Laptop suggestions
in [Dell]
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From: Geri on 7 Mar 2010 15:17 I'm looking to buy a basic, inexpensive, 15 inch Laptop for about $500 to $800. Looking at the Dell web site they have six versions, Inspiron, Studio, Vestro, Latitude, Precision and XPS. I would appreciate suggestions or comments? Thanks, Geri
From: ~~Alan~~ on 7 Mar 2010 18:42 Any one of these models are good. But besides the basic machine, you will get very little more. Dell, as is the case for many other manufactures, keeps prices low because you will get practically no customer support service. That will cost extra. Warranty, what about 90 days? For a laptop, I'd go with a 3 year plan plus the extra for accidental damage. Face it, you're going to be bringing and hauling this thing with you all over the place. If you're planning on using this laptop or any other machine for use in the near future, don't go with the least expensive configuration. Plan on some extra memory. With Windows XP, you were able to start off with 256mb of memory, then you had to upgrade to 512mb about the time SP2 came out and now with SP3 plus the upgrades since, you need at least 1GB just to boot the darn thing. Along those same lines, you can bet that many of your applications will also grow over time. Isn't Office 2010 in the near future? Inspiron is Dell's basic home use line, Latitude is their more professional line, and XPS is their higher end machine sort of geared for gamers. Just me 3 cents worth. ~alan "Geri" <geri(a)any.net> wrote in message news:hn11kj$83c$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > > I'm looking to buy a basic, inexpensive, 15 inch Laptop for about $500 to > $800. Looking at the Dell web site they have six versions, Inspiron, > Studio, Vestro, Latitude, Precision and XPS. > I would appreciate suggestions or comments? Thanks, Geri > >
From: Ben Myers on 8 Mar 2010 00:52 On 3/7/2010 6:42 PM, ~~Alan~~ wrote: > Any one of these models are good. But besides the basic machine, you > will get very little more. Dell, as is the case for many other > manufactures, keeps prices low because you will get practically no > customer support service. That will cost extra. Warranty, what about 90 > days? For a laptop, I'd go with a 3 year plan plus the extra for > accidental damage. Face it, you're going to be bringing and hauling this > thing with you all over the place. > > If you're planning on using this laptop or any other machine for use in > the near future, don't go with the least expensive configuration. Plan > on some extra memory. With Windows XP, you were able to start off with > 256mb of memory, then you had to upgrade to 512mb about the time SP2 > came out and now with SP3 plus the upgrades since, you need at least 1GB > just to boot the darn thing. Along those same lines, you can bet that > many of your applications will also grow over time. Isn't Office 2010 in > the near future? > > Inspiron is Dell's basic home use line, Latitude is their more > professional line, and XPS is their higher end machine sort of geared > for gamers. > > Just me 3 cents worth. > ~alan > > > > "Geri" <geri(a)any.net> wrote in message > news:hn11kj$83c$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >> >> I'm looking to buy a basic, inexpensive, 15 inch Laptop for about $500 >> to $800. Looking at the Dell web site they have six versions, >> Inspiron, Studio, Vestro, Latitude, Precision and XPS. >> I would appreciate suggestions or comments? Thanks, Geri >> >> Yes, Windows XP itself occupies more memory from the original to SP1 to SP2 to SP3, but that does not explain the 256MB hardware configurations sold in the early years of XP. The explanation is simple: $$$$$ Back then, memory was very expensive, and ALL manufacturers shipped lots of 256MB systems just to be competitive with one another. Memory use by XP grows by leaps and bounds during the life of a computer also because all kinds of software demands additional memory. Install a printer, scanner or all-in-one, and it needs memory to monitor levels of ink in cartridges and to nag you that a cartridge is low on ink. Then you have Java, Adobe Reader, iTunes and who knows what other software all of which MUST occupy memory to poll the mother ship for updates to themselves, never mind that the updates happen irregularly. And so it goes. As far as I am concerned, 512MB is the bare minimum to run XP, and you better not be doing many complicated tasks with as little as 512MB. One other memory comment: if the OP is even marginally technical, it may be less costly to buy the minimum memory configuration, then buy a 3rd party memory upgrade from a well-regarded company like Crucial. Manufacturer's upgrades, even when "factory installed", are often more expensive than DIY. Best advice to all emptors is to caveat, and do a bit of comparison shopping before ordering a computer... Ben Myers
From: Ron Hardin on 8 Mar 2010 09:56 Geri wrote: > > I'm looking to buy a basic, inexpensive, 15 inch Laptop for about $500 > to $800. Looking at the Dell web site they have six versions, Inspiron, > Studio, Vestro, Latitude, Precision and XPS. > I would appreciate suggestions or comments? Thanks, Geri I've had good luck with Vostros. The 1520s are okay; the small business outlet has better prices than new. Refurbished is fine. I never buy new (actually refurbished is new, but with some broken part replaced). Make up a small business name if you have to (I think the field is required). I tend to avoid the extra warranties (1 year is automatic), unless the machine shows signs of being flakey near the end of the year, in which case maybe buy an extension on speculation. Otherwise just replace the machine if it breaks. They're cheap enough compared to the warranty so that wins. Do everything online and support is fine. -- rhhardin(a)mindspring.com On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.
From: William R. Walsh on 8 Mar 2010 10:01
Hi! > Inspiron, Studio, Vestro These are all "home user" oriented systems. > Latitude, Precision A Latitude is a business line system, with somewhat more conservative features and options and very good build quality. Precision systems are "mobile workstations". Most are Latitude-class systems with advanced graphics and memory options. > and XPS. This is a "gaming laptop" intended for those who have to have their high end gaming system on the road. It offers pure performance at the expense of battery life and portability. > I would appreciate suggestions or comments? I usually recommend the Latitude for most people. William |