Best Field Laptop for DIT (that doesn't look like a car)

J

jcc

New member
Hi.
I'm doing some DIT in the field for broadcast television. I need a pc laptop to transfer data mostly from P2 cards out of the 2700 (and do some light edit/ playback for clients).
I'm finding I need something smokin' fast, with a great graphics card to playback (for verification) all those klunky codecs (like avc intra100, and 5D H.264, and I want to be able to playback the next big thing, too).

Here are my preferred specs:

15.6" monitor 1080p res HD screen (no 3D, if possible)
best graphics card (nvidia 1.5gb?)
two hard drives (raided) 500gb or better?
RAM - 16 GB
PORTS: usb 2.0, usb 3.0, esata, (if possible - pcie for p2)
...I understand asking for fw800 is out of the question for a pc.

Here's what I've found:

I love the new Asus vx-7, except that it looks like a car, and it only has usb 2 & 3 ports.

I've also been looking at the Asus G53sw, which seems almost as good as the vx-7, except the raided drives are smaller (2-500gb v 2 -750gb), and again, limited ports for all my various external drives.

Also checking out the msi gt 683r 242, which I like because it has similar specs to the above, but also an esata port. (Though I know almost nothing about msi).

Cost isn't an issue as much as getting a true pro - rig that I know I can rely on in the field.
I'd appreciate anyone's input on my choices above, or any others I might have neglected to find.

Thanks!
John
 
Did you take a look at Digital Storm?
I know they specialize in gaming rigs BUT their higher end laptops have USB 2.0, USB 3.0, eSATA, Firewire and have fast processors and great GPUs.
Not to mention come standard with 1920x1080 screens at all screen sizes. 16GB RAM is an option on all of the larger ones.
My next laptop will be coming from them.

Hope this helps.
 
Check out the Lenovo W520. It's designed to be a portable workstation, instead of a gaming rig, so it might meet your requirements.
 
While I am a MacBookPro user, if I were to use a PC for something I needed, a Lenovo would be my first choice. We have them where I work and I have a lot of experience with them. They are very tough and I've found, very dependable.
 
If money isn't a problem, look at Getac. They don't look like cars,
they look like tanks.

getac-v100-l.jpg


MIL-STD-810G and IP65 compliant with a magnesium alloy case,
shock-mounted hard drive, and sealed I/O caps and doors to prevent damage from solid particles and moisture.

They are professionell tactical notebooks - not as cheap as the consumer gear though.

http://www.ruggednotebooks.com/getac-b300-fully-rugged-laptop
 
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Yeah Lenovo is the serious brand when it comes to the workign man's laptop. Im using a Lenovo to type this myself and its old and still chugging.
I can definately recommend them due to build quality and their no nonsense approach.
 
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