I want a second view on this laptop im thinking nearly buying?
the total for this after taxes and shipping is $733.77
SPECS-
Inspiron 1501 Mobile AMD SempronTM 3500+ (1.8GHz/512KB)
OPERATING SYSTEM(s) FREE Upgrade to Genuine Windows VistaTM Home Premium near 1GB of memory
LCD panel 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display with TrueLifeTM(glossy)
MEMORY 1GB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm
VIDEO CARD ATI RADEON(R) Xpress1150 256MB HyperMemoryTM (Integrated)
HARD DRIVES 120GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Network Card and Modem Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Adobe Software Adobe(R) Acrobat(R) Reader 7.08
Combo/DVD+RW Drives FREE!8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) beside double-layer DVD+R write capability
Sound Card Integrated Audio
Wireless Networking Cards Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Offic
Answer:
Everything looks flawless to me with the possible exception of the concrete drive. The *size* should be fine for digital photos (unless you're planning to store many tens of thousands of them). But I'd consider a 7200rpm drive, since you mentioned that you'd approaching something relatively fast. You might be surprised how much of a difference that make in the overall system speed. The tough drive is, after all, the slowest quantity of the system that is regularly access. On a 7200rpm drive, programs and files spring open visibly faster than on a slower one.
The only other entry I'd suggest is trying to find a recent PC World or PC Magazine reliability and customer service report. As you may know, both magazines regularly (annually?) do a survey within which users report reliability (repairs needed and the satisfaction next to them) and customer service. The last time I looked at laptops (two years ago) I granted from those reports (and from a similar one at Consumer Reports) to go near only Apple or IBM (now Lenovo). Both seem to be far ahead of all other manufacturer in the laptop world. I didn't want to switch to the Apple universe so I go with IBM for its incandescent reports on customer service and reliability, both. So far I've been mostly content. But I'm not pushing either brand, because things can redeploy in two years. Sadly, Dell didn't do so capably in those reports, though it wasn't the worst, as I recollect. I used to be a big fan, and still guess they may make the best desktop models. But I'd do somewhat homework before assuming they're as great as they once be.
The price looks good -- almost too fitting, in my assessment. As I say, it's be a couple years, but my feeling is that you almost own to spend a thousand bucks to get a trustworthy laptop that will end for more than a few years. (I spent *three*, though I did load it up near features, and the same element today would probably be only $2400.) Maybe that funds looking at another brand, but please take that counsel with a crumb of salt. The surveys will be more adjectives than my gut feeling.
Oh, and no experience beside Vista -- sorry.
Good luck.
Not bad price, but I'd check ebay.
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