Am about to order a new laptop from Dell, What do you think?

[sherbert]

Basically we use a computer for the standard stuff these days. Internet, word processing, quickbooks, photos and music downloads.

After going through there build your own set up this what they have come up with.

IS there anything on this list that I dont really need, or is there something vital missing?

Inspiron 1501

Base:
AMD® Sempron? Mobile Technology 1

Microsoft Operating System:
Genuine Windows Vista? Home Basic - English
Hardware Support:
1 Year Hardware Support -

LCD:
15.4" Wide Screen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display 76641 [230-10055] 760

Memory:
1024MB 533MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x512] 91391 [370-11932] 3

Hard Drive:
80GB (5400rpm) SATA Hard Drive 56617 [400-12406] 8

Video Card:
256MB ATI ® Radeon® Xpress 1150 HyperMemory? 77301 [490-10592] 6

CD/DVD Drives:
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including Software 91369 [429-12462][429-12463] 16

Primary Battery:
4 cell Lithium-Ion Battery (29 Whr) 88165 [451-10384] 112

Wireless Local Area Networking:
Dell? Wireless 1390 802.11b/g Mini-PCI Card (for AMD Processors)

Carrying Cases:
No Carry Case 5759
Notebook Accessory Packs:
Web Pack 99187 [240-10527] 521

Accessories:
Dell? A225 Speakers 63904 [520-10539] 530

AntiVirus & Security Software:
McAfee® Security Centre? 8.0 - 15 Month Protection - English
Microsoft Application Software:
Microsoft® Works 8.0 - English

Digital Photography:
Corel® Snapfire? Plus - Full Version 77303 [640-10538] 87

Gedis Bundle Reference:
List N07151- BSD 1501 (1) 109647 [200-48003] 22

Order Information:
Inspiron Order - UK 11762 [800-10140] 111

Shipping Documents:
English Documentation with English Power Cord 95811 [340-14089][340-14095][613-10361][640-10395] 21

Modem:
56.6k V.92 Capable Internal Modem & Adapter - UK 6787 [530-10762][640-10280] 14

Standard Warranty:
90 Day Base Warranty - Collect and Return 111587

Keyboard:
Internal Keyboard - UK/Irish (QWERTY) 76833

Dell System Media Kit:
Resource DVD - (Diagnostics & Drivers) 90798

Floppy Drives:
No Floppy Drive 25584 [385-10276] 10

Power Supply:
65W AC Adapter 56631 [450-11244] 41

well, my brother would say don't get Vista for at least a year, until all the problems have been dealt with!

My brother said the same actually He said allow the teething problems that always occur with a new platform be resolved and then look into getting vista. I am also about to buy a new laptop from DELL but we will be getting XP.

DH says:

'Sounds a bit weedy - get an extra 1GB of RAM.
I wouldn't buy one - they've got a lot of cheap components.
The Latitudes are better.
If you choose 'small business' on the Dell site you can still get an XP one if you want to avoid Vista'

Everyone says Dell is great though. At least on here they do. I have heard about the problems with Vista, I dont even see why i need it TBH, XP is fine for me.

Can anyone tell me why I would need vista? Will my life be incomplete with out it?

you don't need Vista, it's all hype.

Dells are fine so long as they are well specced. Cheap nasty Dells are still cheap and nasty but midrange Dells are better specced/priced than other brands' midrange models.

what does well specced mean?

This one is coming in at $467 exc vat

£467

I have that model (since xmas)

no probs with it so far although I have XP Pro as I can't face potential compatibility probs with Vista

I'd upgrade the battery to 6 cell

I'd upgrade the warranty.
Have had probs with my Inspiron 6000 and wish I had bought a longer warranty.

have you looked at dell outlet..you will get a better deal

I have the latitude d620 and it is good

Is this any good?

'well specced' is short for 'well specified' and means 'having good features'

Dont want upgraded warranty really cause will be leaving the UK within the next year so will be more hassle

DOnt need upgraded battery cause not really planning on taking it 'out' just various places around the house.

Have looked more, and am probably going for latitude with xp.

What about;
Inspiron 6400 (N07642XP)
£329.00 Ex. VAT & Shipping
Components
Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core T2080 Processor (1.73GHz,533MHz,1MB L2 cache)
Genuine Windows® XP Professional - English
1 Year Base Warranty - Collect & Return
15.4" Wide Screen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display
1024MB 533MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x512]
120GB (5400rpm) SATA Hard Drive
Intel® Media Accelerator 950 Graphics Up to 256MB shared graphics memory
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including Software
6 cell Lithium-Ion Battery (53 Whr)
No Floppy Drive
Accessories
Dell? Wireless 1390 802.11b/g Mini-PCI Card (for Dual-Core Processors)
No QuickSnap® LCD Back Cover
No Carry Case
Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy® ADVANCED HD? Audio- Trial Version
McAfee® Security Centre? 8.0 - 24 Month Protection - English
Microsoft® Works 8.0 - English
No Accidental Damage Support
Also Includes
Internal Keyboard - UK/Irish (QWERTY)
List N07642 - BSD 6400 (2)
Inspiron Order - UK
English Documentation with UK Power Cord
56.6k V.92 Capable Internal Modem & Adapter - UK
1 Year Base Warranty - Collect & Return
Dell Internet Order.
Resource CD - contains Diagnostics and Drivers
65W AC Adapter