Blank cheque - which Dell laptop?

Johnny Jukebox

I've been given a blank cheque to go buy a Dell laptop (has to be Dell for contractual reasons).

Whats the best option - the most expensive or what ?

I am not a game player or a weight weenie :-)

Thanks,

Alanstrainor

What do you want it for? I think xps is the way to go, they do models from 13.3" to 17", they're the top of the range. they're expensive, but seeing this whole blank cheque thing i doubt that'll be a problem.:pac:

majiktripp

Top of the Range Laitude is what I'd go for , never mind the gmaing side of things , if its for business get a Latitude. Spec the sh1t out of it if its a blank cheque! D830 or the likes, even a Precision Laptop, major bling bling (more for CAD and architectual types but bloody savage!)

Precision I spec'd up:
Catalog Number / Description Product Code SKU Id

Base:
Intel® Core™2 Duo T7500 (2.20GHz,4MB,800MHz) with FX360M Graphics (256MB dedicated memory) 110491 [210-18188] 1

Microsoft Operating System:
Genuine Windows Vista® Business - English 91010 [619-11001][620-10593] 11

LCD:
15.4" WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) Dell UltraSharp Wide Aspect Ratio with TrueLife display 110496 [230-10101] 760

Keyboard:
UK/Irish - Dual Pointing Internal Keyboard 54553 [583-11204] 4


Memory:
4GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM Memory (2*2048) 75719 [370-12256] 3


Hard Drive:
160GB SATA (7,200 rpm) Hard Drive (Free fall sensor) 97507 [400-13186] 8


Optical Devices:
8X DVD+/-RW Drive 128985 [429-12468][429-12811][429-12916] 16


Gedis Bundle Reference:
W04M42 - M4300 ADVANCED April 149437 [200-53461] 22


Shipping Documents:
UK/Irish - Ship Accessories UK/Irish Power Cord and Software Drivers 110498 [340-14510][613-10475] 21


Power Supply:
European - 90W AC Adapter 54345 [450-11156] 41


Modem:
56.6k V.92 Capable Internal Modem & Adapter - Irish / Spanish 54385 [530-11539] 14


Standard Warranty:
3Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day 134703 [709-10011][709-10187] 29


Order Information:
Precision Order- Ireland 70903 [800-10896] 111


Wireless Local Area Networking:
Intel PROWireless 4965 802.11a/g /Draft-n Mini-card for Core 2 Duo processor - EMEA 110513 [555-11054] 19


Bluetooth:
Dell Wireless 360 BlueTooth™ Internal Card for Vista 112488 [555-11124] 59


Carrying Cases:
No Carry Case 57412 [460-10178] 118


PalmRest:
PalmRest with touchpad 112098 [214-10020] 55


Primary Battery:
6 Cell 56/WHr Smart Li-Ion Primary Battery 112100 [451-10449] 112


Second Battery :
9 Cell 85WHr LI-ION Additional Primary Battery 112932 [451-10471] 113


Floppy Drives and Additional Storage Devices:
Floppy Drive for use in Internal Media Bay or External Use via USB 110520 [385-10512] 10


USB Memory Keys:
Lexar 4 GB SecureII Plus JumpDrive 134781 [730-11659] 42


Cover It with Dell Support Services:
5Yr ProSupport for IT and Next Business Day On-Site Service 134713 [710-10207] 30


Protect It with CompleteCare:
4Yr CompleteCare Theft Cover 134739 [712-10038] 31


Microsoft Application Software:
English - Microsoft Office 2007 Professional 90961 [630-11371] 25


Protect your new PC :
No Anti-Virus Software required 57427 [650-10461] 40


Dell System Media Kit:
M4300 Resouce DVD VISTA Only 110518 [340-14515] 319


€2283 ex vat.
Sorry cant pot direct link to webpage, wont work.

majiktripp

You could also get the new Dell Tablet laptop! Might be nice to have....

Voodu Child

That latitude doesnt seem to have a particularly high spec for the money. Not that money seems to matter in this case :pac:, but thats not a high spec regardless.

Have a look at the XPS M1530. They're available with LED backlit screens now or very soon (very nice), and processors all the way up to the T9500 (2.6Ghz, 800MHZ FSB, 6Mb cache). A 320Gb HD if you want storage, and blu-ray for movies while the boss isn't watching.

If it's ridiculous power you're after, the XPS M1730 can be specced all the way up to a Core 2 Extreme X9000 and twin hard-drives in Raid. Sure, it's 'technically' a gamers machine, but you can't sniff at that processor, factory o/c'able, all the way up to 3.4Ghz afaik. Will make short work of any spreadsheet :pac:

Overheal

I never understood the backlights: what a complete waste of power

Alanstrainor

Overheal wrote: »

I never understood the backlights: what a complete waste of power

LED backlit displays are much more efficient than (CCFL???) Older laptop screens.

Adam

Overheal wrote: »

I never understood the backlights: what a complete waste of power

For serious?? You realise the LED's are not extras, they are a replacement to the normal CCFL technology...

The average power consumption of 12.1-, 13.3- or 14.1-inch widescreen laptops that feature LED backlighting is one to two watts less than similar-sized notebooks that use traditional cold-cathode fluorescent lighting (CCFL) as the source, notebook business unit general manager at Asustek Tony Chen told to DigiTimes.

It is explained that one watt power reduction translates into an extra 30-45 minutes of battery life.

Voodu Child

Yeah, they're quite a good bit easier on the battery than the (currently) more common CCFL method of backlighting the screen. They're also pretty nice to look at, they can go brighter if needs be and the whites are whiter (:pac:sounds like a toothpaste ad). The whole screen is lit more evenly, so you don't have the darker/lighter bits you might get with some CCFL.

They're definitely a good thing, they'll gradually make their way into most laptop lines, but for the moment, they're a nice little extra that most laptops don't have. If the boss is paying, i'd go for it.

Edit - I think Overheal was talking about the flashing lights that some of the gaming machines have . yeah, im not a big fan of those myself, but I don't think they sap much power at all tbh, they're just small LEDs.

Adam

Aye, LEDs use a very small amount of power, and will last for years.

AlmightyCushion

I think the mobile quad cores from intel will be out in May. If you can wait then wait for them. They'll probably be pricey but you do have that blank cheque.

dhaddock

the spec of the computer majiktripp suggested is not worth the money at all!

if i were you i would just customize a few laptops on dells websites with different spec and see whats the best value for money because in my experience they seem to change weekly with new deals/offer.

oh and last thing 4gb ram aint worth it if you are not getting a 64bit OS!

majiktripp

I stand by my suggestion, its a business machine , 5 year NDB warranty, 5 year complete cover for the laptop with accidental/theft coverage. Second battery (9 cell) 4GB USB,USB Floppy (yes people STILL use them!) ..alright the specs aren't bleeding edge but you'll only get those options in an M1730 which somehow I don't think would constitute a business machine, I can imagine what your boss would think if you showed up for work sporting one of them after him giving you a blank cheque...suit the job not the budget.

robinph

majiktripp wrote: »

... but you'll only get those options in an M1730 which somehow I don't think would constitute a business machine, I can imagine what your boss would think if you showed up for work sporting one of them after him giving you a blank cheque...suit the job not the budget.

Turn all the flashing lights off and they don't look quite as bling though and you could get away with it in a buisiness environment.