Laptop help

[donkbee]

I need a laptop for poker. I won't be doing anything else on it, just online poker. I need HEM and PT4 to run well. The other programs I'll be using are Skype and iTunes. I would prefer to be able to use two monitors with it, but I would settle for just one if I had to (or if the alternative were too expensive).

I don't know anything about computers, so I'm not sure what to buy. I don't want to buy something I don't need, but I want to make sure I buy something high quality too. I'm assuming I can spend less than $1k on it. I need it shipped to Canada.

These are the two I've looked at:

http://www.ncix.com/detail/asus-p550...94484-1053.htm

http://www.ncix.com/detail/asus-inte...b-cd-96682.htm

Are either of these good? Is it worth it to spend $100 more for the 2nd one, or not really?

HALP!!!

[dhubermex]

Hi donkbee,

Back when I was 24-tabling I was big on multiple monitors, but I'm not 100% convinced it was +EV. I suppose it depends on whether you'll be doing most of your grinding on sites that have built-in software for grinders that allow for table stacking & resizing, but there are other programs out there that can do this.

I don't think you need to spend anything close to $1k for a sufficient laptop if online poker/HM/PT are your only concerns. I'd go with the cheaper option of the two items you've linked to. From my experience laptops start getting necessarily expensive when it concerns gaming (graphics) and perhaps software compatibility connected with live streaming, although even that is more dependent on Internet upload speeds more than processing power.

[Keith]

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-509-_-Product

would get you more memory, a lot faster processor and ssd instead of hard disc. which will all make HEM run a lot better. depends how many tables you run though. if only 5 or 6 then 4gb and a normal HD would probably be fine. Downside is that its only a shitty little screen and performance in a smaller case could make it run hot. screen is less of a concern if you plan to mainly use an external monitor.

[donkbee]

Thanks for the replies guys!

I agree that an SSD is a good idea and definitely worth the extra money. A couple different people recommended a Lenovo Ultrabook, so I'm probably just gonna go for that.

[chemist]

Instead of dual monitors you might be able to get away with using the HDMI output from the laptop to a big screen.
(Up to 2560x1600 resolution is possible if you google how to go beyond the standard 1900x1200 for some graphics cards).

[Jack Sawyer]

If you want to spend 1k or there abouts, get a mac book air 13 and install windows boot camp on it if you do not wish to use mac things. If you want to spend less, take a look at thewirecutter.com, they review tech stuff and have a dedicated best laptop section.

I'd go for the air though. Battery life is unmatched. Even though the screen can be not as nice to look at as one of those res doubled ones (retina), but the cheapest one of those rings in at 300 bucks more.

[donkbee]

Instead of dual monitors you might be able to get away with using the HDMI output from the laptop to a big screen.
(Up to 2560x1600 resolution is possible if you google how to go beyond the standard 1900x1200 for some graphics cards).

I can't imagine doing anything without duals now that I'm used to having them. Online poker for sure, but almost everything else I use the computer for too.

I ended up getting this thanks to some help from AvatarKava.

Thanks for everyone that posted with some input