LAPTOP CHOICE - New Dell vs Used Lenovo

[nefariouscaine]

First off I should have snagged one of them great Acer Deals a while back and unfortunately my area never really has those insane Best Buy blow out deals (hoary for being in Los Angeles...)

Right now I'm in a mental pickle - I can't decide to get a *used* IBM T60 or get a *new* Dell Vostro 1500

Its just tough for me...

*new* Vostro is $200ish more than the IBM - but comes with a lower end battery, slower (albeit newer & cooler) processor, double the HDD space and better video.

Lenovo/IBM is $200 less *used* - better battery (and talks of a BNIB spare), faster (albeit older & hotter) processor, less HDD space and basic video.

That being said there are the differences in quality. But I'm a BYO desktop kinda guy. I'm not as familiar with laptops as I am with desktops nor the factors of buying used vs new (as I'm sure thats different than desktop hardware)

Please help a guy out here

if you've used both laptops step to the front of the line.


**EDIT**
# Vostro 1500, Intel Core 2 Duo T5270, 1.4GHz, 800Mhz FSB, 2M L2 Cache
# 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA LCD display with TrueLife for Vostro 1500
# 2GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 DIMM
# 128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
# 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
# Genuine Windows XP SP2
# Integrated 10/100 Network Cardand Modem, for Inspiron
# Adobe Reader 8.1
# 8X DVD+/-RW with double-layer DVD+R write capability, w Roxio Creator
# Integrated High Definition Audio 2.0
# Intel 3945 WLAN (802.11a/g) Internal Card
# 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, for Vostro 1500
# Microsoft Works 8.5 - English
# 1 Year Warranty Support,
# Dell DataSafe 2.0 Online, 10GBfor 1 Year Free (for ABU only)

**$600**

----------------------------
Lenovo T60

* Processor: Intel Core Duo T2300E 1.66 GHz
* Screen Size: 14.1" TFT XGA (1024 x 768)
* Memory: 2 GB
* Hard Drive: 60 GB
* Networking: Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000, 802.11a/b/g
* Integrated Features: Stereo speakers, wireless LAN antenna, ThinkLight
* CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive
* Security Features: Trusted Platform Module (TPM 1.2) Security Chip, fingerprint reader
* Graphics Controller: Intel GMA 950
* Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
*Being told possible 1 used & 1 new battery

**$400**

 

[masteraleph]

What are the prices and configurations you're actually looking at? Lenovo currently has a ton of deals that seem to make at least the R61 (and under some configs the T61) cheaper than the Vostro.

 

[Tempered81]

yah, should list exact price & config for us to decide.

 

[nefariouscaine]

# Vostro 1500, Intel Core 2 Duo T5270, 1.4GHz, 800Mhz FSB, 2M L2 Cache
# 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA LCD display with TrueLife for Vostro 1500
# 2GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 DIMM
# 128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
# 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
# Genuine Windows XP SP2
# Integrated 10/100 Network Cardand Modem, for Inspiron
# Adobe Reader 8.1
# 8X DVD+/-RW with double-layer DVD+R write capability, w Roxio Creator
# Integrated High Definition Audio 2.0
# Intel 3945 WLAN (802.11a/g) Internal Card
# 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, for Vostro 1500
# Microsoft Works 8.5 - English
# 1 Year Warranty Support,
# Dell DataSafe 2.0 Online, 10GBfor 1 Year Free (for ABU only)

**$600**

----------------------------
Lenovo T60

* Processor: Intel Core Duo T2300E 1.66 GHz
* Screen Size: 14.1" TFT XGA (1024 x 768)
* Memory: 2 GB
* Hard Drive: 60 GB
* Networking: Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000, 802.11a/b/g
* Integrated Features: Stereo speakers, wireless LAN antenna, ThinkLight
* CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive
* Security Features: Trusted Platform Module (TPM 1.2) Security Chip, fingerprint reader
* Graphics Controller: Intel GMA 950
* Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
*Being told possible 1 used & 1 new battery

**$400**

 

[Tempered81]

i'd take the dell: faster processor, core 2 duo, larger wide screen, bigger HDD, DVDRW, SP2, Nvidia Geforce 8400GS, etc etc. You will miss those things...

pros for the lenovo: price, fingerprint reader, extra Batt.

