Custom laptops

Questions and Answers

If I want to build a custom laptop, where can I get the main case for the laptop? Will it have to be 2nd hand?

A) Looke for whitebooks or barebone laptops. They are all over to buy, and all they include is the disk drive, screen/casing, and mobo. Clevo makes good ones, and so does compal, and msi and asustek. They all make the barebone, but the clevos and compal make them for a lot of companies, including Dell, alienware, compaq, and more. Here are som model numbers: Clevo M570U, D900K, and ect.

is there anywhere i can get l laptop custom painted in ireland. north or south?

A) why not do it yourself carefully!

Shipping laptops internationally?

Q) Does anyone have any experience of shipping laptops internationally? I know things such as cost will vary country to country, and according to weight, but I just don't know where to start! Is it best to just the Post Office and get insurance? Or would courier be better? Or any other means??I want a safe, reliable secure way. Also, what's the story with customs tax? Any help would be much appreciated. (Based in South Korea BTW) Thanks for the answer Excellent... Just to clarify, I am only interested in shipping my personal laptop (currently working in S Korea, finish my job soon and will be travelling so if can't sell, I want to ship), I am not a company! My laptop is from the UK anyway...so in theory because I have already paid VAT on it I shuldn't have to again, right?? Thanks again peoples

A) I would say use a courier, DHL offer a worldwide service and a tracking service. With customs and import taxes, it will depend on each individual country and how many are being shipped. You will need to familiarise yourself with various countries rules. In the UK the website would be www.hmrc.gov.uk. The link below is for a PDF file with information about import valuations. http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/downloadFile?contentID=HMCE_CL_000230 You may also wish to consider that most countries have different keyboard layouts and that laptops with "foreign" layouts are not popular in most countries. Are they high spec laptops?? Are they cheap?? As a retailer of computers in the UK, I can purchase laptops from numerous sources, but the profit margins are quite small. The cheapest laptops here (celeron/256/14"VGA) are £399 (US $725). While there are some that sell for £1500, the majority sell between £500-£700. Finally, if you would like to contact me, please do. And if you want to send me a free laptop (to test the customs rules), it would be gratefully received ;)

What is the best gaming laptop to get in the UK (Q4 2006)?

Q) Im currently looking to get a new laptop, im ideally looking for one with dual 512Mb Geforce Go 7900 GTX models, only one i can find at the moment with that spec is from Alienware which is mALX and is a bit too large in size for me, and i would prefer to keep the price under £2.5k. Ive currently looked at Evesham who has very vauge descriptions and their tech specs vary from the actual description specs. Rock Direct have some good selections but only do the 256 GTX version in SLI and again this is on a 19" version but is roughly £1000 cheaper when specced out than the mALX. All other custom laptop sellers i could find in the UK have broken web sites or specs are just too low end. Incase anyone asks later on the ideal spec im after is: 17" Screen (Screens differ so much so i dont mind changing) AMD Turion ML44 2.4Ghz (or equivalent) 2x Geforce Go SLI 7900 GTX 512Mb 2GB DDR 2 RAM (400mhz+) 100GB Harddisk 7200rpm (this can change) Any help or advice would be great! Alienware.com deals with US not UK, and pretty much has same to offer as the UK version (www.alienware.co.uk) You are right in the fact that a CPU is one of the key parts, and im not set in stone on an AMD, its just they seem to be the most common. However i would want 2x SLI cards, one card is nice, but 2 cards in SLI is alot faster and will last me ALOT longer than just one card. (When i say longer i mean i wont need to upgrade for a while) Ive checked out Dell before as i believe they own alienware, however their laptops didnt jump out at me. One thing i have noticed is with the intel chips the memory seems slightly faster on the clock speed 667Mhz or appoximate... Thanks for the Dell info though! Oh and just so everyones clear this is not the "BEST LAPTOP" its for the "BEST GAMING LAPTOP" so even if it can perform well in 3DSMax or other apps, if it dont play games well is not worth it... Well for this question anyway :D

