That bloody Dell laptop now £292 (as low as £279!!)-EDITED FIRST POST

MVC

Rant alert.....The physically smaller, often slower hard drives, shared graphics memory and slower chipsets fitted to laptops mean that they can sometimes suffer more from poor performance than desktops. It's harder & more expensive to upgrade laptops too - some bits just aren't upgradable at all!

When Windows runs out of physical memory (fast) it must use the hard drive (slow) for temporary storage - this storage area is called the "swap file".

Adding extra memory reduces the need for Windows to use the "swap file" and as a result provides quite a healthy boost in the overall performance of a laptop or desktop computer (Windows XP especially).

Before upgrading you need to identify how much memory you have already, the correct type of RAM (Random Access Memory), the correct variant (DDR/DDR2) the speed (266/333/400/533).

A new entry level Dell laptop might have one 256MB (the amount of RAM) DDR2 SODIMM (the type) 400 (the speed - higher = faster).

There are usually two memory slots in laptops. If you are lucky there will be one free for upgrades. If both are used up (say 2 x 128MB making 256MB) you will new to decide wether to replace one or both pieces depending on how much RAM you want in total & how much you want to spend.

In my opinion 512MB should be the minimum and 1GB (1024MB) comfortable amount for the average bod who plays games, does a bit on office & edits/messes with photos.

Some computers (not laptops yet AFAIK) benefit from memory interleaving - a kind of juggling act to share the computing load - only then is it critical to have matched pairs installed.

Hope this helps.

icandy

Looks like this offer is back on at £292........N04131a.

monkeyspanner

Offers from 6 April Prices are based on 90day collect and return.
Free Shipping on codes
N04131 £327.83
N04131A £292.58
N04131B £410.08
N04132 £504.08
N04135B £339.00
N04136 £439.00
N04137 £419.01
N04137A £539.00

Free double memory on codes
N04131B
N04132

Free 725 printer on
N04137
N04137A

Worst Deal N03135 £379.00 No deals on this code and more expensive than N04135B which is the same spec but has wide screen.

Best Deals N04137 £419.01 / N04136 £439.00

N04137
Celeron M 380 1.6Ghz
512MB RAM
60GB HD
15.4 Wide Screen
8x DVD RW
WIFI
Free 725 Printer

N03136
Pentium M 745A 1.8GHz
512MB RAM
40GB HD
15.4 Wide Screen
8x DVD RW
WIFI


None of the above are as good as three weeks ago.

monkeyspanner

Roger_Rampant wrote:

Actually a 40Gb HD will be enough for me, I just want to be able to play my email games down in the lounge, all the photos, videos etc will be stored on the desktop PC

I would need the 6 cell battery though, so it comes out at £480.20 delivered

Roger price is down on N04136 to £439.00 plus £11.75 for your battery upgrade today would save you about £30.

AndyHeath

Does anyone what know the cheapest price for a 630m out there now is?

1jim

Code NO4131 is now £279, free delivery, wifi,
Intel® Celeron® M Processor 370 (1.50 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 400 MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition, SP2
256MB 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM (1x256)
40GB (5.400rpm) Hard Drive
Internal 56K v.92 Capable Fax Modem
24xCDRW/8x DVD Combo Drive With Software (No Media)
Dell™ Wireless 1370 802.11b/g Mini PCI Card
Microsoft® Works 7.0
90-Day Collect and Return service
4 Cell 29Whr Primary Battery
15.4inch WXGA (1280x800) LCD Panel

Hope this helps someone, I got one of these at £299 and love it, good build quality, has been reliable and am very impressed
jim

1jim

ignore me, I dont hink that price includes vat
sorry
Jim

djjen

im going to get the offer in the paper today code no4135b

think i will add more gb to it but i just wanted to ask - will i be okay to add my wireless card into it to get wireless and have everything i need (i won't get it home and then i have to buy more stuff to it, sorry im not good at computers) i'm guessing it will be quick enough for what i want it to do (play music, dvd's etc)

as long as it supports my ipod i'll be happy

jen

monkeyspanner

AndyHeath wrote:

Does anyone what know the cheapest price for a 630m out there now is?

Best deal I can find for 630M is e-value code 1-N04631 £461.83
Pentium M740 1.73GHz
512MB RAM
40GB HD
14.1 Screen
WIFI
COMBO 24xCD RW/8x DVD R
Free 924 Printer
1 Year collect and return

upgrade to 8x DVD RW for £47
upgrade to 9 cell Battery for £11.75
upgrade to True Brite screen for £11.75
upgrade WIFI card for £11.75

monkeyspanner

djjen wrote:

im going to get the offer in the paper today code no4135b

think i will add more gb to it but i just wanted to ask - will i be okay to add my wireless card into it to get wireless and have everything i need (i won't get it home and then i have to buy more stuff to it, sorry im not good at computers) i'm guessing it will be quick enough for what i want it to do (play music, dvd's etc)

as long as it supports my ipod i'll be happy

jen

This deal code already includes a mini PCI WIFI card. Its in the fine print right at the end of the spec.