Is this a decent laptop?

[javeryh]

This will be my primary computer (I don't have a desktop). I am getting this thing for free since my wife's work is paying for it so I put together some specs over at Dell. They are offering $150 off the base price for the Inspirons today. I am going to pull the trigger today but I want to make sure I'm not leaving anything out since this is kind of spur of the moment (our laptop completely died the other night and we can't be without a computer in the house for long).  It will not be for gaming.  What do you think? 

SYSTEM COLOR Jet Black
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo P8700 (2.53GHz/1066Mhz FSB/3MB cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1 32 Bit
OFFICE SOFTWARE Microsoft Works
WARRANTY AND SERVICE 4Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis
HD DISPLAY Bright, glossy widescreen 15.6 WLED display (1366x768)
MEMORY 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz
HARD DRIVE 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
VIDEO CARD Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE8X CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
WIRELESS CARDS Intel WiFi Link 5100 802.11 Wireless-N Mini Card
BLUETOOTH Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth Internal (2.1)
BATTERY OPTIONS 9-cell battery
SOUND OPTIONS High Definition Audio 2.0
SECURITY SOFTWARE McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 36-months
ENTERTAINMENT AND EDITING SOFTWARE WildTangent Games
REMOTE ACCESS Dell Remote Access, free basic service
DATASAFE ONLINE BACKUP Dell Online Backup 2GB for 1 year
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0
Network Integrated 10/100 Network Card
PROCESSOR LABELS Intel® Centrino® 2 Processor
OS LABELS Windows Vista™ Premium

[Sir Headless VII]

Two things. I would go for 64 bit vista, especially since you are going to have 4 gb of ram (the 32 bit OS will only recognize just under 4 gb). Most peoples gripes when it come to 64 bit operating systems are incompatibility of hardware and software. You shouldn't have any hardware issues with a pre-built system and most software should be supported by now  (that said I don't have a 64 bit OS). Secondly that system doesn't have a video card, what you have listed is just part of the CPU. I have never used Intel Graphics Media Accelerator but I haven't heard great things about playing games on laptops without dedicated video cards. On the other hand since you have a 32 bit OS and 4 gb of ram anyways I'm not sure what the extra video memory would get you (what I'm saying is I'm not sure how a computer handles having a 32 bit OS with 4 gb system memory and some other video memory, since the 32 bit OS has a 4 gb upper limit).

[MrMojoZ]

Yes for 4 gigs you want a 64bit OS but Integrated Video is not part of the CPU, it is part of the motherboards chipset. 32bit OSes ignore pretty much anything beyond the first 3gigs.

[javeryh]

So if you were buying this computer would you switch to a 64 bit OS (Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Service Pack 1 64 Bit) for no extra cost or drop the processor down to Intel® Core™ 2 Duo P8600 (2.40GHz/1066Mhz FSB/3MB cache) for $50 less?

Thanks for the help!!

[massive88]

Switch OS, dont switch the processor.

[javeryh]

OK, I think I was getting confused.  I should keep the processor but maybe lower the RAM to 3GB?

[Sir Headless VII]

Upgrade the OS to 64 bit and you won't have any problems recognizing less than 16.8 million terabytes (that is the apparently the theoretical  limit). If you upgrade the OS you will have no reason to use less RAM. And MrMojoZ  is right and I was wrong what is listed as the video card is part of the motherboard and not the CPU as I said.  I'm sorry if that caused confusion.

[javeryh]

Thanks - so I should go for the 64 bit OS?  I just want it to work.  I don't want there to be problems all the time with it.  I do not play advanced computer games on it - I mainly will be using it for movies and music and the internet.

[massive88]

Thanks - so I should go for the 64 bit OS?  I just want it to work.  I don't want there to be problems all the time with it.  I do not play advanced computer games on it - I mainly will be using it for movies and music and the internet.

That laptop is epic overkill for movies internet and music.

I would still go for the 64bit OS, especially if its at no cost to you.  As previously stated, as a pre-installed laptop, you wont have any driver problems, which would be the only reason not to us a 64bit OS.

