Thoughts on a Laptop Configuration

[samureye]

Right hereeeeee (http://configure.la.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=tt&cs=ttdhs1&l=en&oc=I142Ben&s=dhs&sm=2)


Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® Vista Business Edition
Glossy, high contrast, widescreen 14.1 inch display (1280x800)
2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
120GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
ell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate)
Intel® 3945 802.11a/g Mini-card
High Definition Audio 2.0
Integrated 2.0 Megapixel Webcam


Thoughts?

[vrikis]

Depends what you will be using it for. The overall specs sound nice, but I'm just worried that the "Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 " can't keep up with todays standards such as the Aero theme or games... (as said it might not be a case if you don't use those)

My laptop is pretty much the same but has an nVidia 7600 GO and I love it. I like the specs :)

[tokenuser]

CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)Any chance to up that to a Dual Layer DVD burner? 8.5GB for "backup" is very attractive.

Also ... you probably don't need 2GB of RAM right now. So, if budget is tight, drop that back to 1GB. RAM is an easy task to upgrade yourself later. Same on the HDD (though HDD upgrades can be more complicated).

[masherscf]

Any chance to up that to a Dual Layer DVD burner? 8.5GB for "backup" is very attractive.

Also ... you probably don't need 2GB of RAM right now. So, if budget is tight, drop that back to 1GB. RAM is an easy task to upgrade yourself later. Same on the HDD (though HDD upgrades can be more complicated).

Unless he's gonna be storing hours and hours of video. The HDD just doesn't need to be that huge. However, he should purchase an external USB HDD drive to make regular back-ups of his data.

[vrikis]

Any chance to up that to a Dual Layer DVD burner? 8.5GB for "backup" is very attractive.

Also ... you probably don't need 2GB of RAM right now. So, if budget is tight, drop that back to 1GB. RAM is an easy task to upgrade yourself later. Same on the HDD (though HDD upgrades can be more complicated).

I agree, but only partially. 2x1GB RAM modules can cost around 200 Dollars each making it a total of 400 to upgrade, but if you do it through them it is usually much cheaper for modules just as good. Same with the HDD. If you get 100GB and you want to upgrade to 160GB, you're upgrade is of 60GB, but you are paying for 160GB (get what I mean?). I'd say go for the full specs from the start then you have something that lasts and doesn't need an upgrade until the whole thing needs an upgrade.

[vrikis]

Unless he's gonna be storing hours and hours of video. The HDD just doesn't need to be that huge. However, he should purchase an external USB HDD drive to make regular back-ups of his data.

120 is not that much, mine is that and I have filled it to 110 and need to regularly backup files. If he is using movies/music then that fills easily. All I have on my laptop is pretty much music and programs and it's nearly filled up. I have no space for movies which is why I back them up and play them on a divx TV player.

[masherscf]

If he is using movies/music then that fills easily. All I have on my laptop is pretty much music and programs and it's nearly filled up. I have no space for movies which is why I back them up and play them on a divx TV player.

A careful reading of my post does reveal that qualification.

My primary work laptop has a 20GB drive. It is never full. Why, I don't use it for a media center. Heck, I don't even keep long-term copies of my work files there.

[tokenuser]

I agree, but only partially. 2x1GB RAM modules can cost around 200 Dollars each making it a total of 400 to upgrade, but if you do it through them it is usually much cheaper for modules just as good. Same with the HDD. If you get 100GB and you want to upgrade to 160GB, you're upgrade is of 60GB, but you are paying for 160GB (get what I mean?). I'd say go for the full specs from the start then you have something that lasts and doesn't need an upgrade until the whole thing needs an upgrade.If yo get a 100GB HDD now, use it until you fill it. My old laptop had a 60GB drive. It was always within 4GB of being full. No video. Lots of apps, work related files, and music. My new one has a 80GB drive, and I have upgraded to a video iPod, BUT the videos live on my external HDD. If I am travelling, then I will transfer a couple of full res videos over or just wtch on my iPod.

