Help choosing. Vostro vs Latitude

Need new laptop. Mine is an old 600m. Looing to replace with 14", but I do not like the octopus look of theVostro 3400 usb, etc. ports along the side of the unit. Prefer backside plug ins. So was looking more towards latitude, which I could do docking station, as well as ports are further back on the side of the machine. Problem is, am I buying just too much computer if I do latitude.

 

IMO and it's just that, that the Vostro's offer the best bang for the buck. The Vostro's are typically based on the Inspiron consumer line and sometimes you'll see a Vostro which has a direct link to the Latitude i.e. Vostro V13 and Latitude V13. The latitude line is known for it's premium well built business brand but IMO most laptops will give you 2-4 years of good service. By that time it's usually replaced with something else.

With the latitudes you'll find differences in configuration that are not available for a similar Vostro. I hope this helps you make your decision a little easier. I always compare the two brands and like I said I always pick a Vostro because I can save some serious coin.

 

An E6410 is obviously a more robust notebook than a Vostro 3400. The E6410 is all magnesium alloy, while the 3400 is all plastic with an aluminum screen cover and some metal trim on the sides. It's also worth noting that the Vostro doesn't even a screen latch and it doesn't have a number of other features that are expected on business notebooks.

If you're comparing solely on the basis of price, keep in mind that the E6410 has a standard 3 year warranty, as opposed to the 1 year warranty of the Vostro and lesser Latitudes. The additional warranty is worth $120 according to Dell, which seems about right.

 

Well as stated above I think in terms of brand new, the vostro will be a bettter price for what you get. That can come at a cost though, they are not as durable as latitudes, and by this I mean for users who are rough on their machines.

Almost all new machines will have the ports on the side so there is no changing that. Since Dell has the batteries stick out back that just stops it.

Now on terms of docking it, only the latitude offers this so if its a big feature you would like that makes up your mind there.

In terms of to much machine, what do you plan on doing with it.

 

I pretty much an a simple user. Keep most of my files on the computer, word processing, email, internet. I like the point about the computer having a latch, a small item I know, but still nice. Also, the latitiude looks more business like. I know about the warranty and would probably bump up to pro, unless was told the standard was fine. I got accidental protection insurance on this one, not sure I would need that again or not. I like to take my computer with me on trips, motorcycle wise and need it to be small, but do want the cd/dvd burner.

 

Could you please provide some additional details concerning preferences? The Vostro line is great if you just need good bang for buck, but if you desire more options in the way of features and hardware, you might be more inclined to opt for a Latitude. Specifically, how much does the display resolution matter to you? A Latitude will give you the option for a 16:10 WXGA+ display, whereas the Vostro offers a 16:9 720p display. The difference in materials, considering the type of warranty you seek, should not be very relevant to your decision, unless aesthetics merits some value in your decision.

The Vostro 3400 offers a far greater value than the Latitude E5410 or E6410 if you only need the basics. The reason is that the OS is included in the price, and the warranty upgrade appears to incur a lesser cost than the Latitude series computers. Unless I am reading it wrong, the 3 Year ProSupport/On-site warranty only costs $180, in comparison to over $200 for the Latitude E6410. Many other upgrades are already included in the price as well, such as Bluetooth and a 7200 RPM HDD.

All of this analysis is meaningless, however, if you also consider that Latitudes often have discounts in the form of coupons, that will greatly reduce the gap between a similarly configured Vostro and Latitude computer. I personally would spend some time detailing which components you seek, and performing a price comparison, to determine if smaller features, like build material and the latch are worth the difference in price.

Also note that you can scope out the Outlet for deals on a Latitude computer, which can offer you a pretty sweet price-to-performance ratio on available products. You can also upgrade the warranty on Outlet computers for further comparison.

Ultimately, only you can make the right decision, but I highly recommend you spend a bit of time doing some simple comparisons between these computers to help guide yourself in making the right decision. If you have any questions, we will gladly help, but if you can elaborate on your needs as well as your desires on a replacement computer, we can provide far better support.

 

For personal use, a Precision might be overkill, but a Latitude could be thought of as just choosing quality. Without fancy features, advanced graphics, or additional security options, a Latitude would be perfectly suited for everyday use.

If you like the Latitude design and have the budget, it's a decision you won't regret. I've recommended the Latitude to many people, and several of them only swear by the Latitude. One of them bought a D620 for her son, and later went on to buy an E6400, on her own, for her daughter. Both of her kids have now graduated from high school and are using their Latitudes in college, and both the customer and the users are very satisfied with the build quality and reliability.

 

Vostro is good for performance/price ratios, but I would get a Latitude. I own a Vostro and Precision (in sig), but I think you'll be happy with the refinement of the Latitude.

 

What a dell family.

 

I want a solid, nicely designed computer. The vostro would most likely be adequate, but as stupid as it may sound, I like the look of the latitude. It has a professional quality about it and my history with Dell has been good with regards to service and parts. I am sure the latitude is probably overkill. Last night I was surfing the forums and came across the new HP Envy 14. I was shocked at the response to this new computer... well over 800 pages! I thought maybe I had found the computer with all the bells and whistles, but when I came back to Dell the latitude just seemed to fit.