Tami,
You've provided excellent, detailed information about your requirements. Gaming preference, screen
preference, amount of photos and music on your current laptop - this makes it a lot easier to offer
advice. I think you'll get varying opinions here and that's good. Take it all in and make your own
decision.
Here's my two cents worth. I do this quite a lot - helping clients buy their new computers,
installing all the necessary software, transferring their personal files and e-mails, contacts etc.
and explaining the joys of Windows 7. This is the fun part of my work. I've been doing it for quite
a few years and I've tried most of the major brands. But I have to admit that Dell is still my
favourite. Which comes in handy since you're looking for a new Dell.
I used to do this primarily with desktop computers but the trend has shifted heavily towards
laptops. Prices have been dropping in the past years and the hardware (and quality) you can get now
for $500 is is mind-boggling. In fact, I'm in the process of buying a new Dell Inspiron laptop for
somebody who bought their last one in 2007, like you. I just mailed her that in computer terms
(looking coldly at the hardware only and without wishing to offend) - her laptop is relatively
ancient. This sounds ridiculous but believe me, there's a 'huge' difference between a 2007 laptop
and a 2011 laptop. The current second generation Intel Core processors, 4 GB DDR3 memory, large
capacity hard drives, graphics, Windows 7 etc. are something else. It's comparing apples and
oranges. Current laptops are powerful machines.
You asked about key points. In hardware terms, you should be looking at:
Processor - a second generation Core i3, i5 or i7 processor. These are all horribly fast with
varying degrees of intensity. For most people, the Core i3 coupled with 4 GB of RAM is more than
enough. You can have a large number of programs open simultaneously and you won't notice any
difference in performance. If you want lightning speed, go for a Core i5. And Core i7, well it
doesn't come into the equation for me at least. Just far too expensive and a normal person will
never notice the difference in speed between Core i5 and Core i7.
Having said all that, I do notice a difference in performance between the Core i3 and the Core i5.
Core i5 really is something special. But it's all relative.
Memory - It's all DDR3 these days - extremely fast. To enjoy the 64 bit version of Windows 7 to the
full, you'll need at least 4 GB.
Graphics - if you don't play games, standard Intel integrated video is fine. You can play most
normal games with this, just not intensive, fast, complex games. But that isn't your thing anyway.
But if you want even more power and higher performance scores, go for a separate 512 MB or 1 GB
video card.
Hard drive - Anything from 500 GB and up would suit your requirements I think.
Most laptops these days have a webcam and Bluetooth.
Screen - you want it to be mobile but not too small. I'd go for the standard 15 inch screen. 13 inch
Dells are cute and powerful, but hard on the eyes.
Operating system - Windows 7, 64 bit is now the standard. Dell Vostro is the only one that gives the
choice of 32 bit, but you're limiting yourself to less than 4 GB of memory. With 64 bit, you can
expand your memory later if necessary.
Model - you mentioned the XPS 15. I'd recommend the Inspiron 15R series. If I look at the two
models, you'd pay $400 less for roughly the same hardware in an Inspiron 15R. $600 as opposed to
$1000. Do you really need BluRay in there?
http://www.dell.com/us/p/laptops?~ck=mn#!facets=55846~0~5930680&p=1
The Inspiron 15R above for $600 has a mouth-watering combination of a second generation Core i3
processor (much faster the the original Core i3), 6 (!) GB of DDR3 memory, and a 640 GB hard drive.
This is one lean mean machine that would fulfil all your requirements and more. To be honest, you'd
also be very happy with the $500 version - Core i3, 3 GB of memory and a 320 GB hard drive but you
get an awful lot more for the extra $100 in this case. It has a standard 15 inch screen, Intel HD
graphics, webcam, Bluetooth, DVD burner and can generally do everything but make the tea.
http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-15r-n5110/pd
Hope this helps,
Alan
----- Original Message -----
From: "tami.mckay" <tamilmckay@gmail.com>
To: <simplycomputers2@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 4:44 PM
Subject: [Simply Computers] Considering a new laptop - please advise
>I am toying with replacing my Dell XPS M1330 that I purchased in 2007. I would so appreciate some
>advice on what key things to look for as I'm not very savvy in this area. This is a lot of
>information - thank you for taking the time to read it all.
>
> My laptop is actually working well with only a couple of minor issues, so practically, I should
> probably hold on to it. However, I want to move from having a desktop and a laptop to having only
> a laptop and that's not possible with this one. Presently I have some things on my desktop, most
> data stored on an external hard drive and some things stored on my laptop. I hate the confusion
> and lack of access if I'm out of the house. I would much prefer to have everything on my laptop
> and use my external hard drive for back-up, not storage.
>
> I am happy with my Dell and therefore am looking for another Dell.
>
> I am a 36 year old that as returned to school - I expect to be in school and internship mode for
> approximately the next 3 years.
>
> I have zero interest in gaming, only occasionally watch a movie on my laptop, listen to music on
> it sometimes but it's not an important feature to me.
>
> Webcam is nice for periodic skype, but I don't need the top of the line webcam.
>
> The way I work is almost always to simultaneously be running a few things at once. I almost always
> have many tabs open in IE or Firefox, MS Outlook open, Word and/or Excel open, and it's common to
> also have some other program open all at the same time. It's just how my life/brain work, so it's
> very important to me to have a laptop that can handle that and still run quickly and efficiently.
> (This is the processor that handles this, correct?)
>
> I seem to always think I'm choosing enough storage space but a couple years into owning a computer
> I regret I didn't get more. I'd like to maximize this. It appears Dell's maximum for the X15 I've
> been looking at is 750 GB. I have 140 now but it's not enough. 750 seems like enough now, but I'm
> not sure. Because I usually hit the library, coffee shops, etc. to study, I really don't want to
> have to carry around an external drive in addition to all the books/binders/laptop or I'd already
> be doing that with my present laptop. Anyone have opinions on this topic?
>
> My iTunes is only 44 GB right now, and although I may download more from my husbands in the near
> future, I am not likely to end up with a massive collection of music.
>
> I do like to take pictures and right now I have roughly 30 GB in photos and with 3 young children
> this will definitely grow. I also need to run photo software such as what I have right now - MS
> Digital Image Suite.
>
> A medium sized screen is ok. I do like the more compact size of my current 13" laptop, although
> sometimes I wish I could see more on the screen at once without making it tiny.
>
> Thank you for taking the time to offer any thoughts you might have. I appreciate having this
> outlet to ask more knowledgeable people than myself.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
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>
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