Re: Choosing a new laptop

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I'll agree with Charles that the Dell 9100 is a very good laptop for
developing. I'm developing in with VS.NET 2003 and have a SQL Server
running. Everything runs nice and smooth.

I have noticed that the battery becomes dislodged easily. I used to carry
the laptop in the trunk of my car (since then I keep it on the passenger
seat) and when I would get to where I was going I would boot up and notice
that the battery would not be charging (ran it off of AC...but always keep
an eye on the battery). I'd have to flip it over and re-set the battery.

The newer laptops from Dell have gone the way of the Centrino, but you can
always try to get a refurbished 9100 through Dell if you don't want to
switch to the Centrino. Although I do hear the Centrino processor runs very
nice.


"Charles Law" <blank@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uXCpmVyeFHA.2736@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Simon
>
> I think you could be right about Dell and only offering Centrino laptops.
I
> don't think they sell the 9100 anymore, and the 9200 is based on a mobile
> processor. This is unfortunate as I don't imagine we are alone in wanting
a
> portable desktop replacement. You are also right about the Centrino and
> wireless thing.
>
> Charles
>
>
> "Simon Verona" <news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:eKdIx1xeFHA.2244@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Charles,
> >
> > Thanks for your input...
> >
> > I think that your comments of P4 v Pentium-M processor backup my
> > suspicions.. My laptop *never* runs on batteries, so a low-power usage
> > processor is no benefit to me whatsoever...
> >
> > Out of interest, unless I'm missing something - all of the laptops Dell
> > make today use a Centrino/Pentium-M processor (I think "Centrino" is a
> > confusing marketing term used by Intel to refer to a motherboard that
has
> > on-board wireless though I could be wrong!!).
> >
> > I will be interested then if anybody has some real world comparisons
> > between AMD and Intel ...
> >
> > Regards
> > Simon
> >
> > "Charles Law" <blank@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > news:ew9V4pxeFHA.3880@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> Hi Simon
> >>
> >> About nine months ago a bought a Dell Inspiron 9100, 3.0GHz Intel P4
with
> >> HT, 512Mb RAM, 60Gb hard disk. I paid an extra £10 to get 11a wireless,
> >> so that it did not suffer from interference from my DECT phone.
> >>
> >> If you are normally near a mains point, then you probably don't care
too
> >> much about battery life, and the desktop P4 is quite thirsty. The M
> >> (Centrino) processor is designed to improve battery life.
> >>
> >> I am very happy with my purchase. It is a little on the heavy side, and
> >> the psu is like a house brick, but I have a nice leather case for £40
and
> >> it is rarely a trial to carry it places.
> >>
> >> The screen is a 17" widescreen so I can get lots on it, which is great
> >> for the VS IDE. I even prefer it to my 21" Sony desktop for some
things.
> >>
> >> The processor and memory help it to fly along. I use similar things to
> >> you and it runs faster than my desktop with the same spec.
> >>
> >> Because you say you want to use it for development I would suggest
going
> >> for the full-blown processor and not a mobile version. I've bought
Dells
> >> for several years now and always been happy. I recommend them to family
> >> and friends and they have had similarly good experiences of service and
> >> reliability.
> >>
> >> HTH
> >>
> >> Charles
> >>
> >>
> >> "Simon Verona" <news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >> news:%23affESxeFHA.688@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>>I know I'm very off topic, but I thought I would ask the question here
as
> >>>I'm sure that there is plenty of relevant advice..
> >>>
> >>> I'm about to purchase a new laptop, and am very unsure of the
> >>> specification to buy.
> >>>
> >>> I'm a vb.net developer, writing applications using a non-sql database
> >>> (called jbase -www.jbase.com). I also use email (outlook) and office
> >>> applications - often with many different apps open at the same time.
> >>>
> >>> Currently I use an HP laptop with an Intel P4 3.06ghz processor, 1gb
> >>> ram, 40gb disk etc...
> >>>
> >>> It is probably time to upgrade this, as it's starting to fall apart (I
> >>> mean literally, I tend to have a habit if dropping my laptop!!)...
> >>>
> >>> I'm confused as to what processor/memory/motherboard combination to
> >>> replace my current machine with... Intel seem to confuse me nowadays
by
> >>> having several different ranges of processors which don't seem easy to
> >>> compare - though they seem to be pushing the Pentium-M processors
which
> >>> I seem to find it difficult to compare with my current processor for
> >>> comparison. Also AMD processors seem very strong, seem to have a
faster
> >>> bus speed etc...
> >>>
> >>> So.,..the question is, what combination would be best for me? Go for
a
> >>> P4, one of the Pentium-M chips, or an AMD processor (in which case
which
> >>> one?)... What about memory??? Does the actual motherboard matter???
> >>> Perhaps there are changes on the horizon at Intel/AMD which may mean I
> >>> could be better off waiting a few months??? Any suggestions as to
> >>> which PC manufacturer I should use (I'm based in the UK)
> >>>
> >>> Anybody got any suggestions/advice.??
> >>>
> >>> Many thanks in advance to anybody who can help.
> >>>
> >>> regards
> >>> Simon
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>


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