Latitude D610 versus Inspiron 600m. Need opinions.

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

I'm about to purchase one or the other for a college-bound student. I note
that the specs of both seem to be about the same, so I'll assume that the
"guts" are the same with different plastics.

The user isn't going to need heavy multi-media features, but I plan to shop
both heavily (coupons, Dell outlet, savings sites, etc) and get at least 2
years warranty on whichever I wind up with.

I use a Latitude D600 at work and it's a very nice machine, so I'm leaning
towards the Latitude (for durability and better default warranty).

I've read some posts that suggest Latitude durability (versus Inspiron) is
not what it used to be - so I wonder if the 600m might not be a better value
choice; in effect, why pay for 'more' machine when it's not really that much
of an improvement.

I'd welcome opinions and comments from anyone who owns or uses either
machine or who has experience with them.


Thanks,


Stew

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

I bought my college daughter the 600m last November, with a 3 year
"bumper-to-bumper" warranty. Haven't had any problems....looks and runs
like new. She loves it!

"S.Lewis" <stew1960@cover.bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:m9ete.108936$8S5.81620@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
> I'm about to purchase one or the other for a college-bound student. I
> note that the specs of both seem to be about the same, so I'll assume that
> the "guts" are the same with different plastics.
>
> The user isn't going to need heavy multi-media features, but I plan to
> shop both heavily (coupons, Dell outlet, savings sites, etc) and get at
> least 2 years warranty on whichever I wind up with.
>
> I use a Latitude D600 at work and it's a very nice machine, so I'm leaning
> towards the Latitude (for durability and better default warranty).
>
> I've read some posts that suggest Latitude durability (versus Inspiron) is
> not what it used to be - so I wonder if the 600m might not be a better
> value choice; in effect, why pay for 'more' machine when it's not really
> that much of an improvement.
>
> I'd welcome opinions and comments from anyone who owns or uses either
> machine or who has experience with them.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Stew
>
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

S.Lewis wrote:

> I'm about to purchase one or the other for a college-bound student. I note
> that the specs of both seem to be about the same, so I'll assume that the
> "guts" are the same with different plastics.
>
> The user isn't going to need heavy multi-media features, but I plan to shop
> both heavily (coupons, Dell outlet, savings sites, etc) and get at least 2
> years warranty on whichever I wind up with.
>
> I use a Latitude D600 at work and it's a very nice machine, so I'm leaning
> towards the Latitude (for durability and better default warranty).
>
> I've read some posts that suggest Latitude durability (versus Inspiron) is
> not what it used to be - so I wonder if the 600m might not be a better value
> choice; in effect, why pay for 'more' machine when it's not really that much
> of an improvement.
>
> I'd welcome opinions and comments from anyone who owns or uses either
> machine or who has experience with them.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Stew
>
>
>
I just graduated college and picked up a D610 for my last quarter; my
previous laptop, an IBM T21, died around Feb. My younger brother (still
in high school) needed a computer and I convinced my parents to go with
the 600m. Now that I have had a chance to use both, I am happy I went
with the D610, but I think going with a 600m for most people would be
adequate. The Inspiron 600m my brother got has a P-M 745 (1.8GHz) and
512MB of RAM, my D610 has a P-M 760 (2.0) and 1GB of RAM. The
performance difference is slight (slightly more than 12% when using apps
that take 100% of the CPU), but in my case noticable since I do a lot of
compiling (I run Gentoo Linux, where everything is compiled from
source). Also I was an electrical engineering major, so I found the
exta speed beneficial in circuit simulations. If your student doesn't
plan to use any heavy programs (compiling, CAD, encoding), then I'd just
go with the one you can find cheaper (most likely the 600m). Also keep
in mind that Latitudes come with a 3 year warranty by default.

I'm sure you'd agree from your experiences with the D600, the model is
great for people who actually take their notebooks with them. The build
quality between the two feels fairly similar, and the main difference is
the D610 has a trackpoint (in addition to a touchpad) -- this was
important to me since I was coming from a Thinkpad. Actually, if you're
open to other brands, the Lenovo Thinkpad T43 may be worth a look (very
similar size/weight combo).

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Nicholas Andrade" <SDNick484@nospam.yahoo.com> wrote in message
newsypte.237$N22.162@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
> S.Lewis wrote:
>
>> I'm about to purchase one or the other for a college-bound student. I
>> note that the specs of both seem to be about the same, so I'll assume
>> that the "guts" are the same with different plastics.
>>
>> The user isn't going to need heavy multi-media features, but I plan to
>> shop both heavily (coupons, Dell outlet, savings sites, etc) and get at
>> least 2 years warranty on whichever I wind up with.
>>
>> I use a Latitude D600 at work and it's a very nice machine, so I'm
>> leaning towards the Latitude (for durability and better default
>> warranty).
>>
>> I've read some posts that suggest Latitude durability (versus Inspiron)
>> is not what it used to be - so I wonder if the 600m might not be a better
>> value choice; in effect, why pay for 'more' machine when it's not really
>> that much of an improvement.
>>
>> I'd welcome opinions and comments from anyone who owns or uses either
>> machine or who has experience with them.
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>> Stew
>>
>>
>>
> I just graduated college and picked up a D610 for my last quarter; my
> previous laptop, an IBM T21, died around Feb. My younger brother (still
> in high school) needed a computer and I convinced my parents to go with
> the 600m. Now that I have had a chance to use both, I am happy I went
> with the D610, but I think going with a 600m for most people would be
> adequate. The Inspiron 600m my brother got has a P-M 745 (1.8GHz) and
> 512MB of RAM, my D610 has a P-M 760 (2.0) and 1GB of RAM. The performance
> difference is slight (slightly more than 12% when using apps that take
> 100% of the CPU), but in my case noticable since I do a lot of compiling
> (I run Gentoo Linux, where everything is compiled from source). Also I
> was an electrical engineering major, so I found the exta speed beneficial
> in circuit simulations. If your student doesn't plan to use any heavy
> programs (compiling, CAD, encoding), then I'd just go with the one you can
> find cheaper (most likely the 600m). Also keep in mind that Latitudes
> come with a 3 year warranty by default.
>
> I'm sure you'd agree from your experiences with the D600, the model is
> great for people who actually take their notebooks with them. The build
> quality between the two feels fairly similar, and the main difference is
> the D610 has a trackpoint (in addition to a touchpad) -- this was
> important to me since I was coming from a Thinkpad. Actually, if you're
> open to other brands, the Lenovo Thinkpad T43 may be worth a look (very
> similar size/weight combo).




Thanks for the replies. I ended up locating a new D610 last night, primarily
for the track stick option and extended warranty. Also, any time I've
called for support on Latitude units, I seem to connect with domestic tech
support.

Stew