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Your Thoughts on the Dell Inspiron 2200

post #1 of 32
9/3/05 at 2:55am
Thread Starter 
I have a friend who wants to get a laptop for basic use. All they want it email, internet, IM and a bit of photo editing. They only have a low budget, so I was going to order them an i2200.

Does anybody here on NBF have one of these? How is it?

Now I am asking those who actually have this unit, not peoples opinions that are based on reading the specs. I want to know about actually usage. My sister has a 1150 (which I think the 2200 replaces) and its quite good.

The specs I have saved are:

* Celeron M 360 (1.4Ghz)
* 512Mb RAM
* 60Gb HDD
* DVD+/-RW
* 14" XGA Screen
* Windows XP Home
* Office 2003 SBE
* Dell Nylon Carry Case
* 8-cell battery 65Whr

Now, take note that I am in Australia, and that we don't get those HUGE coupons like you USians do
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post #2 of 32
9/3/05 at 3:05am
Looks great, enjoy.
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post #3 of 32
9/3/05 at 6:05am
I know you're looking for actual owners (which, interestingly, are somewhat hard to come by... say anything?), but I'm going to comment anyway. You can't stop me. The 2200 is, for all intents and purposes, strictly a budget machine. I'm not saying that's good or bad; it just is. While the inards of the system look fine, what you get on the outside is, well, cheap. I would recommend instead spending a little more and getting a 600m or 700m. Both of these systems are built far better and will likely last far longer. If there's absolutely no way they're willing to upgrade to one of these systems, the 2200 will likely serve them well. Just remember, you get what you pay for. My advice: look into pricing a minimally equipped 600m or 700m and go that route. I know I'm not a 2200 owner, but I have used one before. Hope this helps.
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post #4 of 32
9/3/05 at 6:32am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
I know you're looking for actual owners (which, interestingly, are somewhat hard to come by... say anything?), but I'm going to comment anyway. You can't stop me.
Well you don't have to be an a$$ about it.

Yes, i do realise that it is a budget machine, and as I stated in my original post she is on a budget. The 600m is no longer available here, and the 700m with Office 2003, NIS2005 and 8 cell battery is far more expensive.

Quote:
I know I'm not a 2200 owner, but I have used one before. Hope this helps.
I do appreciate your thoughts as somebody who has used one of these machines.
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post #5 of 32
9/3/05 at 6:55am
I have used a 2200 and i think that it will server the purpose very well. The screen is very nice for the price (one i used was a 15" one)... much better then other budget systems i have seen and i actually prefered its keyboard over my 6000... had nicer feedback...

For basic use you dont need a super mobile 700m... and the 600m is based on an older platform.

Things to consider thou..... no Svideo out... (a must for me) and the battery doesnt last very long... under 2 hrs.

I think the reason there are not many 2200 owners here is because they users are not generally technoheads... and use it for it basic purpose.... they may come here to diagnose problems... and as there are not many people here would suggest its a very reliable machine... either that or that take it to a store to get it fixed... but i'm purely speculating here.
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post #6 of 32
9/3/05 at 11:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MitchellO
I have a friend who wants to get a laptop for basic use. All they want it email, internet, IM and a bit of photo editing. They only have a low budget, so I was going to order them an i2200.

Does anybody here on NBF have one of these? How is it?

Now I am asking those who actually have this unit, not peoples opinions that are based on reading the specs. I want to know about actually usage. My sister has a 1150 (which I think the 2200 replaces) and its quite good.

The specs I have saved are:

* Celeron M 360 (1.4Ghz)
* 512Mb RAM
* 60Gb HDD
* DVD+/-RW
* 14" XGA Screen
* Windows XP Home
* Office 2003 SBE
* Dell Nylon Carry Case
* 8-cell battery 65Whr

Now, take note that I am in Australia, and that we don't get those HUGE coupons like you USians do
MitchellO,

I had 6 computers in my house. I decided I needed a laptop (second to my beloved Libretto 110CT). I wanted it to be as cheap as possible, so I got 2200 for $600 shipped.


Well, it turned out not to be such a good idea.
-horrible display. If you move just a few, everything turns into negative.
- very poor build quality.
- I turned it on and was greeted by BSOD.
- After I got the second "Could not find a boot device..." on startup, I went to Dell's website, got RMA and 2200 was on it's way back to Malayzia.
Thanks God I didn't even start to do anything with this "laptop".

Decided to give Dell another chance and got 6000D.
Love it.
Got 700m.
Love it.

Make our own conclusion.
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post #7 of 32
9/3/05 at 11:56am
"Never buy the Inspiron 1200 or 2200, these are very weak systems. You can bend the lcd-screen with your little finger, which looks quite scary. The surface scratches very easily and when you lift up the system you can feel the plastic bending. The plastic feels similar to the one camping cutlery is made of."

That's what I read on a dutch forum. The person who told this is a Dell technical support staff member
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post #8 of 32
9/3/05 at 5:18pm
Upgrade the processor to a Pentium M, and you should be fine.
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post #9 of 32
9/3/05 at 6:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freak4Dell
Upgrade the processor to a Pentium M, and you should be fine.
Yeah..and replace hard drive. And add some RAM..

And select another display..Oh, sorry, it is not an option for 2200.
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post #10 of 32
9/3/05 at 8:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheElement
I know you're looking for actual owners (which, interestingly, are somewhat hard to come by... say anything?)
Not trying to be mean here. My point was simply that the lack of many people who own 2200s would indicate that there are problems so significant that the vast majority of people are willing to spend a little more and go with a 700m. Just my opinion here, so take it as you will.
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post #11 of 32
9/3/05 at 11:41pm
Never used it but battery life should be bad since its a celery.
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post #12 of 32
9/4/05 at 12:52am

Dell 2200

Well, I had to join the forum just to reply...

