choosing between 2 laptops

K

koyophoto

New Member
I have a deal with a dell dealer and am getting a dell business laptop for college. I'm majoring in Computer Science and want a fast computer around the $1100 range. I went through dell's small business laptops, configuring them, and have narrowed the choice to 2 laptops

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&kc=NBC2&l=en&oc=bldwjsd&s=bsd - Latitude 630 (lesser quality, 3 yr warrenty)

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&kc=6W300&l=en&oc=bqdwjbg&s=bsd - Vostro 1400 (better machine, 1 yr warrenty)

Which one is the better deal?
 
specs for the laptops

latitude 630 -

My System Details
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8300 (2.40GHz) 3M L2 Cache, 800Mhz Dual Core
Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate Service Pack 1, With media
3 Year Limited Warranty and 3 Year Mail-in Service
14.1 inch Wide Screen WXGA LCD Panel
2.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 1 DIMM
160GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 7200RPM (Free Fall Sensor)
8X DVD+/-RW w/Roxio and Cyberlink Power DVD™
128MB NVIDIA® Quadro NVS 135M™
Dell Wireless™ 1395 802.11g Mini Card
Dell Wireless® 360 Bluetooth Module for Vista
Standard Touchpad
Resource DVD - Contains Diagnostics and Drivers for Vista

Vostro 1400

My System Details
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9300 (2.5GHz/800Mhz FSB/6MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate, Service Pack 1
1 Year Basic Limited Warranty plus 1 Year Mail-in Service
No Pre-installed Productivity Software
14.1 inch Wide Screen XGA LCD Display with TrueLife™
3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, 2 DIMM
8X DVD Burner w/ double-layer DVD+R write capability, w/ Roxio Creator
128MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M GS
250GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Wi-Fi Internal Card
Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate)
Integrated 2.0 mega pixel Web Camera
Integrated High Definition Audio
 
Even though the Vostro has a better graphics card, and a little faster processor, I would pick the latitude. The latitude has a great build quality, and a better warranty. If you want more ram, you can get 2 more gigs to equal 4 all together for like $30.
 
Just a heads up, if I were you, I'd stay away from Dell Laptops. I've had many problems with mine as well as with, my Dad's and a friend of mine. I'd look around for something on Newegg.com if I were you.
 
Enjoihcky24/7 said:
Just a heads up, if I were you, I'd stay away from Dell Laptops. I've had many problems with mine as well as with, my Dad's and a friend of mine. I'd look around for something on Newegg.com if I were you.
Click to expand...
I've never had issues with Dell laptops, or any of my friends. They have 25-30% off coupons which make the price fantastic, much better then what you can get on Newegg.
 
[-0MEGA-];994449 said:
I've never had issues with Dell laptops, or any of my friends. They have 25-30% off coupons which make the price fantastic, much better then what you can get on Newegg.
Click to expand...
Even with the 25-35% off, there are still computers on newegg that are better for the price. I'm sharing my experiences with Dell laptops, which are obviously are not good. The OP can make up his own mind obviously, but the point is, there ARE better put together machines.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114459 -$1099 More RAM, Larger Hard drive, Much better graphics card. A slightly weaker CPU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220273 -$1099 Better support, Better Warranty (2 years parts and labor, and 1 year ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE!), Better Graphics, 3gigs RAM, slightly weaker CPU.

I would pick those two listed before the two he posted, spec for spec, discounting brand. Lets not forget this is with only a quick look around.
 
k, thanks for the help. How do these specs hold out against the other two

My System Details
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8300 (2.40GHz) 3M L2 Cache, 800Mhz Dual Core
Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate Service Pack 1, With media
3 Year Limited Warranty and 3 Year Mail-in Service
15.4 inch Wide Screen WXGA LCD Panel
2.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 1 DIMM
160GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 7200RPM (Free Fall Sensor)
8X DVD+/-RW w/Roxio and Cyberlink Power DVD™
256MB NVIDIA® Quadro NVS 140M™
Dell Wireless™ 1395 802.11g Mini Card
Dell Wireless® 360 Bluetooth Module for Vista
Standard Touchpad
Resource CD contains Diagnostics and Drivers for XP and Vista

Latitude D680 $1317
 
DELL SUCKS! Get a HP,Compaq,EMachines or something or even apple if you dont mind running mac but dell is a gate to hell.
 
you can't tell me that emachines is better than dell! its a walmart brand!....i'm next to required to get a dell actually, going through my employer who is a dell dealer (don't want hurt feelings....plus i get it at a discount)
 
ok, a much better machine is on sale for a much better price (and i don't want to hear that it is still junk)

XPS M1530
My Components
SYSTEM COLOR Tuxedo Black edit
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® Vista Ultimate Edition SP1 edit
LCD AND CAMERA Full Hi Definition, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LCD (1920x1200) & 2.0 M edit
MEMORY 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms) edit
HARD DRIVE Size: 320GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive edit
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE Slot Load DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write) edit
VIDEO CARD 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT edit
WIRELESS CARDS Dell Wireless 1505 Wireless-N Mini-card edit
BLUETOOTH AND WIRELESS USB Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0+Enhanced Data Rate) edit
BATTERY OPTIONS Free Upgrade to a 9 cell Battery edit
SOUND OPTIONS Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition edit
FINGERPRINT SCANNER Finger Print Reader XPS M1530 edit

should i opt for this one?
 
emachine laptops went out of business. My emachine computer is junk now. Ask the millions of Dell owners which is better, a dell or different computer.
 
Look, its not the specs that people say are junk, it's the build quality, if you want a Dell though, I would go for the XPS.

However, with that much money involved I wouldn't worry about hurt feelings. Ultimately if your machine ends up bricked it's money out of your pocket. You may have better luck than I or my friends and family have had though, and I sincerely hope you do.

Good luck with your purchase, and enjoy it!
 
koyophoto said:
ok, a much better machine is on sale for a much better price (and i don't want to hear that it is still junk)

XPS M1530
My Components
SYSTEM COLOR Tuxedo Black edit
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® Vista Ultimate Edition SP1 edit
LCD AND CAMERA Full Hi Definition, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LCD (1920x1200) & 2.0 M edit
MEMORY 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms) edit
HARD DRIVE Size: 320GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive edit
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE Slot Load DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write) edit
VIDEO CARD 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT edit
WIRELESS CARDS Dell Wireless 1505 Wireless-N Mini-card edit
BLUETOOTH AND WIRELESS USB Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0+Enhanced Data Rate) edit
BATTERY OPTIONS Free Upgrade to a 9 cell Battery edit
SOUND OPTIONS Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition edit
FINGERPRINT SCANNER Finger Print Reader XPS M1530 edit

should i opt for this one?
Click to expand...

I would most definitely get this one.
 
i have a XPS (in my sig) and it is great. i've had it for lil over year and a half, no problems. the one before was a Dell Inspiron 8100. i had it for over 4 years, and its still running good, only the HDD went out. my fault though, i used while riding in a Big Rig truck for a year playing Lineage II (online MMO). lots of bouncing in there. for sure go for the XPS though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top