Rugged gaming laptop - Dell IdeaStorm

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10 points posted to Gaming, Laptops by ruggedude Apr 1

I congratulate Dell for entering the rugged laptop market, but how about adding gaming capabilities to the rugged laptop? That is an untapped niche market!

stormrider451 Apr 1	Unless you are going to be takin the comp to play at the woods, I do not see the need for this.. Sorry I just dont see the mixability of these two.. Demoted.
okroger104 Apr 1	I don't know. Maybe for those gamer types who get emotional and physical while playing games? Otherwise, what hazards are there to a notebook while gaming?
ruggedude Apr 1	I am an electrical engineer and work in the field in wet and dirty environments, and sometimes I need to connect to equipment in the field using an RS232 serial port which the rugged laptop from Dell already has. I also run my business on my laptop, and would like to play games on my free time, especially if I am waiting in an airport. Some of us need a machine that can work hard and play hard.
stormrider451 Apr 1	I see what you mean. But I really think that the market that computer would round up would be very minimal to dedicate the time to. I doubt DELL would be interested, but you never know. What I recommend to you while you wait is that you get some cheap oldie but good games like StarCraft, SimCity3, old versions of Command and Conquer, Age of Empires and many others that would probably run on that laptop. I have a normal laptop that really isnt equipped for playing and it runs all of those. If you really are in need of games that will help you get passed some wait at the airport, I think playing old games sometimes fits the bill. It does for me.
okroger104 Apr 1	Ha! I still play Command and conquer Generals and Zero hour. So, the option for an 8400M Gs or 8600MGT ought to take care of things. But you might have to sacrifice battery power.
ruggedude Apr 1	I want to run MSFlightSimX. The military is a high volume user of rugged laptops. I think they deserve to have the best graphics to be able to guide remote guided vehicles, etc. In turn, if we can get the military to use high end graphics like those used in gaming, that means more volume and lower prices for gamers. Gamers are really a small group, but they could benefit from the military if someone sells the benefit of gaming graphics to them. They are gamers in a sense, except they play for real!
ruggedude Apr 1	If you guys support me on this, I am sure Dell and everyone will benefit in the long run!
winoffice Apr 1	Cuurently Dell stinks when it comes to "rugged" laptops, with its new Latitude. When I can see that their "rugged" laptops become cheaper and actally look decent, then maybe I will promote.
cestuila Apr 2	The XFR looks great (for the market it's targeting, of course). If you want to play, the Intel X3100 will run some games. If you want to do hardcore gaming, get an XPS!
ruggedude Apr 2	You have to think long term. Forget about styling and pricing for now. Just embrace the concept. A gaming computer you can take anywhere without worrying about dropping it, spilling coffee or food in it. Just hose it down when you are done. If these things become popular, prices will drop and you'll be able to get one that looks like an Alienware, or in hot pink if you want one. Fact is no one makes a rugged gaming computer at this time. If anyone wants a rugged and is a gamer they have to get two computers. Ruggeds utilize special cooling systems because they are sealed. These special cooling systems will help gamers with overclocking, etc. I want a rugged Alienware.
chernobyl Apr 2	I like the idea, lumberjacks are gamers too.
leolonewolf_nw08 Apr 2	I think there is a big demographic that alot of people are overlooking on this topic. Our military personnel that are overseas in not only in a personnaly hostile but also evironmentally hostile areas. I'm in the military my self and can't count the number of fellow soldiers who have expressed the desire for a ruggedized laptop capable of playing the games that require the upper end of GPU's. The demand is there for this kind of product, just not as large as the other mainstream markets.
ruggedude Apr 2	Go guys! Let's make this happen!
ruggedude Apr 3	Some of us want this and need this. Including soldiers in the battlefront who are putting their lives on the line for the rest of us. However some people are just trying to shoot down the idea when it does not affect them in any way, and in fact could benefit them in some unforeseen way. If you don't agree please refrain from voting, and state your argument.
okroger104 Apr 3	But are they willing to pay the price premium that a ruggedized gaming notebook will command? That is the question and that determines if there is a viable market or not.
leolonewolf_nw08 Apr 3	If I was headed overseas on a deployment then "Yes" I would.
ruggedude Apr 4	There is a growing market for rugged laptops, previously served by smaller specialized companies, and now by bigger companies like Dell and Panasonic. All we are asking for is the high end GPU. There will probably be a significant development cost associated with heat dissipation inside a sealed laptop, and meeting the MIL-STD. But hopefully the cost of the GPU option will beat the cost of having a separate gaming laptop and hauling two laptops around.
okroger104 Apr 4	That's what I was meaning to convey about the additional cost considering that even casual gaming level GPU's put out a lot of heat and probably would fair all that well in a sealed case. As the GPU dies continue to shrink, say to 45nm or even 32nm, they may not require so much cooling and would be appropriate for this type of platform.
ruggedude Apr 4	Yes, okroger, most of the development revolves around the GPU, and also how NVIDIA or ATI markets their card. The Pentagon may be willing to approve rugged computers with "high resolution graphics cards" as a matter of national security, but maybe not a "gaming card". Gaming may improve the morale of the troops and keep them sharp, which may be critical when facing an enemy, but that is a harder sell. If the military adopts higher end GPU's as a standard, the spinoff may be lower cost GPU's for gamers and consumers in general. Also, most of us may not need a MIL-STD laptop. Maybe just a "semi rugged" version of an Alienware with a spillproof keyboard and an RS-232 serial port may fit the bill. These could just be options when configuring an order on the website, that way only those that want it pay for it.

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