ordering a Dell laptop
#21
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The processors they are talking about are alot more than what you need, if your just using it internet and a little word processing you dont need something all that fancy. I recently ordered a laptop from www.tech4less.com . Very good customer service ! They sell refurbished stuff but it comes with either a company warranty(dell, compaq....) or if it doesnt have a warranty they will back it up the same amount. I found this place by a friend that lives in Colorado Springs. He has bought several laptops and desktops from them in the past. Just give it a look. They are cheaper.
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I have been working on computers for the last 3 years in the Marines. Pretty much all we deal with besides tactical gear is Dell, and we even use Dell in the field. I recommend the Inspiron 6000, with whatever upgrades you feel necessary. I am a Certified Dell Tech but i dont own any Dell products, i prefer to build my own computer. But if i had to go for a basic laptop that i could trust i would go with Dell.
#24
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Originally Posted by Dragaholic
Now that I think of it, I really don't need a 17" monitor, the 15.4" should be enough.
Bad Habit Bird, I'm definately in the market for a Dell computer and hope to purchase within the next couple of days. I have no computer and have to run down to the community college or neighbor's house to use the internet. So PM me or post what you have as far as coupons go. Thanks.
I had plan on getting the duo (dual) processor. Are the 5400 vs. the 7200 rpm hard drives that big of a difference? 2 gb of ram? That is way more than I need. I've had 256 mb for a while now and haven't had any problems or hiccups. I'm sure 1 gb will suit me well.
Laptops aren't upgradable? Why? I really didn't want to spend too much money on a computer. Hopefully less than $1500. I know I couldn't afford a top of the line laptop and I'm sure I wouldn't need one as well.
Now I'm undecided whether I want a desktop or a laptop. I didn't think this was going to be that difficult. Either route I go, I'm sure is going to be a huge step up from what I have now.
Bad Habit Bird, I'm definately in the market for a Dell computer and hope to purchase within the next couple of days. I have no computer and have to run down to the community college or neighbor's house to use the internet. So PM me or post what you have as far as coupons go. Thanks.
I had plan on getting the duo (dual) processor. Are the 5400 vs. the 7200 rpm hard drives that big of a difference? 2 gb of ram? That is way more than I need. I've had 256 mb for a while now and haven't had any problems or hiccups. I'm sure 1 gb will suit me well.
Laptops aren't upgradable? Why? I really didn't want to spend too much money on a computer. Hopefully less than $1500. I know I couldn't afford a top of the line laptop and I'm sure I wouldn't need one as well.
Now I'm undecided whether I want a desktop or a laptop. I didn't think this was going to be that difficult. Either route I go, I'm sure is going to be a huge step up from what I have now.
if your going with a desktop, dont get a "name brand" pc... get something built by a pc builder using "good" quality parts, the comercially built pc's suck. check out ebay for a custom built rig, you should be able to find an intel 9XX series dual core rig for a decent price range...
if you go with a laptop, i wouldnt keep my mind fixated on a dell... look around to other name brands like compaq, ibm, alienware, hitachi, etc... you are gonna want to get the new core duo, or core solo chip.. they are constructed on a .65nm die, and use a huge percentage less power than any other of the mobile chips, so you get longer battery life, and these chips are faster than most other pentium 4's clock for clock, and in most cases can outperform the amd's, w/ less power. try epinions.com for reviews on laptops, or try newegg.com for user reviews.
the 7200rpm hdd's are very nice, and are a big step up from the 5400. most desktops have a 7200rpm hard drive, and if your used to that, than going to a 5400 in a laptop will make the rig seem slower than even a crappy desktop. the 5400rpm hard drive are down right slow (if comparing to a desktop)
also, i wouldnt settle for the "intel" graphics driver. go with the geforce GO graphics.
trey
#25
Anyone work for Dell or know of anyone that does?
I'm set on a computer with all the specs and accessories that I want, I call back today to do some finalizing and to my surprise, the deal/promotion they had going on ended today. So the savings are no longer valid. I was wondering if anyone here worked at Dell or know someone that does that could hook me up. I really need a computer. Its going on a week now that I've been out of one. Its becoming a hassle buming around using someone's computer. If anyone could please help me out, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks a lot!
#26
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I have a relative that works there and gets me free laptops b/c of his position.
Check www.gotapex.com for deals on dell systems
Check www.gotapex.com for deals on dell systems
#27
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i know you're in a tough situation being without a computer, but dell changes their promotions allllllll the time.... just keep your eyes open and a deal just as good will come up again soon.
