| Years ago when gaming laptops first hit the market | | | | Again, the gap is closing but it's still no contest. While |
| many serious gamers laughed at the whole notion of | | | | laptop prices are steadily falling, you can still get a |
| using a laptop for gaming. These first gaming laptops | | | | better gaming rig at a lower price if you go the PC |
| simply were not up to the power and performance | | | | route. In addition, larger monitors are now at 24 or |
| of a gaming PC. No contest. A desktop computer | | | | 25 inches on some desktop systems so laptops can't |
| simply gave you higher performance than a gaming | | | | compete with the display visuals if bigger is your |
| laptop. | | | | thing. |
| While that last statement is still probably true, the | | | | Then the only other question that has to be asked: |
| gap in performance has narrowed significantly in | | | | Why are gaming laptops so bloody popular? |
| recent years. Laptops have increased in performance | | | | Mainly because of the "Cool" factor. Don't laugh, |
| with the introduction of more powerful mobile dual | | | | these gaming rigs, especially those high priced |
| processors or even quad processors enhanced with | | | | monsters, are the essence of cool. They look |
| dual graphics cards via SLI technology. | | | | spectacular and in our very shallow world looks do |
| As we go into fifth and sixth generation laptop | | | | count. Just like many people who buy high |
| technologies and platforms... the performance gap will | | | | performance sports cars more for the looks rather |
| soon be wiped out. Especially when you consider | | | | than for the performance; it is a matter of style |
| some gaming laptop specialists are actually giving you | | | | over performance for them. |
| desktop components in a laptop. Same performance | | | | Then there is still the portability factor since laptops, |
| as a desktop only packaged in a laptop. However, | | | | even those 10 or 12 pound monsters, are still more |
| calling these laptops is a bit of a stretch because you | | | | mobile than a bulky PC Tower and Monitor. You can |
| won't be sitting with these heavy mutant creatures | | | | take all that "cool" style and design along with you, |
| on your lap for any long periods of time. | | | | no matter where you go. Simply put, even though |
| Regardless, laptop specialists like Alienware, Sager | | | | batter life is next to nil, a gaming laptop is mobile. |
| and Rock in the UK, are turning out these computing | | | | You can take it with you and show it off. |
| monsters that can easily rival the gaming desktop PC. | | | | So is it a matter of style over performance? |
| The only thing more shocking than all that raw power | | | | Not really, looks may be one factor why gaming |
| and performance is the price tag. You do have to | | | | laptops are so popular but without the high |
| pay a hefty price for all that style and performance. | | | | performance and extreme computing power, these |
| The major drawback or disadvantage of going with a | | | | systems would be dead in the water. For in the end, |
| gaming laptop -- there's little room for upgrading. With | | | | where gaming is concerned, performance is still king. |
| a gaming PC, you can always upgrade to the latest | | | | Gaming laptops get the job done, perhaps not as |
| technologies because there are usually slots open and | | | | cheaply as their desktop rivals, but you can usually |
| space to expand... you can even upgrade to a larger | | | | play the latest games on these pimped-out monsters. |
| monitor if you like. | | | | In the end, gamers want the performance first and |
| However, with the gaming laptop the only things you | | | | the looks are secondary. But they will probably still |
| can realistically upgrade are the RAM (memory) and | | | | 'show-off' all that style nonetheless, to friends and to |
| the hard drive. In a gaming laptop everything is so | | | | other gamers. Even so, with gaming laptops, it is |
| compact and reduced in size to fit into such a small | | | | more a matter of performance over style. |
| package, there's little space for upgrading. Many | | | | The great thing about today's gaming laptops, you |
| serious gamers dismiss owning a gaming laptop for | | | | don't have to sacrifice one for the other. If you can |
| this very reason. | | | | afford the hefty price tag, you can have all that |
| The other major reason is price since you can get | | | | style plus all the performance you need, neatly |
| more power and performance in a gaming desktop | | | | packaged in your own gaming laptop. |
| PC for a cheaper price than going with a laptop. | | | | |