SYSTEM COLOR: Jet Black
PROCESSOR: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo P8600 (2.40GHz/1066Mhz FSB/3MB cache)
Nice, sounds like a beefy processor.
OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Service Pack 1 64 Bit
64-bit, eh? Make sure you don't have any essential applications that won't play nice with a 64-bit OS.
OFFICE SOFTWARE: Microsoft® Works 9
Can you skip this and save a few bucks, or is MS Works free?
WARRANTY AND SERVICE: 1Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis
I strongly encourage you to get a better warranty with a Dell product. I'm rather fond of my new Studio 1737, but I only have it (and not a Inspiron E1705 with busted hardware) because I have the 4-year warranty plan.
Granted, I received my notebook as a graduation gift in 2006 and selected the longer and more extensive warranty because it pushed the price past the point where I could use a $750 coupon code.
Remember those "Dude, you're getting a Dell?" Now I can't think of that phrase without adding, "Make sure you've got a solid warranty on that thing."
HD DISPLAY: Glossy widescreen 17.0 inch display (1440x900)
I have mixed feelings on glossy v. standard displays, but you likely won't notice the difference in most settings. Unless you're going to spend a lot of time working outside, this shouldn't be an issue.
Upgrading to the super-fancy display (I believe the native resolution is 1920x1200) probably isn't worth the added cost or additional video horsepower you'll need to run games in that resolution. My notebook runs 1440x900 and it's ideal. I can read text in everyday programs (Outlook, Firefox, the operating system itself) just fine and games look great.
MEMORY: 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz
Sounds nice.
HARD DRIVE: Size: 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
Upgrading to a 7200RPM option is likely going to cost big bucks. A 5400RPM should be fine.
VIDEO CARD: 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 edit
That's the same card I have. I strongly recommend not using the stock drivers Dell provides. Instead, download the official ATI drivers for the Radeon HD 3650 desktop card (available
here) and modify them using
Mobility Modder.
OPTICAL DRIVE: 8X Slot Load CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
Aye, that's standard.
BATTERY OPTIONS: 56 Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)
Stop! Get the 85Whr 9-cell battery instead.
I also recommend dropping the cash for a backup battery as well, especially if you plan to use the laptop away from power sources for extended periods of time.
WIRELESS CARDS: Intel®WiFi Link 5100 802.11agn Half Mini-Card
Aye, good stuff. I have the same in my notebook.
BLUETOOTH: Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Internal (2.1)
How much extra does the Bluetooth cost? I wouldn't think the average user would make use of this feature very often, but you might have specific applications (Bluetooth headset, Bluetooth wireless mouse, syncing a phone with Bluetooth compatibility, syncing a Wii Remote to your computer, etc.) that you want to use it for.
I don't have it on my notebook and I don't have any practical application for it. When I want to download to upload from my phone, I just plug in the data cable I bought on eBay for about $6.
INTEGRATED WEBCAM: Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
Cool feature, but, again, not something you'd use everyday. I think it's either very cheap or free, though, so you might as well keep it.
SOUND OPTIONS: High Definition Audio 2.0
Fair warning: The speakers on the Studio series are
crap. They're not just bad. They're not just terrible. They are
crap. They are, without a doubt, the worst speakers I have ever heard in my life. They sound like a cheap earbud with the volume maxed out. No lie.
If you're serious about sound and don't plan on using external speakers, I would recommend scrapping your plan to buy a Dell and look at an HP or IBM model instead. No matter what options you select on your notebook, the speakers are always going to suck.
I'll put it in bold, in case anyone considering purchasing a Dell Studio notebook is just skimming this article:
The built-in speakers on the Dell Studio notebook line are the worst speakers ever made.
Now if you plan to use earbuds or speakers at all times, then the sound is great.
Also remember that the onboard HD audio is software-based, not hardware-based. This means that your CPU will take a hit when it comes to games with high-quality sound (e.g. Team Fortress 2).
The chip Dell uses for onboard audio is also cheap; drivers are only available for Dell, so they are not updated frequently.
If you're serious about sound and plan on using external speakers, then consider shelling out the bucks for a higher-end audio option (assuming there is one). I didn't have a choice when it came to audio, since my Studio 1737 was a replacement for a busted Inspiron E1705.
KEYBOARD: Back-lit Keyboard
Cool feature, but not practical for everyday use unless you do a lot of typing in the dark (or spend a lot of time at LAN parties).
FINGER PRINT READER: Integrated Finger Print Reader
This isn't very practical, either, but it's so cool that I'd shell out the extra bucks to add it on if I were customizing a notebook today.
That's a pretty good price, but remember that that price tag will quickly increase if you select a better warranty (which I strongly advise you do).
You might want to scale back the processor (which looks like a high-end option) and axe some of the less practical options (e.g. Bluetooh, back-lit keyboard, fingerprint reader). That should help save a few dollars to put toward the warranty.
Honestly, if I were shopping notebook computers today, I wouldn't buy a Dell. I am fond of my Studio 1737 and it's a testament to Dell support that they built a new notebook for me when my old one didn't work.
The sticking point I have with Dell is that my old notebook
should have worked. There shouldn't have been any
need to replace it. Before Dell replaced my Inspiron, I had several problems with the hardware.
I don't think you're going to get a native English speaker when you call tech support for any notebook company unless you pay extra for it--and that stinks. So maybe Dell support is no worse than HP's or IBM's. I don't know. But after some of the very frustrating experiences I've had with Dell support, I'm willing to give HP or IBM a try.
To be fair, most of the frustration I faced was trying to keep my Inspiron E1705 in working order. Dell seems to have made a number of improvements with the Studio line (with the notable exception of moving from rather good internal speakers to the most crapulent internal speakers ever made), so maybe you wouldn't have to tear your hair out trying to get support for your notebook. It's hard to predict.
Other notes: If you have a desk for your laptop, but also take it out of your home even semi-frequently, I would recommend purchasing an extra AC adapter.
Keep in mind that you'll also need to spend some dollars on a notebook bag/case for carrying your notebook, as well as a wireless mouse (I recommend the
Logitech v450 Nano; my wife has one and thinks it's great) and a surge protector (I recommend the
APC Notebook Surge Protector).
) at a mid-level performance, like I said, I don't need the best. I've done some research about what goes into a computer (RAM, Processor, Hard Drive, etc.) and what they do so I actually know what you guys will be talking about. I have a pretty good sense of what I want.. I think but I have a few questions:
problem solved
. I'm pretty set on the 2.4 processor, and it's not that much more from a 2.0.