Advice needed on notebook purchase - Dell

nappyboy · Post by **nappyboy** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:33 am

Hello, i'm new around here and definitely NOT that knowledgeable about computers & their components...so I'm hoping i can get some help. I pretty much know the basics..but I'm looking to purchase a notebook and have discovered that the basics just won't cut it. Anyway, through my company, we get a discount with Dell (approx 5-12%, depending on $ spent) I've been looking at the following:

Dell Inspirion 640m - it offers multiple configuration options and this is where I'm having a problem making a decision. They are offering it with the configuration below:

IntelÂ® Coreâ„¢ processor DUO T2050 (2MB Cache/1.60GHz/533MHz FSB)
Genuine WindowsÂ® XP Media Center Edition 2005
1GB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm
120GB Hard Drive
8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
IntelÂ® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
14.1 inch WXGA+ UltraSharpâ„¢ TFT Display with TrueLife
53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Dell Wireless 1390 Mini Card (802.11b/g, 54Mbps)

Total - $899 Canadian Dollars (not including whatever discount I get)

So...my questions are....

1. Is there a major difference between the Duo and the Core 2 Duo processor? I will not be gaming on this unit, mostly for work related stuff -(which is primarily word processing), and music & movie downloading & burning...etc.

2. Is is better to go with 1 GB, 1 Dimm instead?

3. I can choose a smaller HD (100GB) but at 7200RPM...($120 difference), Would this be worth it?

and finally

4. I can choose the 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Battery for an extra $40. Would this be worth the investment?

I appreciate any thoughts or suggestions you have...Thanks (sorry for the long post)

pastorjay · Post by **pastorjay** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:40 am

1. If you are burning music and movies, I would certainly go with the Core 2 Duo, as you will see better performance.

2. I would get the least amount of ram and upgrade it yourself. Dell charges WAY to much for ram.

3. For $120, I would get the smaller drive and buy a bigger drive myself, then sell the 100GB drive and you will probably save some money.

4. If you use the battery a lot, then I would upgrade it. If not, then do not worry about it. You can get them on Ebay as well later if you need to.

hope that helps!

PJ

nappyboy · Post by **nappyboy** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:05 pm

Thanks...that does help. I do have a few more questions though...

1) Is there an noticeable difference between say the IntelÂ® Coreâ„¢ 2 Duo processor T5200 (2MB Cache/1.6GHz/533MHz FSB) and the IntelÂ® Coreâ„¢ 2 Duo processor T5500 (2MB Cache/1.66GHz/667MHz FSB)? Dell is charging $50 for the upgrade

2) Does any one know if now is a good time to purchase or should i wait a bit longer? These are Dell 'boxing week' sale prices which in my limited searching (last 2 months) seem to go up or down with some minor spec changes

3) Does anyone know what other similar equipped/priced notebooks i can get for under $1,000?

Thanks

Post by **dicecca112** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:59 pm

1. Not really in benchmarks maybe, but nothing you'll notice in day to day use
2. Its a good time to purchase. There is nothing new on the horizon and in my opinion that's a very good notebook your looking at
3. See 2