Laptop decisions

Del Lardo · 09-10-2007, 18:06

After a year of bitching my boss has agreed to replace my laptop as it's not fit for my job due to the pathetic 512mb RAM and woeful 15" 1024x768 screen. Not the best when you need to run multiple applications and do side by side debug comparrisons.

The two choices are (and these are the only choices and they cannot be upgraded/modified)

Dell D630
Intel Core Duo T7100 (1,8GHz)
1,0GB DDR2 SDRAM
Hard disk 80GB
8x DVD-RW D+/- Drive
14.1" 1440x900 -- WXGA LCD
2,5 Kg
Microsoft Windows XP PRO
Dell Wireless 1390
802,11g (54Mbps)
10/100/1000 Ethernet-LAN
56K internal modem
Bluetooth
Additional Battery (Media bay)
No Floppy
3Y Next Business Day International ON-site warranty

Dell D830
Intel Core Duo T7300 (2,0GHz)
2,0GB DDR2 SDRAM
Hard disk 80GB
8x DVD-RW D+/- Drive
15.4" 1920x1200 -- WXGA LCD
3 Kg
Microsoft Windows XP PRO
Dell Wireless 1390
802,11g (54Mbps)
10/100/1000 Ethernet-LAN
56K internal modem
Additional Battery (Media bay))
No Floppy
3Y Next Business Day International ON-site warranty

Now I like the fact that the D630 is smaller and lighter and the screen resolution is fantastic compared to what I currently have but I am tending towards the D830, nearly 4 times the screen space compared to what I have now and the extra memory would be useful when running virtual servers.

Comments welcome.

LeperousDust · 09-10-2007, 18:11

Is the laptop used in a portable environment when using lots of applications, if not how about just spending extra on a monitor? Could be a better investment a big monitor to hook up to your desk...

Del Lardo · 09-10-2007, 18:19

I already have a docking station and a 19" LCD that came with my crap laptop a year ago. They've never seen the outside of their boxes.

I spend 50%+ of my time travelling outside of the UK and when I'm working at home I prefer to lounge in front of the TV, lie in bed or sit in the garden. Obviously all locations involve me working naked

Del Lardo · 09-10-2007, 18:29

On a side note does anyone know if I can get user names and passwords for a webpage out of IE6?

Have account details that gives me free wifi in Portugal but IE has starred the password out and I don't have it written down.

karbon · 09-10-2007, 20:32

i have a 620 here which i love, the 630 is almost identical.

i'm not much a fan on the weight difference on the 830 though.

what do you do with the systems? i know you say there is no other choice but if you haven't already it might be an idea to look at the Vostro range that dell do. it's aimed at the small buisness market but for some reason they are comming in ALOT cheaper than the latitues and inspirons.

Mark · 09-10-2007, 21:02

My ex-boss (still speak to him sometimes) lugged around an XPS M1700, which is most definitely not thin and light, but I can fully appreciate as an occasional traveller myself why you might want your laptop to be on a diet.

However, if you're virtualising, then I'd honestly consider 2GB a must-have now. though 1GB is useable unless you're running Vista (guest or host).

Difficult decision.

Aftermarket upgrades on the RAM are easy, so if your boss is prepared to consider that as a future option then that might make the choice easier.

Daz · 10-10-2007, 12:13

I have an 820 (no difference to the 30) and I love it, but I dont need that much portability really. I opted to stay away from 1920x1200, I've seen it on the 15.4 screen and it's just too small, even for my tastes, and I love high resolution screens. I just couldn't sit and work in front of it for any great length of time. 1680x1050 (or there abouts) is spot on imo.

Though spec wise personally if I was buying a laptop I wouldn't get anything less than the specs of the 830. That 630 is too weak to be a reasonable work machine imo.

Are the HDD's 7200rpm? I'd push for it if not, makes a big difference.

Del Lardo · 10-10-2007, 12:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by karbon

i have a 620 here which i love, the 630 is almost identical.

i'm not much a fan on the weight difference on the 830 though.

what do you do with the systems? i know you say there is no other choice but if you haven't already it might be an idea to look at the Vostro range that dell do. it's aimed at the small buisness market but for some reason they are comming in ALOT cheaper than the latitues and inspirons.

The weight difference is what's bothering me slightly. The 830 is only marginally heavier than the 520 I have at the moment but the 630 is noticeably lighter which appeals. Vostro wouldn't be an option and tbh the price doesn't really bother me as it looks like we get a pretty good deal from Dell already. €930 for the D630 and €1100 for the D830

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

My ex-boss (still speak to him sometimes) lugged around an XPS M1700, which is most definitely not thin and light, but I can fully appreciate as an occasional traveller myself why you might want your laptop to be on a diet.

However, if you're virtualising, then I'd honestly consider 2GB a must-have now. though 1GB is useable unless you're running Vista (guest or host).

Difficult decision.

Aftermarket upgrades on the RAM are easy, so if your boss is prepared to consider that as a future option then that might make the choice easier.

I probably could go for a future RAM upgrade (I'd just expense it and he wouldn't notice) but then I risk incuring the wrath of IT in the future. For some reason they get very upset about that kind of thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daz

I have an 820 (no difference to the 30) and I love it, but I dont need that much portability really. I opted to stay away from 1920x1200, I've seen it on the 15.4 screen and it's just too small, even for my tastes, and I love high resolution screens. I just couldn't sit and work in front of it for any great length of time. 1680x1050 (or there abouts) is spot on imo.

