Vostro V13 - Core 2 solo and 5100 wireless

I'm in the middle of discussions with dell on a new Vostro V13. Dell's system
refuses to configure the Core 2 solo ULV SU3500 with the Intel 5100 wireless,
it says they are incompatible and I must choose the "g" wireless or bump
the CPU up to a core 2 duo SU7300. I do not want this as it consumes
twice as much power as the solo and costs 100$ more.

The Latitude 13, however, accepts the combination no problems.

Not surprisingly, the four dell representatives I just talked to say that they're
two different machines and I can't have the combination I want cause the
wireless and cpu aren't compatible.

I understand from reading here that the V13 and the Lat 13 are indeed the
same machine so there shouldn't be a proplem.

Any ideas on this ? The V13 configuration is much cheaper than the
Latitude, same specs, except for the wireless.

Thanks.

 

I wouldn't be worried about the power consumption of the Duo vs. the Solo processor. I'd be more concerned that both processors are obsolete and underpowered. I would advise against running Window on any single core processor.

An Intel wireless card might a wise investment, but again, you're talking about a last generation card.

Keep in mind the Vostro V13/Latitude 13 has a mediocre battery life regardless of processor. It all comes down to that low output, integrated battery.

Vostros are always more prepackaged, with fewer options. When it comes down to it, the only truly outstanding deal is for the base $399 V13. Other than that, and I'd start looking around. The updated HP DM3 is worth a look, although the previous DM3 sure wasn't. There will be quite a few SULV i Core subnotebooks in the coming months.

 

I was gonna say the same thing as above.
I had my eye on the V13, but I need good battery life in addition to portability.

The updated HP pavilion dm3t for sept. 2010 looks like a good bet - they seemed to have improved on the trackpad and the screen resolution from the last version, although I haven't read any full reviews yet. Also the battery life is reportedly 7.5 hrs, and you can run windows 7 64 bit (i think), has core i3 and options for SSD and backlit keyboard.
only downside is it doesnt have a matte screen, but i guess i'll live with that.

so i'd say either wait and see if dell updates the v13, or get the new pavilion.

 

I would go with a full-powered laptop, like the E4300 or E4310. Check the Dell Outlet too, if you aren't able to find the right configuration, either keep looking, or add the options yourself (ie. order the base WLAN card and buy an Intel 5100 yourself).

 

If this is a possibility then my problems are solved,
I have no qualms regarding changing a card inside
the laptop. Thanks.

Btw, I talked to Dell support about the configuration
problem and was told that it was probably a "glitch"
in their system. As usual they could not offer me
any way to resolve the matter to my satisfaction.
Interdepartment communication inside Dell is
non-existant.

This laptop is for my daughter in college and all
she'll be doing (of worth) is writing documents
with MS Word and OneNote. So power requiments
are low, as long as Windows 7 professional is supported.

Thinness and lightweight are the main factors as
she has to carry it on her back. Battery life need
only be a minimum of three hours.

Given the above I find the V13 to be pretty interesting.
The Core 2 solo only consumes 5w, the duo 10w.
The price I'm working with dell on (if they'd just
get back to me) is pretty interesting as well.

I'm sticking with Dell for their warranty service
and the ability to configure my system and negociate
the price. I don't think these can be matched
elsewhere.

 

The E4300 isn't that much larger than the V13, and it will be much more powerful. Even for basic tasks, the CPU will make a difference, and I would definately go with the more powerful option for future-proofing.

In addition, the E4300 is a "real" Latitude (Latitude 13 is just rebranded Vostro, so it's not up-to-par), and things like docking could be quite handy to have (ie. docked in her room, possibly with external peripherals and LCD). With the Dell Outlet prices, it's definately an attractive choice.

 

I'd suggest that you carefully research how easy it is to access the wireless card in this very unorthodox notebook case.

Of course, your still talking about a last-generation Intel card. It probably isn't worth the bother. After all, what's so awful about a Broadcom card?

Now that Broadcom is finally releasing the source code for Linux drivers, the only real reason why anyone would absolutely NEED an Intel wireless card just disappeared.

Oh dear. A single core processor is passable with linux, but not with Windows 7. Have a couple of Office 2010 applications open, along with an internet browser and a virus scan running in the background, and you have a pig slow system with a single core processor. It's a bad idea.

Battery life is not proportional to maximum processor power consumption. In this case, any battery life advantages from a weak 5.5 watt single core processor are outweighed by the weak battery. This integrated 6-cell battery has an output that is closer to the typical 3-cell notebook battery.

In any case, the current Core i series is far more effective at prolonging battery life. There's a reason why there is no longer an equivalent to the Core 2 Solo.

Just remember that you don't get a standard 3 year warranty with the Latitude 13/Vostro V13. You're just getting a standard 1 year warranty, just like a consumer laptop.

This is precisely why I can compare the new Core i3 HP DM3 to the Latitude 13/Vostro V13.

 

What difference does that make to end users? Intel WLAN cards tend to pick up more wireless networks than a comparable Broadcom card. Sometimes that makes a huge difference when the signal of a preferred network is weak, and having a couple systems with Broadcom cards (which promptly got sold once the Intel ones arrived), I can say Intel cards are worth the money. Most of the time, I get the Broadcom card from the factory and find a Dell OEM Intel card on Ebay (Intel cards not designed for Dell systems will cause the WiFi LED to blink with activity, which can only be disabled through registry edit).

They might also offer better battery life because it completes the Centrino platform (notice how some laptops have CPU-related stickers and others have Centrino, the ones that don't have Intel cards get a CPU sticker).

Paul, the Latitude E4300 should be sounding better by the minute.

 

This claim definitely does not reflect my experiences. For example, Windows 7 Ultimate x86, Office 2010, and IE8 run surprisingly well performance-wise on a five year old Latitude D810 with a 2 GHz Pentium M, a Radeon X600 video adapter and 2GB of RAM, even if the display hardware does not support Windows Aero. It also runs smartly on four year old, single-core OptiPlex 270 desktops.

 

I agree, I manage a couple D610's and GX270/GX280's running Windows 7 with no problems (and Aero works on the D610's X300 graphics).

However, the CPU in the V13 isn't a regular single core CPU, it's ultra-low voltage and low clock speed. I personally wouldn't ever touch one of those.