OK, so you decide to upgrade the HDD from 100GB to 160GB. It is true that you are only adding 60GB of internal storage, but with the addition of something like this (http://dealmac.com/deals/Meritline-2-5-Aluminum-Serial-ATA-USB-2-0-Hard-Drive-Enclosure-for-9-shipped/172235.html) (for an additional $10) you get are also getting a 100GB EXTERNAL drive (plus you would probably have bought something like that to make the file transfer easier for the upgrade). Besides, by the time he needs the extra capacity, a 200GB SATA2 drive will be available for less than $100 - so he can do the upgrade when he needs it.

Same thing for the memory. Dell memory is nothing special. You can find cheaper online for upgrades ... but I understand your point. Checking the Dell website, it is an extra $40 to go from 80GB to 120GB HDD, and and extra $70 to take it to 2GB of RAM, so thats $110. If it was the difference between being able to upgrade the DVD burner to a DL model vs more RAM/HDD up front, I'd take the DVD burner (since the RAM/HDD are commodity items, and the DVD burner is special to the laptop). In this specific case though, its not an option, so the config Sammy has picked does look good ... but if he want an extra $100 for something else he knows where to find it.

I'd also add that the inbuilt camera might be convenient, but most digital cameras can be run as web cams via a USB cable - if you want to save $57, dump the inbuilt web cam. at 2.0 MP, its pretty crappy even for video phone quality.

[phatlip12]

Any chance to up that to a Dual Layer DVD burner? 8.5GB for "backup" is very attractive.

Also ... you probably don't need 2GB of RAM right now. So, if budget is tight, drop that back to 1GB. RAM is an easy task to upgrade yourself later. Same on the HDD (though HDD upgrades can be more complicated).

True, pay more attention to the CPU and display.

As far as your display, keep in mind a glossy display is your best friend or worst enemy at times. A glossy display does horrible in the sun.

[samureye]

WTF - I replied to this earlier and it's not here.

In short, I want the 2GB RAM to make sure running multiple programs doesn't slow it down, I will have a lot of music and I guess I could go down to 80 GB to save on cost. I will be doing a lot of blogging, browser stuff, some photoshop perhaps.

[phatlip12]

WTF - I replied to this earlier and it's not here.

In short, I want the 2GB RAM to make sure running multiple programs doesn't slow it down, I will have a lot of music and I guess I could go down to 80 GB to save on cost. I will be doing a lot of blogging, browser stuff, some photoshop perhaps.

Even then, you probably won't need 2 gigs. If I were you I would down grade the ram to a 1 gig and put that money towards upgrading things such as the display or CPU. You can always upgrade the ram yourself later on (for cheaper). I bought my Macbook with only 512mb which allowed for me to put the money I was going to spend on the memory upgrade on a faster CPU. I'm going to upgrade my ram this summer once I get the money.

[ArmpitOfDeath]

2Gb is advisable. Although we aren't talking Intel Apple levels of memory hogging as Windows has superior management to an extent, 2Gb makes apps zip along nicely and makes sure you aren't hamstrung by lack of RAM.

The X3100 is roughly akin to the crippled X1600's you see on the 15" first-gen Macbook 'Pros' in terms of general capability so it's not a bad GPU, especially for an integrated one. It'll take Aero fully in it's stride.

HDD, personally I say get the largest one possible. Also personally, I suggest going for an extended warranty plan.

[vrikis]

Even then, you probably won't need 2 gigs. If I were you I would down grade the ram to a 1 gig and put that money towards upgrading things such as the display or CPU. You can always upgrade the ram yourself later on (for cheaper). I bought my Macbook with only 512mb which allowed for me to put the money I was going to spend on the memory upgrade on a faster CPU. I'm going to upgrade my ram this summer once I get the money.

I would just get it straight away. Honestly I have 2 gig RAM and I'd rather have 4. I do a lot of stuff at the same time and my CPU is good enough, but when I'm listening to music and working in Photoshop (which he mentions he does) then it starts to slow down and load brushes slowly... 2 gig RAM is kind of becoming a standard now so why not just get it now.

