Attention computer people is this a good one...

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>heres the specs of the laptop im considering buying with rebates it looks like it will run around 1400 just let me know if you think this is a good deal or not..oh and has anyone used the pc cillin virus protection ive read mixed reviews</p>

<p>.1 1 222-1326 Inspiron E1505, Intel Core Duoprocessor T2300 (2MB/1.66GHz/667MHz)
1 1 320-4651 15.4 Inch TrueLife Wide-screenWXGA, for Inspiron 6400/E1505
1 1 311-5776 1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm for Inspiron 6400/E1505
1 1 320-4655 256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400 HyperMemory, for Inspiron 6400/E1505
1 1 341-3316 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive for Inspiron 6400/E1505
1 1 420-5755 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, English without Media, for Inspiron
1 1 420-4830 DELL SUPPORT 3.0
1 1 412-0689 Image Restore
1 1 420-4928 Windows Media Player 10
1 1 463-2282 Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access
1 1 420-5460 Complimentary courses: Look for EU icon
1 1 420-5476 Dell Direct Download
1 1 420-5769 Internet Search and Portal
1 1 430-0493 Integrated 10/100 Network Cardand Modem, for Inspiron
1 1 430-1048 Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0, for Inspiron
1 1 313-3958 24X Combo CD-RW/DVD for Inspiron 6400/E1505
1 1 420-5775 CyberLink PowerDVD v5.7 Decoding Sofware for DVD Drives
1 1 420-5900 Sonic Digital Media, v7.0, forInspiron
1 1 430-1628 Dell Wireless 1390 802.11b/g Mini Card (54Mbps), for Inspiron 6400/E1505
1 1 420-5643 Trend Micro PC-cillin InternetSecurity, English, 15-Month Subscription
1 1 312-0403 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, for Inspiron 6400/E1505</p>

<p>1 1 410-0808 Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition 2003
1 1 412-0785 MS Encarta Deluxe and MS Money Deluxe 2005
1 1 950-7447 4 Year Limited Warranty
1 1 412-0359 Soft Contracts - Qualxserve
1 1 900-9753 Warranty Support,3 Year Extended
1 1 960-6910 Warranty Support,Initial Year</p>

<p>1 1 983-7619 Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Extended Year
1 1 902-5443 Type 15- Third Party At Home Service with Nights and Week ends, 24x7 Technical Support, 3 Year Extended
1 1 983-7618 Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Initial Year
1 1 950-9450 Type 15- Third Party At HomeService with Nights and Weekends, 24x7 Technical Support,Initial Year
1 1 960-9189 CompleteCare Accidental DamageProtection, Inspiron, 4 Year
1 1 412-0358 Soft Contracts - Consumer Complete Care
1 1 310-7149 Backup media for XP Media Center,Inspiron</p>

<p>1 1 412-0865 Basic digital Music,Photo and Game experience
1 1 412-0856 Paint Shop Pro Standard</p>

<p>1 1 464-8857 Special Offer - $125 off</p>

2

<p>No. Not a good deal. Here's a breakdown of why:</p>

<p>First off, I'm a little out of date on computers, but I've built a few about 2 years ago and I am pretty good with them. First off, you're buying from Dell. Now, the problem with ANY big computer company, whether that be Dell, Compaq, HP, or whatever, is that they get so many customers and their name is so big that often their quality diminishes. You see how you have all that software included? That's muck, and it'll really ruin your computer and make things slow. You might need things, but you can always go onto Download.com and find good software items for free. For example, I've never used a computer virus software in my life and my computer is pristine (although I would recommend Ad-aware for spyware and Zonealarm for Firewall, but Window XP (SP2) includes it). </p>

<p>Your hardware seems pretty solid (except for the CPU, that seems a little slow, but it has a huge cache size so ... meh), except that it's probably overcharged for 1400 dollars. Here's my recommendation. Go to <a href="http://www.powernotebooks.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.powernotebooks.com&lt;/a>. They have an awesome record, and I don't think you can go wrong there. If you don't want to take my word for it, check out the ratings on resellerratings.com. Here:</p>

