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Buy 300M now or wait for new model?

post #1 of 7
2/15/04 at 5:54pm
Thread Starter 
I am strongly considering buying an Inspiron 300M, and really like everything I have read about it so far. I saw one the other day and was really impressed with the weight and size, and mainly all I need it for is internet and writing, although I also plan on taking thousands of electronic photos (nothing professional, just photographing old documents for research).

So, two questions:

1) Any thoughts on this machine, good/bad stories/experiences? (It seems that most of you have Inspiron 8600s, but maybe know about the 300m. I have a 2yr old 8100 which is still running well, so the 300m is not to replace it, just to compliment it cause I travel a lot and the 8100 is just too damn heavy.)

2) Should I wait a few months in the hope that Dell will come out with a newer model? Will the upcoming Intel Dothan chip have any impact on Dell's Ultraportable line? I can wait for a few months if I have to, even till the summer if necessay, but maybe this is not necessary? Any thoughts?
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post #2 of 7
2/15/04 at 6:34pm
the 300m just replaced the X200 so dont expect a newer model anytime soon. perhaps you could try something similar? im not found of the 300M despite my grudges sony makes a great ultra portable ( Sony TRA3 or TRA2 ) both better performing bright screen and even has a dvd/cdrw combo infact i think the tra3 has a dvd burner
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post #3 of 7
2/15/04 at 7:05pm
Thread Starter 
I just looked at the Sony web site and the TRA3 is definately a sweet machine, and having the internal dvd burner would be nice, but if I got the 300m I would get the Mediabase w/ dvd burner, cause I don't really need it with me when I am moving around all day. The big problem with the Sony is the screen size is just too small for me. I can handle going down from my current 14' to the 12' of the 300m, but 10.6' is just too small. Also I love the keyboard on the 300m - feels real nice for my fingers when I tried it.

So it sounds like I should just go ahead and but it now, but my concern is that it was released six months ago, and dell seems to have a pretty high turn-over rate with new models coming out once a year or even faster. My brother bought a 4100 a year and a half ago and two weeks later it was discontinued for a new model with a pentium 4m vs his 3m, and I just don't want to buy a new laptop and turn around two months from now and find a new model being offered with much better features (I keep reading that the Dothan will be a significant improvment over the current P-M).

PS Why are you not fond of 300m?
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post #4 of 7
2/15/04 at 7:35pm
ultra lgihts are not replaced as often as the desktop replacements you shouldnt worry about it
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post #5 of 7
2/15/04 at 7:44pm
I agree, the TRA3 is NICE NICE NICE. LOVE the screen!
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post #6 of 7
2/15/04 at 7:58pm
Thread Starter 
Certainly the Sony is tempting, but the other problem I have is that I saw one the other day (I am in a university library with white overhead lights) and the screen seemed to reflect the light much brighter than other screens, sort of like the whole screen was really shiny (whereas my 8100 screen reflects the light in a dull way, which is good). It reminded me of the difference between anti-reflective lenses for glasses vs not having the anti-reflective. Makes a big difference. Maybe this was just a quirk if the model I saw (it was at another table so I'm not sure exactly which Sony model it was). Is this a Sony screen thing?

PS to Dell-Machina, thanks for the advice.
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post #7 of 7
2/15/04 at 8:57pm
Yeah thats one of the screens "better" qualities and no problem feel free to ask questiosn so i and everyone else can help
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