What laptop should I buy ?

JELL_2

I have been given the opportunity to purchase 1 of the laptops below

Dell Entertainment Notebook Inspiron 600 Dell Entertainment Notebook - 6000
Windows XP Home Edition / DVD & CD-RW Combo drive / 16 bit stereo with built-in speakers / 15.4in TFT WXGA, 1280x800 / 10/100BT wired network & 802.11b/g wireless network / 512MB Dual Channel DDR2 400Mhz / Intel® Pentium® M 730, 1.6GHz, 2MB L2, 533MHz FSB / 80GB IDE (5400rpm) /
Integrated Graphics Card / SD Card Reader

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Toshiba Entertainment Notebook - Satellite M30X-154
16 bit stereo with built-in speakers / Hard Disk 60GB / DVD SuperMulti (±R/±RW/-RAM) / Intel Pentium M 725 1.6GHz, 2MB L2, 400MHz FSB / 512MB DDR RAM / ATI ® Mobility Radeon® 9700 with 64MB dedicated video memory / 10/100BT wired network & 802.11b/g wireless network / 86 keys with 11 hot keys / Screen Resolution: 1280x800 / 6 in 1 card reader

They are both exactly the same price
Does anyone have any opinions what one is the best. I will be using it for storing digital photos on and word processing. I do not intend connecting it to the internet

What Is the Toshiba DVD SuperMulti, is it a CD re-writer or a DVD re-writer ?

Rafter

Look like fairly similar machines - same processor for example.

Dell has the larger hard drive, Toshiba may have the edge for graphics and having the 6 in one reader may be useful if your digital camera doesn't use SD.

Sorry - can't answer the question for the DVD supermulti.

Both machines are very overspecified if all you want is a word processor and photo store but presume you are getting a good deal on price.

Both have fairly good reputation for reliability etc.

If it were my choice, I'd go for the Dell with the larger hard drive or the one that looks the best!!!!

-TangleFoot-

JELL wrote:

DVD SuperMulti (±R/±RW/-RAM)

That is most certainly a DVD-ReWriter!

As for the rest, most of the pertinent points have already been covered. Whilst the Dell appears to have a slightly better processor and a greater capacity hard-disk drive, the Toshiba contains the more powerful graphics processor, 6-in-1 memory-card reader, and of course that DVD-ReWriter. The Dell's combo drive is just a CD-ReWriter and DVD reader.

Either one will suffice, so all it comes down to is: do you want more hard-disk space, or those handy extras?

£$&*"($£&(

I agree it's a bit overspecified but if it's the same price get the Toshiba with DVD writer and seperate graphics card. I've heard complaints about most manufacturers but can't remember reading anything too bad about Toshiba.

Genghis

Personally, I'd choose the Dell.

The HDD on my laptop failed once after 3 years of very heavy usage (I used it as a server). I sent it back to Dell (under Extended warranty) and within 3 days they'd sent it back with a brand new HDD. :beer:

I'm not sure if Toshiba still do this, but I've come across Toshiba errors in the past which can only be fixed by a fully qualified Toshiba technician.. $$$

Also worth noting is the amount of organisations that rely on Dell as their preferred hardware.. a large amount of banks and universities can't be wrong