Decent Laptop for FFXI?

[Callisto]

Hopefully this isn't a redundant thread, but when I did a search all the ones I found were from 2004...

Anyways, there's a chance I may inherit a friend's character that quit about 2 years ago, and I'd like to be able to dual-box, but I don't currently have a 2nd box, lol. My current laptop is a piece of shit already, so I could stand to upgrade it for non-FFXI purposes anyways, and I figured I could kill 2 birds with one compact PC.

Can anyone recommend a good laptop for FFXI, or at least what specs I should look for in one? I kind of know dick all about computers so actual brand/model suggestions would help alot.

Per usual, thanks in advance~

[Feba]

About the only thing I'd look for is a dedicated graphics card. You might be able to play it on an integrated card, but it'd probably not be so great anyway.

Other than that, for FFXI? pretty much go nuts. Maybe look into Dell or some other company still selling ones with XP on it, so you don't have to worry about Vista being a resource hog, but really, FFXI can be run on pretty much any CPU/RAM/HDD you'll find in a laptop anymore.

[Aksannyi]

Since FFXI is not really that new, you don't have to go top-of-the-line for "gaming" laptops if you don't want to. When I first went shopping for my laptop and I told the guy I'd be gaming on it, he tried to sell me one for like $2300. When I mentioned that FFXI was like 5 years old, he was able to help me find one that was a bit more in my price range. And this machine runs FFXI wonderfully, I experience very little lag (outside of areas like Dynamis and Besieged) and it's really been an incredible value for portable FFXI.

Just be aware, you won't buy anything without Vista these days, and Vista can be extremely frustrating to work with when it comes to FFXI.

[Feba]

Just be aware, you won't buy anything without Vista these days,

Maybe look into Dell or some other company still selling ones with XP on it,

/facepalm

[Aksannyi]

I seriously did look for XP when I went to buy this and the store salesman practically laughed in my face.

But yeah, if you can get one with XP, save yourself the hassle of Vista.

[WishMaster3K]

I have an Insprion 1420, which is an excellent device for 800 x 600 windowed play, but if I went with the Graphics Card upgrade as opposed to the RAM upgrade (I was only able to choose 1 or the other based on the budget), I'd definitely be able to run the game windowed in 1024 x 768, Drawdistance set at 10.
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And at the very least, partition the harddrive, or just reinstall XP. That's what I did.

[Nandito]

I have an Insprion 1420, which is an excellent device for 800 x 600 windowed play, but if I went with the Graphics Card upgrade as opposed to the RAM upgrade (I was only able to choose 1 or the other based on the budget), I'd definitely be able to run the game windowed in 1024 x 768, Drawdistance set at 10.
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And at the very least, partition the harddrive, or just reinstall XP. That's what I did.

Huh. Same exact one as my sister. Expect either the battery charger or the battery itself died...

But yeah, I recommend the Insprion. Low-end card upgrades are cheap, at least better than integrated.

[Callisto]

I have an Insprion 1420, which is an excellent device for 800 x 600 windowed play, but if I went with the Graphics Card upgrade as opposed to the RAM upgrade (I was only able to choose 1 or the other based on the budget), I'd definitely be able to run the game windowed in 1024 x 768, Drawdistance set at 10.
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And at the very least, partition the harddrive, or just reinstall XP. That's what I did.

K, this is were I noob it up b/c I don't have a good idea of what you guys are talking about.

Is there something keeping me from buying a new laptop that has Vista, and just obtaining my own copy of XP and taking off Vista in favor of it? And wtf is partitioning a HD?

Thanks~

[Feba]

Is there something keeping me from buying a new laptop that has Vista, and just obtaining my own copy of XP and taking off Vista in favor of it?

Usually, no. You might want to look up "Vista downgrade rights"; some copies of Vista will let you downgrade to XP, the cost might be a bit lower than just buying a copy.

And wtf is partitioning a HD?

Basically, it's how the hard drive is divided. For example, some OEMs nowadays ship their computers with the main partition for data and your OS, with a secondary partition that holds backup data; usually so you can press some key during boot up to reinstall the system when you screw up, and they don't have to give you a recovery CD. See Partition (computing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) if you want to get a better idea of what it is.

[WishMaster3K]

My backup partition had 10GB, so I backed it up to a spare HDD I had, formatted the partition, and dumped XP onto the 10gb.

Now I can run windower 3.3, lol..

[Mhurron]

s there something keeping me from buying a new laptop that has Vista, and just obtaining my own copy of XP and taking off Vista in favor of it?

Drivers.

[Callisto]

After a moment I realized you meant the drivers that the computer needs to run the OS and whatnot, but at first I pictured a truck driver with a truck full of XP discs speeding off and giving me the finger.

[Feba]

at first I pictured a truck driver with a truck full of XP discs speeding off and giving me the finger.

...the hell?

After a moment I realized you meant the drivers that the computer needs to run the OS and whatnot,

Just to be a semantic asshole, it's the OS that needs them to control the hardware, not vice versa.

[Mhurron]

I pictured a truck driver with a truck full of XP discs speeding off and giving me the finger.

They might have something to say about it too, I don't know.

[Callisto]

...the hell?

I took drivers keeping me from running XP literally. Don't ask, 9 hour day after 5 hours sleep and I have yet to get a break or food.

Just to be a semantic asshole, it's the OS that needs them to control the hardware, not vice versa.

The closest I've come to dealing with drivers is when I had to download them for new weapons in ZoE1.