Dell v. Vaio

PeterMC

Hi all,

new to this laptop purchasing game... all advice appreciated! Can't decide between a Dell:Inspiron 6400 for E719 all-in here

or a Sony: Vaio N38E for E719, altho paying for delivery here

I mainly need it for WiFi, word processing, music, DVDs, basic enough stuff really.

All opinions wanted!
Thanks!

AlmightyCushion

They both have the same spec so they either or really. That dell seems a bit expensive and I have recently recommended this dell vostro laptop for another poster. I would change the battery to at least a 6 cell. This brings the overall price (including delivery and vat) to just under €800. This is with a 3 year warranty (the two you have linked to are only a one year warranty).
You can downgrade the warranty to a one year and it will work out at about €50 cheaper than the two you linked to and it's a better laptop.

Ghost Train

2 negitives of those laptops
pentium dual core not as good as core (2) duo
integrated graphics not very good

AlmightyCushion

eolhc wrote:

2 negitives of those laptops
pentium dual core not as good as core (2) duo
integrated graphics not very good

For what he is using it for it is more than enough. There is no need to be spending any more on something that will give him very little in return.

Ghost Train

AlmightyCushion wrote:

For what he is using it for it is more than enough. There is no need to be spending any more on something that will give him very little in return.

for what he's thinking of paying the spec of the processor and video card seems quite poor, although for the sony brand you'd expect to pay a bit more than the dell

AlmightyCushion

eolhc wrote:

for what he's thinking of paying the spec of the processor and video card seems quite poor, although for the sony brand you'd expect to pay a bit more than the dell

If you can spec a better one up for a similar price, slap it up here and we'll take a look.

AlmightyCushion

OP you could also get this. If you drop the warranty down to a 1 year warranty it works out as €820. It's got a better processor, better graphics card and bigger hard drive than the other one I recommended although you do miss out on that nice warranty.

Cunny-Funt

Think every thread about getting a new lappy should be answered with "just get a bleedin vostro"

Sticky? hehe

AlmightyCushion

Cunny-Funt wrote:

Think every thread about getting a new lappy should be answered with "just get a bleedin vostro"

Sticky? hehe

You're probably right. They are currently the best value you can get as far as I can see. As long as you don't want some top of the range gaming machine they will do everything you want.

TerrorFirmer

AlmightyCushion wrote:

You're probably right. They are currently the best value you can get as far as I can see. As long as you don't want some top of the range gaming machine they will do everything you want.

They're unbeatable as gaming machines as well - 8600GT for less then 800 if you work it out! although if you were an uber gamer then yeah the 7950Gtx or 7900gs or better but usually cost as much as a small car

AlmightyCushion

HavoK wrote:

They're unbeatable as gaming machines as well - 8600GT for less then 800 if you work it out! although if you were an uber gamer then yeah the 7950Gtx or 7900gs or better but usually cost as much as a small car

Tell me about it. Dell tried to charge me around €400 to upgrade from the 7900gs to the 7950gtx. I was tempted but the thoughts of being financially raped by dell didn't appeal to me all that much.

dulpit

Cunny-Funt wrote:

Think every thread about getting a new lappy should be answered with "just get a bleedin vostro"

Sticky? hehe

Seconded.:)

petes

AlmightyCushion wrote:

Tell me about it. Dell tried to charge me around €400 to upgrade from the 7900gs to the 7950gtx. I was tempted but the thoughts of being financially raped by dell didn't appeal to me all that much.

Bioshock is nice on it though.

AlmightyCushion

petes wrote:

Bioshock is nice on it though.

*shakes fist*

I still have to try it out on my 7900gs. Hopefully it looks purdy.

art

Hate that game!

No-one told me there was a limit to the number of times you can install it on a PC, it's not mentioned on the box or manual, or even during the set up routine. When I installed it, it kept hanging so, sort of typical response from me, was to un-install it and then re-install. Didn't realise I was using up my "activation credits" by doing that. It was only someone in work that let me know that the "copy protection" on the game was fairly extreme.

Anyways... on topic: I've a Dell through work and a Vaio at home. Both do the basics well but the Vaio had a very good range of pre-installed software on it. Not sure about the examples above specifically but might be worth double checking that before committing to the buy.

PeterMC

Thanks for the advice! :-)

RoyalMarine

the dell will also come with some good pre-installed software on it.....









if your an idiot....

the vostro's are great. wish i had one...

Cunny-Funt

Ah yeah the Vostro is a grand auld laptop indeed. So anyone know why they are such a great deal?

I cannot find any faults with mine at all, is it just going to randomly blow up some day

KStaford

Just found the laptop of my dreams here
at laptopsdirect.ie

It has everything I have been looking for, even comes in at a nice moderate 2.8kg. The only problem is that it is a bit pricy at €1425, mind you komplett are charging €1625 for the same box.

Any opinions

KStaford

Heres another beaut from elara and an even better model here
The only problems I can see with these two is that the cache is only 1MB (not published)