🚀 go-pugleaf

G'day mates,

Once upon a time I would have happily shelled out for a Dell, but Rod 
has somewhat psyched me out with his claim about the Dell HDDs 
operating at the upper limit of their temperature specs.  (Does that 
explain why all laptops are now "notebooks"?  Too hot to use on the 
lap without risk or third degree burns, or sterilisation at very 
least?)

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.)

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?
Price:    $899       $849 (cashback)        $994

The Toshiba seems to be out of consideration, unless it comes with 
*very* good recommendations for reliability, in particular.
The Dell RAM is shared with graphics; don't know about the others.
I *assume* they all have a built-in modem for dial-up?

My main use would be for off-site email/web browsing/USENET (and maybe 
those from the lounge chair if I install a local wireless network :).

Advice, comments, anecdotes based on experience... all welcome.  TIA.

Cheers, Phred.

-- 
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