceptional mobility, and certified operation with
SolidWorks software.
ATI Mobility FireGL V3100 - delivers industry-leading graphics
acceleration for high-performance 3D modeling and rendering.
SolidWorks 2006 - provides the complete 3D product design solution
- design engineering, data management, and communication tools -
all in one package.

 

This is because the Centrino is a decent performing chip compared to
the Pentium 4. Now that desktops have hit a plateau in speed it makes
more sense to get a laptop because it won't be outdated in six months.