<p>Powernotebooks.com (3rd best seller rated)
<a href="http://www.resellerratings.com/seller_info.pl?seller_id=1980%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.resellerratings.com/seller_info.pl?seller_id=1980&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Dell
<a href="http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1867.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1867.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Check around for some others just for fun, then make your decision.</p>

<p>You're probably wondering "Why take this guy's opinion? Who's he to say what computers are good and bad?"</p>

<p>I just have to say that I've built bad computers, good computers, learned a lot in the process, and I can assure you that I have the experience. I see people swindled a lot by computer companies, and I have to say that it's kinda sad. So, take my advice, or at least the advice of <a href="http://www.resellerratings.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.resellerratings.com&lt;/a>, and try <a href="http://www.powernotebooks.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.powernotebooks.com&lt;/a> (or some other highly rated company). Despite the not very well known names you might come across, I'm sure you'll get great service and prices, at least superior to those at Dell.</p>

<p>If you're really nerdy and want to learn more, check out <a href="http://www.anandtech.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.anandtech.com&lt;/a> and read around. Take care.</p>

3

<p>1) He's probably an average user (most people are - hence average)
2) Average people SHOULD NOT run amok w/o AV and Anti-Spyware. Please!
3) Dell sucks, I agree. But for a casual user it should be ok. You can always uninstall software (though nothing beats a fresh reformat).</p>

<p>If you are indeed an average user, all you need to focus on are a few thngs:</p>

<p>Value ($$$)
Processor (definatly get over 2.4GHz if possible)
RAM (1GB min)
Hardrive (don't skimp. They're very cheap)</p>

<p>Ignore the video card, sound card and everything else unless you game a lot.</p>

<p>Also make sure your laptop is fit for Windows Vista when it arrives early Jan (unless Msft delays it again). Though truthfully, it probably won't unless you get really high end.</p>

<p>Lastly be warned, if you look to replace anything under the hood so to say, if you get from Dell (or Gateway or HP, or Sony, etc.) they might use proprietary hardware which you cannot buy at your local Fry's or newegg.com (btw check this site out. It's very good).</p>

<p>Edit-</p>

<p>Warranty - Don't buy extended unless you are really stupid. Most don't cover accidents anyway. And plus most hardware defects will arrive within a few months of purchase and will be covered by manufacture.</p>

<p>If you do get a problem, best bet is to go on google search for it, ask in a fourm, and DIY fix it. If you can't, ask a local computer geek/nerd (not hard to find). Don't waste time and money going to a support center. Most problems can be fixed with just some time. If you can't, well it's better to ditch it.</p>

<p>IMO Pccillin sucks. I used Norton, McAffee, and AVG. I don't really use AVs anymore. I just run AVG once a month or so.</p>

<p>Don't get Media Center unless you really want it to be a PC/DVD/TV hybrid.</p>

4

<p>Ok. here is a break down

[quote]
Processor (definatly get over 2.4GHz if possible)

[/quote]

No no and again NO. It's a laptop, not stationary PC.
My advice is to buy this laptop, it's a very good deal.</p>

<p>For Anti virus I'd very strongly recommend to consider NOD32. I used all kinds of anti-viruses (Panda, Kaspersky, Nortont Antivirus, McAfee)IMO Pccillin sucks. I used Norton, McAffee) and I found that NOD32 is the best for me.</p>

<p>And my advice, don't listen to RisingSun about Dells. Computers from Dell are great as long as you know how to use them. I have desktop from them and it never breaks unless I screwed up something with software</p>

5

<p>LoL, I think Dells are the best of the major computer manufacturers, but there's still better. And don't take MY advice for it, take the advice of hundreds of people who have done business with the companies and who have commented (resellerratings.com)</p>

<p>On Viruses - I feel like viruses can be largely avoided by computer awareness ... and I have to say that some virus programs detect viruses EVERYWHERE and generally lead to unfounded paranoia. Get some pop up blockers (I run 4 at a time), don't go to 3rd party sites, don't be stupid with emails, and you'll be ok. Also, if worse comes to worse, I use Norton Ghost to restore my computer to a previously clean state, and that fixes 100% effectively (I keep data and program files on a non-system drive, so it goes C:(system) D:(Files) E:(Ghost images)). Although... after this huge thing, I suppose for normal users, you'll be fine with just anti-virus software... hahaha</p>

