UPDATE! Just bought a Dell Inspiron 600m

[RossMAN]

Here are my two choices.

• Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 WLAN (802.11b, 11Mbps) miniPCI Card
• Dell TrueMobile?1300 WLAN (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) miniPCI Card [add $29 or $1/month1]

I plan on staying with 802.11b and have no immediate plans to upgrade to 802.11g.

1) Which is better and why?

2) I want something internal (no PCMCIA card sticking out), are these both internal?

3) We have the Microsoft MN-500 WAP using it with my Dell TrueMobile 1150 on my Compaq Presario 1500T. I LOVE the WAP/WiFi card combination, I want something comparable but internal.

4) Which is a better chipset?

5) Is there any reason to buy the Dell Latitude D500 over the Inspiron 600m?

Thanks

10/30 Update

Dell Inspiron 600M for $959 after coupons, rebate, eBates and CitiBank CC rewards.

Centrino 1.4GHz, 14.1 SXGA, ATI 32MB (I have no idea what graphics card I just realized, oops!)
512MB RAM
30GB HD
Combo DVD/CD-RW
Windows XP Pro
Dell TrueMobile?1300 WLAN (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) miniPCI Card [add $29]

Thanks everyone for your help, now to reformat and sell my Compaq Presario 1500T.



Ross

 

[firtol88]

Options are good... being able to connect to A,B & G...

there are reasons to get a D600 over a 600m, Latitudes are built better and can be attained without the bloatware...

 

[RossMAN]

Unfortunately there are no current Hot Deals on the Latitude D600 only the D500.

Also the D500 is 256MB RAM, no combo CD-RW/DVD but it is $100 cheaper I think.

 

[Spicedaddy]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Unfortunately there are no current Hot Deals on the Latitude D600 only the D500.

Also the D500 is 256MB RAM, no combo CD-RW/DVD but it is $100 cheaper I think.

D500 also has Intel integrated video... :disgust:

And I'd get the b/g Dell card since the price difference isn't much and 802.11g is 5 times faster.

 

[bastula]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Here are my two choices.
2) I want something internal (no PCMCIA card sticking out), are these both internal?

They are both miniPCI, so both are definitely internal. I would check the
Dell Inspiron - Network Forums for more info about the Dell card.

I could have gotten wireless in my Inspiron 8200, but declined. Later on, I ripped apart a D-Link 520+ PCI card and took the miniPCI card out of it and put it into my laptop. Detected it, and it works perfectly. Approximate cost: $40.

Personally, I would go with the cheaper Intel card. Whenever a new standard comes out that will either take over 802.11g or faster transfer rates, you could always use another miniPCI card.

Hope that helps.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: bastula

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Here are my two choices.
2) I want something internal (no PCMCIA card sticking out), are these both internal?

They are both miniPCI, so both are definitely internal. I would check the
Dell Inspiron - Network Forums for more info about the Dell card.

I could have gotten wireless in my Inspiron 8200, but declined. Later on, I ripped apart a D-Link 520+ PCI card and took the miniPCI card out of it and put it into my laptop. Detected it, and it works perfectly. Approximate cost: $40.

Personally, I would go with the cheaper Intel card. Whenever a new standard comes out that will either take over 802.11g or faster transfer rates, you could always use another miniPCI card.

Hope that helps.

Thanks

 

[dnuggett]

If you will be surfing the next exclusively stay with the b only card, you won't utilize the g's speed.

 

[thuned]

If you don't play 3d games then you might as well go for the d500. Better build quality, less price. I have one. I also noticed that I get slightly more uptime than other pentium-m's. Maybe it's the crappy video card... I get 4 hours with wireless on. 5 with it off.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: thuned
If you don't play 3d games then you might as well go for the d500. Better build quality, less price. I have one. I also noticed that I get slightly more uptime than other pentium-m's. Maybe it's the crappy video card... I get 4 hours with wireless on. 5 with it off.

Yep I'm not a gamer.

I wish I could find a really good indepth comparison of 600m vs D500.

 

[RichieZ]

neither you should get a T40/T41

 

[thuned]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: thuned
If you don't play 3d games then you might as well go for the d500. Better build quality, less price. I have one. I also noticed that I get slightly more uptime than other pentium-m's. Maybe it's the crappy video card... I get 4 hours with wireless on. 5 with it off.

Yep I'm not a gamer.

I wish I could find a really good indepth comparison of 600m vs D500.

Here's what I know:
- The base structure is basically the same
- 600m has blue plastic on the inside and the top looks slightly different (there is a replacable faceplate on the 600m)
- d500 has a "tri-metal" structural support protecting the lcd.
- 600m has multimedia buttons (i think) ie volume (maybe play/pause/stop) while the only button on my d500 is the power button (instead of dedicated buttons, you can hold function-pageup to turn up the volume, etc).
- d500 has latitude docking bay support
- 600m has better graphics.

I have the dell b/g because at the time intel b and dell b/g were the same price. If you don't have a wireless access point already, then you might as well go g. If not, I don't know what to suggest. Depends whether you can go around and find places that have g-ap's. In that case, that might be worth it even if you only have b at home/work.

 

[Frightcrawler]

Originally posted by: RichieZ
neither you should get a T40/T41

i think he'd rather save himself a thousand bucks...

 

[RossMAN]

10/30 Update

Dell Inspiron 600M for $959 after coupons, rebate, eBates and CitiBank CC rewards.

Centrino 1.4GHz, 14.1 SXGA, ATI 32MB (I have no idea what graphics card I just realized, oops!)
512MB RAM
30GB HD
Combo DVD/CD-RW
Windows XP Pro
Dell TrueMobile?1300 WLAN (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) miniPCI Card [add $29]

Thanks everyone for your help, now to reformat and sell my Compaq Presario 1500T.



Ross

 

[SKC]

holy..

I just bought one yesterday, using 10% coupon and rebate.. but mine was ~200 more with less options!!

RossMAN, would you mind telling me how you were able to get it so low? How much is cc reward?

any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[RossMAN]

SKC,

I think we already discussed this via PM but here's what I did:

1) Go to eBay or FW FS/FT forum and purchase two coupon codes, Dell SB 15% off $999 and 10% off entire order. Should cost around $10.
2) CitiBank cc reward is 1%, go to citibankcards.com to apply for the CitiBank Dividend Platinum Select.
3) Make sure to order from Dell SB, check FW Hot Deals forum for specifics.

 

[LuDaCriS66]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
10/30 Update

Dell Inspiron 600M for $959 after coupons, rebate, eBates and CitiBank CC rewards.

Centrino 1.4GHz, 14.1 SXGA, ATI 32MB (I have no idea what graphics card I just realized, oops!)
512MB RAM
30GB HD
Combo DVD/CD-RW
Windows XP Pro
Dell TrueMobile?1300 WLAN (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) miniPCI Card [add $29]

The 600m comes with an ATI 9000 graphics adapter which is a pretty decent one.

Enjoy your new laptop!

 

[RossMAN]

Thanks for the info LuDaCriS66.

The ATI 9000 should be more than sufficient for my web browsing, AIM and e-mail

 

[InlineFive]

I would get the D600 and the Dell TrueMobile 1300 card, with 802.11g emerging it's good to stay on top of the new standards. Lose the Centrino sticker, it doesn't matter anyways.