Question:
DELL E1405: Like the price and size BUT...
I am not sure about its (built-in) Intel GPA 950 graphic chip option. I like the ATI GPU in E1505 but E1505 is (too) big and heavy....
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General Questions
1) What is your budget?
$1200 (including sale tax and shipping)
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
b. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen
3) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
Web surfing and software development
4) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
Different places
5) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
No video game
6) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
Any brand with good support
7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
3+ hours
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
Fine with Online purchase
9) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in?
Screen Specifics
10) Would you prefer standard or widescreen?
Either
11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
Standard
b. SXGA - 1400x1050 - Compromise resolution between XGA and UXGA.
Widescreen
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?
Build Quality and Design
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?
Notebook Components
15) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 160GB?
60+GB
16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD-ROM, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-RW drive?
CD/DVD
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Answer:
Re: DELL E1405: Like the price and size BUT...
are you looking for alternatives? if so, please answer the faq, so we can better help you.
Answer:
Re: DELL E1405: Like the price and size BUT...
One of the biggest drawbacks on the Inspiron E1405 is the fact that there isn't a dedicated graphics option. However, since in the FAQ you mentioned you are not going to game on it, using it mainly for web surfing and web development, I would say the Intel integrated GMA950 should be able to satisfy your needs.
Also, with your screen resolution choices, most 14.1" Widescreen LCD only tops out to WXGA+ (1440x900), and with your budget of US$1200 or less, I doubt you can do any better than the standard WXGA (1280x800) resolution. In order to go upto 1920x1200 (WUXGA) you'll have to look at 15.4" or 17" models which will increase the size and weight by quite a fair bit.
With that being said, here are some of my suggestions for a 14.1" or smaller thin-and-light models with dedicated graphics chipset:
- Not strictly a brand everyone knows about, as they don't exactly promote their own-brand creation much (they are more the OEM/ODM which makes Dells, HP/Compaqs, Lenovos, you name it). It's a very good 14.1" WXGA model with a powerful NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600 256MB graphics. Various places sells this under their own branding. AGear notebook for example, has a configuration which sells for US$1069 at the moment, which comes with a CD T2300 (1.66GHz) CPU, 512MB RAM, 40GB HDD, CD/DVD Combo drive.
HP Compaq Presario V3000Z or Pavillion dv2000z series
- Apart from the model difference (one under the Compaq Presario and one under the HP Pavillion brand), they are essentially the same underneath running AMD Sempron, Turion or Turion X2 processors, 14.1" WXGA LCD with the NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 graphics. Starts from US$449 for the Presario and US$569 for the Pavillion.
HP Pavillion dv2000t series
- Similar to the above 2, but using Intel processors (configurable to the Core 2 Duo), 14.1" WXGA LCD with the NVIDIA GeForce Go 7200 128MB graphics, starts from US$579. Even if you load it up to a C2D T5600 (1.83GHz) CPU, 1GB RAM, 80GB HDD, NVIDIA graphics, DVD+/-RW writer, it rings up to US$974 at the moment. Pretty good deal if you ask me.
Lenovo IBM Thinkpad T60
- It's a Lenovo/IBM so you know its well built and high quality. Starts from US$1044. A configuration with a C2D T5500 (1.66GHz) CPU, 512MB RAM, 60GB HDD, Mobility Radeon X1300 64MB graphics, 14.1" SXGA+ (1400x1050) LCD, CD/DVD Combo drive should be just within your budget at US$1164. This is the only model I've found so far which would match your screen resolution choice.
Toshiba Satellite M100/M110 series
- 14.1" WXGA model with an ATI Mobility Radeon X1350 128MB graphics, and starting from US$721. A configuration with CD T2250 (1.73GHz) CPU, 1GB RAM, 80GB HDD, ATI graphics, CD/DVD Combo drive comes to US$1010
From the above list, I'd pick the Lenovo IBM Thinkpad T60. Sure, it's a tad pricey and not as well spec'ed out as the others, but, it will easily be the most robust and well built, and provide one of the best warranty support plan (seeing its really a model from a business/professional line while all the rest are more from the consumer line).
Answer:
Re: DELL E1405: Like the price and size BUT...
The Inspiron E1505 is actually not that heavy. If you can stand the E1405, you should be fine with the E1505. They're only an inch larger.
Answer:
Thanks for all the great feedbacks. I heard...
Intel GMA 9150 Chip might not be 'powerful' enough for Windows VISTA (Premium?) OS.
Answer:
Re: DELL E1405: Like the price and size BUT...
I am running Vista Premium RC1 on my notebook at the moment. There is however no Aero option.
Answer:
Re: DELL E1405: Like the price and size BUT...
The Inspiron E1505 is actually not that heavy. If you can stand the E1405, you should be fine with the E1505. They're only an inch larger.
I agree the e1505 is not that heavy