Sound and wireless: Dell vs. IBM

[Capedad]

I've kind of narrowed down my search for a laptop for my wife to the Dell I8600 or IBM T41p or R50p.

I have read on here that the IBM sound is low quality. Can anyone attempt to qualify that statement as regards the Dell 8600 as compared to the IBM's I have mentioned? I assume that through headphones it's no difference.

Finally, is the IBM better for accessing wireles in a "hot post/WiFi" environment such as in coffee shops and hotels?

Thanks,

Dave

 

[thuned]

My dell d500 (recent model) has pretty good sound. I don't have an IBM so I can't compare. But for wireless, I know dell is better. My range is about 1.5-2x more than other integrated minipci cards, and about 3x more than pcmcia cards. The range is just awesome, I can pick up wireless across the street. And I often get 3-4 APs in one place in residental areas.

 

[Pennstate]

If you can afford a T41, then you probably own a stereo that is better than even the best laptop speakers. If you are looking for a a laptop to have good sound, then you are looking at the wrong platform. It was not designed to be a stereo.

 

[Capedad]

Pennstate,

That's a fair statement but, still, a tinny sound can be annoying so if the sound is "better" - comparative term - then I want to consider this. Not looking for Bose quality, but if posters have developed an annoyance with the IBM then I'd like to know.

Thanks for the reply, and, BTW, do you agree with the assessment about wireless being better on the Dell? This is a surprise, actually.

Dave

 

[Frightcrawler]

yes, dell has good wireless.
it offers a b/g 802.11 card you can purchase instead of the base centrino configuration.

 

[sciencewhiz]

I can't answer your question about sound specifically, because I haven't tried the speakers on my t40, and haven't used either of the other two. I can however tell you this story:

I was on a trip with a bunch of high school students. Someone else brough a projector and Dell Latitude to watch movies. I don't remember the model, but it was a bigger one and should have had space for half decent speakers (for a laptop). However, the speech was muddled and the sound couldn't be heard more then 10 feet away. I brought out my Thinkpad A21M and plugged it in and there was a night and day difference. You could understand the speech and hear it in the whole room.

 

[Pandaren]

I don't have an IBM so I can't compare. But for wireless, I know dell is better. My range is about 1.5-2x more than other integrated minipci cards

I find this difficult to believe. What IBM machine did you test your Dell against, and what miniPCI cards were they using?

IBM T4x and R50s have WiFi antennae built into the LCD housing. I know the T4x has one antennae mounted on the top horizontal edge of the housing and one on the right vertical edge of the LCD. This is supposed to allow the WiFi system to choose the antenna that gets the best signal.

Sound on the T40 isn't anything great, but most notebook computer speakers are mediocre. I've seen 600ms and D600s and they aren't any better in sound quality (IMO).

 

[ultimatebob]

I guess that it depends on what's more important to you... sound or wireless. The speakers built into IBM's Thinkpads are lame, but the built-in wireless antennas on the T series Thinkpads are better than anything that Dell offers.

 

[Capedad]

Thanks, Mssr. Ultimate......cam you give me an opinion on external speakers hooked up to the IBM or Dell? How's about headphones?

This is one hell of a decision..

Dave

 

[dnuggett]

Originally posted by: Capedad
Thanks, Mssr. Ultimate......cam you give me an opinion on external speakers hooked up to the IBM or Dell? How's about headphones?

This is one hell of a decision..

Dave

As far as using the headphone jack, this will pretty much level the field unless there is any "extra" sound processing capabilities for a given machine that I'm not aware of.

 

[eriqesque]

As for the sound
I have owned Toshiba And fujitsu notebooks and now an IBM T40
and while the sound is still on the tinny side from all of them I have to say
thay the sound is definatley better on the T40 maybe it's due to the sound chip used
sounds awesome pn headphones and external speakers can't say that about the others they
sounded pretty crappy even with the external solutions.