Notebook Experts talk me into which one to keep please.

[GCS]

Picked up 2 laptops and I would like to know which one should I keep:

Background this will be for my wife. She will do mostly web surfing, email, some kiddie stuf (ie 5 & under software), graphics program work (think print shop not photoshop) and light business work ie QuickBooks MS Word, MS Excel etc. and watching DVDs for the kids

My only requirements were DVD ability, 15" screen,


First a Toshiba XS149 **BRAND NEW**
$726 after pricematch and rebate (and could be $675 if they will rering it next week when my gift cards come in the mail) SEE IT HERE

Specs:

Processor brand Intel
Processor type Celeron
Processor speed 1.5GHz
Frontside bus speed 400
Level 2 cache 1MB
Memory
RAM 256MB
RAM expandable to: 2048MB (both slots may be occupied)
Storage/Drives
Hard drive size 60GB (appears to be 4200RPM from Toshiba website)
Type of drive DVD-ROM/CD-RW
Maximum CD/DVD speed 24X
1.44 MB floppy drive External USB floppy disk drive (sold separately)
Graphics and sound
Screen size 15.4
Screen type Widescreen WXGA TFT active-matrix
Maximum screen resolution 1280 x 800
External monitor maximum resolution Unavailable
Video memory Info unavailable
Ports
USB 3 USB 2.0
FireWire 1
Parallel port 0
Serial port 0
Infrared port 0
PC card/expansion slots One type II PC card
Internet/networking
Ethernet Yes
Wireless 802.11g
General features
Pointing device TouchPad
Warranty Parts 12 Months
Warranty Labor 12 Months
Dimensions
Height 1.5 inches
Width 14.4 inches
Depth 10.8 inches
Weight 8.0 lbs

#2 Dell Inspirion 8600 **DELL REFURB** $725 (no rebates)

Dell Inspiron 8600 Notebook: Mobile Pentium? M Processor, 1.4GHz, 15.4 WXGA Display, Internal NIC/Modem/Sound
Microsoft Windows XP Home
256 MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz (2 DIMMs)
40 GB EIDE Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
32 MB ATI Radeon 9000 Video Card
15.4 inch WXGA Notebook Screen
True Mobile Wireless 1400, BroadCom Mini-PCI Card
MOD,CD,24X,TEAC,INSP-D
Software
Software
Dell Support 2.0
Software
MOD,KIT,CDSK,AOL9.0,BUDROM,DAO .01
Software
Microsoft Works Suite
Dell SecurityCenter by McAfee, 90-day introductory offer
Dell Support 2.0 Software
AOL Sofware Documentation
Documentation
MOD,FILLER BOX,INSTALL SHIP
Keyboard on Notebook
9 Cell Battery
65W Adapter

***If I go with the DELL I would HAVE to fork out about $80 for a combo drive/DVD drive as I MUST be able to play DVDs on the laptop so it will add some cost to the machine.


Its a mixed bag as the Toshiba is EXACTLY what I we want/need but the Celeron M is more power hungry than a Pentium M (which the Dell has) and the video is kinda sucky on this one. The Dell is perfect except that there is no COMBO drive and it is a used machine (not a huge deal breaker being used).

Its kind of a tough call either way. I am kinda leaning towards the Toshiba because its all set and ready to go but I think the Dell will be the better machine overall.

Just curious as to what you guys think.

Thanks

Greg

 

[AmigaMan]

I'd go with the Toshiba. Since there is no reason to have a faster machine for the work your wife will be doing, you might as well take the cheaper one. The Dell is a better machine in that it has the faster processor, better video card, and faster HD. But does your wife really need it? I have to remind myself of that whenever I get the urge to upgrade stuff on MY wife's machine.

 

[TuxDave]

I say just get the dell. It's obviously a much more superior system. Even if your wife isn't gonna use the computer for anything intensive, it'll make her life easier to have a zippy little system to minimize any possible frustration.

 

[mdahc]

Originally posted by: AmigaMan
I'd go with the Toshiba. Since there is no reason to have a faster machine for the work your wife will be doing, you might as well take the cheaper one. The Dell is a better machine in that it has the faster processor, better video card, and faster HD. But does your wife really need it? I have to remind myself of that whenever I get the urge to upgrade stuff on MY wife's machine.

I have to agree. Go with the Toshiba. Dell refurbs are pretty much 50/50. I know so many that have ended up with crap (i.e. component after component starts to fail), and I know so many that have had great experiences. Yet, the overriding factor is what your wife really needs, which is certainly not a Pentium M. You might want to get some more memory, though, or at least make sure you uninstall or turn off all of the crap that Toshiba (and all OEM's) preload to run in the background.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Toshiba for sure. the Celeron-M is the P-M's little brother, with respectable performance and batt life. No question
Dell :thumbsdown:

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: mdahc

Originally posted by: AmigaMan
I'd go with the Toshiba. Since there is no reason to have a faster machine for the work your wife will be doing, you might as well take the cheaper one. The Dell is a better machine in that it has the faster processor, better video card, and faster HD. But does your wife really need it? I have to remind myself of that whenever I get the urge to upgrade stuff on MY wife's machine.

I have to agree. Go with the Toshiba. Dell refurbs are pretty much 50/50. I know so many that have ended up with crap (i.e. component after component starts to fail), and I know so many that have had great experiences. Yet, the overriding factor is what your wife really needs, which is certainly not a Pentium M. You might want to get some more memory, though, or at least make sure you uninstall or turn off all of the crap that Toshiba (and all OEM's) preload to run in the background.

I'm one of those people that's had a decent experience with a Dell refurb. I bought a Latitude CSx500 a couple years ago and it's still running strong. That being said, my wife doesn't give a damn about speed. She just cares if the Internet works and if her digital pictures are still there. Don't ever come between a woman and the thousands of pictures she's taken of her friends and family. I've accidentally deleted a couple hundred pictures when I upgraded her old hard drive. The good thing is my hand and I got better acquainted...

 

[EdfromCocoa]

Text I have had a Toshiba (Satelitte 2455-S3001) fro 11/2 years running XP-PRO (SP2) with no problems.

I like Toshiba since it invented the laptop and my model is heavy and ruggedized.

Dell is Ok and most sold since it is a JIT production company.

Laptops get hot but reading in a recent Laptop magazine I found a company called Raindesign.com out of San Francisco that offers a nice heat sink (made of Aluminum) on which the laptop sits at an angle. Battery is always cool as well as the heat sink. Cost me $68. Well worth it, in my opinion, as I feel heat shortens laptop life considerably.

FYI, I work for the federal government in DC and have no financial interests in either Toshiba or Raindesign.Text

 

[Tbirdkid]

keep the toshiba and just upgrade the cpu. thats what i would do.