[Greece] Help me compose a Vostro 1400

Hi, I am thinking of buying a laptop for my mobile computing and around the campus needs and came up with the Vostro 1400 (we don't have the Inspiron 1420 here, only the 1525).
However our local Dell page is being temperamental and apparently the customization page doesn't work so as to see what is what and what I need so I could really use a hand here.

• CPU - Here I'm not THAT concerned about super high performance as I am about battery life and heat production. The ones they list under specs are:
  Core 2 Duo T7700 (2.40 GHz, FSB 800 MHz, cache L2 4 MB)
  Core 2 Duo T7500 (2.20 GHz, FSB 800 MHz, cache L2 4 MB)
  Core 2 Duo T7250 (2.00 GHz, FSB 800 MHz, cache L2 2 MB)
  Core 2 Duo T5470 (1.60 GHz, FSB 800 MHz, cache L2 2 MB)
  Core 2 Duo T5270 (1.40 GHz, FSB 800 MHz, cache L2 2 MB)
  Celeron 550 (2.00 GHz, FSB 533 MHz, cache L2 2 MB)
  Celeron 540 (1.86 GHz, FSB 533 MHz, cache L2 2 MB)
  Which one will do me best without breaking the bank? (No, not really thinking of going as low as a Celeron)
• Monitor:
  WXGA+ 14,1" (1.440x900) with TrueLife
  WXGA 14,1" (1.280x800) with TrueLife
  WXGA 14,1" (1.280x800)
  OK, I can't find ANYWHERE on the site what TrueLife is. Will I need it?
  BTW, I DO plan to watch movies here as well as play a couple of (older) games (no FPSs here though...)
• Wireless:
  Dell Wireless 1390 802.11b/g Mini Card Wireless
  Dell Wireless 1490 802.11a/b/g Mini Card Wireless
  Dell Wireless 1505 Wireless-N Mini Card
  Intel Pro/Wireless 3945 802.11 a/b/g Mini Card Wireless
  Intel 4965AGN Wireless-N Mini Card
  Not much help here on what is what. Soon they will be enabling wireless internet within the campus (that will put most aDSLs to shame) for students so I really need a good WiFi. Also this machine will be getting Ubuntu 8.04 so if you know of a certain one that works better under linux than another please point that out.

Well, that's about it really.
I will also add the GeForce 8400M GS w/128 MB dedicated DDR2 RAM option and will choose RAM, battery and HDD according to the budget.

All and any help is greatly appreciated!!!

 

CPU

Core 2 Duo T7250 (2.00 GHz, FSB 800 MHz, cache L2 2 MB)

Monitor

TrueLife = glossy

Wireless

Intel Pro/Wireless 3945 802.11 a/b/g Mini Card Wireless definitely!

If you use Ubuntu, this is the best.

Hope this helps.

 

Hey, thanks a lot for helping me!

If you don't mind a couple of questions though?

- What exactly is the preferred use of a glossy vs a non-glossy monitor?
Which one should I prefer for my case (both heavy browsing, medium office-suite usage and somewhat-frequent movie watching (and less frequent light gaming)...

- I heard that Intel put out a new gen of C2D CPUs that has better battery life than the previous one but dunno which one it is or whether it is in the above list.
However the sales-person I talked to made me think that perhaps they'd be willing to put whichever CPU this platform can accept that they carry regardless of the official specs (they're still VERY new here for retail so I guess they can do that if that will net them a sale). Which CPU (that the Intel 965PM Express chipset can accept) regardless of the list would give me the best battery life as well as the best performance-for-buck?
Like I said I'm not looking for the fastest, just the most power and cost conscious...

Again, thanks for your help!!!

 

i have a trulife and it is aweeesomeeeeeeeee really... it is glossy and displays excellent colors. I cant debate on the fact that whether it is worth the money or not but it definitely is excellent

 

If you will be using it outside or in sunlight, you'd probably want the non-glossy. Otherwise, the glossy does make for more vibrant colors.

I still say the CPU I referenced would be the best for your needs, unless you can get it outfitted with a Peryn processor; ask the sales-person about that. The Peryn line are newer and more power-conscious.

 

Hmm, I THINK that I just might be able to do that.
However I don't want to ask him whether I can but rather ask him for a quote with me already giving him the specs.
From the way he spoke I got the very strong impression that he didn't want to give me specs himself (probably because he knew what he could and could not offer) but that if I were to ask for the specs I want he'd probably comply (as long as they stock it).

So, again, the specs-page says it uses the 965GM Express chipset and I'll be asking it with the GeForce 8400M GS w/128 MB dedicated DDR2 RAM...
I'll probably ask it with either 1 or 2 GB ram, depending on the remaining budget (BTW, will it be cheaper/better to get the RAM and/or HDD after-market from elsewhere?)

If I could order it with any CPU that this chipset properly supports and that they're known to offer, which one should I ask for for maximum bang for buck and minimum power consumption?