New Laptop! Comments/Suggestions?

I'm finally getting to order my a new laptop, I am going to be using it for minor gaming, office, internet, e-mail, small business and other typical stuff.

I would like to stay stay around $1000-$1200, I this this is a nice laptop?

Comments/Suggestions?

Dell Inspiron 1520

• PROCESSOR
  • Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7100 (1.8GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
• OPERATING SYSTEM
  • Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic Edition
• DISPLAY
  • Anti-glare, widescreen 15.4 inch display (1280x800)
• VIDEO CARD
  • 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8400M GS
• MEMORY
  • 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
• HARD DRIVE Size:
  • 160GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
• OPTICAL DRIVE
  • CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
• WIRELESS NETWORK CARDS
  • Intel® 3945 802.11a/g Mini-card
• BATTERY OPTIONS
  • 56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)
• SOUND OPTIONS
  • Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy™HD Software Edition
• NETWORK CARD AND MODEM
  • Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem

TOTAL w/ Shipping & Tax:
$1,251.13

 

BJ that's about the same machine I got the wife at xmas sans the "Vista" and some other minor stuff, and she loves it and we have had no problems. I also got her the Vantec Lapcool4 link http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834999415 The nice thing about this laptop cooler is it can be powered from either the USB Port or by its own power supply. It also puts the keyboard back in that comfortable typing angle. This is a must for extended warm weather use on any Laptop. I also had no problems getting rid of the "Dell" prepackage:crap, but have heard that you can ask Dell to strip that stuff off when you order. Also you might want to try to look around for the $100 off online coupon if you haven't already. Hope that helps BJ

 

The first thing I'm going to do is format and reinstall clean because I hate the preinstalled crap.

Honestly, I will format and reinstall XP because I don't care for Vista.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

BJ and others, you can have "Dell" install "XP" instead of "Vista" you just have to notify them, and as noted before they will not load any "extra's" if you request it. So you should get a "Clean Install of XP" from them, only "Fly" in the ointment is the way they "partition" the drive with a segment for "Reinstall".

 

BJ, I just ordered a laptop for myself from Dell, and I am happy to share this with you. Here are the specs:

* Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5470 (1.6GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
* Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic or Windows XP Home
* 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA LCD Display
* 1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, 2 DIMM
* 120G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
* 8X CD/DVD Burner w/ double-layer DVD+R write capability
* 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M GS
* Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Wi-Fi Mini Card
* No Webcam Option
* High Definition Audio 2.0
* 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

I got it for $599, and its a nice laptop. It is now going to $619 which is still 1/2 of the Inspiron you are looking at. Hope this helps!

Click here for Vista

Click here for XP

 

Thanks for this, I customized it a little and it was right at $1100, still a little cheaper.

 

Start folding with that sucker!!!

 

17" screen would probably give you a separate numeric keypad (which is sometimes handy). Although I use a wireless keyboard and Mouse. (Logitech Cordless Desktop MX3200 Laser). Gets you away from the screen to a more comfortable viewing and typing position (IMO).
Laptop keyboards ain't usually that good.

If they make a docking station, it is a good idea to get one if you take your laptop with you, anywhere, on a regular basis.

If you can, get a 256 megs dedicated graphics card, so if you go from Vista--->XP--->Vista, it will work better.

Keep us up-to-date on your choice. Bazza

 

I'd prefer Toshiba to Dell.

Link to Toshiba Satellite models at

http://www.bizrate.com/laptopcomput...products__att247--32491-__att259--43051-.html

Bazza

 

Would the 256MB graphics card be worth a $200 increase from a 128MB? I know it would work better but is it really worth $200 additional dollars?

 

it would help, Vista wise.

And remember, laptops are generally not upgradeable much, so splurge for now, what you wont have to later.

 

Okay! So a Vista compatible laptop is kind of expensive.

It probably would be a good idea to go ahead and get 2GB RAM to eh?

Is the T7100 1.8 Core2 fast enough?

