Looking at this Dell for my first Laptop...

[dreIU]

THIS (http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=i9200S1&s=dhs) laptop. What do you guys think. I would stick with the 1.6 Mobile, but that seems super slow. Would that be enough for surfing the web, programming (Java), Office tasks, and playing music? What do you guys think?


Also, I would get the UXGA Display and the Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps) wireless adapter.

I know nothing about intel, nor laptops... so I am asking you guys. Maybe there are other places to shop for laptops than dell? I don't want to spend too much more than $1500. Any input is appreciated, thanks! :)

[Slackfumasta]

I'd say you'll love it. Great screen on that one.

[mrw8419]

If you're not looking for gaming performance then I'd personally get the 600m. Thats what I have, and its quite a bit smaller than the one you posted, and nearly the same price. Mine is a 1.8, 1 gig o' ram, 64mb ati 9000, and the only thing that was really unecessary was the gig o' ram, but I originally bought 512, but was at microcenter and they had another stick for only 75 bucks. With the 600m since it comes with a slower video card, it might be cheaper to upgrade the processor which will be more useful for more useful things other than gaming. Make sure you look in the cyber deals section as there is like a $500 off coupon, and if you go to a university some colleges offer big discounts.

Michael

[dreIU]

If you're not looking for gaming performance then I'd personally get the 600m. Thats what I have, and its quite a bit smaller than the one you posted, and nearly the same price. Mine is a 1.8, 1 gig o' ram, 64mb ati 9000, and the only thing that was really unecessary was the gig o' ram, but I originally bought 512, but was at microcenter and they had another stick for only 75 bucks. With the 600m since it comes with a slower video card, it might be cheaper to upgrade the processor which will be more useful for more useful things other than gaming. Make sure you look in the cyber deals section as there is like a $500 off coupon, and if you go to a university some colleges offer big discounts.

Michael


Thanks for your advice guys.

mrw8419, you are right; I don't think I need a Mobity 9700 Radeon for sure. I don't know what I was thinking... I surely won't be playing games on it. The 600m is considerably cheaper, but it only comes with a 14.1" display. For about $300 more, I would rather have a 17".

Any other advice guys? Don't forget, I don't have to buy from dell.

[dreIU]

I was also looking at the Inspiron 6000

Specs:


Pentium® M Processor 730 (1.60GHz/533MHz FSB) Intel® Graphics
15.4 inch UltraSharp WUXGA LCD Panel
512 MB Ram
Integrated Intel® Media Accelerator 900 Graphics
40GB Hard Drive
54Mbs Wireless
24X CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive with Sonic RecordNow


Those are the basics, all for 1,296.00 plus free shipping. What's the verdict? Cheaper than my first listing... it only has a 15.4" display as opposed to the 17in in the first post. What do you guys think?

[Slackfumasta]

The 6000 is a new model that I haven't seen in person yet, but I believe it's basically a widescreen 600m. Specs sound fine for what you're doing.

[dreIU]

The thing that worries me is the processor part. I mean, a 1.6gig Pentium seems unbearably slow. Am I wrong? I mean, even if it's for surfing the web or what not, 1.6gigs of Intel power seems like nothing. Please tell me I am wrong. :-/

[mrw8419]

With my 1.8ghz, while I'm at school I listen to music, aim, several windows open of firefox, and office and I never see a slow down. The mobile processors that they designed are very nice. The one thing I'd watch out for is that I'm pretty sure that the 1.6ghz only have 1mb of l2 cache, where the 1.8ghz have 2mb of l2 cache which might make the difference. These are completely different processor designs from the desktop system, so a 1.8 is actually quite fast. As for the screen its plenty big enough for webpages, etc, and it fits in my bookbag a lot better.

Michael

[dreIU]

With my 1.8ghz, while I'm at school I listen to music, aim, several windows open of firefox, and office and I never see a slow down. The mobile processors that they designed are very nice. The one thing I'd watch out for is that I'm pretty sure that the 1.6ghz only have 1mb of l2 cache, where the 1.8ghz have 2mb of l2 cache which might make the difference. These are completely different processor designs from the desktop system, so a 1.8 is actually quite fast. As for the screen its plenty big enough for webpages, etc, and it fits in my bookbag a lot better.

