Is this a good laptop and worth the money?
by admin on Jul.17, 2009, under Laptops & Notebooks
I’m totally hardware illiterate, so I’m desperate for help. This is my first time buying a laptop, or even a computer for that matter.
My company gets a discount through Dell so I am going through them.
Will be using it for school, e-mail, internet, some games, u-tube and watching the occasional tv show.
Is this system good? Would you make any changes? Is it a good deal?
It’s a Studio 15.
Subtotal$1,019
(I thought about upgrading to the better video card which is the 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650. The total with the better video card would be $1094.00
My Components
PROCESSORIntel® Core™ 2 Duo T6400 (2.00GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache)edit
OPERATING SYSTEMGenuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1edit
WARRANTY AND SERVICE2Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosisedit
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWAREMicrosoft® Works Plus 2008edit
HD DISPLAYBright, glossy widescreen 15.4 WLED display (1280×800)edit
MEMORY4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHzedit
HARD DRIVESize: 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)edit
VIDEO CARDIntel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHDedit
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE8X Slot Load CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)edit
WIRELESS NETWORK CARDSIntel WiFi Link 5100 802.11agn Half Mini-Cardedit
INTEGRATED WEBCAMIntegrated 2.0M Pixel Webcamedit
BATTERY OPTIONS85 Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)edit
SOUND OPTIONSIntegrated Sound Blaster® Audigy™ Advanced HD Software Editionedit
KEYBOARDBack-lit Keyboardedit
FINGERPRINT SCANNERIntegrated Finger Print Readeredit
My Software & Accessories
ANTIVIRUS SOFTWAREMcAfee Security Center with VirusScan, Firewall, Spyware Removal, 15-monthsedit
My Service
REMOTE ACCESSDell Remote Access, free basic serviceedit
DATASAFE ONLINE BACKUPDell Online Backup 2GB for 1 yearedit
My Software
ALSO INCLUDED WITH YOUR SYSTEM
LCD and CameraHi Resolution/Bright, glossy widescreen 15.4 WLED display (1280×800) w/ camera
LabelsWindows Vista™ Premium
Adobe SoftwareAdobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0
Processor BrandingIntel® Centrino® Processor
DIAL-UP INTERNET ACCESSNo ISP requested
Also, I’m alittle confused about the hd display. I’m going with Bright, glossy widescreen 15.4 WLED display. Will that be okay? They offer all these different types, bright, glossy, glossy with resolution. It’s so confusing. Am I okay with just the basic?
Thanks so much!
Kelly
July 18th, 2009 on 2:08 pm
Jill
I honestly dont think so from what i see you can get something similiar for 500 at best buy.
July 20th, 2009 on 10:59 am
Anna
The hardware is not the greatest for the price but all the bells and whistles are nice and the screen will be fine and unless you are a gamer the graphics card at that price will be fine no need to upgrade and if something does happen to the laptop and a part needs to be replaced years down the road people call it dell hell cause aftermarket parts dont work and you must buy expensive name brand ones just a heads up
July 21st, 2009 on 7:19 am
Karl
Save yourself the money on the 2GB backup online. Buy a thumb drive or an external hard drive. They plug in and work.
A point about the glossy LCD is that you get a good glare off of them. I have an alien ware system with one of those. They look nice but can be a little annoying it if you have a window behind you.
Do you really need a back lit keyboard? If that’s the only option then cool. If not I’d just go with the regular one unless you are planning to need to type when you have no light. This will suck up battery power when you are not plugged into a wall outlet.
Works 2008 a good choice, check to see about some freewares out there like open office which is compatible with Microsoft Office, Microsoft Works and Mac writing tools.
DO keep the in home warranty. I used to service Dell systems and believe me it helps. Do understand that software is never covered under these warranty programs. Hardware is all they work with.
You didn’t say what model it is, but I’m guessing an XPS? Sounds like more of a gaming system with office tools on the side. Just my thought.
The rest of your choices are good.
July 24th, 2009 on 5:36 am
Mathew
I wouldn’t call $1,019 a discount and Dell is thw worst compny out there, that’s probably why they feed the whole discount thing to people.
Here a nicely priced laptops under 800 dollars, for a computer that fits your needs and wants. They for the most part have the same specs, but for a lot less.
July 26th, 2009 on 11:46 am
Arthur
It seems like the price is a tad too high, the processor is only 2GHz and the video card is a crappy intel one.
I would remove the bundled on Antivirus Software, and install my own one composed of a free Antivirus, free Firewall and Spy Sweeper.
Try looking again, I’m sure you can find a better laptop on their website for the same price.
July 29th, 2009 on 2:22 am
Duane
im sure its a good computer but for the price i would go with the MSI GX720-032US Notebook runs about $1100 and has 17″ display definately would have no problem running games …. i personally dont like dell computers…….try a HP before dell……that laptop you specified has only graphics media accelerator wich makes me feel they would be taking advantage of you
July 31st, 2009 on 10:03 pm
Gail
If you’re computer hardware iliterate, why are you buying a computer? Also, I priced this machine on Dell’s website – the price seemed about the same, so where’s your discount?
It looks like you just copy/pasted the system specs from Dell’s website – if you don’t understand what these mean, then simply getting the system willl be tossed out money.
Based on what you say you’ll be doing with your laptop, it’s not clear that you need 1) the horsepower of this machine and 2) a laptop at all. For a fraction of what you paid, I got a DT w/a more powerful chip, a bigger HD, more RAM and a spare slot that will take just about any PCIe graphics card.