#28
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Originally Posted by 00 Z-28
I have a Dell desktop @ work, it's about 6 months old and the hard drive has been changed twice. As stated "there is no right Dell".
My home systems have been Compaq/HP, never had any trouble.
My home systems have been Compaq/HP, never had any trouble.
that means absolutely nothing about the quality of Dell computers, just the hard drive they put in them. do you honestly think that Dell manufactures the hard drives in their computers? i guarantee you that if you open up that computer, the hard drive will have a Western Digital/Maxtor/Seagate (or some other big HD maker) logo on it. blame them for the quality (or lack thereof) of the hard drive. you can only blame Dell for choosing to go with that brand.
that would be like saying that F-bodies are total crap, just because of the tires that they come with from the factory.....
don't get me wrong, i'm not defending Dell, because as i stated before, i would never buy a Dell desktop system.
now.....
Originally Posted by jlrz28
The processors they are talking about are alot more than what you need, if your just using it internet and a little word processing you dont need something all that fancy. I recently ordered a laptop from www.tech4less.com . Very good customer service ! They sell refurbished stuff but it comes with either a company warranty(dell, compaq....) or if it doesnt have a warranty they will back it up the same amount. I found this place by a friend that lives in Colorado Springs. He has bought several laptops and desktops from them in the past. Just give it a look. They are cheaper.
actually, the dual-core processors make multitasking a WHOLE lot more bearable. with my old single-core CPU, when i would have several things running at once, then tried to do something else while they ran in the background, the whole system would be a lot less responsive. now that i have a dual-core CPU, switching between apps and running lots of things simultaneously doesn't present much of a problem at all. so don't think that just because he's not a "power user", that a dual-core CPU can't benefit him.
Originally Posted by Dragaholic
Now that I think of it, I really don't need a 17" monitor, the 15.4" should be enough.
Bad Habit Bird, I'm definately in the market for a Dell computer and hope to purchase within the next couple of days. I have no computer and have to run down to the community college or neighbor's house to use the internet. So PM me or post what you have as far as coupons go. Thanks.
I had plan on getting the duo (dual) processor. Are the 5400 vs. the 7200 rpm hard drives that big of a difference? 2 gb of ram? That is way more than I need. I've had 256 mb for a while now and haven't had any problems or hiccups. I'm sure 1 gb will suit me well.
Laptops aren't upgradable? Why? I really didn't want to spend too much money on a computer. Hopefully less than $1500. I know I couldn't afford a top of the line laptop and I'm sure I wouldn't need one as well.
Now I'm undecided whether I want a desktop or a laptop. I didn't think this was going to be that difficult. Either route I go, I'm sure is going to be a huge step up from what I have now.
Bad Habit Bird, I'm definately in the market for a Dell computer and hope to purchase within the next couple of days. I have no computer and have to run down to the community college or neighbor's house to use the internet. So PM me or post what you have as far as coupons go. Thanks.
I had plan on getting the duo (dual) processor. Are the 5400 vs. the 7200 rpm hard drives that big of a difference? 2 gb of ram? That is way more than I need. I've had 256 mb for a while now and haven't had any problems or hiccups. I'm sure 1 gb will suit me well.
Laptops aren't upgradable? Why? I really didn't want to spend too much money on a computer. Hopefully less than $1500. I know I couldn't afford a top of the line laptop and I'm sure I wouldn't need one as well.
Now I'm undecided whether I want a desktop or a laptop. I didn't think this was going to be that difficult. Either route I go, I'm sure is going to be a huge step up from what I have now.
5400rpm vs. 7200rpm on a laptop hard drive is a trade-off. sure, the 7200rpm will load stuff faster, but it will also generate more heat & a little more noise. for general web surfing/word processing/etc., i wouldn't bother with upgrading the hard drive speed, unless you can find a deal where they upgrade you to a better one for free, like Dell sometimes does (although it will probably be a smaller capacity).
as far as laptop upgradability, think about it....
where can you find laptop motherboards that fit the EXACT size/shape of the laptop you have? and what about a video card, should it need to be upgraded? obviously a desktop-sized video card will definitely not fit in a laptop. the parts for laptops are similar to parts for Macintosh computers....you just can't really find them widely available, which makes the parts more expensive when you can find them, and makes it a pain in the *** to even find in the first place.
now that said, take a look at the Inspiron E1705 series of laptops (if you're dead-set on a laptop). as they come pre-configured, you can get one with a 17" widescreen for $1280 for the highest-powered system (it will obviously be a little more if you customize it and add stuff to it), or as low at $919 pre-configured for the base-level Inspiron 1705.
