hmm so it looks like the P4 is the way to go. The only thing is I have a good desktop but you like my friend says when you get it you'll be surprise how much you use it vs your desktop

..I already have a new 20gig 5200 rpm hard drive in the box i was going to put in an very old laptop but after reading here about dells 4200 hdd i thought i may get a boost using it. the thing is the 1100 would come with a 30 and the the 5100 would come with a 40gig, i would be losing 10,20 gig if i used the 4200rpm drive but gaining better response time

so what do you think about the 1100 vs the 5100

I thing is i just dont know how much i would use the laptop vs my desktop :/

If you crunch any sort of numbers in any detailed type of Excel spreadsheet,  you will definitely notice the difference.  Also, if you have to do any presentation with PowerPoint on an overhead, you will also notice this.  I say the extra $100 to $200 is absolutely worth it.  Also, if you use it for home and there is any chance that you might do pictures, movies, music, or anything else that might remotely tap into the processor, then you will missing the power.  You have to remember that the P4 has a lot of architextual designs that will speed up the way it processes data unlike the Celeron (higher cache, pipelines, SEDD, etc.).  If you ever have to use Photoshop or any other types of graphics app that you may need for a presentation, then you will absolutely notice. 

As far as the memory goes... buy the cheapest and upgrade with Crucial.  It's the most cost effective, since Dell charges so much.  I wish I had done that... I would have save a couple of hundred dollars.  Ugh!  Now, I have 20/20 hindsight.

Also, usually Dell provides free shipping on most if not all of their purchases if you wait long enough (or ask when you buy... lol).  I received free shipping, but the savings on taxes might be worth it.  The HDD are 4200 rpm drives with Ultra ATA connectors and the connection speed is not that great if you think it will be.  If you are going to buy a 20 gig HDD to save and then install the 30 Gig, then it might be cost effective assuming that the HDD is in good shape and you can clone the HDD image.  Remember Window XP has that "if you change the system too much thing" that may cause you problems when re-installing.

Just my 2 cents and I hope it helps.

Sounds like a plan.  Basic machine for basic needs.

When did Dell start charging tax in GA??

I'm in TN but was going to have it shipped to the office in GA so I wouldn't have to pay the high tax here. Did the online thing and it added tax but last week it didn't

shucks

I live in Canada, so I'm stuck paying 15% tax. (7% Fed + 8% Prov/State tax). 

I think I'm going to have to sleep on this decision. It's more of a want not a need. I just dont know if it's worth the extra dough when all I'm going to do it is pretty much surf, excel(nothing extensive),word processing I mean here at my job my purchasing guys all use 600mhz celerons and it gets all their work done with no problem. I have  powerful machine in my living room, nice one in my kids room,laptop would probably only get used when sitting on the couch or bed to surf or when out of town to check email at work or to remote into our AS400 system..more and more I think about it I may just go with the $699 get some memory from crucial, cheaper to replace desktop parts than a laptop...and spend the extra $200 on my HDTV something that I know I will use:-)

I was under the assumption that you pay sales tax when you buy through small business, but you don't have to when you buy through the Home site.  However, that may have changed, or I'm completely wrong.

You're right no tax under the home...i was under the wrong link :)