[u_rebelscum]

Yeah, since it's Dell installing the 64 bit OS, and you're looking at 4 GB mem, I'd go 64 bit OS too.

But, are you going to play mame on it?  If not, and no games, and no compiling, and no photoshopping, the CPU is a little overkill.  Still, the better the CPU, the longer it will run future apps.  So I'd keep it.



FWIW, microsoft's consumer 32 bit memory limit is as follows:

total main memory + total video memory + total "shared video" memory (if any) tops out at 4 GB.

It doesn't matter if the video is on a separate card on onboard chip.  So if you have two 1 GB SLI cards & 4 GB memory & and a 32 bit vista/XP, you can only use 2 gigs of the memory; that extra 2 GB is just sitting there totally unused.  OTOH, if you replaced the two video cards with an onboard chip that shares 16 MB of main memory, the video memory is listed twice, once in the actual 16 MBs of main mem it's stealing, plus the virtual 16 MBs at the top end.  So the OS gives you 4 GB minus 32 MB (or 4096 - 32 = 4064 MB).

With the (256 MB?) onboard video chip, you won't be losing too much memory, but it will be some.

[javeryh]

Haha - I love overkill!!  I'm not paying for it so what the hell, right?   

I will probably play MAME on it from time to time and maybe a few other emulators and simpler games like Peggle or whatever but I'm not really into hi spec cutting edge computer games.  I do want to "future proof" as much as possible.  This laptop is replacing our primary computer (also a Dell laptop) which we bought in 2004 so I'm hoping this one will also last me 5+ years.  I guess I'll pull the trigger on the 64bit OS. 

Thanks!

[MrMojoZ]

If you DID want to play highend games we'd be recommending a diffrent graphics setup, so that system with the 64bit OS should be perfect for you.

[clok]

I might be in the minority here but DONT GET A LAPTOP unless you have an actual use for it. A desktop is normally 1/2 the price for 1/3rd more power, i know you stated you where not paying for it, but a $1000 (whatever price) laptop that sit on a shelf and is never turned on is worth $0.  Everybody seems to want a laptop, but when you get it and find out the screen sucks in all those "not at the desk" areas (outside with the SUN! (some of us are not sure it exsists, but the rumors might be true), under bright lights in store/eating areas/etc) The keyboards suck compared to a "real" keyboard. Sitting them on your lap and working, they get warm and it can be annoying. In 1 to 2 years it will be worth nothing (so will the desktop, but you pay alot less for them and you can use the LCD/mouse/keyboard/speakers over.

Of course if you have an actual use for a laptop (like 2% of the population actually does) then that one looks pretty good, lacking in the video card dept (but as you say, not looking to Hardcore game on it). I also agree with the 64 bit OS (but I would use XP before Vista for another year).

Get the best battery you can, most come with a pretty average battery, the step up option is alot nicer. Dell laptops are pretty solid machines if a bit heavy. Im a service tech for our company and we have hundreds in the field (in the field really, crop adjusters) and they hold up pretty good, mostly HD fails from rough use (is my guess).  Also see soem fails on USB ports but again, its from rough constant use im guessing.

Clok

[CheffoJeffo]

That's a pretty skewed view of notebooks, but does touch on what I think are some important points -- I only buy notebooks now and the only reason I can come up with to buy a desktop is for a high-end gaming rig, which I'll likely never get around to playing anyway.

Having said that, nice screens and decent keyboards are an absolute must for everyday use -- beefy specs takes a backseat to both of those.

Oh, and +1 to going 64-bit.

[javeryh]

Thanks guys.  I guess I'm in that 2% who use laptops all the time.  My house is so small that I don't have room to set up a desktop (no desk!) so we use the laptop exclusively.  Whenever I need to do something for work I plug in a USB mouse and keyboard and work at my dining room table.  For normal everyday computing I usually do it on the couch in front of the TV.

I placed the order and I went with the 64-bit OS.  I also upgraded the battery and the hard drive to 500GB.  The total with shipping and tax was $1,400 and I'm out of pocket on this thing $0!!!  Can't beat that!   

EDIT: I should add that the price includes the 4-year in-home warranty which was very expensive but has saved me several times in the past.