A) i beg to differ ! a processor is at the heart of any pc & u'r choice of the turin ml44 is rather shoddy remember the l2 cache is the most expensive part of u'r processor or pc as a whole the ml44 has only 1 mb hence, i would like you to change processor choice to the intel core 2 duo t7400 or t7600 4 mb l2 cache is simply awesome ! besides you will notice that fsb & ram clock speed are perfectly matched to 667 mhz http://reviews.cnet.com/4321-3121_7-6547289.html?tag=promo1 lemme post the dell xps m1710 http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=&c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&oc=N10XPS6&rbc=N10XPS6&s=dhs&sbc=ukdhsrsinspn_xps_m1710_2 Intel ® Core™2 Duo Processor T7600 (2.33 GHz, 4 MB L2 cache, 667 MHz FSB) Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition, SP2 (incl Operating System Re-Installation CD) Premium XPS Service, 3 Year (incl. Gaming and On-Site Support) 17" UltraSharp™ Wide Screen WUXGA (1920x1200) TFT Display with TrueLife™ 2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM (2x1024) 120GB (5,400rpm) Hard Drive Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive Double Layer with Software 512MB DDR3 nVidia® GeForce™ Go 7900 GTX graphics card 9 Cell, 80Whr Lithium Ion Primary Battery Intel® Pro Wireless 3945 802.11a/b/g Mini PCI Wireless LAN Card for Core 2 Duo Processors No Carry Case No Security/Anti-Virus Protection Microsoft® Works 8.5 - English Network Assist - 90 Day Trial Combo: Paint Shop® Pro and Photo Album® Trial Single Pointing Internal Keyboard - UK/Ire (QWERTY) N10XPS6 - XPS M1710 Better Inspiron Order - UK System Documentation English - Adobe Reader 8.5.8 130W AC Adapter 56.6k V.92 Capable Internal Modem & Adapter >> £2,104.75 Includes VAT & Shipping lemme have your comments please ! cnet review of the xps m1710 http://reviews.cnet.com/Dell_XPS_M1710_Core_2_Duo/4505-3121_7-32036695.html?tag=lst On CNET Labs' application tests, the XPS M1710 quickly dispensed with processor-intensive tasks such as encoding MP3 files and multitasking, completing the tests significantly faster than the Alienware Aurora mALX gaming laptop. ________________________ ok, as far as gaming goes the mALX out-scores the xps m1710 lemme do some-more homework, mate ! _________________________ u've mentioned, but on checking i find the mALX to be a 19" notebook big joke, lol wtf r u buyin a notebook, man ! else u seem to be a hercules 2 call a 19" a notebook ... ___________________________ check this out Configure your Xtreme SL XSL-ML44 standard features: AMD Turion 64 ML-44 (35W, 2.4GHz, 1MB) / 2 x NVIDIA Go 7900 GTX 256MB / 1GB DDR 400MHz (512MB x 2) / 100GB 7200rpm SATA / 8x +/- Dual Layer DVD Writer / No TV Tuner / Windows XP Home / Roxio, BullGuard, Works, Office Trial / Pixel check option not taken http://www.rockdirect.com/configureNotebook.php?pName=XTREME%20SL&pSku=XSL-ML44&bID=2 ____________________________ or this, a more manageable 17" with the t7600 processor Choose Xtreme CTX Pro Accessories Your current Xtreme CTX Pro (XCTX-PRO-T76) configuration: NVIDIA Quadro FX Go 2500M 512MB (CAD/3D design) / Hi-res WUXGA+ X-Glass rock logo / 2GB DDR2 667MHz (1GB x 2) / 100GB 7200rpm SATA / No Second HDD / 8x +/- Dual Layer DVD Writer / No TV Tuner / No 2nd Battery / Windows XP Media Centre Edition 2005 / Roxio, BullGuard, Works, Office Trial / 30 day Zero Dead Pixel Guarantee http://www.rockdirect.com/configureNotebookAccessories.php?pName=XTREME%20CTX%20PRO&pSku=XCTX-PRO-T76

whats the best upgraedable gaming laptop for under £1000?

Q) Thanks for earlier answers. Im looking at a custom build laptop from the US because there cheaper, but the choice is huge. Any suggestion

A) Get one from Dell and you can't go wrong.

whats the best laptop for music production...?

Q) would you get a custom purpose built laptop... high end spec laptop... or just go for a mac book pro?

A) Go with the MacBook Pro. It's what most music producers use. And it's $300 to $500 less than the recommended Dell, with similar specs, depending on 17" or 15" screen, and you're getting a lot more screen real estate. And, Dude, you're getting a Mac! Hope this helps.

Laptop computer in Brasil?