[masherscf]

Dudes! Let the man max out the RAM. Think of all that DELL spyware. He's gonna need it.

[vrikis]

Dudes! Let the man max out the RAM. Think of all that DELL spyware. He's gonna need it.

Hahahaha good point

[phatlip12]

2Gb is advisable. Although we aren't talking Intel Apple levels of memory hogging as Windows has superior management to an extent, 2Gb makes apps zip along nicely and makes sure you aren't hamstrung by lack of RAM.

The X3100 is roughly akin to the crippled X1600's you see on the 15" first-gen Macbook 'Pros' in terms of general capability so it's not a bad GPU, especially for an integrated one. It'll take Aero fully in it's stride.

HDD, personally I say get the largest one possible. Also personally, I suggest going for an extended warranty plan.

I disagree in what you said about OS X hogging memory. I get sluggish performance with 512mb of ram in Windows XP (1 gig seems to be the sweet spot) but I have absoutley no problems running 512mb of ram in OS X (unless I am doing emulation). Anyways, I don't want this to turn into a Mac vs. Pc thread so...

I disagree. Whats the harm in saving some cash and upgrading yourself for cheaper? If you can do it yourself (and it's easy enough) then don't worry about spending a ton of money customizing things like ram and your HD. In two years 4 gigs will be the standard so why spend a ton of money on 2 when you can upgrade yourself for half of that?

[phatlip12]

Dudes! Let the man max out the RAM. Think of all that DELL spyware. He's gonna need it.

LMAO, unfortunately this is true. First step when getting a new PC is reinstalling Windows.

[ArmpitOfDeath]

I have absoutley no problems running 512mb of ram in OS X (unless I am doing emulation).

Of course. I'm sure you have no problems. I live in the world of needing real results however. Even now I have a couple of Macbook Pros and two Pros - the desktop machine count being down considerably after switching back to Windows. I started one of the Macbook Pros with a gig due to a config error, and I also had a CD Mini with a gig. Both were severely hampered due to beachballing in falriy simple everyday use - and that's not beachballing due to the frequent Finder crash. Thing is of course, if you haven't experienced better, you don't know better.

I can spec a Windows laptop with a gig and have no problems in similarly fairly simple daily use. Additional RAM however helps in Windows too, and it's not ludicrously expensive to get noticeably better response in more demanding applications, or multiple applications with 2Gb. If you want to save some cash, yeah buy it separately - the key thing being, get 2 gigs.

[jdzurisin]

If you do ANYTHING with graphics or gaming or will certainly want the nVidia card. Plus, its directX 10 complaint and only a $130 addon. That intel piece of junk is going to overheat and grab all of the system's RAM.

On the RAM subject, I have had good success with ordering systems with the least amount possible and then concurrently ordering nice, big, DIMMs from crucial or memory-up. It really does save money and is a snap to install.

~Jason

[theremover]

Now I know I'm going to get flak for this, but Vista Business is the way to go. I have myself a Dell D620 and running any other version (aside from XP) is just shathog slow. Business gives you just the features you need, no media crap, nothing. I'm running it comfortably with 1GB ram right now. I wish I had more. So I'd suggest maxing out on it if it's relatively cheap.

[iccanui]

Even then, you probably won't need 2 gigs. If I were you I would down grade the ram to a 1 gig and put that money towards upgrading things such as the display or CPU. You can always upgrade the ram yourself later on (for cheaper). I bought my Macbook with only 512mb which allowed for me to put the money I was going to spend on the memory upgrade on a faster CPU. I'm going to upgrade my ram this summer once I get the money.

Im gonna have to strongly disagree here brother. I work on PC's for a living and all day ( not a e-penis gauntlet thrown, just letting you know im not a idiot ) i see brand new vista computers running like crap cause they are under powered for the OS. In its default state vista on average have 2 times the memory footprint XP does which on a typical prefab PC is about 256-300+. So Vista from what i seen hovers around 500-600 sitting still. Thats not a lot of room left for games and photoshop. I guess it all depend on what your doing. Basic stuff is ok, but anything more i would do 2gb.

