I'm thinking about buying a new laptop for a pretty silly reason: I want to play a particular computer game, namely Galactic Civilizations II.

I *never* play computer games, and have no interest in the graphic-card intensive shoot-em-up games that are popular these days. I usually avoid computer games because I view them as a waste of time BUT... lately work (at a startup company) has been so overwhelming and all-consuming that I'm even dreaming about work. It feels like I never get my mind off of it. I probably need a good vacation, but can't afford the time and $... and I'd rather have a quick escape each day after work (particularly on the 1-hr train ride home).

Anyway, this game Galactic Civilizations II caught my eye because rather than being a game focused on how quick ones reactions are, it's more of an epic strategy game that got incredible reviews. The more I read about it, the more curious I got... but my current old work-horse laptop: Dell Inspiron 4100 with 1Ghz Pentium III processor... just ain't up to snuff.

So anyway... I've done a bit of research online and found that right now, the HP Pavilion dv6000t is considered a pretty good all-around laptop coming in at a decent price. I'd probably upgrade to the best video card (256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400) and 2GB of RAM so I can fully immerse myself in this game and worry about galactic politics rather than office politics.

(God I feel silly... I really NEVER play games... not after I blew a whole Saturday killing Zerg in Starcraft and asked myself afterwards, "Self, wtf did you just accomplish?!" After that, I uninstalled it and though I've loaded it again a couple times... I never really got so into it again.)

SO anyway, I'm considering the HP Pavilion dv6000t laptop. I'm considering this primarily to play GalCiv II, and of course surf the 'net, etc. I don't rip CDs, do video editing, etc. I don't even know if I'm 100% certain I want to do this... since I'm the kind of guy who'd feel much better about myself by going to the gym and working out, or going for a hike or a drive on the twisties in my S... but working out isn't getting my mind off work (and a decent vacation isn't in the time or $ budget), winter is here so driving the S is less of a choice... and I'm intruiged by this game.

If anybody cares to share an opinion on ANY of the myriad of topics I just raised in my mini-blog/rant, feel free!

 

i think your reason for a new portable are correct.

whatever portable you get make sure it will remain compatable with windows, vista.

 

I tried out some HP laptops at Fry's... they were pretty nice I suppose.

I decided instead that-- for now atleast-- I'm going to make a few trades in the stock market, and if in a few months I'm ahead enough $$$, I'll splurge and buy myself a REAL gaming machine... Voodoo gaming laptop.