I have bought two 2200's recently, one for my daughter and one for my father. I feel I got a good notebook for the money (that's why I bought the second one) and it will be fine for what your friend wants. It seems like most people on this forum are among the more serious computer users and the 2200 would be too entry level for them so I doubt that you would get too many endorsements. I would recommend the low end Pentium M if your friend could swing that though (I didn't think that it was that much more). Don't expect much in the form of ports or Firewire but it has the basics. The quality does not seem any worse than others in the same price range that I have seen and my daughter's has held up well for the past 5 months (trust me she doesn't take care of her things; that's why I bought the 2200, figuring if she destroyed it, no big loss).

John
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post #13 of 32
9/4/05 at 1:03am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheElement
Not trying to be mean here. My point was simply that the lack of many people who own 2200s would indicate that there are problems so significant that the vast majority of people are willing to spend a little more and go with a 700m. Just my opinion here, so take it as you will.
I don't think that lack of many owners indicate that it is crap, but what John said about this forum being mostly more serious users.

Quote:
I have bought two 2200's recently, one for my daughter and one for my father. I feel I got a good notebook for the money (that's why I bought the second one) and it will be fine for what your friend wants. It seems like most people on this forum are among the more serious computer users and the 2200 would be too entry level for them so I doubt that you would get too many endorsements. I would recommend the low end Pentium M if your friend could swing that though (I didn't think that it was that much more). Don't expect much in the form of ports or Firewire but it has the basics. The quality does not seem any worse than others in the same price range that I have seen and my daughter's has held up well for the past 5 months (trust me she doesn't take care of her things; that's why I bought the 2200, figuring if she destroyed it, no big loss).

John
Thanks for your comment. I may have convinced my friend to get the i6000, but if she does decide against it I will recommend the i2200.
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post #14 of 32
9/4/05 at 1:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheElement
I know you're looking for actual owners (which, interestingly, are somewhat hard to come by... say anything?), but I'm going to comment anyway. You can't stop me. The 2200 is, for all intents and purposes, strictly a budget machine. I'm not saying that's good or bad; it just is. While the inards of the system look fine, what you get on the outside is, well, cheap. I would recommend instead spending a little more and getting a 600m or 700m. Both of these systems are built far better and will likely last far longer. If there's absolutely no way they're willing to upgrade to one of these systems, the 2200 will likely serve them well. Just remember, you get what you pay for. My advice: look into pricing a minimally equipped 600m or 700m and go that route. I know I'm not a 2200 owner, but I have used one before. Hope this helps.

I agree with the element on this part, the 2200 is a BUDGET machine, and this means cheapo build. I would recommend the Inspiron 6000 for your purposes, the 600m is not as good a build as the new inspirons, the 700m has limited graphics and a smaller keyboard. A normally equipped 6000 will be a much better system, bigger, more usb ports, better graphics options and relatively the same price as the 600m and 700m. The 600m isnt very solid and notorious for hinges wearing out in less than two years and the 700m has integrated graphics, 32 megs as I recall. When buying a new system, desktop or lappy, you should get at LEAST 128 megs. Come to think of it, the 2200 decently equipped also runs about the same as a similarly equipped 6000. All of the forementioned machines will come close in price which brings me back to the 6000, great machine for the purposes youve mentioned.
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post #15 of 32
9/4/05 at 4:45am
Thread Starter 
As I said in my OP, I am in Australia, and the 2200 is at least $500 away from the i6000 at base config.

Yes the i6000 is much better, and I definately am going to suggest it over the i2200. I know its better, but it is up to my friend if the $500 is work it. For me, its a no brainer.
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post #16 of 32
9/4/05 at 10:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freak4Dell
Upgrade the processor to a Pentium M, and you should be fine.
I agree. You should also consider a 60gb hd
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post #17 of 32
9/5/05 at 7:24pm
Thread Starter 
I did say 60Gb. And if she gets the i6000 she will get

Pentium M 1.6Ghz
512MB RAM
60Gb HDD
DVD+/-RW
15.4" WXGA (I think its crap, but she doesn't have the greatest eyesight)
Win XP Home
Office 2003 SBE
Dell Nylon Case

Hopefully she will be happy with this, and I will order for her when she does!
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post #18 of 32
9/5/05 at 8:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MitchellO
I did say 60Gb. And if she gets the i6000 she will get

Pentium M 1.6Ghz
512MB RAM
60Gb HDD
DVD+/-RW
15.4" WXGA (I think its crap, but she doesn't have the greatest eyesight)
Win XP Home
Office 2003 SBE
Dell Nylon Case

Hopefully she will be happy with this, and I will order for her when she does!
looks great, although...do you REALLY need Office 2003? i mean...there are ways to get it for free and that will knock the price down significantly...and if u dont want to go that route, theres always Open Office.
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post #19 of 32
9/6/05 at 2:54am
Thread Starter 
My friend does need office, and she doesn't want to get it "free". I still await her reply....
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post #20 of 32
9/8/05 at 1:00am
Seriously... The 2200 isn't that bad. I bought 2 a few months ago for my aunt and uncle.. they love it and I had to bring it to them (on a flight back to china) and it was heavy (2 laptops in backpack + clothes and other stuff) but it was powerful. Because i was bring 2, i couldn't bring my laptop so I used my aunt's laptop during my entire stay in china. For a gamer like me, i'm acutally amazed at what the 2200 can do. I really had VERY VERY VERY low expectations but I was playing games on the plane and the battery life was excellent for the size of the laptop.

I don't think your friend would be disappointed in this laptop. I actually enjoyed it, if I was just using a laptop for nothing but work or chat rooms, thats the laptop I would buy.
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