🚀 go-pugleaf

Phred <ppnerkDELETETHIS@yahoo.com> wrote

> 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.

Thats apparently changed with the latest ones.

> (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?)

Yes.

> 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'd have you publicly flogged if you hadnt enjoyed that so much the last time.

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.

> 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

> The Toshiba seems to be out of consideration, unless it comes with
> *very* good recommendations for reliability, in particular.

And I dont like their very lackadasical system for full technical manuals
too.  Often there isnt even a decent user manual online either.

> The Dell RAM is shared with graphics; don't know about the others.

Doesnt matter with a laptop and I doubt you are into red hot gaming anyway are you ?

The only gaming I bother with is Freecell Pro.

> I *assume* they all have a built-in modem for dial-up?

I expect so, but its quite an inditement if you cant
check that with the online manuals with the Dell.

I wont buy anything like a laptop without full decent manuals available.

> 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 :).

Yeah, surprisingly convenient. I play captured digital TV when bottling
the beer, it takes about an hour to bottle a batch and its a tad boring.

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

I'd ask others online what hard drive temps they are getting with the Dell
if it was me.  Specially now that its summer in the northern hemisphere.