Which m1330 config?

Hey guys, I was currently deciding on 2 particular configurations for the m1330 on the outlet. Before I state the specs, let me state that battery life is my top priority and that the primary use of the laptop will be for word/spreadsheets/internet. Secondary use (not too important but would be nice if possible) is hooking the laptop to my 52 inch (1700x1000) and watching 720p episodes on it.

Also on a further note, I tested my friend's m1330 and his config is 1.66ghz/2gbs ram/5400 rpm hd/integrated gfx. Running some 720p encoded episodes actually stuttered at a few intense parts to my dismay :/

Anyways without any further ado, here are the 2 configs and based on my criteria, which do you think is a better setup. Both setups have integrated gfx.

config 1(choice i'm leaning towards)
T7100(1.8ghz)
120gb 7200rpm
Bluetooth
LED display(chi mei)
9 Cell battery
2 gb ram

config 2(choice that seems more future proof)
T8300 (2.4ghz)
160gb 5400rpm
Bluetooth
regular LCD display
6 cell battery
2 gb ram

These two configurations both cost almost identically the same. I was in a big toss up between the two because -

config 1 seems to have the best battery life but (the 9 cell adds more weight to the thin notebook and the 1.8ghz processor might stutter on videos [considering the 1.66 one choked at some points.

config 2 has a much better processor(penryn) which runs cooler, more efficient, and faster of course. the 6 cell battery sits flush with the system and should have no problem with rendering videos.

Now I went with config 1 because my ultimate goal was met, but naturally i'm still wondering if that was the best choice (considering both laptops were floating around the same price (844 shipped).

What do you guys think?

 

How did you get to choose those CPUs? On Dell website, I only see one option:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5550 (2MB cache/1.83GHz/667Mhz FSB)

Where can I find (and choose) those processors? Thanks.

 

ah these were options from dell outlet (refurbished laptops)

 

Should opt for the 2nd option and replace with 9-cell battery since it's the utmost importance

 

The T7100 could be a quite old notebook standing around in a warehouse since summer 2007, because Dell did not offer this CPU since then. This could also mean that there is something wrong with it if they could not sell it.

 

Hmm, I have a T5450 1.66, 2 GB Ram, 5400 RPM, Intel GFX XPS M1300 just like you said you tried. I haven't tried any 720p video yet, but I asked on this forum if that will be enough to smoothly run downloaded HD video and I got unanimous replies that it was. Now I'm worried because you said it ws stutteringg on the material.

Where could I download a few clips to test this out?
Did it stutter only throgh the HDMI or on the laptop screen also?

Thanks.

 

Wow, in my opinions I could not see how you decided! Those are some good notebooks to choose from. In all honesty I would have went for the 2nd one because to me size over speed; I'll take the 40gb more, Penryn 2.4ghz is amazing, and to me the LED screen was not that big of a difference because I am used to darker screens and to me it's hard adapting.

But, hey, enjoy!

 

hehe thanks for all the replies guys.

I'm feeling bad now that I didn't pick the penryn instead but like I said in my original post my main concern was battery life. I wasn't planning on running any games/programs really except internet/spreadsheets/word. I'm really only reconsidering my decision because the penryn does promise better battery life(although I don't know how much more) and that the 6 cell would be perfectly flush with the system and look/weigh nicely.

For ZZen, I haven't tried running the video on just the laptop display alone because I usually run my videos thru hdmi on my 52'. I can definitely assure you that there is a slowdown but only in the opening of this one anime ep (Code Geass R2 ep 2) in the scene there is alot of animation running and the music/subs don't match. It is not a problem of the encode because I run it on my dual core desktop @1080p and it plays just fine.