Help me decide between 2 notebooks

[Mr N8]

I am looking at the Dell Inspiron 9100 and the Dell Inspiron 8600.

Both will be equiped identically, except for the processor (P4 3.0 on the 9100 and P4-M 1.7 on 8600) and the 8600 comes equiped with wireless onboard. The wireless isn't a big deal, since I already have an 802.11G PC Card.

The big issue is portability vs performance. I take my current notebooks between 9 branches. It is on my desk about 75% of my working time, but the other 25% I'm running out to a branch. The 9100 starts at 8.9 lbs and the 8600 starts at 6.9lbs. The 8600 also is able to use the car / air power adapter.

The reason I'm getting a newer one is that the Sony PCG-GRX500P isn't cutting it for me. There is a horrible amount of slowdown and the 20GB HDD is way too small. The thing that scares me is that my current one has a P4 1.5, and I'm afraid that the 1.7 in the Inspiron 8600 will leave me disappointed.

Anyway, advice is needed. Oh, and if there is an IBM system that compares, please let me know. I can either buy from Dell or Insight.com as this is a business machine.

 

[Abhi]

Dude dude dude....

u had a P4 1.5..... and the 8600 is a Pentium M 1.7.....

Pentium M's have 1 mb L2 cache.... you have to multiply the speed by 1.5 to get comparable performance with p4s.... (at least thats what i hear)

In other words... processor wise... the 1.7 will not leave u wanting....

 

[loup garou]

Personally, I think 6.9lbs is too heavy for a laptop that I would travel with for even a 1/4 of my working time. I'd look for something in the 3-4lb range, such as an x300, d400 or x30, x40, or t40 series.

What do you need the extra horsepower for?

 

[Abhi]

forgot to add...

the p4 in the 9100 is a p4 C. 800 mhz bus. 400 mhz RAM. Performance is gonna be awesome.

If u can carry it... and live with the 2 inchs thickness.... go for it.

IBM will not offer this kind of power at this price....

 

[Mr N8]

Extra HP is for remote desktop, photo / video editing, Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash MX, and our custom software (fianancial institution).

 

[Abhi]

btw... if u plan to carry an optical drive with you... the 8600 is 7.2lbs.
the 9100 is 8.92 lbs with the drive...


also add the brick like charger to that weight .....

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
Extra HP is for remote desktop, photo / video editing, Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash MX, and our custom software (fianancial institution).

Of course I can't comment on the requirements of your custom software, but I run basically the same apps (photoshop, dreamweaver, RD, VNC, plus lots of db development) on my old sony superslim (PIII 850) with no problems. But hey, if you want to buy a big laptop, it's your back, not mine, that suffers!

I admit, a larger screen would be nice at times, though...

 

[Mr N8]

OK,it looks like I may go with the Precision M60. Any comments on that one? Should be lighter and pretty close to the same performance level.

 

[Mr N8]

Hehe....my new Dell rep is great!!!! He got me a 20% discount, and threw in a free Dell laser printer.

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
Hehe....my new Dell rep is great!!!! He got me a 20% discount, and threw in a free Dell laser printer.

SwEeT!!!!!

What did u get.... 8600 or 9100?

 

[Mr N8]

Read above. I got a loaded Precision M60. My rep talked me out of the "brick" models.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
Read above. I got a loaded Precision M60. My rep talked me out of the "brick" models.

I'd still call 7lbs a brick.

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
Read above.

it looks like I may go with the Precision M60

Hardly a confirmation ... thats y i asked...

 

[aakerman]

?
Why go with a Dell M60.. get an IBM T41p or R50p instead ./