Help Choosing A Laptop

the 600m is about 2 generations out of date, i would try to get somethign more recent, if you want lightweight get laptop with

14" WSXGA screen
at LEAST 400MHz ram >512MB
at LEAST 1.8GHz Pentium M
at LEAST x600 with min 128MB
min 5400RPM 8MB cache HDD
min ABG Wireless
min built in bluetooth

well....if the Acer 5020 was available in the USA, would be a nice pick. Thinkpad T43 looks like a good option for you maybe (less the GPU)

Yeah but if he is getting a 1000 dollars off....Why not Dell?

Yeah just forget the 600m...Get like a 700m or a Latitude d610. If you want something that may actually last 4+ years..look at a M70.

"1) Is this an upper-class, main computer that will last me 4-5 years?"
It's not exactly upper-class, but it will last you 4-5 years. That is, unless you plan to be doing a lot of crap that requires a lot of power. It's an old system, so it has older technology. It is not as powerful as the newer Dell systems.

"2)Is the Memory and Hard Drive a good amount?"
I'd suggest 1GB of RAM, but it's probably better to buy that later. Since you're getting 512MB 1 DIMM, all you have to do is stick another 512MB DIMM in after you get the system. The hard drive is plenty for most people. If you're like me and you download a bunch of music and movies, you might want a 100GB hard drive.

"3) The Networking Cards and the whole Bluetooth thing, what's that all about?"
The networking card will allow you to connect to the internet wirelessly. Also, since it is Intel, you will have the Centrino package, which really is just a marketing scheme. The bluetooth will allow you to connect to other things wirelessly, such as cell phones or cameras.

"4) Would it be worth $120 to upgrade the processor from a Pentium M Processor 745-1.8GHz to a Pentium M Processor 755-2.0GHz?"
I don't think so. It's not a big difference, and as long as you don't do a lot of stuff that requires a lot of power, you won't need it. However, if you can afford it, go ahead and get it. It will probably be better for the future.

"5) What type of programs (schoolwise, security wise, media wise) should I get, and is installing on a laptop the same as a PC?"
I'd suggest a Microsoft Office package for school. I suggest Norton Internet Security for security. I just use Windows Media Player for media, but you might want PowerDVD or WinDVD to play DVDs. Windows Media Player is very good for music and downloaded movies, as long as you have all the right codecs. If it doesn't come with the computer, get Windows Media Player 10. I love it, and I think it's better than the previous versions. The Office package and Internet Security should be pretty cheap from your school. I think both of them cost me around $40 for all of it. The Norton stuff is usually more expensive than the Microsoft stuff. Don't get any software from Dell, unless you can't buy anything from your university. It's horribly overpriced from retail sellers.
Yes, installing on a laptop is the same as installing on desktop PC.

If you can wait until the end of the year, the replacement for the 600m is due. Don't quote me on that, though. It's a rumor, and usually these rumors tend to be true, but still, it is a rumor.

X600 is video card. That is a
5400RPM 8MB cache HDD = just the technical stuff we use to define pretty much any newer model hard disk drive, except we are moving more and more towards 7200RPM drives. That is just how fast they spin and concequently how fast we get info from the HDD.
ABG wireless is the WiFi card built in. ABG Isn't necessary, I don't know why he said that. Maybe futureproofing if you plan on making an A-type wireless network, which I doubt. BG WiFi will do you fine.

If you want something to last you that long... get an Asus Z71V or Z70V.

It kind of depends how heavy you want this thing to be...If you want Ultraportable, get a 700m. If you dont mind somehting larger, get a 9300 or maybe a 6000d. If you dont want widescreen and dont mind the technology being out of date, get the 600m.

Wow, that took forever to type. As far as the M70 goes, it will be hard to get a deal, unless you actually do have connections, and you're not just using coupons and whatnot. The 700m is nice, though, but it is smaller than the 600m. The Latitude can also be hard to find deals on.

Basically the 700m is a small ultraportable notebook. It's too big to be a subnotebook, but it's not that big.

The d610 is part of the Latitude line. This line is meant for business users, so it's a little bit sturdier than the Inspiron line. The d610 is basically a more powerful version of the 600m. There used to be a d600, which was the Latitude version of the 600m, but they replaced it. In my opinion, the Latitudes look better than all of the Inspirons.

Didnt ask me but I'll answer anyways...6000/6000d, 700m, 9300, XPS Gen 2

If you dont mind the extra weight..I would go for the 6000d

If you don't mind the size, definately the 6000. It's got newer technology, not to mention a better video card.

Dell deals come and go: unless you work for Boeing (do you?!), I'd wait until late July to make your purchase. I am.

These EPP 12% + 750 off deals aren't bad, but they're anywhere from $100-200 more than you'll pay in a month. End of July is the end of Dell's fiscal quarter, so they push pretty hard to sell machines. Also, to get the 12% you have to buy a 3 year warrenty (EPP) right now, which isn't so hot.

As for what you need, I have only 2 questions for you:

-Will you be gaming? If so, a lot? Looking at UT2K6?
-What are you going to college for?

If you're going to need to run Matlab or AutoCAD, you're looking at a bigger investment both weight/size-wise and money-wise. But if you're going for a BA or can live with doing all your visual analysis in a lab on campus, you can do pretty well. I agree with you that, if you work the system right, Dell's value can't be beat.

For the most part, computer "speed" (ie--how fast windows open up, how fast programs load) can be attributed to two things: HD speed & the state of XP. First thing you'll want to do no matter which machine you choose is reinstall XP SP2 with all the crap nLite's out. The minimum I would get for a laptop you plan on spending a good amount of time on but not running anything REAL intensive (PS, any engineering apps, stuff like that) is
-1GB RAM--get 256 from dell, and then get a 1GB DIMM from newegg for about $100. Dell RAPES you on ram upgrades
-PM 1.6. It's good enough for 99% of computing
-A/B/G wireless
-Bigger battery
-Bluetooth, if it's not too much more

HD space is up to you. How many GB are you using now?

If you are saving 1k, then do go for the CPU upgrade

this will last you beyond 4 years if you don't play resource intensive games.

The I6000 is a good machine and for the price you say you'll be getting, a great deal as well. It's only a 1lb or so heavier, but has much better upgrade potential.

I say go with it.

You have to reinstall Windows XP so you can rid of the stuff Dell or any other brand loads up with your notebook.