QuickstepKing
Active member
Vortex III LE 15" Review
Just copying a review I posted on dooyoo.co.uk:
======================================================
Bought my first new computer in 15 years from PCSpecialist for both software programming and gaming, and am very happy.
I wanted a high-res laptop for software development, and a potent graphics card for gaming. I had looked at dell, sony, hp and high-street stores but was always disappointed. The ability to configure the components is so limited - much more limited than it used to be a few years ago I'm sure(unless I have rose-tinted spectacles). And why, why, oh why do 95% of laptops at 15" have 1366x768 resolution screens? 1280x1024 was better, or 1440x900 perhaps. My first developer laptop as an employee in 2002 was 15" and had a 1600x1200 screen, and after that in 2006 I got 1920x1200, which was great. In screen real-estate, how is less better? Oh well - let's hope Apple's Retina display mac-book pro sticks a boot up the backside of laptop manufacturers.
Anyway, I realised I may as well look for a 'gaming' laptop, but I disliked the brash look of Alienware and MSI offerings - and thought them rather expensive. Then I heard about Sager, but they were in the US. Then I heard of Clevo, the makers of the chassis and finally I discovered PCSpecialist.
I looked at the website, found it very easy to use to configure my machine, which is a Vortex III LE, and was happy to do the research in to the different components to maximize the bang-for-bucks I was willing to pay. I also spent a while looking at the forums and feedback to check it wasn't a 'sham' company or difficult to deal with.
Once I had configured my laptop, ordering was very simple (but then I wasn't doing anything complex like choosing finance credit).
Then came the wait. There was no indication at the time that there was a shortage of the processor I chose, but out of the 15 working days it took to be dispatched, at least 10 were spent waiting for a processor. During this time I messaged them directly as there was no indication why my laptop was spending so long 'In Building' according to the order-tracking. Response emails were quick and helpful, and I also looked on the forums as others were having delays too. However, as the delay dragged on, they stopped replying to my emails, so I phoned them. The phone call was much more useful, and they checked and updated me with the latest (limited supplies from Intel and delivery date/time).
Once all the components were assembled, testing and dispatch were very quick, and delivery by DPD was right on time, to the hour.
I like the laptop a lot. The screen is excellent and it feels solid and powerful. My only minor gripe is the keyboard. I'm not used to chiclet-style keys but I can get used to them; the problem I find is the 'Home', 'End', 'PgUp' and 'PgDn' keys which I use a lot as a programmer. I either have to hold down the 'Fn' key and use cursor keys or turn off the numeric keypad (with a another 'Fn' key combination) and use '1,3,5' or '7'. I find neither of these intuitive and yet there are two keys for 'PrtSc/SysRq' and 'Pause/Break' which I hardly ever use and would happily have as a 'Fn' key combination. Previous laptops I've had had the usual 2x3 keys small and at the top right of the keyboard (Home,End, PgUp, PgDn, Ins, Del).
Overall, I am very happy with the service, purchase, and laptop itself, just wish I hadn't got caught in the supply shortage of processors from Intel.
I will definitely use PCSpecialist again and have recommended them to friends and family, with the caveat of possible delays based on their suppliers, they should check first.
Summary: Excellent choice, good, service, great laptop, fab price, niggles are minor.
Just copying a review I posted on dooyoo.co.uk:
======================================================
Bought my first new computer in 15 years from PCSpecialist for both software programming and gaming, and am very happy.
I wanted a high-res laptop for software development, and a potent graphics card for gaming. I had looked at dell, sony, hp and high-street stores but was always disappointed. The ability to configure the components is so limited - much more limited than it used to be a few years ago I'm sure(unless I have rose-tinted spectacles). And why, why, oh why do 95% of laptops at 15" have 1366x768 resolution screens? 1280x1024 was better, or 1440x900 perhaps. My first developer laptop as an employee in 2002 was 15" and had a 1600x1200 screen, and after that in 2006 I got 1920x1200, which was great. In screen real-estate, how is less better? Oh well - let's hope Apple's Retina display mac-book pro sticks a boot up the backside of laptop manufacturers.
Anyway, I realised I may as well look for a 'gaming' laptop, but I disliked the brash look of Alienware and MSI offerings - and thought them rather expensive. Then I heard about Sager, but they were in the US. Then I heard of Clevo, the makers of the chassis and finally I discovered PCSpecialist.
I looked at the website, found it very easy to use to configure my machine, which is a Vortex III LE, and was happy to do the research in to the different components to maximize the bang-for-bucks I was willing to pay. I also spent a while looking at the forums and feedback to check it wasn't a 'sham' company or difficult to deal with.
Once I had configured my laptop, ordering was very simple (but then I wasn't doing anything complex like choosing finance credit).
Then came the wait. There was no indication at the time that there was a shortage of the processor I chose, but out of the 15 working days it took to be dispatched, at least 10 were spent waiting for a processor. During this time I messaged them directly as there was no indication why my laptop was spending so long 'In Building' according to the order-tracking. Response emails were quick and helpful, and I also looked on the forums as others were having delays too. However, as the delay dragged on, they stopped replying to my emails, so I phoned them. The phone call was much more useful, and they checked and updated me with the latest (limited supplies from Intel and delivery date/time).
Once all the components were assembled, testing and dispatch were very quick, and delivery by DPD was right on time, to the hour.
I like the laptop a lot. The screen is excellent and it feels solid and powerful. My only minor gripe is the keyboard. I'm not used to chiclet-style keys but I can get used to them; the problem I find is the 'Home', 'End', 'PgUp' and 'PgDn' keys which I use a lot as a programmer. I either have to hold down the 'Fn' key and use cursor keys or turn off the numeric keypad (with a another 'Fn' key combination) and use '1,3,5' or '7'. I find neither of these intuitive and yet there are two keys for 'PrtSc/SysRq' and 'Pause/Break' which I hardly ever use and would happily have as a 'Fn' key combination. Previous laptops I've had had the usual 2x3 keys small and at the top right of the keyboard (Home,End, PgUp, PgDn, Ins, Del).
Overall, I am very happy with the service, purchase, and laptop itself, just wish I hadn't got caught in the supply shortage of processors from Intel.
I will definitely use PCSpecialist again and have recommended them to friends and family, with the caveat of possible delays based on their suppliers, they should check first.
Summary: Excellent choice, good, service, great laptop, fab price, niggles are minor.
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