So i'm in a pickle here. Found someone to buy my desktop for $900 (i think).

Looking at finally getting a notebook. I'm thinkin dell, cause i know the system plus get a bit of a discount through them. I've got three notebooks chosen. All 3 come with the following:

• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7200 (2GHz/667MHz/4MB)
• Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
• 100GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive
• 8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
• Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
• Integrated Audio
• Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate)
• 1 Year Return to Depot Service, Complete Care and Technical Support (will extend before the year is up)

Choices:

6400

• Starting at 6.4lbs
• 15.4 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen SXGA+ Display with TrueLife™
• 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHZ, 2 DIMM
• 256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory™
• 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

After taxes:XPS 1210:

• Starting at 4.4lbs
• 12 inch WXGA Wide Screen with TrueLife™ and A/V Communications Pack (Intg. web cam, earbuds)
• 2GB Dual Shared Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
• 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7400 TurboCache™
• 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

After taxes:XPS 1710

• Starting at 8.8lbs
• 17 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen UXGA Display with TrueLife™
• 1GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHZ, 2 DIMMs
• 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GS
• 80 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

After taxes:Which one would you go with? I started on the xps 1210, but people are saying 12" will be too small. This computer will be for general use, doesn't need to be tiny, doesn't need to be huge. Overall i like the 1210 and it's gotten solid reviews. Size worries me, is it too small?

6400, has been suggested be a couple, and it's alright, but I honestly think is sorta lame looking. Just not as nice as the others, and I've kinda already crossed it out (although i do like it's mid size).

XPS 1710 is nice, and awesome reviews. Is it too big? Technically it will be my desktop replacement. But it's also pricey, granted it's got a better video card, I went with less memory to compensate (2gb adds $250 - I can likely upgrade to 2x1gb 667mhz for $250 in the future). Also comes with a bag which saves me about $50-$100ish.


Someone give me some advice to push me one way or another.

 

What is the main reason for the laptop work. Gaming, alots of traveling, Browseing and Email???

 

If the monitor is too small for home use you can always get a monitor later to hook it up to at home.

 

Notebook will be for every day use when i'm at home. That is nothing in specific, but could be any of following:

- cbs.sportsline website with the ticker going during big game days
- chatting and email and the regular crap
- some light photo editing from pics with the digital camera
- ripping disc's dvd or cd
- minor gaming more zuma and minesweeper than anything, but every now n then a need for speed or tony hawk - maybe tiger woods
- don't specifically need to travel with it - never had a notebook before so never had the option - it might be nice to have the option

I do sorta like to stress the computer or run a lotta useless crap at once (currenlty 50 process's - and i went through the MSCONFIG startup menu a bit back).

All in all, i've never owned a single notebook in my life or used one on an ongoing basis other than stealing my mom or dad's here or there when back at home.

Hmm i woudl also need to pick up an external sata drive bay for my 2x200gb hdd's. $50 max

 

Starting at 8.8lbs
17 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen UXGA Display with TrueLife™
1GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHZ, 2 DIMMs
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GS
80 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

That is the would go with
Reasons

17"
Ram isnt shared.
Meh for Video Card.
and the Battery is going to last you alot longer then the rest to me that important.

 

Meh... 17" is a little big for a laptop screen (I have one and it's nice for use at home, but portability is a pain in the ***)

also... I've heard nothing but BAD reviews about the XPS systems. So.. for my money, I'd get the 6400.

Btw... get rid of some of those processes. You're just shooting yourself in the foot

 

Hmm i thought i responded to this but apparenlty not.

Where'd you hear bad reviews from about the XPS systems. Anything i've read basically says they're the greatest things ever. As for the processes, they're all soemthing i use in some small way - be easier to get a computer that works around me than me workin around the computer lol, but i hear what you're saying.

 

They may all be something you use... but are they something you use ALL the time?

For example... I have a separate program that acts as a spam filter when I check my email using Outlook, but I only check my email once a day.

So I disable it on start up... then just click that icon then Outlook to check my email...and then close it when I'm done. Saves resources for the sake of a couple of seconds of clicking. (obviously just my $.02 though, you do what you want)

as for the bad reviews... err.. I know Maximum PC has done a couple.. I can't remember where the other review(s) were that I read though.. they all got mediocre reviews at best.

 

In my point of view of a computer It doesnt matter really what you want. unless you build it your self HP Compaq are the same company Dell is with Alienware.

All that is name NOTHING else. XPS is just a name.

But the Guts. Now Only thing i would would make me stay away from the any computer is the specs All OEM Company use Genaic parts. So your going To tell me that IF HP puts out the same computer as the Dell its going to be better. What Windows is going to be Or the Video Card? Thats what alot of people do not relize about Computers its nothing like Stereo Gear there all the same thing. Unless you start Building your own.

But For you i would look into HardDrive Speeds. and What is it I personlly Would go after Sata drives. Much quicker. and how much you can how much you can upgrade this with the

Like the Ram Make sure its One stick of 512 Not 2 256 Because you upgrade its going to be pointless to do that your going to lose the 256 and upgrade to say 1gig. So you would have 1.2 Instead of 1.5

ANother thing Shared Ram BAD IDEA! That would just help you just Lock up your computer.

Personally I was Reading one of your post i have 29 Procosses going on a cold boot. and thats considered good Only thing you should have on boot up is the AV Other things will make help you lose performace of your computer.
with Laptop you need some more because the glide touch mouse pad the battery moniters and like that

well im outtie. thats there proably alot of Grammer errors.:P

 

I agree with pretty well everything you say. Unfortunately with notebooks (as you know) you don't completely have the ability to build them from scratch like you do a desktop.

That being said, I did (or will) spend the extra coin do do what you've suggested. Example, 7200 vs 5400rpm hard drive, 667mhz vs 55?mhz memory. I realize they all will each make a minimal difference, but I'd like to have that minimal improvement . Just about all notebook memory is shared in the form that it's dual channel and works quicker together. If you meant not being shared with the video card, I agree with that and i think am in the clear with any of these notebooks.

All in all, apart from some bad reviews which i'm attempting to look into, no one else see's any glaring problems or has anything against (likely the 1710) notebook.