 

[nefariouscaine]

Originally posted by: jaredpace
i'd take the dell: faster processor, core 2 duo, larger wide screen, bigger HDD, DVDRW, SP2, Nvidia Geforce 8400GS, etc etc. You will miss those things...

pros for the lenovo: price, fingerprint reader, extra Batt.

Not understanding how the Dell is a faster processor - i understand there is a FSB difference but IIRC the architecture is the same only the dell is a refresh running a lower clock speed

The size of the Dell monitor isn't exactly a huge plus as its 14.1 vs 15 of the same resolution

as I see it only actual pluses for the Dell are bigger HDD, DVD RW (never actually use them), 8400GS, is new and has warranty

Dell negatives are price, smaller battery (and only one), larger same rez screen, XP Home, more expensive and I am worried about build quality
--------------------
Lenovo has price, fingerprint reader, extra batt, XP Pro SP2 (IIRC has to be SP2 due to release times) ??better build quality??

Lenovo negatives used, no warranty, no 3D graphics, smaller HDD

---------------------

if i'm missing pros and cons please let me know

 

[Tempered81]

i don't think the dell's widescreen xga would be the same res as a 4:3 Aspect ratio 1024 x 768 14inch. the dell has a 800mhz FSB core 2 (T5270) the IBM has a 667mhz core 1 (t2300E) as in core, core solo, or core duo. Sounding biased owning a c2d vostro, heheh, & it's new with warranty??? I may be wrong though, but hey if you want the ibm, get it!!!

edit: didn't see the os was "home" i prefer pro. i think the vostro lcd specs are 1280 x 800 or 1440 x 900 trulife.

 

[nefariouscaine]

Originally posted by: jaredpace
i don't think the dell's widescreen xga would be the same res as a 4:3 Aspect ratio 1024 x 768 14inch. the dell has a 800mhz FSB core 2 (T5270) the IBM has a 667mhz core 1 (t2300E) as in core, core solo, or core duo. Sounding biased owning a c2d vostro, heheh, & it's new with warranty??? I may be wrong though, but hey if you want the ibm, get it!!!

edit: didn't see the os was "home" i prefer pro. i think the vostro lcd specs are 1280 x 800 or 1440 x 900 trulife.

my misunderstanding - interesting terms they have there - the rez is WXGA - don't know why they just didn't put it there

but same kinda goes for IBM on the T2300E processor but that was before the solo chips were out IIRC - its dual core all the way

http://www.intel.com/products/...mber/chart/coreduo.htm

**edit** its also possible i don't know much about damned laptop cpu's -

*DOUBLE EDIT* so if i'm not too mistaken the processors might perform comparably but the Dell SHOULD be lower on power consumption due to the 45nm process the chip is spun on

 

[Tempered81]

yah its a duo, just like the t5270, but a T2300E is 2 cores running at 166mhz FSB & based on "Core" Architecture vs. 2 cores at 200mhz FSB based on "Core 2" Architecture.

Core 1:
http://www.intel.com/products/...ssor/coreduo/index.htm

vs.

Core 2:
http://www.intel.com/products/...ptopcore+body_core2duo

Originally posted by: nefariouscaine

# Intel Core 2 Duo T5270


* Intel Core Duo T2300E

 

[DaveSimmons]

Does the Lenovo have a transferrable warranty? How much is left?

Laptop part failures can easily cost $500+ for out of warranty repairs, so buying used without a warranty is gambling.

The speed difference might be less than you think, if I recall correctly a Core 2 is ~10% faster clock-for-clock than Core Duo, so it's more like 1.54 vs. 1.66.

I'd much rather have nv 8400 graphics than intel 950, which won't even run Aero Glass in Vista.

 

[Tempered81]

caine:

no they're both 65nm dies, however the core 2 does use a lot less power due to enhanced halt states and communication with the ich8/9M for viiv/centrino battery saving options. eist, c1e, etc.

i would take a core2duo over a core duo anyday.

 

[compman25]

Take the Dell