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New I8600s

post #1 of 24
3/16/04 at 8:17pm
Thread Starter 
I got a new catalog today and was looking at the new 8600s and noticed that they no longer have as many accessible ports, such as the Irda sensor, parallel port, and a serial port. I know that a lot of new stuff is usb but I think that the models that have all of these ports are worth more.
So anyone thinking of selling might want to reconsider. The prices on the 8600s seem to be higher also.
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post #2 of 24
3/16/04 at 8:55pm
Thanks for the advanced info. Searching Dell's site...so far no sign of this new Inspiron notebook.
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post #3 of 24
3/16/04 at 9:07pm
I heard through the grapevine a few months back that these changes were going to be made. They were doing away with ports that they felt were not frequently used. I don't know about any planned addtion of USB ports besides the two already present. Also, there were talks of removing the eraser head and associated buttons.
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post #4 of 24
3/16/04 at 10:00pm
i think removing the eraser head will be a huge mistake since there track pad is quite terrible on the 8600 to begin with
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post #5 of 24
3/16/04 at 10:13pm
I can tell you, I could certainly have gone for some extra USB2 ports! One of my pet peeves about the i8500 and i8600 that I've owned it that it only has 2 ports.... I often need more than this and its a bother to change things around. Oh well, thats what a USB hub is for
stu
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post #6 of 24
3/16/04 at 11:02pm
well this makes sence, in Costa Rica they have already remove the I8600, i wonder how the new one is going to be
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post #7 of 24
3/27/04 at 12:32am
I just noticed today they had the new pictures of the inspiron 8600. No serial port, IR port, or trackstick. But no extra usb's. Not a good move if you ask me.
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post #8 of 24
3/27/04 at 12:41am
Those ports are coming to the end of their life cycle. To tell you the truth I haven't used a serial, IR, and parallel port in years.
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post #9 of 24
3/27/04 at 1:00am
Im hoping that my 8600 comes with those ports.

Advantages as i see it

1. The usb port replicator i have does not have a seperate power source, there are problems with hooking up heavy power devices to these port replicators.

2. My ibm pda sync through an ir port or serial port

3. the same pda is charged only through the serial port ( i know, i know its old but its my baby)

4. Since they are not adding more usb ports, a serial port would be nice, just to keep one device away from the usb entanglement.

I really wish they had added 2 more usb ports.
have the mouse, memory key, printer, card reader, camera


has anyone recieved the new 8600? , I have my fingers crossed that dell's still emptying out the old inventory.
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post #10 of 24
3/27/04 at 1:51am
Hey Rosky, nice to see a neighbor in the forum. I am orginally from the "best" bank but have now migrated north to BR.
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post #11 of 24
3/27/04 at 2:17am
same here rykwon, "best bank" , had a few friends from across who had to be dragged over on weekends.

migrated further north than you, i'm afraid. I go to grad school in jersy now (aint n'awlins but atleast nyc is close by), Lived uptown and by magazine for a bit. Miss the place, hopefully head back down summer.

Tigers?
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post #12 of 24
3/27/04 at 5:29am
just checked the Dell web site, there is nothing new on that 'new' 8600, only thing is two port missing........... whats the point?? i know those ports are rarelly used nowadays, but if you dont remplace them with something better, why take them away?
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post #13 of 24
3/27/04 at 5:33am
Why take them away? Well, it cuts back on weight (if only minimally), and it cuts back on costs. They are rarely used so by excluding them they can cut a little off of the cost of manufacturing and perhaps price. That's really the only reason that I can see. But you never know, it might be temporary with nothing there whilst they work on extra integrated USB ports....... unlikely, but possible,
stu
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post #14 of 24
3/27/04 at 1:42pm
There is always a reason why Dell does something or any company. I hope Dell changes the 1100 so it will have more USB ports and remove some of the old ports. Or even redsign the super budget notebook.
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post #15 of 24
3/27/04 at 2:20pm
hmm, this must have been a fast move.
looked on the norwegian site, and yes the trackstick et is gone on the pics. And theres just the monitor connection on the back.
But yet the site advertise the availability of double user interface, and showing picture of the touchpad and trackstick + buttons.

glad i ordered when i did, since now you get less for your money.

And i cant believe the argument that this makes the machine lighter...

There must have been an egghead somewhere calculating the cost of the redesign for the notebookcase and manufacture, contra the few cents they save on each notebook.

anyways, i like the trackstick when i dont have the mx900 mouse at hand.
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post #16 of 24
3/27/04 at 3:08pm
Well now I am not so sure I'd want to order an 8600 because my Garmin V GPS communicates via serial port. And when I take the GPS & laptop with me in the Jeep for some 4wheeling on the trails I'll have to figure something out. I hope they make a serial to USB adapter.
I'll also miss not being able to use the IR port for communicating with my Dell Pocket PC

So unfortunately I have to say this new Dell move of elliminating these ports is making me strongly consider other brands
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post #17 of 24
3/27/04 at 5:58pm

ports

I recieived my 8600 on March 23 and I have these ports that you are talking about. I would trade them for more usb 2.0 ports in a heartbeat.
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post #18 of 24
3/27/04 at 9:49pm

uurm

I think the important question right now is the following:
Since the removal of such interfaces isn't somerthing to take lightly, it's plain obvious that the new inspirons had a major motherboard revision. We know what was left out. now, what's in? What's new? Which chipset? which bios? what are the specs?
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post #19 of 24
3/27/04 at 10:04pm
"I recieived my 8600 on March 23 and I have these ports that you are talking about. I would trade them for more usb 2.0 ports in a heartbeat."

So far, all the information points to just 2 usb ports. If it did have 3-4 usb ports, i would be happy with it, if its just 2 i think i would have preferred the old model.

My unit shipped out march 25th, so i could be get one the new batches. Wonder if there is difference in the finish and case.
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post #20 of 24
3/27/04 at 11:34pm
Thread Starter 
It would be easy to add usb ports with a usb docking port. But the serial and IR ports that are gone are a inconvenient. I like some others use the laptop to hook to gps and other accessories while on the go.
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