Laptop options (need advice)

[USUaggie]

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So my school has a deal with dell where we all have to get the same laptop, the "Latitude D810" and the basic model is just $1770, but with added options of customizing it the price can jump to $3815!!!! How should I know right now which options I'll want in my computer for the next four years? For example, the speed - if you get the 770 processor (2.13 GHz) instead of the 740 (1.73 GHz), it's an extra $200. and the memory - going from 1 GB to 2 is an extra $620. What do you guys think? What should I be willing to pay extra for? Assuming I'd also use this laptop to store music and watch DVD's and stuff.

Here's the link:

http://premierconfig.dell.com/config/config.aspx?cs=RC1000439&ci=rcRC1000439-1100087

by the way, I'm not really much of a computer guy

 

[Dr. Future]

So my school has a deal with dell where we all have to get the same laptop, the "Latitude D810" and the basic model is just $1770, but with added options of customizing it the price can jump to $3815!!!! How should I know right now which options I'll want in my computer for the next four years? For example, the speed - if you get the 770 processor (2.13 GHz) instead of the 740 (1.73 GHz), it's an extra $200. and the memory - going from 1 GB to 2 is an extra $620. What do you guys think? What should I be willing to pay extra for? Assuming I'd also use this laptop to store music and watch DVD's and stuff.

Here's the link:

http://premierconfig.dell.com/config/config.aspx?cs=RC1000439&ci=rcRC1000439-1100087

by the way, I'm not really much of a computer guy

I personally would just stick with the basic package. If you already have a desktop and you are only using your laptop for music, DVD's, and taking it to and from school for studying; you really don't need all that other fancy stuff. I just bought a dell for under $1000 and it is really fast and doesn't have as many GHz. Do a search because I got a lot of my information on everything I needed from other forums. Good luck!

 

[rocknightmare]

i don't htink the marginal gain of speed is that much its to make it worth 200 bucks. now the memory if you ever wanted to buy more memory you could buy it from another store. dell charges you like crazy to upgrade. but 512 is plenty of memory for these days. i don't see 1 gig being needed for another 1 to 2 years.

hard drive space, the more the marrier but you can get those cheaper after rebates and such.

i do recommend you get the dvd-r option b/c it is cheaper to buy from dell it seems.

 

[ISU_Steve]

I agree with Rocknightmare.....get the basic package and just make friends with someone who knows computers and have them upgrade it for you (granted doing this voids any warranty pretty much, but who really cares?). Personally this is exactly what I plan to do with my mandatory laptop- buy the most basic package I can get away with and have my friend Darin (who is a supervisor for my current school's IT department) drop in a better hard drive, soundcard, additional memory, etc.

I just hope I don't wind up at a school that demands Mac computers otherwise I might be forced to discover whether you can change out the components (or something) and make it run on a more user-friendly Windows operating system while still giving the appearance of a Mac. 😉

 

[rocknightmare]

I agree with Rocknightmare.....get the basic package and just make friends with someone who knows computers and have them upgrade it for you (granted doing this voids any warranty pretty much, but who really cares?). Personally this is exactly what I plan to do with my mandatory laptop- buy the most basic package I can get away with and have my friend Darin (who is a supervisor for my current school's IT department) drop in a better hard drive, soundcard, additional memory, etc.

I just hope I don't wind up at a school that demands Mac computers otherwise I might be forced to discover whether you can change out the components (or something) and make it run on a more user-friendly Windows operating system while still giving the appearance of a Mac. 😉

"more user-friendly wndows" -- those 4 words should never go together. windows was never meant to be userfriendly. if u want user friendly go to mac 🙂

peace

 

[ISU_Steve]

I used to date a girl (for about a year and a half) who swore by Mac, and it got to the point where I was using her computer more often than my own and I developed a hatred for that operating system.

I think the "more user friendly" thing just results from more familiarity. Not to mention that I noticed that Macs tend to run a lot slower than Windows based computers- just my personal observation.

 

[rocknightmare]

its all about familiarity.. i only use macs in the lab. but working with PCs as computer consultant for 4 years. i have grown a hatred to their problems.. the macs were always the peaceful ones in the labs 🙂

 

[onetoothleft]

its all about familiarity.. i only use macs in the lab. but working with PCs as computer consultant for 4 years. i have grown a hatred to their problems.. the macs were always the peaceful ones in the labs 🙂

I have used both extensively and while they both have their pros and cons, PCs are technically faster for the price, but Mac's appear to run faster, more efficiently and stable-ly because they are designed to be. Unless you are familiar with a PC, macs are what I suggest to people.

 

[onetoothleft]

i don't htink the marginal gain of speed is that much its to make it worth 200 bucks. now the memory if you ever wanted to buy more memory you could buy it from another store. dell charges you like crazy to upgrade. but 512 is plenty of memory for these days. i don't see 1 gig being needed for another 1 to 2 years.

hard drive space, the more the marrier but you can get those cheaper after rebates and such.

i do recommend you get the dvd-r option b/c it is cheaper to buy from dell it seems.

I got 2 Gigs of Ram that I replaced in my dell for about $250 total from online. NEVER BUY EXTRA RAM FROM DELL. They are rediculously overpriced!

 

[DrTacoElf]

Never buy ANY dell upgrades unless they are motherboard integrated (i.e bluetooth). I got a 600m and dropped in a 7200rpm HD, 1gig of ram for less than the price of 512MB of ram from dell.

 

[Tooth Fixer]

why don't u get a 9300 insipiron dell, with the 750 coupon off u can get a strong machine. I got mine for less than 1700, If this is too heavy for u then u can go a step lower to the 6000.

 

[ecdoesit]

So, to listen to music and dvd, please get a decent sound card. i have the integrated soundcard and it is very poor quality. other than that, you may want to get one that has a longer battery. getting a 2nd battery is always wise.

keep in mind that by 3rd year, ur computer will be an antique no matter how you upgrade your stuff. so just save your money and get a better one later on.

other questions to ask:
is your sch laptop compartible? do they have electric outlet so that u dont have to recharge ur comp every 2 hrs... like ucla, we dont have those, so it is pointless to bring laptop to class since it will die in the morning. and what is the point of having a laptop at home while I already have a desktop? and the computer system is too new that we are progressively learning how to use it. so we dont even need that till 2nd yr.

so ask students at ur sch when they will use their laptop plus what you like to have, then make your modification.

I personally would just stick with the basic package. If you already have a desktop and you are only using your laptop for music, DVD's, and taking it to and from school for studying; you really don't need all that other fancy stuff. I just bought a dell for under $1000 and it is really fast and doesn't have as many GHz. Do a search because I got a lot of my information on everything I needed from other forums. Good luck!

 

[DrTacoElf]

Yeah sound is SO important. I went from a desktop with the m audio revolution to this pos integrated sound card on my dell 600m and i'm dying. All my music is exact audio copy perfect rips encoded in lame at 320CBR. I usually listen with grado sr225s. I was toying with getting a gilmore headphone amp but no way i'm dropping 350 bucks with this crappy laptop sound card lol (and no way i'm touching anything from creative such as the pcmcia audigy).