🚀 go-pugleaf

Making a real hash of this, updated version again.

Phred <ppnerkDELETETHIS@yahoo.com> wrote:
> G'day Rod and other, thanks for your replies to my original request.
> Now following up seeking more info on "wireless", please:
>
> In article <4fr1c8F1jojn5U1@individual.net>, "Rod Speed"
> <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Phred <ppnerkDELETETHIS@yahoo.com> wrote
> [...]
>>> Anyway, I was looking at the specs of several notebook "specials"
>>> (end of fin year and all that :) so I'm wondering what you good folk
>>> out there think of these models.  (My apologies in advance for the
>>> shape of the following "table", but a fixed font may help
>>> interpret it.)
>>
>> I personally avoid AMD cpus for laptops and insist on a Celeron M
>> too.
>>
>> I also insist on built in wireless, essentially because the antennas
>> in the lid work a hell of a lot better than addon wireless, not
>> directional at all etc.

> I don't think the Dell has that feature.

Urk, didnt notice that. I did check that it has a full service manual and
user manual online, but didnt actually get real radical and read them.

> The blurb says something like this, talking about built-in wireless support:
>    Internal 802.11b/g or a/b/g that allows quick connection
>    to an Internet wireless hot spot ... Then goes on to give
>    pricing options for those two types of Mini-PCI cards.
> That suggests to me that one needs to buy a card to use wireless and,
> I presume, the card would come with some sort of external antenna?

Looks like its internal with the card itself optional.
http://support.ap.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1300/en/sm/display.htm#wp1105347
clearly shows the antenna cable to the antennas in the lid, third picture.
http://support.ap.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1300/en/sm/antenna.htm#wp1084976

Doesnt actually mention the wireless card itself for some reason.
Its in the user manual.
http://support.ap.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1300/en/om/om_en.pdf

> Also, the jargon means bugger all to me, but the a/b/g card costs
> rather more than the simpler b/g one.  What's the diff in practice,
> bearing in mind I don't have a home wireless network yet?

The cheaper one is fine.

>>> Dell Inspiron 1300   Compaq Presaria v2627  Toshiba Satellite
>>> A100/301 CPU:  Celeron M380   AMD Sempron 1.8GHz     Celeron M
>>> 1.4GHz
>>> RAM:  512MB DDR2     512MB                  256MB
>>> HDD:  40GB           40GB                   40GB
>>> VDU:  15.4" Wide     14" Wide               15.4" Wide?
>>> CD/DVD 24x Combo     Combo                  Combo
>>> O/S:   XP Home       XP Home                XP Home
>>> Wireless: Yes        Yes?                   Yes?
>>
>> If it doesnt say its got wireless, it hasnt got it.
>> About half of the lowend laptops dont have it built in.
>>
>>> Price:    $899       $849 (cashback)        $994

Thats actually $799 online, last day today tho.

Dunno if you will see this in time, I've emailed it too.

> Another point with the Dell, it has an option to buy a "spare" power
> adapter, but nowhere does it say the system comes with one!  Is it
> assumed all laptops come with an adapter to run off the mains

Yeah, havent noticed one that doesnt.

> and, if so, what is the advantage of having a spare one?

Mainly so you can have one where you use the laptop much.

Dont know that I'd buy a second Dell one tho, there
are plenty of aftermarket power supplys much cheaper.

> And, Rod, I've posted a query to a.s.p-c.d [not xposted to
> aus.computers] re that HDD temperature issue as you suggested.

OK, I'll check the responses.