Though spec wise personally if I was buying a laptop I wouldn't get anything less than the specs of the 830. That 630 is too weak to be a reasonable work machine imo.

Are the HDD's 7200rpm? I'd push for it if not, makes a big difference.

I've seen a D830 running at 1920x1200 and I quite liked it though I do like running at stupidly high resolution

My collegues who have it all hate it though none of them would swap laptops with me

No sure if the HDD is 7200 as the spec sheet doesn't say. At 80gb I would hope so but even if it is 5400 there's nowt I can do about it

Del Lardo · 11-10-2007, 13:57

D830 ordered and approved

Del Lardo · 07-11-2007, 17:00

A mere month after laptop was ordered it arrived this morning.

Very impressed so far, 2nd battery means I can expect 6 hours operation and it runs soooooo much quicker than my old machine. Screen is taking some getting used to, 1920x1600 on a 15" widesceen LCD is rather

at first though I'm starting to get used to it. Makes surfing so much easier

09-10-2007, 18:06	#1
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	Laptop decisions After a year of bitching my boss has agreed to replace my laptop as it's not fit for my job due to the pathetic 512mb RAM and woeful 15" 1024x768 screen. Not the best when you need to run multiple applications and do side by side debug comparrisons. The two choices are (and these are the only choices and they cannot be upgraded/modified) Dell D630 Intel Core Duo T7100 (1,8GHz) 1,0GB DDR2 SDRAM Hard disk 80GB 8x DVD-RW D+/- Drive 14.1" 1440x900 -- WXGA LCD 2,5 Kg Microsoft Windows XP PRO Dell Wireless 1390 802,11g (54Mbps) 10/100/1000 Ethernet-LAN 56K internal modem Bluetooth Additional Battery (Media bay) No Floppy 3Y Next Business Day International ON-site warranty Dell D830 Intel Core Duo T7300 (2,0GHz) 2,0GB DDR2 SDRAM Hard disk 80GB 8x DVD-RW D+/- Drive 15.4" 1920x1200 -- WXGA LCD 3 Kg Microsoft Windows XP PRO Dell Wireless 1390 802,11g (54Mbps) 10/100/1000 Ethernet-LAN 56K internal modem Additional Battery (Media bay)) No Floppy 3Y Next Business Day International ON-site warranty Now I like the fact that the D630 is smaller and lighter and the screen resolution is fantastic compared to what I currently have but I am tending towards the D830, nearly 4 times the screen space compared to what I have now and the extra memory would be useful when running virtual servers. Comments welcome.

09-10-2007, 18:11	#2
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Is the laptop used in a portable environment when using lots of applications, if not how about just spending extra on a monitor? Could be a better investment a big monitor to hook up to your desk... __________________

09-10-2007, 20:32	#5
karbon Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Glasvegas Posts: 475	i have a 620 here which i love, the 630 is almost identical. i'm not much a fan on the weight difference on the 830 though. what do you do with the systems? i know you say there is no other choice but if you haven't already it might be an idea to look at the Vostro range that dell do. it's aimed at the small buisness market but for some reason they are comming in ALOT cheaper than the latitues and inspirons. __________________

10-10-2007, 12:13	#7
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	I have an 820 (no difference to the 30) and I love it, but I dont need that much portability really. I opted to stay away from 1920x1200, I've seen it on the 15.4 screen and it's just too small, even for my tastes, and I love high resolution screens. I just couldn't sit and work in front of it for any great length of time. 1680x1050 (or there abouts) is spot on imo. Though spec wise personally if I was buying a laptop I wouldn't get anything less than the specs of the 830. That 630 is too weak to be a reasonable work machine imo. Are the HDD's 7200rpm? I'd push for it if not, makes a big difference. __________________ apt-get moo

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09-10-2007, 18:19	#3
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	I already have a docking station and a 19" LCD that came with my crap laptop a year ago. They've never seen the outside of their boxes. I spend 50%+ of my time travelling outside of the UK and when I'm working at home I prefer to lounge in front of the TV, lie in bed or sit in the garden. Obviously all locations involve me working naked

09-10-2007, 18:29	#4
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	On a side note does anyone know if I can get user names and passwords for a webpage out of IE6? Have account details that gives me free wifi in Portugal but IE has starred the password out and I don't have it written down.

09-10-2007, 21:02	#6
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	My ex-boss (still speak to him sometimes) lugged around an XPS M1700, which is most definitely not thin and light, but I can fully appreciate as an occasional traveller myself why you might want your laptop to be on a diet. However, if you're virtualising, then I'd honestly consider 2GB a must-have now. though 1GB is useable unless you're running Vista (guest or host). Difficult decision. Aftermarket upgrades on the RAM are easy, so if your boss is prepared to consider that as a future option then that might make the choice easier.

11-10-2007, 13:57	#9
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	D830 ordered and approved

07-11-2007, 17:00	#10
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	A mere month after laptop was ordered it arrived this morning. Very impressed so far, 2nd battery means I can expect 6 hours operation and it runs soooooo much quicker than my old machine. Screen is taking some getting used to, 1920x1600 on a 15" widesceen LCD is rather at first though I'm starting to get used to it. Makes surfing so much easier