Q) I am moving to Brasil from England in July and would like to know if I can use my laptop over there and if so what will l need to transform the different currents etc. I have a plug adaptor but nothing else at the moment. Will I have any problems with the customs etc bringing a laptop into the country? Any help would be more than welcome. Many thanks in advance...:-)

A) Hello, (ANS) YES! a couple of things to be aware of a) the mains electricity in the large cities in Brazil such as Rio wont operate at the same mains rating we have here in the UK, meaning it wont be 240volts. I think its lower but I'm not up on the precise technical values. b) YES! the mains plugs are very different I think you will find they are 3pin rounded & 2 pin rounded (plugs & wall sockets). **If your laptop came with, or has a transformer that steps down the mains electrical current it should still do that same job in Brazil. In other words you shouldn't have any problems with the electricity itself. **What you may have a real problem with though in Brazil is continuity of the electrical supply. Why? because in Brazil they don't have the same quality of infrastructure to supply everyone. My guess would be you'll have no problems with electricity in any of the large cities but if you move out into more rural areas it could well be a problem? **Contact the Brazilian Embassy here in the UK in London for information on what you can legitimately bring into the country. I would be surprised if you couldn't bring a laptop or notebook computer into Brazil. **Also contact the Brazilian Embassy for information on electricity supply values & voltages. **The Brazilian Embassy should have a website that might give this kind of information, a quick Yahoo or Google search should find it. Best Regards IR

Need help with transporting a PS3 from the US to the UK?

Q) Would it be fine for me to carry a Playstation 3 in the Airplane or would i have to store it in my suitcase? I don't want it to get damaged in the suitcase when the baggage loader throw the suitcases into the plane, so is there any packageing i could use to keep it from breaking? Would it be ok if i left it in the cardboard box inside my suitcase, or would i have to protect it with something else. Also, I fear that customs will confiscate it - thy allow laptops into the plane, so surely they would allow a games console. Cheers Also, i plan on taking a PSP for movies and a Nintendo DS for games so i don't die of boredem :) . Would they allow me to take these items onto the plane? btw - PS3 games are region free, so you will be able to play UK games on it. And import tax can't be too much can it???

A) I advise you to take it out of the box, wrap it in plenty bubble wrap and a big towel round it and put it between your clothes and you will get it home no probs. They might start charging you lots of tax if you are taking all these other items as well.

will i have any problems taking a laptop to sharm al sheikh from the uk ? (duty / customs/ bringing it back) ?

A) When I came from the US I brought my laptop with me and had no problems. The customs officers never even checked my laptop I did have to bring an adaptor in order to plug my laptop in but you probably won't have to worry since they use the same current as the UK. I think the plugs might be the same too. They use the kind that look like two thin round pegs as opposed to the US version which is two flat pegs and the grounded with a round peg in the middle below the two flat pegs. I did not like the egyptian system since it seemed that plugs were always falling out of outlets. They didn't stay in well.

do you have a sony vaio laptop?

Q) if you need to reset your laptop back to factory settings, how do you do it please? the reason why i ask is because on my laptop on windows xp i had the vaio recovery tool so i could reset it back to factory settings and just put my programs in. now i have upgraded to windows vista with a custom install and have put all the divers and utilities etc from the discs sony sent me but their was no vaio recovery tool on the discs. they don't have that tool they said for vista. so if anything goes wrong i cannot reset it to start at the beginning with all the drivers in, i have to keep puttung the xp boot disc in and do all the updates and then install vista and do all them updates everytime. aaaaghhh!!!! what a nightmare. any ideas? thanks in advance i am not dumping vista!! there is nothing wrong with it and i like it. any way i want to know about the recovery tool, i didn't ask for a opinion on vista

A) Very simple answer really - dump Vista!!

Can I have custom made laptops with the name of my company, and where can I find them?

A) If you just want the name of you company on them, buy the computer you want and then take then to a local paint shop. If you buy the computers from a small local computer shop that builds them themselves, you should be able to get the laptop shell from them and have your logo painted on before they assemble the computer which is a better idea anyway. If you need help finding a painter look in your local yellow pages under airbrush.

Can laptops be custom built like desktops?

