system customization

Dell has found out what GM and Ford have learned from Toyota - it's cheaper to make a lot of a few models, than a few of a lot of models.

The Inspiron models are targeted at home users. If you're looking for a docking station, the Latitudes offer them for most models.

Of course that would be the reason but customization was one thing that set Dell apart from the rest. Toooooo bad. I use my I8200 primarily as a desktop replacement but do take it with me while traveling. Why should I have to buy something with less power and a smaller screen just so I can have the convenience of a port replicator? Toooooo bad. Shouldn't our options be increasing as we move forward in time? The horror, the horror........

The I6000 shows a compatible "expansion dock" on the customization page but it doesn't have a monitor or ps/2 connection and isn't the kind I have that the computer sits on top of. Here again, it would be nice if the buyer was offered the option of paying for the extra hardware required for a port replicator. The 600m has an "advanced port replicator" like the one I have but I would prefer the larger screen of the 6000. The feature I would like that none of the replicators seem to have would be a firewire connection. It's a bit of a drag having to reconnect my firewire HD.

If you want the feature set of the 6000 (same screen size, almost the same chassis size, etc.), but with the option of a full docking station, buy a Latitude D810.

The reason the Inspiron 600m still has a dock option is because it's a clone of the Latitude D600 (D610 now). The older Inspiron 8500/8600 was a clone of the Latitude D800, which is now the D810 - instead of selling the D810 as an Inspiron, Dell brought out a cheaper, feature-reduced model called the Inspiron 6000.

The D810 is more solidly built than the 6000, has a better video option, the option of a dock, and a 3-year standard warranty - it's a better system than the 6000.

Because I have an I8200, I haven't even considered the Latitude models. I guess I should have been looking in the business notebooks area. The 810 looks like it would be better suited to my needs. I'll have to look at both the 810 and 6000 to see what exactly I would be paying extra for. Besides the port replicator, the 810 buyer can get the OS and resource CDs without asking for them later or paying the extra $10. Yipppeeee!