PS3 YLOD! Might go the PC route?

[DRII]

OK...

I still have my original 60GB PS3. Had to fix the laser once, and now (about a year later) the dreaded Yellow Light of Death has shown up. I don't think I'm going to get another or fix it again.

So I'm getting a new laptop, an Asus A73E-Core i7. It has a 17 in HD screen, Windows 7, the new Intel Quad core chip, but only has an integrated Intel GMA HD graphics processor -- no separate graphics card

Although I don't have as much time as before, I would still love to play a good tennis game with online capability and high level competition. I really enjoyed my PS3-TS3-ITST experience and would love to participate in something similar on my laptop.

Of course ITST has Dream Match Tennis and Full Ace Tennis tours on the PC platform. I haven't played either.

1) Have any of you played these competitively on a laptop, and will my laptop be sufficient?
2) Are the PC tours fun and competitive?
3) How is the online play in general, and how does one play them online (like which network is used; i will be new to all of this, sorry for all the questions)?
4) Is it possible to use a usb controller with the PC games?

[beltic caldy]

no answers to any of your specific questions DRII....for my money though, several years ago, i got a 360...and made a decision to keep gaming to the console/iphone (jailbroken, of course) - i've got friends who've wanted 'gaming laptops' - to my mind, there is no such thing - you just won't get gaming performance from a laptop - the technology isn't there yet, that's all.

if you DO get a powerful laptop...capable of kinda playing modern 3d games now....it won't be able to a year from now....and your options for upgrading a mobile graphics card are extremely limited, even if you wanted to.

my best advice? either fix your PS3 or grab a 360 - forget about TS4....there should be some good (better) new tennis games out soon enough - lower the spec of your laptop and keep it purely for business/education/office stuff.

[DRII]

no answers to any of your specific questions DRII....for my money though, several years ago, i got a 360...and made a decision to keep gaming to the console/iphone (jailbroken, of course) - i've got friends who've wanted 'gaming laptops' - to my mind, there is no such thing - you just won't get gaming performance from a laptop - the technology isn't there yet, that's all.

if you DO get a powerful laptop...capable of kinda playing modern 3d games now....it won't be able to a year from now....and your options for upgrading a mobile graphics card are extremely limited, even if you wanted to.

my best advice? either fix your PS3 or grab a 360 - forget about TS4....there should be some good (better) new tennis games out soon enough - lower the spec of your laptop and keep it purely for business/education/office stuff.

Thanks alot B.C., I appreciate it man. What you've said makes alot sense, and Amen to waiting for a better tennis game and forgetting TS4 -- my hopes will be hanging on the new EA Tennis Champions game.

I've got a buddy at work getting rid of his PS3 (amazing what happens when u ask around) for a really good price. He's a hardcore PC gamer and thinks any console is pure garbage LOL, his PS3 (80 GB model) has been collecting dust for months. Hopefully it will last me for a little while.

[Rob ITST]

Modern laptops are getting pretty powerful, but don't be fooled by their specs and features. The processors/ram/GPUs they have are considerably weaker than their desktop counterparts (that "i7" is nothing compared to a real i7 you'd get in a full blown PC). You have to spend several thousands on a laptop to approach what a $600-700 desktop will do.

Buying your friends PS3 is probably your best move. If something fails in it, you might be able to get parts from your old PS3 to fix it.

[DRII]

More good advice, thanks Rob...