Michael


Thank's for the note on the cache, I suppose that's pretty important :)

You are aslo right about the screen size; I almost forgot this thing would have to fit in a backpak.

I'm surprised that no one else has mentioned another place to get a lappy. Is Dell that good? :p

[jnev_89]

to see *about* how powerful a p-m is compared to a p4, multiply the p-m clock speed by 1.8. also, check out sager laptops, 3790 specifically, at www.pctorque.com . also very nice laptops. otherwise, the i6000 seems good for your purposes.

[dreIU]

to see *about* how powerful a p-m is compared to a p4, multiply the p-m clock speed by 1.8. also, check out sager laptops, 3790 specifically, at www.pctorque.com . also very nice laptops. otherwise, the i6000 seems good for your purposes.

Thanks for that suggestion. I checked out the site and I liked what I saw. I am kinda glad to see that it shipps with no OS installed or no other BS software from Dell, as I can get office and XP Pro for free from my school. The 3790 seems to be a perfect choice in my case, I really like the specs for the price too.

One thing... what would I use the "blue tooth" for? I saw it both @ dell and pctorque. :confused:

[9mmCensor]

I have a Dell I like it alot. Maybe not the best, but they are a good deal.

[dreIU]

I have a Dell I like it alot. Maybe not the best, but they are a good deal.


Which model do you have?

[Slackfumasta]

He has the same one I have I believe, the 5160.

[9mmCensor]

Which model do you have?
5160.

[Dylruss]

Dells, may not be the best, but I really like mine. Mine is one of the more simple ones that Dell does. Inspiron 1150, seems to do great since I don't play games on it, and it only cost (I am sure I have said it a million times) $630. w/60gig 5400rpm, wirelss b/g, 2.6Ghz celey (yuk), and so on.

[kayson]

Get an apple notebook. Those are a much better deal, but I'd only get it if it's a secondary computer. If it's gonna be your main rig, go with the dell.

[mrw8419]

One thing... what would I use the "blue tooth" for? I saw it both @ dell and pctorque. :confused:

Blue tooth is a small range wireless protocol that is used by cell phones, pda's, etc. The only decently cool thing if you don't have a blue tooth phone, you can use a blue tooth mouse and you never even have to plug anything in. Just turn the wireless mouse on and it works.

Michael

[enduro]

I love my dell. If you're not going to game I'd save the money from the 9700 and put it elsewhere. My 9600 Pro can play HL2 so I'm good to go with it. You could probably go a lot lower to a 5200 Go or something. Upgrade the ram or something. Oh, just a hint. You can save money on ram by buying the 256 stick and then buying a gig kit from the Egg for 160 bucks. Then sell the 256 stick on the forums for like 30 shipped and you got a gig for 130.

[dreIU]

Dells, may not be the best, but I really like mine. Mine is one of the more simple ones that Dell does. Inspiron 1150, seems to do great since I don't play games on it, and it only cost (I am sure I have said it a million times) $630. w/60gig 5400rpm, wirelss b/g, 2.6Ghz celey (yuk), and so on.

That's a good deal, but I don't know if I could settle for a celery :( I won't be playing games on mine either.

Get an apple notebook. Those are a much better deal, but I'd only get it if it's a secondary computer. If it's gonna be your main rig, go with the dell.

I have used some apple computers here on campus, and I can honestly say that I hate their OS... I am used to Windows and I like it :) My lappy would be my second rig for sure, I still have to have this loud thing as my gaming rig :D I am sure that apple notebooks have their advantages, but I don't see myself being happy with one.

Blue tooth is a small range wireless protocol that is used by cell phones, pda's, etc. The only decently cool thing if you don't have a blue tooth phone, you can use a blue tooth mouse and you never even have to plug anything in. Just turn the wireless mouse on and it works.

Michael


Thanks for the explanation... I don't have any PDA's or a nice enough cellphone for that (thoguh I may have one in March). So I could use my MX1000 mouse with the blue tooth technology?


