ordering a Dell laptop
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From: Fort Worth / Crowley / Burleson, Texas
First thing that I do when I get a computer is....."Format C: "!!!!!!! Wouldn't believe the crap that manufactures install. AOL is a damn virus, format that hard drive upon reciept then download all of the necessary drivers from Dell.....don't use that laptop until you got the a fresh install of Windows!!!!!!
Originally Posted by Forteen3GT
my wife's b-day is the 14th.... she wants a new desktop.... i dont want to pay 2k....... dell any good?
to be honest i really dont like going through companies like dell, or gateway, hp etc. for a desktop that is. laptops yea. anyway look up like cyberpower or maybe a local computer builder. for the money you pay you get a whole lot better parts and future upgrades are a lot easier. I just finished "beefing up" my nephew's hp computer and despite it being old it was a hp which meant it had the hp motherboard in it and upgrades were limited to their out of date bios. only able to upgrade it to 256mb of ram. also friends with dell's have trouble upgrading sometimes as well. My tower was originally built by cyberpower like 4 years ago and I have kept it up to date with changing out the harddrives, video/sound cards, ram etc. just my .02
oh and as for everything being out of date in 6 months that is kinda inevitable with vista coming out but his laptop said vista compatable so im sure he will be fine for at least 12-24 months. especially if he is only using it to do internet applications.
Originally Posted by G-Z06
That is a great price for the "mods" you have done to it.
I didnt know they could fit 256mb video cards in them yet?!
nice!
I didnt know they could fit 256mb video cards in them yet?!
nice!
they have laptops with SLI now, with 256MB per card
Thread Starter
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From: Houston, TX
My computer has yet to ship, do you think I should cancel the program/subscription of the McAfee virus protection? Then just download Sygate and AVG? So I don't need Norton or any other virus program?
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Thread Starter
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From: Houston, TX
I know I know, I just want to make sure that I don't need any pre-installed virus programs. I thought Norton was a standard virus protection program that came on all computers, but I guess not. I seen that Dell offered McAfee and I figured I would select it. Then I had the member above state that I should get rid of it as soon as I get it, but why do that and waste my money when I could cancel it all together before it goes out.
Jeremy, do yourself a favor and stop second guessing yourself. You've done well with that laptop. Its over-built considering what you're going to be doing, which means it will continue to do what you want with it for a good while. Hell, I have a 7 year old laptop that will still surf the 'net just fine.
In any event, make a decision and stick to it. Live your own life, make your own mistakes, learn from them. While it is good to ask advice of others, asking it for every other decision minimizes how much you acutally learn compared to what you are told. There is a HUGE difference between the two.
In any event, make a decision and stick to it. Live your own life, make your own mistakes, learn from them. While it is good to ask advice of others, asking it for every other decision minimizes how much you acutally learn compared to what you are told. There is a HUGE difference between the two.
Thread Starter
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From: Houston, TX
One last thing, for my wireless broadband router, I chose:
NETGEAR 54 Mbps Firewall Wireless Router & McAfee Wireless Security
Do I need the McAfee wireless security or will the Sygate I was recommended to download take place of it?
Lastly, for my Wireless Network card, I chose:
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 Internal Wireless and Bluetooth
I built this computer 2 weeks ago and now they offer different stuff and the one recommended by dell is:
Dell Draft N Internal Wireless, Netgear Draft N wireless router,Bluetooth
What's the difference?
NETGEAR 54 Mbps Firewall Wireless Router & McAfee Wireless Security
Do I need the McAfee wireless security or will the Sygate I was recommended to download take place of it?
Lastly, for my Wireless Network card, I chose:
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 Internal Wireless and Bluetooth
I built this computer 2 weeks ago and now they offer different stuff and the one recommended by dell is:
Dell Draft N Internal Wireless, Netgear Draft N wireless router,Bluetooth
What's the difference?
Thread Starter
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From: Houston, TX
I dropped the McAfee virus protection even though it comes with a 90 day trial, I also changed the wireless card, router, and bluetooth to the Draft N. I hope I made the right choice. I also upgraded from the 944 printer to the 964.
If you only plan on connecting to Dell N devices, then that will work. The problem with the N standard is that its not ratified yet like G is, so all the manufacturers are just putting out what they "think" will be or should be the standard. When it comes out, you'll see them all migrate to the official version.
They may or may not offer a firmware/software upgrade at that time. Some radios can be flashed, others not.
You should be able to run the B/G standard though, and connect to everything else. Unless the wireless card only does N.....
They may or may not offer a firmware/software upgrade at that time. Some radios can be flashed, others not.
You should be able to run the B/G standard though, and connect to everything else. Unless the wireless card only does N.....
Thread Starter
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From: Houston, TX
Rebuilt my Dell laptop computer, have some questions. Long story about my order, but ended up changing some components since there was a delay and was wondering if I did it for the better or the worst. I really don't know the difference between any of the changes, I just changed them as they were recommended by Dell and more expensive.
Switched from Windows XP home to Windows XP Media Center Edition, the rep at the Dell kiosk store convinced me.
Switched from the 256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory to the 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™Go 7300 TurboCache.
Switched from the intergrated audio to the Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy™ HD Software Edition.
Switched from the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 Internal Wireless, Bluetooth, and NETGEAR 54 Mbps Firewall Wireless Router & McAfee Wireless Security to the Dell Draft N Internal Wireless, Netgear Draft N wireless router, and Bluetooth.
Lastly, I switched from the Dell Photo All-in-One Printer 944 to the Dell Photo All-in-One Printer 964.
I also added a Genuine Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition re-installation CD.
Switched from Windows XP home to Windows XP Media Center Edition, the rep at the Dell kiosk store convinced me.
Switched from the 256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory to the 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™Go 7300 TurboCache.
Switched from the intergrated audio to the Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy™ HD Software Edition.
Switched from the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 Internal Wireless, Bluetooth, and NETGEAR 54 Mbps Firewall Wireless Router & McAfee Wireless Security to the Dell Draft N Internal Wireless, Netgear Draft N wireless router, and Bluetooth.
Lastly, I switched from the Dell Photo All-in-One Printer 944 to the Dell Photo All-in-One Printer 964.
I also added a Genuine Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition re-installation CD.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: May 2006
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From: Texas
you really dont need media center, unless, ofcourse all you plan on doing is watching movies and listening to music. XP pro or home will do just fine. besides, Micro$oft is discountinuing media center 
. the video card switch wont show much of a difference...like 5-10 fps maybe... and...as far going to "N" wireless setup...only if u plan on using your laptop from your neighbors house 
otherwise, Its just a waste of money IMHO.
thats my $0.02
. the video card switch wont show much of a difference...like 5-10 fps maybe... and...as far going to "N" wireless setup...only if u plan on using your laptop from your neighbors house otherwise, Its just a waste of money IMHO. thats my $0.02