Laptop for Contracting Father - Is this a Decent Mode/Price?

ixoy

My Dad needs a new laptop for contracting. It'll be needed primarily for the Office suite of software and potentially other bits of software. Obviously wireless is a must. I'm thinking of recommending him the Dell Latitude 550 - 15.4" screen with the following details (incl. tweaks):

• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7250(2.0GHz,800MHz, 2MB)
• OS - Windows XP3 (downgraded from Vista 'coz Vista is rubbish)
• 4GB RAM (upgraded from 2GB - probaby not strictly required but better now than later)
• 160GB HD (standard - he can just add an external USB drive if he wants more)
• 8X DVD R/W Drive
• 6 Cell-56Whr Battery (upgraded because he may not always be in a position to recharge
• Internal Wi-Fi 3x3 card (upgraded from the 1x2 card to enable access to wireless points that may not be too nearby)
• Kensington Microsaver Lock (can't see these laptop security cables elsewhere - needed for obvious reasons)
• Norton Internet Security Centre 2009 (15 months - I argued against this, citing online free alternatives but he's not convinced)

Full Price: 900

How does it sound? I think XP SP3 is a better choice than Vista and I don't really think I can wait until Windows 7 (nor would he have any real need of its new features).

Alanstrainor

Just a word of warning. In work we bought 2 Dell E4300's there a little over a month. One of them is grand, no issues yet, but the other one is a different story. One has been repaired 4 times in little over a month, and it has only left the office once, and the rest of that time it's been pretty much doing nothing, it was like every time i picked it up i noticed something new wrong with it.
We just got another one in there yesterday, and it has gone straight back because the screen was messed up out of the box.
Now, these laptops are all coming from Poland, so i don't know if that's the reason, perhaps they're not fully up to speed, but so far, that range of laptops seem to be seriously flawed. I'm not sure if it will apply to that model too, but i thought it was worth mentioning.

ronkmonster

seems bit expensive for a basic office pc
3 gb is all you can use with xp 32bit
so unless u plan to get 64 in future life of laptop, you can save a bit here

fmul9798

not sure about all their laptop models but my Studio 1555 (purchased last month) was most definitely made in China and not Poland.

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Just a word of warning. In work we bought 2 Dell E4300's there a little over a month. One of them is grand, no issues yet, but the other one is a different story. One has been repaired 4 times in little over a month, and it has only left the office once, and the rest of that time it's been pretty much doing nothing, it was like every time i picked it up i noticed something new wrong with it.
We just got another one in there yesterday, and it has gone straight back because the screen was messed up out of the box.
Now, these laptops are all coming from Poland, so i don't know if that's the reason, perhaps they're not fully up to speed, but so far, that range of laptops seem to be seriously flawed. I'm not sure if it will apply to that model too, but i thought it was worth mentioning.

Alanstrainor

fmul9798 wrote: »

not sure about all their laptop models but my Studio 1555 (purchased last month) was most definitely made in China and not Poland.

Wha? Are you sure? The parts might be made in China, but i was almost certain they were constructed in either limerick or Poland.

ixoy

Might drop the memory back down then! I think I can get a discount on that price there.

Is it a wise move to take XP over Vista (given I can't really wait for Windows 7 to arrive)?

If anyone can spec something better for the same price, please feel free to let me know. My Dad's quite cautious in his own fashion so I imagine he'd prefer to buy from a recognised retailer.

Overheal

Go with Vista. Go with Windows 7. Its being very well received and it will be out before you know it.

4GB and 64-bit (4gb with an aftermarket buy, but 4gb one way or the other). He'll treat it right and it will last him for donkey years. Wireless should be able to take N channel: Itll be standard by the end of next year.

ronkmonster

if you buy a vista laptop now, you get a free upgrade to windows 7 i think.
yeah i run 64 bit windows 7 and i've very few problems.

Make sure your applications work with vista/win7 and 64bit before you buy though.

Business versions of windows 7 will have an XP mode which might help in that regard.

Jonathan

ixoy wrote: »

Is it a wise move to take XP over Vista (given I can't really wait for Windows 7 to arrive)?

Buying an 8 year old OS is crazy stuff really.

Get Vista, and you will get a free upgrade to Win7 when it comes out.

donutheadhomer

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Wha? Are you sure? The parts might be made in China, but i was almost certain they were constructed in either limerick or Poland.

nope, I work there and they are mass produced in china

ronkmonster

Jonathan wrote: »

Buying an 8 year old OS is crazy stuff really.

Get Vista, and you will get a free upgrade to Win7 when it comes out.

Not crazy if some of his applications only work on windows xp.
This is a business laptop(i believe) where the application working is all that matters.

Jonathan

ronkmonster wrote: »

Not crazy if some of his applications only work on windows xp.
This is a business laptop(i believe) where the application working is all that matters.

Sounds like the OP's father programs will work if he wants Win7 but just can't wait..

ixoy wrote: »

How does it sound? I think XP SP3 is a better choice than Vista and I don't really think I can wait until Windows 7 (nor would he have any real need of its new features).

ronkmonster

Jonathan wrote: »

Sounds like the OP's father programs will work if he wants Win7 but just can't wait..

There's always Windows 7 RC to use until then if so.
And Vista with SP2 is supposed to be good so that might be enough.

Using XP would come down to application support and whether the user can learn vista/or has used before.

I'd go for Vista 64 with the free upgrade to Windows 7 but in Europe the Windows 7 upgrade is a clean install ie. can't upgrade from vista to win7 directly. Just something to be aware of.

TerrorFirmer

Overheal wrote: »

Go with Vista. Go with Windows 7. Its being very well received and it will be out before you know it.

4GB and 64-bit (4gb with an aftermarket buy, but 4gb one way or the other). He'll treat it right and it will last him for donkey years. Wireless should be able to take N channel: Itll be standard by the end of next year.

I would take XP. It's reliable, proven and safe. Now, so is Vista; but Vista can be sluggish for the first while in particular, and generally overall is a more demanding OS that returns little in terms of average day to day use. I've used Win7 32 and 64bit, they're good but not entirely perfect, again, considering it's going to be used for business, you'd be better using either Vista or XP. I had some troubles with quite a few apps. I'm now back on good old XP SP3 myself now and happy with it.

Dell also traditionally charge a fortune for upgrades, a far more economical path would be to sell the 2x1GB that comes with it and buy 2x2Gb yourself - though if you stick with XP, 2Gb is more then enough.

And definitely AVG or Avast with Spybot is a free and solid security option.