Question:
advice for the clueless?
so I get like 4% discount from Dell...
General Questions
1) What is your budget? up to about $1200, if shipping is free, which Dell ahs right now
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
any of the below
b. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen
c. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen
d. Desktop Replacement; 17"+ screen
3) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
mostly standard word processing, a small business's excel files for bookkeeping, and lame internet stuff that clueless non-techy people do. we have a dvd video camera and it might be fun to edit what we shoot.
4) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
it will travel from business to home about once a week.
5) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
only spider solitaire!
6) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
like I said, i get the dell discount and have dell now and am predisposed. much as i love the idea of mac, work has pc (also dell) so i think i'm committed to that.
7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
need? maybe 2?
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
nope
9) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in?
usa, baby
Screen Specifics
10) Would you prefer standard or widescreen?
either--would trade screen size for a longer-lasting (ie, obsolete less soon) machine
11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
i'm too ignorant to know!
Standard
a. XGA -1024x768 - Large and easy to read text + graphics icons, but you fit less stuff on the screen.
b. SXGA - 1400x1050 - Compromise resolution between XGA and UXGA.
c. UXGA - 1600x1200 - Very small text and graphics icons, you can fit lots of stuff on the screen.
Widescreen
d. WXGA or WXGA+ - 1280x768/800 or 1440x900; Wider viewing version of XGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
e. WSXGA+ - 1680x1050; Wider viewing version of SXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
f. WUXGA - 1920x1200; Wider viewing version of UXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
either, no pref.
Build Quality and Design
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
sorta?
14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?
buying this week and want it to last as long as possible--ie, make it through the next generation of new windows software or whatever.
Notebook Components
15) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 120GB?
please, you tell me!
16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD-ROM, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-RW drive?
again, too uniformed to understand the question. our current desktop can't burn cds, which sucks, so i'd like to that, maybe edit dvds we make with our video camera or make a cd photo album. nothing crazy.
Answer:
Re: advice for the clueless?
Sweetie, did you read the FAQ/please read before posting entry? It gives explanations as to screen types. Not that it really matters, you'll probably be fine with a basic cheap laptop. I'll let someone else recommend, though.
While Macs are nice, they probably wouldn't be worth it for you, if you only use your computer for basic needs and minor editing.
Answer:
Re: advice for the clueless?
Consider the Dell Inspiron e1505 (which has a 15.4-inch screen) or e1405 (14.1-inch). They can be configured within your budget. :)
C.
Answer:
Re: advice for the clueless?
for better durability and better customer support, i would go with the dell d620.
Answer:
Re: advice for the clueless?
yeah, i did read the FAQs and honestly, I'm not that big an idiot day-to-day but in this field my PhD doesn't help me much (hence my screen name); I was still unsure enough that I wanted to have people who knew more offer some advice on screens, etc. So thanks to those of you who replied to me--I had been looking at the 1405/1505 option. But a little knowledge is a dangerous thing and I don't trust my own judgments.