Phatlip has a good point though, check their ram prices and see if you can do it yourself cheaper and really think about what you want the PC to do. For example while 512mb works for Phatlip, for me it would be crippling. I got a macbook with 1gb and its not enough. Once i get parallels going and excel open and open work programs and firefox for maping and network tracking, i hit that ceiling real fast. It still runs great cause macs are the bomb, but i do indeed need more so its runs like it should. Its next on my list after my iPhone probably.


Honestly if you wanna kick the ram down get XP. The only thing vista offers is dx10 if you ask me. There is other things if we sit here and nit pick, but as a whole in its current state im not much of a fan of Vista. But then again i said the same thing about XP till they polished it.

But till vista can do this ....

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3333/lowmemjz3.th.jpg (http://img518.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lowmemjz3.jpg)


Im staying with whats polished right now.

Just my opinions though.

[iccanui]

Although we aren't talking Intel Apple levels of memory hogging as Windows has superior management to an extent


Please explain that too me. Im curious where your got that from. Seems in my experience that while a mac will utilize more of its memory the way in which it uses it is more efficient. So while the activity monitor shows more of it being used its not dead dll's that the OS isnt unloading. Not to mention my macbook will straight up smoke any PC i have come across in booting and application lauching with less ram and ghz.

Im sincerely real curious. I would love to learn more about Vista please. I gotta update my certs for vista here soon anyway so consider me your sponge.

[iccanui]

Now I know I'm going to get flak for this, but Vista Business is the way to go. I have myself a Dell D620 and running any other version (aside from XP) is just shathog slow. Business gives you just the features you need, no media crap, nothing. I'm running it comfortably with 1GB ram right now. I wish I had more. So I'd suggest maxing out on it if it's relatively cheap.


Interesting. If this is true in the way im taking it, that would explain why i have corporate friends that tell me fleet deployment of Vista is great and its a great OS while myself int he field of residential clients see a POS. Look slike its time to get my hands on a business edition. It makes enough sense, cause i always said if you stripped down vista it would probably run fine.

[phatlip12]

Im gonna have to strongly disagree here brother. I work on PC's for a living and all day ( not a e-penis gauntlet thrown, just letting you know im not a idiot ) i see brand new vista computers running like crap cause they are under powered for the OS. In its default state vista on average have 2 times the memory footprint XP does which on a typical prefab PC is about 256-300+. So Vista from what i seen hovers around 500-600 sitting still. Thats not a lot of room left for games and photoshop. I guess it all depend on what your doing. Basic stuff is ok, but anything more i would do 2gb.

Phatlip has a good point though, check their ram prices and see if you can do it yourself cheaper and really think about what you want the PC to do. For example while 512mb works for Phatlip, for me it would be crippling. I got a macbook with 1gb and its not enough. Once i get parallels going and excel open and open work programs and firefox for maping and network tracking, i hit that ceiling real fast. It still runs great cause macs are the bomb, but i do indeed need more so its runs like it should. Its next on my list after my iPhone probably.


Honestly if you wanna kick the ram down get XP. The only thing vista offers is dx10 if you ask me. There is other things if we sit here and nit pick, but as a whole in its current state im not much of a fan of Vista. But then again i said the same thing about XP till they polished it.

But till vista can do this ....

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3333/lowmemjz3.th.jpg (http://img518.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lowmemjz3.jpg)


Im staying with whats polished right now.

Just my opinions though.

Very true for basic performance 1 gig should do, 2 gigs should be considered for anything more intensive (though I still suggest you get a lower amount when you purchase and upgrade it yourself to save some cash).

512mb on my Macbook works for the most part. It's fine for basic performance and even alright for photoshop, it does get pretty sluggish in Parallels though. I'm planning on upgrading to 1 or 2 gigs sometime this summer. :D