You probably got an IBM laptop with a 500MHz Celeron, not a Centrino, because the slowest Centrino available is the 1.2GHz model used on the ultraportable laptops, like the Dell 300m. Well, it's true what you said and people should get what they need.
Though this is true. Some of us opt (stupidly) to pay more for what we WANT. So now i'm stupid and broke but have a nice laptop... LOL. Good thin Dell only gave me credit for 1,500 or i'd owe more $$$.
Foolishly yours,
Rojas
PS partly because a grown man (subject to opinion) likes to play games ;)
Today I am getting ready to order my i8600; I have been waiting for the specials that are being offered right now. But I read your post, and kind of think I'm like you; those are about the things I use my laptop for. I am totally confused about all the processor choices... I don't know whether to get the 1.4 or the 1.5, or even higher, am unsure whether to get the standard video card or the 64... I want the True Mobile but wonder whether the 1300 or 1400 is the way to go; I usually get online at Starbucks!! I finally decided that the SXGA screen was right for me, even though I hate small fonts, but I was afraid to go with the WXGA because I don't want a screen that looks washed out. It's truly hard to decide all these things unless you're a computer scientist, which I am not... If anyone reading this post can help me finalize some choices before the day is over, I'd appreciate. I would NEVER play PC Games on 8600, and would perhaps watch a DVD once or twice a month. Today's special offers a free DVD burner I think... not sure what I'd use that for. I have played with the 8600 at the Dell Display at the Mall and love it. I just need help with all the different choices. Thanks.
For casual use go with the cheapest processor. I just got a i8500 with WXGA; it does not look washed out at all. I also got the 1300 mini PCI and it works well so far, along with Truemobile 2300 Router. Have you considered the i8500 rather i8600? They were knocking off $300 off the top recently. As far as the video card I stuck with the offered 32 MB for the simple reason that the person using the laptop is not into any games or intensive stuff. The only thing i would opt up for is at least a 40 gig Hard Drive. Good Luck!
@ionatrailer wrote:
Today I am getting ready to order my i8600; I have been waiting for the specials that are being offered right now. But I read your post, and kind of think I'm like you; those are about the things I use my laptop for. I am totally confused about all the processor choices... I don't know whether to get the 1.4 or the 1.5, or even higher, am unsure whether to get the standard video card or the 64... I want the True Mobile but wonder whether the 1300 or 1400 is the way to go; I usually get online at Starbucks!! I finally decided that the SXGA screen was right for me, even though I hate small fonts, but I was afraid to go with the WXGA because I don't want a screen that looks washed out. It's truly hard to decide all these things unless you're a computer scientist, which I am not... If anyone reading this post can help me finalize some choices before the day is over, I'd appreciate. I would NEVER play PC Games on 8600, and would perhaps watch a DVD once or twice a month. Today's special offers a free DVD burner I think... not sure what I'd use that for. I have played with the 8600 at the Dell Display at the Mall and love it. I just need help with all the different choices. Thanks.
Consider this: having more than you use is alright. It's good to have a little overhead. On the other hand; you can't use what you don't have. Many people say " I won't do this or that with my computer", then discover that there
is indeed something they would like to try, but since they didn't have the appropriate hardware; they are SOL!
Also; your notebook will become obsolete soon enough. Why not stretch out it's usefullness?
And if you FREE DVD burner and better battery life, with starting prices at just $50 more than the 8500, you can get the 8600. In my opinion it's a better investment than the 8500, since the price differences currently aren't that much.
Message Edited by TazExprez on 11-07-2003 12:52 PM
I agree with RandyB. You should always buy a little more than you need. This will make your investment more worthwhile because newer versions of even simple applications usually require more resources. Take the operating system Windows XP. I wouldn't dream of running it without having at least 256MB of RAM and a 1GHz processor. Granted these are not the minimum specifications required to run it, but it does run better with all this, than with a slower processor and less RAM. So if you really want to stretch the mileage on your system, I suggest that you invest a little more on it. Right now if I were to get a system to run office applicationss and browse the Internet I would get one of the Inspiron 8500's. They have free upgrades for 512MB of RAM and for the DVD/CDRW Combo Drive. I would definately order it with at least 40GB of harddrive space and I would also get one of the wireless cards, too. Browsing the Internet wirelessly is excellent and is becoming increasingly available anywhere you go. I can connect to my WiFi network at home, at my dad's business, in my college, in Starbucks, and throughtout New York City. I connect in New York City using either the public WiFi networks, or the Verizon network. Verizon offers free access to their network to Verizon DSL customers. As for the videocard, if you never plan on playing any games, ever, get the cheapest one. If you have the slightest desire to play games and think that it might be a possibility for the future, then get the GF4 4200Go 64MB card. It's a relatively cheap upgrade, and it's well worth it for gaming.
