In June 2004, I bought a Dell Inspiron 8600 and I opted for several things that got the total price a tad on the high side. I have not regretted a single one of them!
Display: Wide Ultra XGA 15.4 inch (best avail at time)
Video: 128 MB ATI (best avail at time)
Bluetooth: integrated
Wireless: built-in A/B/G dual band
Hard Drive: 60 GB Hitachi 7200 rpm
Battery: 9 cell optional battery but no extra battery (you won't need it)
Firewire: 1394a at the time
DVD ROM/CD-RW: I didn't bother with a DVD burner as I already had a USB/Firewire model from LG that I liked. I did think being able to watch DVD without cords dangling was a good thing.
The only thing I didn't go all out on was processor. I got the 1.6 GHz Pentium M. If I had it to do over, I might have kicked that up another notch.
BUT, here's the bottom line: You only get one chance with a laptop. If you have to wait, then wait. If you have to borrow a few bucks to make up the difference, borrow it --- or wait. But, get the following things:
Wide Ultra XGA display -- you won't look back on that decision
Best video adapter you can include -- likewise
7200 rpm hard drive --- believe me, it is worth the money. I'd take a 60 GB Hitachi TravelStar (7200 rpm) or an 80 GB or a 100 GB and if you want to save money by making that small instead of big, that's OK. But don't save money by getting 5400 rpm; you won't regret it because you'll never know the difference. But if you get the 7200 rpm; you'll know you did the right thing.
Bluetooth -- bluetooth has been slow to catch on, but when you decide to get a Bluetooth headset for you Skype or a Bluetooth mouse or whatever, you'll be glad you don't have to use up your card slot or one of your USB ports. I have a Microsoft Bluetooth keyboard and mouse -- I don't use the keyboard much because I'm pretty good with Dell's nice keyboard. But, I do like the mouse when I am working on a table with papers and I can put the computer farther away and have papers and mouse close at hand.
So, why would I love to be in your shoes?
Because, there is no way in hell I can justify buying a new laptop because my three year old Inspiron 8600 is so nice and still just clicks along wonderfully. Maybe if I'd saved a thousand on the Inspiron, I could justify looking at a new one now. My advice is to step up to the plate and plan to enjoy the result for a long, long time.
In closing, here's a side story: Not too long after I bought my Inspiron, my sister asked me to help her to buy a computer. She wanted a laptop. I told her I would spec. one out for her and we could discuss it. The total came to just over $2,000 for an Inspiron 6000. The spec.s were pretty much the same as for mine, but the 8600 had been discontinued or maybe the Hitachi drive was not available in the 8600 at that time. I know the choice of Inspiron 6000 was based on availability in that model at that time of the Hitachi drive and the Wide Ultra XGA 15.4" screen.
She told me she just didn't want to spend that much money. I told her to just do what her big brother said and that she could keep it for six months and if she wanted to get rid of it, I'd give her what she paid for it as long as there was no peanut butter on the display.
That was in September of 2005. She got a 1.73 GHz Pentium M and Bluetooth and dual band wireless etc.
I have lost track of how many times she and her husband have thanked me for "making her buy" that computer. Most recently when she broke her leg and sprained her ankle, she was able to use it as a "bed-top" computer.
Laptops are unlike other computers. When you buy or build a desktop computer, as long as you get the right processor and chipset, you can make mistakes on some of your other components. If your video really doesn't suit you or if a newer better model comes out, you can probably make a change. You can even replace the processor within reason. You can opt for some new fast hard drive. You can change your network card or your wireless. You can add Bluetooth and you can add Firewire and serial and parallel and so on.
With the laptop, you'd better get it right the first time.
Step up the the plate and get the best or back up from the plate and get cheap --- both are legitimate choices. It's the middle of the road that sucks, so don't be there.
My advice! What more could you want?
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