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Inspiron v Latitude

post #1 of 38
3/24/04 at 11:23am
Thread Starter 
HI
Can someone tell me (laymans terms please) the difference between Inspiron & latitude?

ta
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post #2 of 38
3/24/04 at 2:35pm
I once asked a Dell rep tod me something that sounded like it made sense, and it is what I tell people who ask me. He said, the Latitude is their business class systems and the Inspiron is more for home users. Although they may be just about identical, the Latitude line designed to have a longer life cycle. For example the parts/specs are less likely to change *as much* and are basically you are more likely to get an identical replacement motherboard or other component in two years, if needed. Also they are not as "flashy" in design, if you can call it that. The Inspirons usually have the very latest components, however tomorrow, they may totally change what goes in them. They have a few more bells and whistles etc.
Latitudes are usually a tad bit more expensive, as they are designed for the business class and longer life cycle.

As far as physically, I am sure they are about identical in their basic design.

At the time, it sounded as good of an explanation as I had heard.
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post #3 of 38
3/24/04 at 5:17pm
Here's my analogy... The Latitude is tall, curvy, yet sophiticated and refined... the sort you'd like to keep around awhile. While the Inspiron is the leggy blonde in heels with the tight silver, shimmery dress on... use 'em and lose 'em.



onlymobile411
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post #4 of 38
3/25/04 at 12:03am
In general Lattitude seems to use older tech that is proven and stable. They are also more expensive.

Personally, I couldn't spend MORE for yesterdays tech, but business people need reliability.
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post #5 of 38
3/25/04 at 5:57am
Thread Starter 
Ok
Thanks for the info, reading some of the threads here though it seems as if the Latitude is a bit sturdier in terms of the case etc, seems that a lot of people say the inspirons casing is somewhat flimsy & there also seem to be quite a few probs with the screen??

Sue
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post #6 of 38
3/25/04 at 8:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by onlymobile411
Here's my analogy... The Latitude is tall, curvy, yet sophiticated and refined... the sort you'd like to keep around awhile. While the Inspiron is the leggy blonde in heels with the tight silver, shimmery dress on... use 'em and lose 'em.
I like the way you think dude
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post #7 of 38
3/25/04 at 9:25am
I think of it more like the extras on a car. The Inspiron is the base model, it comes with all the basic features and a nice coat of paint. The Latitudes however are the decked out model.... they have the same engine under the hood, but the latitude has the leather seats, glossy paint job and "sick maaaaate" rims and spoiler. Its all about looks and bells n' whistles.
stu
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post #8 of 38
3/25/04 at 2:29pm
If Latitude is so decked out, how come you can't get one with all the bells and whistles that you can get with an 8600?
I think of the Latitude as the backwards-compatible business model, the 8600 as the consumer-oriented laptop, and the M60 as the laptop for people that have an extra $1000 to spend over the 8600.
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post #9 of 38
3/25/04 at 6:08pm
It all depends on what you're looking for... the newest hardware... or better construction. I really can't stand the Inspirons. Why? They look, feel, and in many cases run, cheap. If I was buying a new system today i'd much rather get a D800 or M60 and if I really feel I want the Ati 9600 PT shell out the extra $225 for it from spare parts. I carry my system to and from work everyday, and use it all day everyday so looks and feel are an important part of my system.

onlymobile411
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post #10 of 38
3/25/04 at 8:20pm
If you bought a Latitude or M60, you are carrying more weight back and forth to work every day than I am. That's the downside of the heftier case on the Latitudes. The 8600 looks fine -- much nicer looking than my 7500 (which looked like a Latitude). I have to agree that the 8600's keyboard feels cheap, and I wish Dell had not put a low-end keyboard on a high-end laptop. I don't know that the Latitude's keyboard is any better -- is it?
The WUXGA screen is mind-blowing. The 8600 is much thinner, more powerful, yet runs cooler, than my 7500. My overall impression is, this is an extremely high quality laptop in a lightweight case. I don't see anything cheap here, other than the keyboard.
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post #11 of 38
3/26/04 at 2:03am
I do, and i have an i8600. Plactic is very creaky, and the keyboard plain sucks! It does look good when its closed though.
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post #12 of 38
3/26/04 at 2:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rao Hamid
It does look good when its closed though.
ROTFL Sorry Rao that was just too good to pass up - no offense.
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post #13 of 38
3/26/04 at 3:30am
Roll some more, Aussie. Then I'll be rolling watching you roll that much. Guess why.
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post #14 of 38
3/26/04 at 6:13am
I think I missed the boat here........
stu
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post #15 of 38
3/26/04 at 12:26pm
Oh well, to each his own... IMO my niece's LeapPad looks better than most of the inspirons.
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post #16 of 38
3/26/04 at 11:33pm
I have had the 8600 next to the D800 at work and they look and feel identical! Same exact design except the Inspiron has the blue trim and buttons and the "longer" Dell logo on the cover while the D800 has just the conservative Dell circular logo. The keyboard on the D800 we had at work had a problem and the whole left side was extremly bouncy compared to the left. Tech came out and replaced it and now its about identical to the 8600 (except now there is a buzzing sound coming from right hinge area/screen that was NOT there before). In working with both, I really don't see any obvious difference in feel. Oh, and this particular D800 must have had the high response rate because it had terrible ghosting! I had read about 8600's and hitachi screens having that problem but the two 8600's I had didn't have that problem, but I was never really sure. (I thought, maybe its doing it but its not bad enough for me to mind or notice). Well this D800 showed me what everyone had been talking about! Huge difference.

Anyway, the point is, I am sure they share some components so dont expect a major differences.
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post #17 of 38
3/27/04 at 10:10pm
Three reasons I prefer the Latitude D800/Precision M60 are the ability to use a corporate Gigabit network (I have to use a 448-bit encryption SmartCard) and the powered (proprietary USB) D-Bay for my second 7k60. All the above are not available on the 8600's motherboard; thankfully for the D800/M60, the video card was easy enough to change for the M10.
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post #18 of 38
6/21/04 at 6:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ofelas
All the above are not available on the 8600's motherboard; thankfully for the D800/M60, the video card was easy enough to change for the M10.
You mean, you can put an ATI Radeon Mobility 9600 Pro Turbo into a D800?

Radams: the Hitachi WSXGA+ screen problem for the Inspiron 8600 has been fixed since beginning of June. It's performing just as good as my Toshiba WUXGA, although I wish I would have gotten a Sharp WUXGA instead.
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post #19 of 38
6/21/04 at 10:54pm
Yeah, the videocards are in the same form factor between the i8500/ i8600/ D800 and M60. This means the D800 can use the MR9600, the i8600 can use the QFX 1000, etc, etc.
stu
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post #20 of 38
6/22/04 at 12:07am
Cool. So, I guess the reason for why the Mobility 9700 isn't mentioned is because it must be a different form factor?
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