Well, Guys and Gals, thanks for all the input. I visited the local Mall today where there is a DELL kioske, and I placed my order: I went with the i8600 SXGA+, 1.5 [had planned on the 1.4, but the salesman said the extra $$ was worth the extra speed that comes with the 1.5]. I feel good about my choice I think; I stayed with the 32mb video card too. Now comes the waiting.. but that's okay too. Thanks again!
Though this is true. Some of us opt (stupidly) to pay more for what we WANT. So now i'm stupid and broke but have a nice laptop... LOL. Good thin Dell only gave me credit for 1,500 or i'd owe more $$$.
hahaha... good post. I am like you... broke, but I do have a very nice laptop that is pretty much replaced my desktop machines... home and work. I could not get the company I work for to get me a laptop, so I got my own. My wife was not at all happy when she found out that I had bought the i8500, but she has since realized how much I use it and how good of a purchase it was... I think.
Yeah, I tend to spend my money (Umm, credit) unwisely. Though I think my laptop is a good investment. It too has vertually replaced my desktop system. I'm already planing how to upgrade it whan I have the $$$ (7200 RPM HDD, TV tuner/video input, CPU, GPU).
The only 1000 MHz and 900 MHz porttables I've seen are in TabletPC's. Though I did see a tiny litle Sony (I think) that probably was 1 Ghz or less (and I do mean SMALL).
TazExprez
190 Posts
0
November 6th, 2003 21:00
You probably got an IBM laptop with a 500MHz Celeron, not a Centrino, because the slowest Centrino available is the 1.2GHz model used on the ultraportable laptops, like the Dell 300m. Well, it's true what you said and people should get what they need.
Vers
7 Posts
0
November 7th, 2003 00:00
TazExprez
190 Posts
0
November 7th, 2003 00:00
RojasTKD
105 Posts
0
November 7th, 2003 00:00
Though this is true. Some of us opt (stupidly) to pay more for what we WANT. So now i'm stupid and broke but have a nice laptop... LOL. Good thin Dell only gave me credit for 1,500 or i'd owe more $$$.
Foolishly yours,
Rojas
PS partly because a grown man (subject to opinion) likes to play games ;)
Message Edited by RojasTKD on 11-06-2003 09:09 PM
Matchman
2 Posts
0
November 7th, 2003 10:00
Yes, Slip of the "C" Word it's a celeron.
Please understand im not slanting anyone elses decision (only my owne) on my i8600 . We all have different needs and "wants"
ionatrailer
15 Posts
0
November 7th, 2003 11:00
purrplexed
342 Posts
0
November 7th, 2003 11:00
For casual use go with the cheapest processor. I just got a i8500 with WXGA; it does not look washed out at all. I also got the 1300 mini PCI and it works well so far, along with Truemobile 2300 Router. Have you considered the i8500 rather i8600? They were knocking off $300 off the top recently. As far as the video card I stuck with the offered 32 MB for the simple reason that the person using the laptop is not into any games or intensive stuff. The only thing i would opt up for is at least a 40 gig Hard Drive. Good Luck!
RandyB
518 Posts
0
November 7th, 2003 12:00
Consider this: having more than you use is alright. It's good to have a little overhead. On the other hand; you can't use what you don't have. Many people say " I won't do this or that with my computer", then discover that there is indeed something they would like to try, but since they didn't have the appropriate hardware; they are SOL!
ReneXP
3 Posts
0
November 7th, 2003 13:00
I'm also undecided. Not sure if I shall buy a 8600 or 15'Apple Powerbook.
The DVD burner is nice, even if you only use it for backups. I have thousands of MP3 and photos so for me it will be a convenient backup medium.
TazExprez
190 Posts
0
November 7th, 2003 15:00
Message Edited by TazExprez on 11-07-2003 12:52 PM
TazExprez
190 Posts
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November 7th, 2003 15:00
ionatrailer
15 Posts
0
November 7th, 2003 16:00
dirgon
174 Posts
0
November 7th, 2003 21:00
hahaha... good post. I am like you... broke, but I do have a very nice laptop that is pretty much replaced my desktop machines... home and work. I could not get the company I work for to get me a laptop, so I got my own. My wife was not at all happy when she found out that I had bought the i8500, but she has since realized how much I use it and how good of a purchase it was... I think.
Matrix-2002
1 Rookie
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120 Posts
0
November 8th, 2003 04:00
RojasTKD
105 Posts
0
November 8th, 2003 05:00
Yeah, I tend to spend my money (Umm, credit) unwisely. Though I think my laptop is a good investment. It too has vertually replaced my desktop system. I'm already planing how to upgrade it whan I have the $$$ (7200 RPM HDD, TV tuner/video input, CPU, GPU).
The only 1000 MHz and 900 MHz porttables I've seen are in TabletPC's. Though I did see a tiny litle Sony (I think) that probably was 1 Ghz or less (and I do mean SMALL).