Dell £339 Laptop 15.4" widescreen, wireless, DVDRW (NOW GONE - that's all folks!)

Roger_Rampant

I'm always ready to complain if something is bad, so it only seems fair to say when something is good, too. Although Dell's customer service is hard work and can leave a lot to be desired, the basic product they are selling does often seem to offer very good value-for-money, as long as you don't go mad with the upgrades

keasden

On the subject of Dells customer care I just thought I'd share my experience from yesterday. My 18 month old desktop had decided to stop working and was just making a loud whirring noise. Rang Dell, got through straight away (although it was the Indian call centre) and after they confirmed I had a 3 year Next Business day warranty talked me through opening the PC and doing a bit of trouble shooting with the memory cards.

Bottom line, I spent an hour on the phone, established that the problem is with the mother board and an engineer is coming to replace it next Tuesday (my choice) but in the meantime the computer is back up and working.

Top marks to Dell and I know where I am going for my next PC/laptop.

Layla

Thanks so much for all the info in this thread. We were just about to buy a much lower spec laptop from Staples for about £30 less than this one and that was with the manager giving us a 20% discount because it was ex-display.

Thought I had better check moneysavingexpert first and on finding this info about the Dell realised it was a much better deal.

Just ordered the N04135B with extra battery life and a mouse from Dell plus the extra 512mb RAM from https://www.lowestonweb.com and am very pleased with what we have ordered for the money.

Benny24

OK hoping a few techies can help me here....

Thinking of buying one of these laptops and obviously with a lappy I want to be able to "go anywhere" in our little two up two down and use the internet, download music, emails etc....so need wireless stuff.

My IP is blueyonder, gone on their website and they have a wireless wizzard run by NETGEAR I selected 54mbphs for the router (presume that wil be ok for coverage in a 2 bed terrace!)
There will be one PC and the laptop running off the system. The wizzard says I should buy from Netgear:

WGR614UK Standard Cable Router £48.41
WG511GE £26.14 Standard Laptop Card £26.14
WG111GE USB Adaptor £32.43

So........(hang in there!!)

I know I need the Router...but do I need the other two items or are they trying to sell me something I don't need, and can I get any of the above (or something better) cheaper elsewhere!

Thank you for reading your thoughts welcome........
signed
Useless teccie!!!

Roger_Rampant

It might be cheaper to buy a "bundle": http://www.broadbandstuff.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=166

Matt`_5

Benny24 wrote:

OK hoping a few techies can help me here....

Thinking of buying one of these laptops and obviously with a lappy I want to be able to "go anywhere" in our little two up two down and use the internet, download music, emails etc....so need wireless stuff.

My IP is blueyonder, gone on their website and they have a wireless wizzard run by NETGEAR I selected 54mbphs for the router (presume that wil be ok for coverage in a 2 bed terrace!)
There will be one PC and the laptop running off the system. The wizzard says I should buy from Netgear:

WGR614UK Standard Cable Router £48.41
WG511GE £26.14 Standard Laptop Card £26.14
WG111GE USB Adaptor £32.43

So........(hang in there!!)

I know I need the Router...but do I need the other two items or are they trying to sell me something I don't need, and can I get any of the above (or something better) cheaper elsewhere!

Thank you for reading your thoughts welcome........
signed
Useless teccie!!!

Well actually all you will need i think, not too sure as i havent done it myself, but i do know a bit about networking, is the router, a laptop card and a CAT5 cable, about £2 rather than a USB Adaptor £32.43

Sid_Harper

Matt` wrote:

Well actually all you will need i think, not too sure as i havent done it myself, but i do know a bit about networking, is the router, a laptop card and a CAT5 cable, about £2 rather than a USB Adaptor £32.43

Why do you need a laptop card when this laptop has wifi built in? (in any case, it has an expresscard slot - so the standard PCMCIA/PCcard design won't fit in there... ExpressCard has yet to become commonplace but it is the next generation standard).

EDIT: that was a rhetorical question - answer is that you don't

Benny24

These are the questions I need answering!!!

Can someone tell me then exactly what I need and The cheapest place I can get them from!!

I am the techno muppett!!! :rolleyes:

So all I need is the router? That right?!

terrierlady

as the worst user of compos on this site, i set my lap top up easy with just a router I got the Belkin one as its easy to set up and even I did it.!!!1

peter_the_piper

If its of any help, I've currently a wireless network setup with an Origo 7210 Wireless/modem/router. The Inspiron 1300 I bought for my daughter, on the last offer, connected automatically to the network once I'd keyed in the encryption key. My only hiccup was setting up my computer so she could use my printer, since sorted.