Why not put a PCI-E slot on the mobo that flips down like the old RAM did. Youd put your video card in and flip the card flat to the MOBO. Then youd have a heatsink similar to a desktop varient that pulls air down into the card and out (blower type). In this case the fan would pull air from outside as the fan would be flush with the case when flipped down (you could have a snap in plate with a vent hole to protect the card or something) And with the detachable monitor idea itd just snap on and use one of the two ports on the video card (short cable). If you dont want the monitor you can remove/unplug it and leave it at home. Perhaps give the unit a standard monitor mount so you could stick it to the back of a screen when you wanted it outa the way. This way you could even mount it behind your TV or something as a hidden HTPC lol. So that fixes upgrade ability and cooling on the GPU side...Oh and I think itd be neat to have a nice fitting easily removable battery, so when you were planning on taking it to a lan party you could pop the battery off and switch in a PSU unit that would essentially contain the power brick so you didnt have to worry about it hanging out and dragging on the ground or whatever. Put it all together with the battery and you have a normal laptop, pull the screen and switch in the PSU and youve got a tiny flat PC. I like the removable screen idea allot, then you could start with an el cheapo TN panel if you wanted to and then later upgrade to an IPS or something. It would also give a much larger user base...90% of the gamers seem to like massive resolution but why cut out 10% of your market when you could now offer a lower res screen for those who want it? Or maybe for people who arent gamers but like the configureability/portability of the device and dont want the super tiny text. Or for slightly lower end options with less powerful GPUs that cant push the high resolutions. Yeah...
Upgradability + Portability = Dream Laptop for me.
Audio card + GPU and Memory upgradability as Anand said (GPU capable of large resolutions through hmdi port) + portabiliy meaning low weight (3-5 pounds, 1 - 1.5kg) + no more than 15 inches screen for me.
well the new sony vaio and the dell precision 64 do seem to have IPS screens ( I going by their color gamut) but the fact that a 17" laptop has just 3 USB ports is just laughable.
I know this is about the ideal gaming notebook, but I'd rather advocate for a different form factor. I don't think the laptop is a good form factor for any gaming system, and I don't see why a portable gaming system would need to be in the form factor. Give me a small tower with a detachable display and keyboard so I can set it up however I like. Heat management would get a lot easier, which appeals to me because I really dislike the sound of notebook fans, which any gaming notebook would need to be filled with.
It's strange, but the things that seem to appeal to you about a gaming notebook seem like downsides. You wouldn't dismantle and reallocate a gaming laptop precisely because they're generally proprietary systems. They're also not particularly nice for day to day use because of the noise they often generate and the small screen and limited positioning options with the attached keyboard. You never had the space or spare hardware to keep a gaming desktop around, but you could afford $2,500 for a great gaming laptop? Why not put a small gaming box together for $1,000 and use it as bedside table?
The whole idea of a gaming laptop seems quite silly to me. I know, it's a lucrative market and so it will continue to exist, but no utopia of mine would involve a gaming system in notebook form-factor.
Ive tried the gaming notebook route, and its failed me miserably.
I currently am trying to sell my XPS for exactly that reason. Its a very nice laptop, T9300, 4GB of ram, a HDD I wont bother with, and a 8400GS. I wanted something with performance and mobility, and got both.
Its still not enough to game on.
The perfect gaming notebook doesn't exist, as it simply a CPU/RAM heavy ultra-portable notebook with external graphics, monitor, and mouse.
Thermals on GPUs just don't fit a mobile platform, and that's not likely to change for a long time.
For gamers, a decently powered (ULV Core, dual core+HT ULV Nehalem or DC Atom) portable machine plus a high powered desktop is going to be the best mix for the conceivable future.
I agree that the ability to upgrade is very important for the longevity of the device. I would personally love to see a smaller notebook ship that handles a decent resolution. Something akin to the 15.4 in running 1920x1200. I'd like to see the same density on a 12.1 in screen. Two drives would be nice, but I'd settle for one good one with a solid video card. If the optical drive was removable that would be a bonus, I'd probably keep a second hdd there. Even better than a removable hdd sled would be one that also included the connectors to make it a USB/1394 external for times when the optical drive was in place.
In short I hate giving up the resolution of a large monitor in favor of portability.
Given that ASUS is a display OEM itself it would be reasonable for them to sell graphics card for laptops which are compatible (standardized) among different vendors.
The laptop should have one boot SSD and a "standard bay" for second SSD There must be an industry standard for the Bay so we can change second SSD as we change SD cards from one device to another buy pushing a button or the SSD it self. Still very few people can afford one SSD but it will come a time when the price will go down and then the willing and the need will come.
Also I'd like not DVI but HDMI because I want to use my laptop with my TV for picture and audio through the same cable and DVI is bulky connector. And I don't like HDMI OR Display Port I want them BOTH.
