Question:
Dell 630m vs IBM Z60m
Hi everyone,
Right now I can get one of these laptops at a good price. Initially I was leaning towards the Dell but then I came across a special IBM offer for my university.
Specs:
Dell 630m (equivalent to XPS m140)
Pentium M 1.86 Ghz
GMA 900 graphics
2048 GB RAM
80 GB HD
14.1" Truelife screen
9Cell Battery
1 year warranty
IBM Z60m
Pentium M 1.73 Ghz
Intel Extreme graphics
1024 GR RAM
60 GB HD
15.4" screen
6Cell Batterly
3 year warranty
The IBM's 200 euros more expensive but if I get the extended warranty for the Dell (I'm not sure about that) both laptops would cost the same.
The Dell's got great things going for it: awesome battery life, very good perfomance and a great price (with 1 year warranty... should I get the extended 3 years?).
However I'm not sure about it's quality. Is there really a lot of difference with respect to the IBM? For reference, I frequently use a Toshiba M70 and I consider it to be reasonably well made.
And then there's the IBM's graphics card, which while being integrated too, I think is worse than the dell's (which has Directx 9 support, important for Vista), and I'm not sure about it's battery life either.
So, can any users/owners/testers help me decide? :)
Answer:
Re: Dell 630m vs IBM Z60m
IBM has amazing build quality.
i wouldn't worry about the gfx card, neither is good.
you can run vista just fine without the AERO GUI
Answer:
Re: Dell 630m vs IBM Z60m
Not even close, get the ThinkPad.
Answer:
Re: Dell 630m vs IBM Z60m
In fact, I was thinking... did the Z60 series ever carry the "Intel Extreme" graphics card?
I'm not sure about it but I'd say it had the GMA 900 since the begining, could it be a mistake in the specifications sheet?
The problem is, all the reviews of the Z60m are for top of the range models, mine would have the basic battery and screen, so I still have doubts.
Answer:
Re: Dell 630m vs IBM Z60m
If my memory serves me correctly. Both chipsets will run vista, with less graphics. Neither will be able to use the AeroGlass interface.
Heres what the machines really have going for them.
Z60m: Larger screen, Great build quality, more professional look, best keyboard, better support, levono's webbie offers good standard battery life. Ofcourse thats marketing though.
XPS-140: Smaller, lighter, Smaller Tru-life (glossy) screen ok keyboard, probably cheaper, also avertises decent battery.
I guess it comes down to what your looking to get out of you're notebook. These to are in different categoried so they aren't the best match. Maybe you should peek at the Thinkpad Z60t and T43. Between the two the Z60m generally gets my vote.
Answer:
Re: Dell 630m vs IBM Z60m
If you want reliability the most, then you have a much better chance with the ThinkPad. Dells on the other hand churns out good specs for the same price, probably cheaper and is meant for people who want the beter specs which adds to a slightly improved performance.
Having said that, there is actually no real comparison between the Dell and ThinkPads. In fact I am against using the two words in the same sentense even. The ThinkPad oozes class and the attention to detail, construction quality, durability, support etc are all much better than Dells. Most people who purchase ThinkPads make a compromise on high end specs because as it is ThinkPads are expensive, yet almost every ThinkPad owner will tell you that his next computer will also be a ThinkPad.
But, truly, since the specs of the Dell are better and if you just want to use it in school for a few years, then i think the Dell is a good option. I am not an advocate of integrated graphics and would try to avoid it. I have not heard of the Dell's graphics card, so I have no comment on it.
Answer:
Re: Dell 630m vs IBM Z60m
Unfortunately I've heard that the shop that carries the Z60m offer is not that trustworthy. I think I'll try to get the Dell with extra warranty a bit cheaper on the phone, and I don't succed I'll just wait for another opportunity (hopefully one that's 100% Vista compatible, I like fancy effects :D)