#29
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Maybe trade them your stock cam for $75 off the price
Like slayer said, they run promos all the time -- typically very aggressive towards the end of each month. Keep an eye on the site for the configuration you've decided on, and pull the trigger when you see a deal you like.
Like slayer said, they run promos all the time -- typically very aggressive towards the end of each month. Keep an eye on the site for the configuration you've decided on, and pull the trigger when you see a deal you like.
#30
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Originally Posted by 02Z28LS1
5400rpm vs. 7200rpm on a laptop hard drive is a trade-off. sure, the 7200rpm will load stuff faster, but it will also generate more heat & a little more noise. for general web surfing/word processing/etc., i wouldn't bother with upgrading the hard drive speed, unless you can find a deal where they upgrade you to a better one for free, like Dell sometimes does (although it will probably be a smaller capacity).
it will load everything much faster, the heat is maybe 1-2degrees higher which in all honesty isn't ****, and my 7200rpm does make a little more noise. but the performance difference is night and day.... trust me, the 7200rpm hdd was one of my smartest choices i made when building my laptop.
heres a write-up:
http://www.laptoplogic.com/resources/detail.php?id=16
#31
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Originally Posted by 02Z28LS1
now that said, take a look at the Inspiron E1705 series of laptops (if you're dead-set on a laptop). as they come pre-configured, you can get one with a 17" widescreen for $1280 for the highest-powered system (it will obviously be a little more if you customize it and add stuff to it), or as low at $919 pre-configured for the base-level Inspiron 1705.
#32
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Originally Posted by treysoucie
it will load everything much faster, the heat is maybe 1-2degrees higher which in all honesty isn't ****, and my 7200rpm does make a little more noise. but the performance difference is night and day.... trust me, the 7200rpm hdd was one of my smartest choices i made when building my laptop.
heres a write-up:
http://www.laptoplogic.com/resources/detail.php?id=16
heres a write-up:
http://www.laptoplogic.com/resources/detail.php?id=16
now for a gaming laptop, yes...there is absolutely no question that 7200rpm is the only way to go, and even faster if they made faster ones for laptops. things that have to access the HD on a continuous basis (games, audio/video encoding, large file transfers, etc.) will greatly benefit from the faster speed.
basically, it boils down to what you're going to be using it for, and how much you're willing to pay for the extra performance, just like anything else. me, personally....i would go 7200rpm all the way regardless, because i do some audio/video encoding, and if i ever bought a laptop, it would be used a lot for gaming when i'm away from home.
just make an informed decision regarding what you want, and you can't go wrong....because it will be chosen based on YOUR personal needs, not the needs of what someone else tells you that you need.
#33
Originally Posted by neodamonkey
First off there is no such thing as the right DELL.
Go with Toshiba ( only my opnion, but I have been selling computers for a while and I have one and love it).
Go with Toshiba ( only my opnion, but I have been selling computers for a while and I have one and love it).
you can get a good laptop with more stuff than a bare bones Toshiba, you want a good bang for your buck...go with Compaq or HP, even Gateway has some pretty loaded ones for a decent price. Just stay away from Sempron or Celeron Processors. Shop around and compare spec's at each store (Best buy, Circuit City, etc...) and go from there. But before your shop, make sure you know what your computer needs are gonna be, what will you use the PC for?? Internet?? Gamiing?? Word processing?? then do some shopping. if you need more help, let me know
#34
I built a computer through Dell just a few days ago and it came out to $1800 even. I just built the same exact one a few minutes ago and it came out to $2160. Plus, I called in, talked with a Dell rep and they knocked off an additional $125 plus another $100 for a preferred account. So it was going to be around $1650 for the system. I'd like to buy immediately. The Dell rep also told me that they've never ran 35% off of their systems before and that the percentage is usually around 20-25%.
blk03, do you think your relative could give me a discount?
blk03, do you think your relative could give me a discount?
#35
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Originally Posted by Dragaholic
The Dell rep also told me that they've never ran 35% off of their systems before and that the percentage is usually around 20-25%.
You can either go where blk03 suggested or http://www.tweak3d.net/deals/ for deals.
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Originally Posted by 02Z28LS1
that means absolutely nothing about the quality of Dell computers, just the hard drive they put in them. do you honestly think that Dell manufactures the hard drives in their computers? i guarantee you that if you open up that computer, the hard drive will have a Western Digital/Maxtor/Seagate (or some other big HD maker) logo on it. blame them for the quality (or lack thereof) of the hard drive. you can only blame Dell for choosing to go with that brand..
#39
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Originally Posted by 00 Z-28
Still, if you buy a Dell Desktop your getting those particular brand H/D, right?