Why not put a PCI-E slot on the mobo that flips down like the old RAM did. Youd put your video card in and flip the card flat to the MOBO. Then youd have a heatsink similar to a desktop varient that pulls air down into the card and out (blower type). In this case the fan would pull air from outside as the fan would be flush with the case when flipped down (you could have a snap in plate with a vent hole to protect the card or something) And with the detachable monitor idea itd just snap on and use one of the two ports on the video card (short cable). If you dont want the monitor you can remove/unplug it and leave it at home. Perhaps give the unit a standard monitor mount so you could stick it to the back of a screen when you wanted it outa the way. This way you could even mount it behind your TV or something as a hidden HTPC lol. So that fixes upgrade ability and cooling on the GPU side...Oh and I think itd be neat to have a nice fitting easily removable battery, so when you were planning on taking it to a lan party you could pop the battery off and switch in a PSU unit that would essentially contain the power brick so you didnt have to worry about it hanging out and dragging on the ground or whatever. Put it all together with the battery and you have a normal laptop, pull the screen and switch in the PSU and youve got a tiny flat PC. I like the removable screen idea allot, then you could start with an el cheapo TN panel if you wanted to and then later upgrade to an IPS or something. It would also give a much larger user base...90% of the gamers seem to like massive resolution but why cut out 10% of your market when you could now offer a lower res screen for those who want it? Or maybe for people who arent gamers but like the configureability/portability of the device and dont want the super tiny text. Or for slightly lower end options with less powerful GPUs that cant push the high resolutions. Yeah...
Upgradability + Portability = Dream Laptop for me.
Audio card + GPU and Memory upgradability as Anand said (GPU capable of large resolutions through hmdi port) + portabiliy meaning low weight (3-5 pounds, 1 - 1.5kg) + no more than 15 inches screen for me.
Agreed with SSD + large HDD (No DVD drive).
I/O = hdmi, e-sata, 2-4 usb, card reader, optional audio/mic + Touchscreen and Touchpad.
Long life battery (more than 6 hours), but I think thats too much to ask lol, I can be happy without it.
well the new sony vaio and the dell precision 64 do seem to have IPS screens ( I going by their color gamut) but the fact that a 17" laptop has just 3 USB ports is just laughable.
I know this is about the ideal gaming notebook, but I'd rather advocate for a different form factor. I don't think the laptop is a good form factor for any gaming system, and I don't see why a portable gaming system would need to be in the form factor. Give me a small tower with a detachable display and keyboard so I can set it up however I like. Heat management would get a lot easier, which appeals to me because I really dislike the sound of notebook fans, which any gaming notebook would need to be filled with.
It's strange, but the things that seem to appeal to you about a gaming notebook seem like downsides. You wouldn't dismantle and reallocate a gaming laptop precisely because they're generally proprietary systems. They're also not particularly nice for day to day use because of the noise they often generate and the small screen and limited positioning options with the attached keyboard. You never had the space or spare hardware to keep a gaming desktop around, but you could afford $2,500 for a great gaming laptop? Why not put a small gaming box together for $1,000 and use it as bedside table?
The whole idea of a gaming laptop seems quite silly to me. I know, it's a lucrative market and so it will continue to exist, but no utopia of mine would involve a gaming system in notebook form-factor.
Ive tried the gaming notebook route, and its failed me miserably.
I currently am trying to sell my XPS for exactly that reason. Its a very nice laptop, T9300, 4GB of ram, a HDD I wont bother with, and a 8400GS. I wanted something with performance and mobility, and got both.
Its still not enough to game on.
The perfect gaming notebook doesn't exist, as it simply a CPU/RAM heavy ultra-portable notebook with external graphics, monitor, and mouse.
Thermals on GPUs just don't fit a mobile platform, and that's not likely to change for a long time.
For gamers, a decently powered (ULV Core, dual core+HT ULV Nehalem or DC Atom) portable machine plus a high powered desktop is going to be the best mix for the conceivable future.
I agree that the ability to upgrade is very important for the longevity of the device. I would personally love to see a smaller notebook ship that handles a decent resolution. Something akin to the 15.4 in running 1920x1200. I'd like to see the same density on a 12.1 in screen. Two drives would be nice, but I'd settle for one good one with a solid video card. If the optical drive was removable that would be a bonus, I'd probably keep a second hdd there. Even better than a removable hdd sled would be one that also included the connectors to make it a USB/1394 external for times when the optical drive was in place.
In short I hate giving up the resolution of a large monitor in favor of portability.
Given that ASUS is a display OEM itself it would be reasonable for them to sell graphics card for laptops which are compatible (standardized) among different vendors.
The laptop should have one boot SSD and a "standard bay" for second SSD There must be an industry standard for the Bay so we can change second SSD as we change SD cards from one device to another buy pushing a button or the SSD it self. Still very few people can afford one SSD but it will come a time when the price will go down and then the willing and the need will come.
Forgot eSata and USB3. They should be a must.
Also I'd like not DVI but HDMI because I want to use my laptop with my TV for picture and audio through the same cable and DVI is bulky connector. And I don't like HDMI OR Display Port I want them BOTH.