I love my dell. If you're not going to game I'd save the money from the 9700 and put it elsewhere. My 9600 Pro can play HL2 so I'm good to go with it. You could probably go a lot lower to a 5200 Go or something. Upgrade the ram or something. Oh, just a hint. You can save money on ram by buying the 256 stick and then buying a gig kit from the Egg for 160 bucks. Then sell the 256 stick on the forums for like 30 shipped and you got a gig for 130.

Also good advice, thanks. I have never dealt with a laptop before, but I assume it cannot be that hard to go in there and change the memory. Also, would 1gig be overkill for my purposes? I think that 512 wouls be enough for what I do, and they currently have an upgrade from 256 to 512 for free. I do think that the 9700 would be overkill for sure as well, but I will want to play some videos and such, so maybe a cheap integrated graphics card may not be enough?




Also, does anyone know if I would void my warranty by formating the HD and installing XP Pro, as opposed to the XP Home that it omes with? Or is there a way to have it shipped with absolutely nothing on the HD?


Thanks again guys! :)

[enduro]

Installing memory is a breeze. Almost easier than installing it in your desktop. You just unscrew the bottom and insert the memory in at a 45°C angle and then snap it down. Takes like 30 sec's total. Very easy. I've always been a big fan of having a gig of ram because it speeds everything up. Windows load's faster. Folders open faster. It just helps out a lot. Is it a single 512 stick that they are upgrading too or 2*256?
l
I'm not sure on the hdd. I really doubt that it would void the warranty because you can keep the warranty even when you install ram or a vidcard yourself. Seem's like as long as you kept the Windows disc that they wouldn't care one way or another.

[dreIU]

I cant see the ram deal anymore... but having 2 sticks of 256 is 50 bucks more (over a single), but for a single 512 it's an extra 100... I will have to look into newegg for some comparison prices I suppose. Will any brand of memory work, or is Dell limiting me to only purchasing their manufacturers' ram?

[Slackfumasta]

You can use any brand RAM as long as it's the right speed (probalby PC2700). It's usually better to have a matched set, but not necessary.

[dreIU]

I see... I take it that the mobo only has two slots for ram, correct? My parents' desktop only has two as well. At any rate... I noticed that on the mobiles, the ram only came in PC2700 flavors, what gives? Isn't the fsb @ 200, or maybe they don't run then in sync for some reason? That's really wierd.

Also, could my Logitech MX1000 work w the blue tooth adapter?

[Slackfumasta]

Yes, there are only two slots for RAM.

Pentium Mobile processors run at 533 MHz FSB instead of the 800 MHz FSB that the full P4s run at, so the memory runs slower as well (instead of 200 MHz quad-pumped, it's 133 MHz quad-pumped, or 533 MHz.)

[enduro]

All of the Dell laptops run off pc2700 ram except for the XPS which uses DDR400 in DC. But yeah, this is the ram that I bought from the Egg:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-155-122&depa=0

Beware that the timings are not what they post. They are 3-3-4 or something like that but when a gig is 154 bucks......... I didn't really care that much. And yes, the laptop only has two dimm slots in it.

[dreIU]

Nice price for that ram... so if I get a lappy with 256, then I could sell that (for maybe 30 bucks?). That's something worth looking into.

I really like the 9200 model, I seem to get it down to $1,500, but that's with only 1.6gig Mobile. The only reason I like it is bc the 17" widescreen. That sounds so good, I wish they had something like that available for the cheaper ones.

[enduro]

That "only" 1.6 Ghz mobile is what I have. It is a Pentium M and so their speed equivalent is a little different. You know how a 2 Ghz AMD XP is the equivalent with a 2.5 Ghz P4? That's kind of what this cpu is like. It is plenty quick for what you'll be doing. I can game very well with it ( Half Life 2 and UT2004) and have it folding 24/7. It finishes WU's faster than my 2.6 Ghz AXP. Go to the bottom of this spec sheet and it shows you the difference between the Pentium M and the Pentium 4 mobile. Click on Performance Summary I guess.

http://www.intel.com/performance/resources/briefs/mobiletechnology.pdf

You might read up on it a little more but I'm definitely happy with my 1.6 Ghz P-M

[dreIU]

