Laptop Advice. - CEG Archives

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Ok you computer guys. I've been wanting to get something to run OBDII diagnostics so I was looking into PDAs, but it snowballed from there. I've been wanting a laptop for a while but don't want to spend over $1G. What do you guys think of the Dell Inspiron 6000? I can get a new one for $878 after mail in rebate.

- Celeron�?® M Processor 350 (1.30GHz/1MB Cache/400MHz FSB)
- Microsoft�?® Windows�?® XP Home
- 15.4 inch WXGA LCD Panel
- 256MB Shared DDR2 SDRAM 1 Dimm
- Integrated Intel�?® Media Accelerator 900 Graphics
- 30GB Hard Drive
- Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
- Adobe�?® Acrobat�?® Reader 6.0
- FREE 24X CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive with Sonic RecordNow Upgrade! (from 8XDVD)
- No Wireless Selected
- Microsoft Office Basic - Includes Outlook, Word, Excel,
- No Security Subscription
- Dell Jukebox - easy-to-use music player and CD burning software
- 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (53 WHr)
- 1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr Mail-In Service, and 1Yr Technical Support
- 6 Months EarthLink Internet Access Included
- Paint Shopâ�??¢ Pro�?® Studio trial, Photo Albumâ�??¢ Starter Edition
- Dell Media Experienceâ�??¢

Total: $1228.00 - $350 Mail-in-Rebate $878.

The main things I want to do with it are.
1. OBDII Diag.
2. GPS Tracking for road trips!! (Spring Zing)!!
3. Watch DVD's on flights and drives.
4. Add to entertainment center. (TV as monitor, wireless keyboard and mouse).

What do you think? Any suggestions?

If you can cut back on Office, take that extra $ and put it towards either a better video card if available or at least a second battery if watching DVD en route is a priority. DVD eats through laptop batteries REAL quick.

Mike - Check out www.fatwallet.com for more online DELL Coupons!

Coupon codes that can be combined are great especially if ordering online.

I bought my PC for $525 off original price because of these coupons and regular DELL sales...

Then there is the codes for Free shipping....
Just do a search for 'DELL Coupons'.

Oh - this site is pretty good too...
ECoupons DELL Home Site

Check it out - Save some more $$$

oh good idea Hugo! Didn't think of that.

www.naughtycodes.com is also a good place for coupon codes.

what do you guys think of the actual system posted though?
I remember back in college, everyone poo-pooed Celeron processors, but things may have changed since then. I wouldn't know.

Originally posted by frenchblueC2:
I remember back in college,

[Kip {Napoleon Dynamite}] "your mom goes to college"

Napoleon Dynamite soundboard

Sorry, I just couldn't help myself.

Laptops are a pain. That being said, you want to avoid as many problems as possible.

-NEVER BUY A CELERON - see about getting a Pentium 4 for more horsepower or a Centrino for better mobile efficiency (including an on-board wireless adapter and extended battery life)

-Don't short-change yourself on RAM, go with at least 512MB

-bishop is right, a video card would be key for any type of media (dvd's, games, etc..)

-if you really need office, i'm sure someone here could hook you up (even me, if you'd like)

>> Just looked at the Dell site, and it looks like you can't upgrade the vid card in the 6000...
Are you sold on Dell? Toshiba makes an excellent Notebook.

Thanks for the help! Unfortunatly Dell is to smart to let people combine coupons. After adding all the batteries and getting the faster Celeron (Inspiron 6000 doesn't offer Pentium) and with the best coupon it came to $929. I don't know much about computers, so I should prolly stay blissfully unaware and stay away from the steamrollers! When I get CEL's I'll just go to Autozone and I'll watch DVDs at home!

FWIW, I just looked up the specs on my PC here at work, and this thing must cost more than my SVT is worth now!!

HP Workstation xw4100
Pentium 4 3.20GHz
2.1 GB RAM
21" LCD Monitor

Originally posted by FattyB iLLin:

Are you sold on Dell? Toshiba makes an excellent Notebook.

also good point
I forgot that I used to use Toshiba laptops for when I'd have to work out in the field for clients. I never had a single problem with them.
Thanks for the input.

i have a dell inspiron 8100..i punch it everyday

Originally posted by Goonz SVT:
i have a dell inspiron 8100..i punch it everyday

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!

Mike - yeah - some coupons are "one-time codes" and others are date specific and some can be compounded...
you just need to find them...

for example, I bought 3 PC's on a day where the DELL site had a bug where all coupons were allowed to be combined.
Total price for all 3 PC's with monitor and printers?
$315 - shipped. Sold them to my friend who in turn put them on ebay....

Just gotta keep an eye out.

Kim - I have never visited that site - but I will be in two seconds!! Thanks!

Originally posted by GR8SVT:
for example, I bought 3 PC's on a day where the DELL site had a bug where all coupons were allowed to be combined.
Total price for all 3 PC's with monitor and printers?
$315 - shipped. Sold them to my friend who in turn put them on ebay....

What the.... you lucky bastid!!

Well, what do you all think of this? Its refurbished but sounds good.

- Dell Latitude C840 P4 1.8 Laptop Notebook CDRW-DVD WiFi
- 1.8 GHz - 512MB * 30GB HD * Wireless * FREE Laptop Bag
- Processor: P4-M - 1.8 GHz (1800 MHz) with Intel SpeedStep�?® Technology
- Memory: 512 MB
- WIFI: Wireless Internal Mini-PCI - Connect to wireless Lan/Internet networks
- Sound: Crystal 4205
- Video: NVIDIA GeForce4Go w/32 MB
- Hard Drive: 30GB
- NIC: 10/100 Ethernet (Cable-DSL Ready)
- Modem: 56K V.92 Modem
- S-Video Connect to Projectors, VCR's, TV's etc. for presentations
- Display: 15" Dazzling Ultra XGA LCD