Should I get a dell mini?

DisasterIRL · 06-09-2008 6:05pm #1

I was considering getting a Dell mini 9 as I am going back to college

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-9?c=ie&cs=iedhs1&l=en&s=dhs&dgc=ST&cid=5260&lid=124314

I am aware it has only a 16gb hdd, but it is solid state which means faster access time and more resistant to shock and I do have a 500gb external at home.

Just wondering what everyone thinks, I'd like to get some opinions

Run_to_da_hills · 06-09-2008 8:12pm

Sub notebooks are the way to go, DVDs / cds are becoming old hat, I see the latest domestic DVD players equipped with USB inputs. With the price range around e400 its no big deal if they get ripped off or damaged.

SSD based sub notebooks such as the EEEPC 900/901, and the dell Inspiron 9 all have solid state drives which would take a lot more abuse than mechanical SATA hard drives.

The only disadvantage of the 9" SSD sub notebooks is that the HDD capacity is lower, ie 16 or 20 GB You can add a 16 GB SD card about e80 (32GB cards are availible but very expensive)

You can buy the MSI wind /Advent 4211 with 9" screen which has a mechanical HDD of up to 160GB

DisasterIRL · 06-09-2008 8:41pm

I would also be getting a 16gb USB key which I would be able to get for €25ish

The reason I was thinking of getting this netbook is that I heard that new processors where coming out next year and it wasn't worth getting a top of the line xps m1530

Components
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T9500 (2.60 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 6 MB L2 cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1 including Media
1 Year Base Warranty
2.0 mega pixel Camera & Tuxedo Black for CCFL Display
15.4" Widescreen WUXGA (1920x1200) TFT Display with TrueLife™
Biometric Fingerprint Reader with BLACK accent
4096MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x2048]
320GB (5.400rpm) SATA Hard Drive
NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 8600M GT with 256MB dedicated graphic memory
Fixed 8x DVD+/-RW Slim Slot Load drive, including SW
Primary 9-cell Lithium-Ion Battery (85 WHr)

For €1300

Should I just go ahead with the m1530 or wait for the new processors next year and get the mini 9 or similar netbook for this year?

Oafley Jones · 06-09-2008 9:00pm

DisasterIRL wrote: »

I would also be getting a 16bg USB key which I would be able to get for €25ish

The reason I was thinking of getting this netbook is that I heard that new processors where coming out next year and it wasn't worth getting a top of the line xps m1530

For €1300

Should I just go ahead with the m1530 or wait for the new processors next year and get the mini 9 or similar netbook for this year?

Why wait for a processor? There's always going to be faster processors coming down the line, especially given that intel seems to be well ahead on their tick-tock roadmap. If you're play the waiting game with pcs you'll never get anything.

Having said that, Dell's roadmap shows that the XPS1530 is expected to be end-of-lifed before November.

DisasterIRL · 06-09-2008 9:31pm

Well that doesn't answer my question, and I am aware that there is always updates on processors but there is to be a large update as in new processors replacing the core 2 due.

jozi · 06-09-2008 9:38pm

DisasterIRL wrote: »

Well that doesn't answer my question, and I am aware that there is always updates on processors but there is to be a large update as in new processors replacing the core 2 due.

:rolleyes: What about my questions?

Just an idea i had earlier, what about using a netbook with an external keyboard and an old monitor? Is it worth it? She would like something very portable to bring with her to college, sit in the library and do work on it.

I'm of the opinion a netbook might be ideal for this but I wouldn't fancy using it as a main pc as mentioned already, external mon and kb, would it be worth it?
Storage isn't really an issue as she has a 250gig ext drive already, althou the 80gig in the wind/advent isn't skimpy!

Oafley Jones · 06-09-2008 9:41pm

DisasterIRL wrote: »

Well that doesn't answer my question, and I am aware that there is always updates on processors but there is to be a large update as in new processors replacing the core 2 due.

You're talking about Core i7 (nehalem). And there will be another radical change -when intel move to 32nm- with westmere before the end of next year. My point stands that there is always something just around the corner, being at the cutting edge is a costly business.

edit. I'm not sure why you are waiting for i7, the major benefits will be related to power consumption. I wouldn't waste money on a netbook to bridge the gap though.

DisasterIRL · 07-09-2008 1:09am

So you would suggest going ahead with the xps m1530?
Given that I can get it ex vat.

partyatmygaff · 07-09-2008 1:35am

wait for nehalem, its not not too far away now, buying a core 2 duo now would be a bit foolish.
The nehalem will extend battery life and more importantly, if you ever come to sell it the core 2 duos will be worth far less than a nehalem just because the nehalem is newer.

For future resale value and power consumption, wait for nehalem to come out.

AlmightyCushion · 07-09-2008 1:37am

The nehalems that are coming out in the new year are for desktop parts. I don't know when the laptop cpus will be coming out but if it's the same as penryn, it'll be months could even be this time next year. I say get it now.

partyatmygaff · 07-09-2008 1:45am

you could get it now and just sell it a bit before the laptop nehalems are out.
Core 2 Duos will lose serious value (save for maybe the t9500 or t9300) after nehalem starts becoming mainstream just like pentium 4 m is now worthless.

Best thing is to buy a core 2 duo now, sell it a bit before nehalem becomes mainstream and then buy a nehalem.

DisasterIRL · 07-09-2008 1:46am

If I was getting a laptop now I would be getting a top of the range one to do me for the next few years

Should I get a dell mini?

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