That "only" 1.6 Ghz mobile is what I have. It is a Pentium M and so their speed equivalent is a little different. You know how a 2 Ghz AMD XP is the equivalent with a 2.5 Ghz P4? That's kind of what this cpu is like. It is plenty quick for what you'll be doing. I can game very well with it ( Half Life 2 and UT2004) and have it folding 24/7. It finishes WU's faster than my 2.6 Ghz AXP. Go to the bottom of this spec sheet and it shows you the difference between the Pentium M and the Pentium 4 mobile. Click on Performance Summary I guess.

http://www.intel.com/performance/resources/briefs/mobiletechnology.pdf

You might read up on it a little more but I'm definitely happy with my 1.6 Ghz P-M


Thanks for the info man, it's definitely what I wanted to hear. This means that I can get a inspiron 9100 for 1500 bones! Very well, thanks for the help and knowledge all!

I'm still wondering if I could use my mx1000 with the blue tooth adapter though.... there is also this other mouse from logitech I think that I am looking at; it has touch sensetive buttons in the middle (somewhere around that), I think that would be a pretty nice notebook mouse. :)

[betterlife18]

I'm a Dell technician at the call center here in Nashville. I take calls on XPS systems (Dimension and Inspiron). Whatever you do, don't get the Inspiron XPS, those things are friggin loud. The 9200's are nice, but I'd say wait until the 9300 comes out and check it out before you buy the 9200, I think the ETA on it is Valentine's Day.

[dreIU]

I'm a Dell technician at the call center here in Nashville. I take calls on XPS systems (Dimension and Inspiron). Whatever you do, don't get the Inspiron XPS, those things are friggin loud. The 9200's are nice, but I'd say wait until the 9300 comes out and check it out before you buy the 9200, I think the ETA on it is Valentine's Day.



thanks for the heads up, I will definitely wait a little bit. I wasnt even thinking about the XPS, I dont need such performance out of a laptop. Do you predict the prices jumping for the 9300? I am seeing them go up a bit at first, but then they will go back down after a little while... is that right?

Do you know what's supposed to be new for the 9300?


are you able to give out discounts? :D

[Slackfumasta]

I'm a Dell technician at the call center here in Nashville. I take calls on XPS systems (Dimension and Inspiron). Whatever you do, don't get the Inspiron XPS, those things are friggin loud. The 9200's are nice, but I'd say wait until the 9300 comes out and check it out before you buy the 9200, I think the ETA on it is Valentine's Day.

Ooh, ooh! I have a question. . .I have an Inspiron 5160 with the GF 5200 64 MB video card; is this laptop upgradable with, say, a 128MB Radeon card or something?

Just curious. . .:)

[enduro]

LOL, that has to be the most asked question of every laptop user :D This is the answer that I have gotten from many Dell techs. " If the manufacturer does not offer the upgrade on their site (aka Dell doesn't offer it as a replacement part) then the chances that you'll be able to add the card are next to 0. So I'd check out Dell's replacement part area and if it isn't offered then you're out of luck. It really sucks that they can't make a laptop standard so users can upgrade their vidcards. That would an awesome feature.

[betterlife18]

Yes the video card is upgradable on the Dell laptops, BUT, there's a price to pay. If you replace it yourself and Dell finds out about it, your warranty is BLOWN (because the video card is a FRU/field replaceable unit, not a CRU/customer replaceable unit). What you can do is call sales and order the "video card upgrade service", which includes an onsite technician to come out and install it for you, but that's a hardcore rip off.

As for the pricing on the 9300, not sure. There's always some sort of rebate going on. When you order it, make sure you do it online, NOT over the phone. The people in the sales department are stupid blonde chicks who don't know jack about computers. There will be two video card choices for the 9300, the X300 mobility and the GeForce 6800 Go (I'd go with the 6800 Go).

[Slackfumasta]

You're my hero :)

[betterlife18]

Have you overclocked your FX5200 Go yet? IF you haven't, download the NVidia reference drivers and use coolbits, you can't prolly bring up the core and memory at least 10% on it. (Just don't tell Dell you did it). Make sure you have good ambient temps, you know the whole bit.

[enduro]

I thought about overclocking my 9600 but for how much I paid for this lappie I don't want to break it. For such a small boost it didn't seem worth the risk.