 

Yea I agree with Adrynalyne get everything you can afford now, upgrading Laptops can be a pain, would also get the USB Mouse(More control then "TouchPad"), if you get a add on Cooler the Keyboard on the 15.4" is actually quite good(it gives you back the correct keyboard angle)......Also for Laptops I think the extended warranty might be worth it, I didn't get it for the wifes and for my peace of mind I wish I had. Just one whoops and you can have a square frizbee.

 

I will go for the better hardware.

What about the CPU I have chosen, the T7100 1.8 Core2?

Should I bump it up or is this ok?

 

bump it if you can, but its sufficient in Vista, from what I have used.

 

I'll go with the below changes..

This will bump it up to around $1350 but it will be worth it I guess?

 

In my opinion, yes

 

Thanks! I will have to save a little more but I want something that is going to stay up-to-date for at least a year or two. hah

 

Yeah, I did! I like the Inspiron 1520, I played on one the other day and I really liked it. The size and the color, actually the one I want I don't think they make anymore, the Inspiron 6400.

 

Me too! It's the paying part I don't like so much

 

I need a new one bad, the one I have now, it still has a Pentium 3 700MHz with 256MB I updated.

It won't even play a DVD, it drags. The CD burner is a 4x.

It needs replacing. lol!

 

Well it just so happens BJ that the Inspirion 6400 is what I bought my WIFE, now if you "Sweet Talk" her she just might let it go Actually she loves it and says you'd have to pry it out of her cold dead hands............All kidding aside it is a great machine, but so are the "New" Inspirion models 1520/1521 which replaced the 6400, Good Luck

 

Ah! The one I played on the other day was the 6400, it was really nice. It was so much better than my current P3, haha!

I liked the look, feel and size of it. The only thing I don't like about the new 1520/1521 is the colors. All I want is the plain silver Dell color with the light blue, I don't think you can get this with the new 1520/1521?

 

Have you parted with your $$$$ yet, BJG? :drool Bazza

 

I agree on the toshiba.I bought a refurbished Qosmio from Tiger Direct. 160GB HD and all the bells and whistles and got XP since it will be around for awhile. I needed one that could handle all my MG downloads!

 

Does anyone have any experience/comments on the new Dell Vostro Laptops?

 

I just got my Vostro 1500 last week. It came with Vista home basic (I had no choice when I bought it). It's very quiet and doesn't run too hot. I like the look and feel of the laptop. Many would say its a little heavy, but I bought it for the price and the screen size (15.4). I'm not lugging it around all over the place, so weight didn't really matter. I tried to install Windows XP, but it blue screened on the install 3 times, so now I'm stuck with Vista. Oh well, I guess that is the OS that will replace XP soon. I'm sure there will be a group of people that will keep XP alive for a long time - even after Microsoft stops supporting it, considering its the best OS they have ever come out with.

Back to the Vostro, I only had one issue. When I first turned it on, Vista took a while to configure. Once it loaded, I updated Vista, and installed AVG. I played around with it for about an hour. I turned it off. I tried to boot it up a few days later, and it wouldn't turn on. I tried everything. I found out, that during shipping, the memory might have shifted. So I took out the memory, and put it back in. It's working perfectly since.

 

So the Vostro laptops are kind of bulky? I'm looking for one for our Administrator now, she wants one kind of thin and light weight but loaded with hardware.

The Vostro is the only one I can cutomize like I want, the others won't let me get the Core2 I want.

 

The funds wasn't quite right so I wasn't able to order it when I had planned however I am planning to order this weekend.

Anyway, I was informed today that I can order it thru the hospital where I work and get a 6% discount. I checked into this and sure enough I was saving about $300.

This is the one I am most likely going with.

 

Great BJ, Hope you enjoy yours as much as my wife has enjoyed hers, now all I have to do is convince you to get that sucker "Folding" for the Major Geek teamLOLLOL Sorry just couldn't resist BJ, hope you have a ball with the new rig Bro

 

http://www.bizrate.com/laptopcomput...products__att247--32491-__att259--43051-.html

Bazza[/QUOTE]

Amen on Toshiba. Mine came from Tiger Direct and has all the bells and whistles. Toshiba rocks. I don't care if it is refurbished, it is like new and has XP.