<p>Although I'd still have to recommend a non-major manufacturer.</p>

6

<p>er the :('s are C: \ D: \ E: \ (drives)</p>

7

<p>My advice: head over to <a href="http://www.notebookreview.com/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.notebookreview.com/&lt;/a> and post on What Notebook Should I Buy? forum. You will get better advices. </p>

<p>btw: 1.66 core duo is good enough. 1.66 core duo is faster than 1.83 P-M.</p>

8

<p>
[quote]

No no and again NO. It's a laptop, not stationary PC.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>My bad I misread. Everything else holds though</p>

<p>Edit- NOD32 just doesn't cut it. The best AV software is just not being stupid.</p>

9

<p>I use zonealarm and think its good. avaast is also good :)</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
The best AV software is just not being stupid.

[/quote]

I know, my NOD32 never alarmed me since I know how "not to be stupid", but let say there are so many different users that are not as good as me or you with computers :)</p>

11

<p>It's almost good...it's very similar to my 6000 that I got last November. But a few things could be looked at:</p>

<p>-do you need MS Office, Money, and Encarta? You can probably get all three for cheaper by buying separately from another store.
-I would upgrade to the DVD burner, especially if you intend to have this laptop for at least 3 years.</p>

<p>But what's the price? Make sure you use the university discounts.</p>

12

<p>The price is $1400 which is very good for that PC. And I am sure he needs MS Office cuz he'll be a freshman in college</p>

13

<p>one question i do have is about the dvd burner it doesnt seem really that necessary unless im going to be copying alot of video or thing like that is there another reason to get it beside being able to save large chunks of data... (perhaps the cd will become obsolete in the near future is that why) thanks</p>

14

<p>
[quote]
perhaps the cd will become obsolete in the near future is that why

[/quote]
That's what I was thinking. Not only that, but who knows what large files you might have to burn in the future. Recently, I had to burn a video for a project, which turned out to be about 2gb! I certainly was not anticipating that.</p>

15

<p>i can't imagine buying a notebook with LESS than a 2.4 ghz. my notebook is a 2.4 ghz and i got it three years ago! </p>

<p>however, the new mobile processors are judged a different way.. a 1.6 of the new kind is probably equal to a 3.2 of the old kind... or something like that.. cause i know when i got mine the new ones were out at about 1 ghz..</p>

16

<p>
[quote]
my notebook is a 2.4 ghz and i got it three years ago!

[/quote]
Your laptop has to be a Pentium 4, I'm sure. In that case, you're right the Centrino (or Pentium M) chips are on a totally different scale from the chips of 3 years ago.</p>

17

<p>Pretty much everything above our equal to 1.66GHz is good for new laptops, unless you'll play hardcore games that require a lot of memory (like Doom 3 on high quality). For typing/browsing internet/instant messaging/photos/play simple games or playing with low quality you don't need strong processor</p>

18

<p>1.6GHz Pentium M is good enough for a normal user on a laptop. In fact it's reccomended. Now if you were getting a desktop, I would've yelled AMD all over.. Too bad AMD's mobile offerings are sub par.</p>

19

<p>lol u ppl r funny, just contradicting each other...</p>

<p>memory isnt for games, most games dont need nearly as much memory as photoshop</p>

20

<p>Photoshop can be used on a budget if need be--I used a 192MB iBook G3 (300Mhz) for two years as my primary Photoshop computer. Made lots of good images on it too. Hard drive space was the killer on it since it only has a 6GB drive.</p>

<p>Now I use an iBook G4 with 512MB RAM and a 1.2Ghz G4.</p>

<p>As for games, RAM isn't usually the issue. Typically it's your graphics card and hard drive space (if you're a fan of the Sims you have this problem--I'm going to get Sims 2 with the University pack for Mac next week and I know I will give up 5GB or so of HD space). Even my Sims 1 folder was 3.5GB before I put it on a DVD for backup--I had four expansion packs.</p>