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[PTTG??]

I'm thinking of getting a new laptop for general use- something moderately powerful (quad-core? 4-8 GB ram?) But it's been a while since I looked up new computers. In particular, I'm looking for a few things:
-A Handle (I have one on my current computer and it's the best feature since color)
-Standard graphics cards (no weird chipsets that aren't actually compatible with anything)
-6-12in. of drop safety (that is, I can drop it 6in. without killing it)
-Upgradeable (beyond swapping ram, like CPU or Graphic Card)
-Good battery life (7 hour standby is what I have on my current one, but I can deal with less)

Anyone hear of something like this?

[Tahin]

Good luck.

And by that I mean: there's no way you're going to find all that in a laptop without building the thing yourself from spare parts.

Wait, you're joking, right? Right?

[PTTG??]

Yeah, looks like I'll have to build my own.

Well, I could take attach a handle onto anything, and really you just need some good padding to make a laptop function after a drop. I certainly won't build a custom chipset myself, and most likely if I build it I can upgrade it.

And since I have a handle, I can put 20 lbs. of batteries on the thing, easy.

Or I could get this and tape a handle to it; It looks like it uses a real GeForce, so I could swap that out later.

Only real problem with that is they only sell laptops with Vista anymore. Luckily I stashed away a few XPCDs. Or I could wait until W7 comes out.

Then there's this for $800.

[Ignoro]

Google for 'Xbox 360 laptop'.

Commercially built laptops are very overpriced for the hardware. I second your decision to build your own. Use a very sturdy briefcase as a base and keep ventilation in mind while designing the layout.

[Tahin]

Huh. Briefcase laptop is an awesome dea. I suggest you do that, PTTG. Seems like it would suit you.

[PTTG??]

That's not a bad idea... Not bad at all...

PTTG Cancels Post, taken by Mood.
PTTG has been Possessed!
PTTG has claimed an Electronics Workbench!

Ozkaknunok needs briefcase...yes...
Ozkaknunok needs shining light...screen...
Ozkaknunok needs random...memory...
Ozkaknunok needs cooling...fans...
Ozkaknunok needs central...units...
Ozkaknunok needs energy...batteries...

PTTG has begun a mysterious construction!

[Ignoro]

Can we hear what hardware you're considering?
And get a picture of the briefcase?

On a side note, make sure you have ALL the cables tucked out of view before using it in public. A friend of mine who built a briefcase laptop used it in public before installing all the panels, wires and lights sticking out everywhere, and he spent the afternoon in the local police station. It looks very suspicious. Don't have any lights on the outside of the case either.

[JoshuaFH]

I have a feeling that this is gonna make PTTG??? a very rich man, if he completes it, and is cool enough that he could sell it.

[PTTG??]

Don't have anything yet...

Yeah, I once walked around with a bright red toolbox with some LEDs hooked up to a switch; I somehow got away with it.

[PTTG??]

It looks like in order to do this, I either need to build an inverter into this thing, or hand-build my power supply, which is probably impossible- not necessarily in the simple wattage regulation and volt/amp control, but in the controller that connects to the motherboard.

Unless, of course, I can repurpose a laptop power supply, but I'm pretty sure that there's not going to be enough power. I need to study it more.

So, aluminum case or leather?

[Immortal]

Aluminum is conductive and therefore transfers heat. Leather is the opposite. I would say get a thin aluminum one.

[Sergius]

I'm posting here because I want to know everything about making a custom laptop, so I can check it on the "show new replies link". Right now I have a Gateway tablet PC with an ATI video card (not a very good one but better than those integrated Intels )

So what do you do is create one from scratch from standard PC parts? Buy specially-made laptop components? Use spare parts? What?

[Strife26]

I was thinking about getting a powered coat some time, but a breifcase laptop sounds better.
What would I need to run a 200 dwarf fort at 200 FPS? Anyone know?

[Roundabout Lout]

Woowww, don't expect to have quad cores fit in a laptop just yet.

[PTTG??]

Well, the brick wall is power supplies. Unless you want to cam an inverter, a desktop power supply, and 30 lbs. (642 millipedes) of batteries, you have to build one yourself that can convert DC to DC for your components AND will have a controller that responds to the motherboard.
Unless, of course, Desktop and Laptop components use the same power standards, but though I haven't looked it up, I doubt it.
If that was the case, you just need a dead laptop to get your batteries and PS from, but expect much worse battery life.