Laptop buying advice needed.

[SkyBum]

Please post your recommendations for an inexpensive laptop. My parents are using an old old crap HP desktop and it's far beyond its expected life. I'd like to buy them a new laptop/notebook but I know very little about the laptop scene.

It will be used primarily for e-mail and storing/printing digital photos, very little else so it does not need high specs. The only firm requirement is that it comes with XP so I can do maintenance tasks for them remotely.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[montag451]

If they are not doing anything that heavy, then any cheapie model [even a celeron] would be ok.

Just find a cheap one from a shop, or get a 2nd hand one.

 

[ssvegeta1010]

Dell Inspiron 2200

$719 with a Celeron M (will run very cool compared to normal Celerons)

If this is too expensive, an Inspiron 1000 is only $599

 

[imported_Lucifer]

The Insirion 600m isn't bad at all. $969 with the Pentium M processor.

 

[fbrdphreak]

I recently found the IBM Used Certified Thinkpad site, some VERY good deals IMO. Thinkpads last forever and the P3 models will still run basic apps VERY well.
Link

 

[halfadder]

Avertec

 

[SkyBum]

Looking in the $500-$600 range, Dell Inspiron 1000 would fit the bill. Toshiba and IBM seem to have no models in that price range.

Keep in mind the system will be for a 75 year old couple who know very little about computers and basically use for email and photo printing or an occasional Word doc. I dont even think they browse the internet at all so obviously a $1000 rig would be way overkill for them.

Thanks for your input.

 

[montag451]

What answer is it you actually want?

 

[SkyBum]

Looks like it's pretty much down to these two models.

Dell Inspiron 1000 $599
Mobile Intel Celeron (2.2Ghz, 256KB Cache, 400MHz FSB)
256 MB DDR SDRAM
Integrated Graphics


or


Dell Inspiron 1200 $599
Intel Celeron M 350 (1.3GHz, 1MB Cache, 400MHz FSB)
256 MB DDR SDRAM
Integrated intel Extreme 2 Graphics


The 1000 is currently being replaced by the 1200 but I notice that the 1000 has 2.2GHz vs 1.3GHz on the 1200. I dont see cache being as important as processor speed considering the type of use this system will see, but I am really clueless how the Celeron M compares to the vanilla Celeron on the 1000.

Can I safely assume that the processor on the 1200 is a better processor despite its slower clock speed than the one on the 1000 model?

Just a bit confused on that issue.......

 

[SkyBum]

^

 

[ssvegeta1010]

The Mobile Celeron, due to its archetecture and the cache, will perform at about the same level in most apps as the 1000's processor.

It will be more than adequate for your parents.

 

[SkyBum]

Thanks 1010, I ended up buying the 1200 for them.

Given that they were the same price, it made little sense to me to buy a model that was being phased out instead of its replacement. I would imagine that either model would exceed their needs by a great deal, but choosing a current model gave me some peace of mind.

thanks for the advice from everyone...