I would consider canceling for something else (btw I did not order yet, but I already made the mental decision, I just procrastinate a day because they deliver the next day and I want it delivered on saturday :P), just no clue what the something else is and I grew kind of tired of searching, especially since I'm not particularly good at it. If you find a better deal, by all means let me know, but otherwise I think I'll just take this.

At some point, you just have to buy something. Computers move too fast to sit around. If you wait, a whole new wave of computers will come out and you'll just have to start over ad nauseam.

I'll take a look at all the links in this thread later today, but I doubt it.

Please note these are *NOT* all the exact model you're getting. I think they will give you a reasonable view of what to expect, though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59WzUNrIsMI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZu1c52u6VU
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/review/laptops/msi-ge70-2pe-apache-pro-gaming-laptop-review-3539075/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2014/05/14/notebook-review-msi-ge70-apache-pro-with-nvidia-gtx-860m-graphics/

Okay, thanks guys, it's ordered. Thoughts on what to install first when it arrives? :-)

Chrome

Any anti-virus stuff and similar that I ought to get straight away?

Just don't get viruses...

AV software is a virus best avoided

For real? No other protective programs either? Is it safer without AV?

Antivirus software is a double edged sword. By it's very nature of detecting an intercepting viruses, it is in principle acting as a virus (the important distinction being that the AV software is presumably by someone you trust). I'm sure there are good AV suites out there, but I don't know any to recommend.

Things you can do to keep your computer safe:

-Keep Windows Defender and Windows Firewall on and up-to-date.
-Use Chrome with recommended security settings
-Don't visit sketchy sites or click links you don't know

If I trust the publisher though, wouldn't it be useful just in case I do something stupid?

Oh and just image your HDD/SSD occasionally incase anything does go wrong.

Sure, if you'd feel better with the added security. There may be performance/stability implications. That's the main reason I stopped using it. Well, and that I got a Mac lol.

Like I said, though, I have none to recommend. You'd have to do your own research. I think I've heard Kaspersky is pretty good.

Okay! How do I do that and when should I do that (like, when I have new files and stuff that's important)?
Does restoring the image fix any virus-problem? Don't know how to restore either but presumably I can find that out when/if I ever need it.

Definitely get an ad-blocker for Chrome first thing. I personally recommend uBlock Origin. The biggest vector for viruses these days is shitty ads that install trackers onto your computer and then get hacked, causing them to install even shittier software.

There's a variety of things you can do.

I'm assuming your laptop will come with a factory system image partition that you can always use to do a factory reset. If you have all your games in steam and all your files in the cloud (Google Drive, MS One Drive, Dropbox) then you can just do a complete factory reset. That's what I usually do as I rarely keep things local and oddly enough, despite having a storage background, my personal back-up policies can only be described as negligent.

You can do an actual full back-up by making a system image, which is essential making a duplicate of your entire laptop. This is probably the easiest and most fool-proof way, although you would have to buy an external HDD to back up to. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/back-up-programs-system-settings-files#1TC=windows-7

You can also use Windows Restore or w/e it's called. This creates like fake mini backups. It works well, except for when it doesn't, which, in my experience, is when you most need it.

Gotcha.
I'll also be doing online payments and stuff though, so I guess I need to keep info safe more than I need backups to restore to..
Ad-blocker advice taken.

As long as you process you online transactions through a legit service like Amazon, Google, etc, I can't imagine that would be an issue

But if I had the wrong spyware, I'd be screwed, right?

Get a copy of macrium reflect - complete peace of mind for bugger all moneys. A good backup system is the best computer money you can spend.

My computers all have macrium reflect - incremental image backups every night = no worries

What fiedler describes is good. I personally have an external hard drive that I back up my information to every 3-6 months. But that's because this is my personal computer. At work, backups every week. Since this is going to be a gaming laptop, I assume, you don't need to be too anal about backups. Though I must say, Windows restore or whatever the generic thing that it comes with - absolute shit.

As for anti-virus software, I've used both Norton and Symantec. Norton got corrupted somehow, so I would not use that. Haven't had issues with Symantec. I also use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. Between the two a surprising number of programs are quarantined.

Don't worry about online payment security too much, so long as you're using legit services. Credit cards and banks won't charge you if your info gets stolen.

^ agreed.

Yep built-in windows backup looks good but in practive is deliberately shite because they want you to go buy a new computer if and when your drive fails. But if you are smart and have proper backup you need not fear any evil. And its sooo cheap it really is a no-brainer.

Well, typing from my new laptop here..
Thanks guys!

Let us know how you like it. Also, buy Fallout 4 to celebrate!

Not sure I want that, actually.. What's awesome about it?

Also, I like it so far but I haven't played any games yet so yeah.. :P

You know Skyrim, steephie? Kinda like Skyrim, but in a post-apocolyptic setting. Simplest way I can explain it.

Better explained, its an interesting mix between an RPG and a FPS.