is there a cheaper one with better/same specs?

zod

taken from www.dell.ie/do

Inspiron 510m (System Identifier. E67TJ0G9)
Inspiron 510m Cel M 350 1.3 Ghz 15 XGA
English - Win XP SP2 Home (No Media)
Operating System: English - Win XP SP2 Home (No Media)
English - Win XP SP2 Home (Backup Media)
Memory: 512MB DIMM (333MHZ) (1 X 512MB)
Hard Disk Drive: 30GB (4200RPM) Hard Drive 510M
Modem: Irish/Spanish - Internal 56K V.92 Modem
CD Read-Write Drive: 8x DVD+/-RW
Software: Microsoft® Works® 7.0
English - Adobe Reader 6.0
Record Now/MySonic DVD S/W
Inspiron DVD Cyberlink PDVD Decoder S/W
Paint Shop Photo Album Standard Eng
MISC: 4 Cell Primary Battery
Intel Pro WLAN 2200 802.11b Mbps 510M
Norton Internet Securities 90 day English
Inspiron 510m 15XGA LCD
Inspiron 510m Keyboard (UK)

Cost EUR 783.77 ( including VAT excluding Del )

Bard

Is this a laptop or a desktop machine?
The Toshiba Satellite A50-105 Notebook is similarly spec'd, except for the following differences:

It has 256Mb RAM, not 512Mb.
It has a 40Gb HDD, not a 30Gb one.
The optical drive is a CDRW and DVDROM combo.
The Wi-Fi card works up to 802.11g (54Mbps)
The Processor is a Mobile Celeron M340 running at 1.5Ghz

Here is the full spec of the machine on the Toshiba web site.

There's a limited number of them (less than 10 left) on sale in Harvey Norman (Dundalk) for €797.

zod

Bard wrote:

Is this a laptop or a desktop machine?

Its a laptop ( http://www.itreviews.co.uk/hardware/h575.htm)

can you order the toshiba on line ? how much is the extra 256MB ram?

oh and thanks btw

Edit :
On closer examination
The Tosh has a 14.1 " TFT Colour Display the Dell a 15" that and the extra RAM edges it for the Dell I think

Wertz

Stay clear of celerons if it's for heavy CPU work, also note the dell has no dedicated gfx card. Dell screen is better than Toshiba IMO.
Dell's 4200rpm HDD is slow.
512 stick in one bank is good feature, though I'd see if there is an SXGA screen version...it's worth the extra.

There are better deals to be had on outlet.
Frankly that harvey norman deal is no great shakes

Bard

You probably can order the Tosh online, but not at that price and not from Harvey Norman. From them, it has to be bought in-store.

Their technician will install an extra 256Mb RAM there and then in the store for an extra €79.99.

And - Yes, the Dell slightly has the edge over the Tosh with the marginally bigger screen and the extra RAM - and the fact that it (apparently) has a DVD burner whereas the Tosh doesn't, but I personally wouldn't buy Dell, and to be honest I'd personally spend a lot more money (at least €1000 more) than that on a laptop if I was buying one.

zod

Bard wrote:

and to be honest I'd personally spend a lot more money (at least €1000 more) than that on a laptop if I was buying one.

I don't have your kinda money it seems. For anyone else who has to slum it with me - the original question stands

Mothman

I got 510m from outlet store some weeks back for less than €780 inc VAT & del.

Spec is same as in first post except

PM 1.4 GHz
Ram 2 x 256Mb
HDD 40GB (5400RPM)

USB Optical mouse included but not mentioned under system details

Delivery was free!