Generally speaking, "gaming" laptops have more options, better screens, and in some cases (MSI Titan) can even have swapped out gpus. Laptop upgrades have never been a thing for the most part. The reason to purchase a gaming laptop is the same as if you were to purchase any laptop. Mobility. Now if you happen to be a gamer and you need/want mobility, then the gaming laptops of now are great choices, and even run in a price range that is competitive with high end, business class notebooks.
If i am at home, i will almost always be on my trusty desktop. If I want to go to a friends, maybe play a LAN, go on vacation, business trip, etc, then I am obviously not going to lug around a full size tower, monitor, and peripherals.
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"It is said that the cleric gave these crusaders a seemingly impossible task: to scour the far-flung lands to the east and find a means, however it might manifest, to purify the Zakarum faith."
Originally, I bought my MBP because I use it out in the field and it was my only computer - I started playing D3 way after I bought the laptop and just never upgraded. I just like having one computer that can go with me wherever. It sounds like gaming is just a label applied to higher performance machines. I'm not done my research but I plan on keeping this thread going and hopefully folks continue to be as thoughtful and informative as they have thus far proven to be.
Im sorry about that btw, cause Rolands Crusader is a bit ridiculous and im having a blast
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"It is said that the cleric gave these crusaders a seemingly impossible task: to scour the far-flung lands to the east and find a means, however it might manifest, to purify the Zakarum faith."
The most common difference between a "performance" laptop and a "gaming" laptop would maybe be the dedicated graphics card. Some performance laptops have one and some don't, but most gaming laptops will. This makes a large difference in rendering due to not having to steal memory or CPU cycles from the motherboard. While popular with gaming, any video intensive application would benefit from this. Your description of the topographical maps sounds like it would benefit from a dedicated GPU.
Another possible difference is the monitor size. A performance laptop doesn't necessarily need to go above the 15" models. However, for gaming, a 17" can be a big draw...at the cost of lugging around a heavier machine and usually less battery life. If, however, your mobility is from one desk to another, the full size keyboard and larger screen add up to productivity increases even in non-gaming applications. Personal concerns and usage patterns, then, have a lot to do with that choice. A good docking station at home can allow you to have a large monitor and regular kb/mouse for gaming with mobility if you will be using the laptop from your car instead of a remote office.
Generally speaking, "gaming" laptops have more options, better screens, and in some cases (MSI Titan) can even have swapped out gpus. Laptop upgrades have never been a thing for the most part. The reason to purchase a gaming laptop is the same as if you were to purchase any laptop. Mobility. Now if you happen to be a gamer and you need/want mobility, then the gaming laptops of now are great choices, and even run in a price range that is competitive with high end, business class notebooks.
If i am at home, i will almost always be on my trusty desktop. If I want to go to a friends, maybe play a LAN, go on vacation, business trip, etc, then I am obviously not going to lug around a full size tower, monitor, and peripherals.
"It is said that the cleric gave these crusaders a seemingly impossible task: to scour the far-flung lands to the east and find a means, however it might manifest, to purify the Zakarum faith."
Originally, I bought my MBP because I use it out in the field and it was my only computer - I started playing D3 way after I bought the laptop and just never upgraded. I just like having one computer that can go with me wherever. It sounds like gaming is just a label applied to higher performance machines. I'm not done my research but I plan on keeping this thread going and hopefully folks continue to be as thoughtful and informative as they have thus far proven to be.
I would also like to state, for the record, that I am supremely bummed that I won't be able to jump on 2.2.0 when I get home this afternoon.
Im sorry about that btw, cause Rolands Crusader is a bit ridiculous and im having a blast
"It is said that the cleric gave these crusaders a seemingly impossible task: to scour the far-flung lands to the east and find a means, however it might manifest, to purify the Zakarum faith."
The most common difference between a "performance" laptop and a "gaming" laptop would maybe be the dedicated graphics card. Some performance laptops have one and some don't, but most gaming laptops will. This makes a large difference in rendering due to not having to steal memory or CPU cycles from the motherboard. While popular with gaming, any video intensive application would benefit from this. Your description of the topographical maps sounds like it would benefit from a dedicated GPU.
Another possible difference is the monitor size. A performance laptop doesn't necessarily need to go above the 15" models. However, for gaming, a 17" can be a big draw...at the cost of lugging around a heavier machine and usually less battery life. If, however, your mobility is from one desk to another, the full size keyboard and larger screen add up to productivity increases even in non-gaming applications. Personal concerns and usage patterns, then, have a lot to do with that choice. A good docking station at home can allow you to have a large monitor and regular kb/mouse for gaming with mobility if you will be using the laptop from your car instead of a remote office.