QUOTE(toughnut @ Jan 26 2011, 09:39 PM)
For Sager/Clevo users, may I know what's the main reason you go with barebone laptop?
Price/performance? Future upgrade ability?
Cuz personally think that future upgrade ability almost nil due to fact almost newer cpu from intel using different socket. Maybe GTX460/485 MXM slot and cooling system compatible with future card.
Initially thinking of buying NP8150 but now thinking of spending half the money on midrange gaming laptop and spend another half for a new laptop in future

The look is one factor for me; I bring my Sager around often and I don't get people asking "OMG ALIENWARELOLOL

". I do get asked of what kind of laptop is this though.
Price/performance, yes of course. Clevo works hard to achieve so much performance in their models with almost every feature you can think of right now in a gaming laptop (maybe some little lacking like the ever controversial backlit keys). This always comes in the best prices I could see offering them.
The ease of upgradability comes with the ease of maintenance as well. The Clevos I seen has a very user-friendly layout inside, allowing users to simply dust off and clean, and change the required modules with just a screwdriver/pop. And from the inside you'll see why they're able to put the V12 engine in a notebook.
The next upgrade would be in a year, as in CPU. So there is a probability that they will use a different socket as you said. But, as we stand here, Sandy Bridge is already a good investment, and I won't miss this opportunity to get my hands on one

However saying the line above, my previous Sager - NP8690 had about 2 or 3 revisions, adding support for newer revisions, USB3 ports and newer processors (Intel's i7-x40QMs). So there might be a chance that the new models right now have these revisions as well in this year.
What you said, also sounds reasonable...but I can't bear on waiting for something in one year's time haha.
This post has been edited by This is a Lamp: Jan 27 2011, 06:32 AM