Q) From my understanding, with desktops, you can buy a case (tower) and add whatever parts you want to it. Is it at all possible to do this with laptops? I realise the "case" would probably be a large portion of the cost because it would also include the screen. But is it possible to choose your own parts and install/attach them to your laptop from the beginning or if you wanted to upgrade? Thanks for any help. :)

A) You could order a configuration of a laptop from somewhere like Alienware or Dell, but no you cant actually Get a motherboard, LCD screen, keypad and casing and put it all together. Each casing is made specifically for the motherboard that comes with it. With a desktop a case is pretty standardized unless you have a proprietary setup like a dell or hp. With laptops you could change the memory and hard drive yourself thats about it.

Has anyone heard of a custom silicone case for laptops?

Q) I'm going to be getting a brand-spanking-new laptop soon and i'm wondering if there are any companies that make custome laptop skins. I don't mean like the vinyl stickers you can get and stick on the front cover. i'm thinking like the ones available for ipods or cell phones - something that encases the entire laptop. I've purchased a kit for a custom keyboard cover and i'm thinking it would be along those lines, as i'm sure they wouldn't have a cover for every laptop ever available. Has anyone heard of anything like that?

A) What is the brand of that laptop? One place I know that makes nice cover for portables is Vaja. http://www.vajacases.com/home/home_en.html They only have for Sony and Apple though. Not sure if they do custom for other brands. Edit: Their cases are leather

where can i get custom made laptops or notebooks in chennai??/?

Q) or at least the place where i can get the spares for that..

A) fun!in shops.

can i carry old P3 laptop from USA to India, without custom, i dont have bills for laptops.?

Q) me my wife and mine two kids are going next week to india from sanFrancisco (USA). I had with me three laptopts. one dell mobile centrino ... with bill and twoD Dell P3 laptop without bill. So can i carry those without any custom duty... Actually the two old P3 laptops are of my personal use but i dont have bills. So can i carry those without any custom duty... pls reply Now i have decided that I'll not carry my office laptop and will carry only those two old P3 laptops(which are without bills). So will these two laptops be attracted toward any custom duty ????

A) Unless the laptops are of value greater than $5000 you will not be require to pay duty on them. If you are planning on returning to the USA with them then you should be required to pay duty on them anyway.

Custom HP laptop shipped to Canada?

Q) Hp only apparently allows customers in the US to buy and receive custom laptops from them. Is there any way to get a customized Hp laptop from Hp shipped to Canada?

A)

Where can I order a custom laptop?

Q) I need something simple, but I can't find any place that makes custom laptops with my specs, they all have a list of things that they can put in, most of the ones I can find aren't very customizable.

A) try systemax they often build custom pcs and lap tops

A custom laptop/notebook that lasts longer than 1-2 years ?

Q) What is the best notebook/laptop out there. I am looking to have a custom laptop that will last me more than 1-2 years. Serious answers only please. If this helps; I will not use it for playing video games just storing and printing some photos, power point and microsoft word. Basically for business use and teaching, thanks.

A) Since you won't be gaming on it, the graphics card is not that important. Since you need it to last a while, get one that has an extended warrenty. Dell has an available 3year in home warrenty so if something happens to it, they will come out and fix it. The next thing you want to look at is component longevity. The top dog processor right now is the Intel Core 2 chip. Get a notebook with this and it should have enough power to last a while. You will want to have a lot of ram. 4gb is plenty to handle today's operating systems and programs and should be able to handle the future's as well. If you went with 2gb to save money (which would be plenty for now and for a year or 2) when you finally upgraded to 4gb you would need to get rid of your old 2gb pair. Typically they install 2 chips in the 2 available slots so to add more you would have to take the old out. Finally, it doesn't seem like you will be will be storing too many pictures, music or video you want to get the best hard drive for the price. a 160gb drive would probably be good because they are not terribly expensive and they offer a lot of storage for a laptop.

Should I buy a custom laptop?

Q) Am I better off buying a HP or Dell, or custom configuring a laptop. I found a website that custom builds them, and the price is much cheaper than a comparable HP. What is best? I don't care about cost, I want reliability and speed.

A) get a custom laptop because you can choose the parts and make sure you get want you want. custom laptops are also less likely to give you problems and you can get faster parts for a good price.

I know you can build custom desktops, but is it possible to build a custom laptop?

Q) To build my first computer, I was going to buy some cheap parts off eBay. I was just wondering if it is possible to do the same for a laptop if I could get a case for it. P.S.: I asked this before but wanted to double check: Is it possible to create a custom Apple or install OSX on a custom computer without being a developer or a hacker? Thanks!

A) its possible but good look with that, it like making your own car