14 in. laptop for college - focused assistance

Kinda weird title but I couldn't think of something else lol.

I'm going to be going to college this fall and might need a laptop. I'm wondering how useful it will actually be; are you guys in college? did you guys have one freshman year?

Also, I've been looking at the vostro/inspiron 14in laptops. I'm willing to go up to 1000 but the cheaper the better. This setup seems pretty nice. I'm planning on using it mainly for some light gaming - cnc3, css, games like that- and schoolwork. My questions are all the way on the bottom.

--VOSTRO------
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7100 (1.8GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic
LCD PANEL 14.1 inch Wide Screen XGA LCD Display
MEMORY 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, 2 DIMM
HARD DRIVE 120G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
OPTICAL DRIVE 8X CD/DVD Burner w/ double-layer DVD+R write capability, w/ Roxio Creator
VIDEO CARD 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M GS
WI-FI WIRELESS CARD Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Wi-Fi Mini Card
WEBCAM Integrated 2.0 mega pixel Web Camera
SOUND OPTION Integrated High Definition Audio
--------------- 900$~ish

--INSPIRON----
SYSTEM COLOR Jet Black
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition
DISPLAY Anti-glare, widescreen 14.1 inch display (1280x800)
VIDEO CARD 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8400M GS
MEMORY 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
HARD DRIVE Size: 120GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM
OPTICAL DRIVE 24X CD writer/DVD Combo Drive
WIRELESS NETWORK CARDS Intel® 3945 802.11a/g Mini-card
BLUETOOTH OPTIONS Built-in Bluetooth capability (2.0 EDR)
INTEGRATED WEBCAM Integrated 2.0 Megapixel Webcam
BATTERY OPTIONS 56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)
SOUND OPTIONS High Definition Audio 2.0
---------- 1000$~ish w/ coupon

My questions are:
how much do i need 2 ghz? Does the 2mb extra cache really make a difference?

I don't need much memory on my hd but does getting the higher RPM much better? I don't think I'll be using this laptop for gaming that much so....

Does having bluetooth really help? I have absolutely no bluetooth devices?

Which Wireless card would you guys reccomend?

Would the vostro build be better? I know that there the same build but the actual setup since most people seem to be buying a gripload of inspirons. I'm not too worried about ship time though.

Thanks a lot for your time and possibly your help

 

I'd recommend that you get a 9 cell battery...I ordered a Inspiron 1420 but I still havent got it...my friend got his Inspiron 1520 a week back...his battery lasts hardly for 1.5-2 hrs with using dell recommended settings for maximising battery life. I got myself a 9 cell battery and would like to recommend that for you too.

There is not much difference between 5400 RPM & 7200 RPM...and also in the extra 2MB cache...so you dont have to invest that extra bit in these...

A bluetooth would be good to have on any day...

Hope this helps.

 

Those are pretty heavy laptops if you plan on travelling with it in college to class. This is why i bought an M1330, i plan on taking it to every class I go to.

Just like the above poster said, get the 9 cell, ( i wil upgrade later if needed)

 

I didn't have a laptop all 4 years while in college, and never felt a need for one. To tell the truth a laptop will not help you in lectures, if anything it'll distract you.

I only got one after graduation because now work requires some travel.

 

it depends on what your taking and how often you use the computer... i honestly need to type my work and do almost all my work on my computer... there's nothing you never NEED but a laptop would help if you type your notes (rather than writing it and typing it afterwards)... i have horrid writing so yep

 

If I didn't have to take it to class would it still be of use?

 

If you aren't taking it to class, you might consider a 1520, which can come with a better video card, for your "light gaming" needs. Experience has taught me always to get the best video card I can afford for games, even if I think I won't be doing much gaming. You might even want to consider a desktop. Towards the end of the school year, when term projects are coming due, it can be hard to find a free computer in the school lab (at least it is where I've gone to school). And even during the school year, I find it convenient to be able to work on powerpoint presentations and other projects when I'm away from school lab, or when the lab is closed.

 

there isn't a doubt in my mind that I will be having a computer w/ me in college: it is just between a desktop and a laptop. I've already set my mind on a 14in. so. But what other ideas reasons would I need it for. My friend says it would be really convinient for study sessions, library use, and around campus use; anything else?

 

If you have to do any projects along with other people, you may find it more convenient to meet somewhere other than the lab or library (where they discourage talking).

 

Yea I thought for projects too....

Does the vostro/inspiron have media direct?

 

at least for me I never felt the need for a computer in college(just graduated). But then again, I never studied on campus, always hated the library.

Actually if you budget is 1 grand, might as well spend 300-400 and buy a cheap laptop and the other 600-700 on a pretty nice desktop.

 

they have media direct, seems kinda useless though. I always leave my laptop in sleep anyways.

 

how did you end up only spending 620? thats really good lol.

I already have a more than decent desktop which is why I'm questioning whether or not I really need a laptop. I have a e6600 2.4Ghz, 7950gtko, 2gb ram, built it around january of this year.

Thanks for letting me know about media direct

btw: do you guys know which wireless card I should get?

 

bump; sorry I really hope my questions can be answered

 

Since you have a good desktop, why don't you postpone your decision on whether or not to buy a laptop until you see how well your desktop works out.

 

I don't know if I should do that; but if I do bring my desktop then for sure I don't need a laptop. I've been asking my friends who are in college and there saying a laptop helps a lot but then again they are going to colleges far from home so they can't really bring a desktop w/ them.

on another note, do you think I should get the intel or the dell a/g card?

 

I think the Dell card is only b/g.
The Intel card is a/b/g.
As far as I know, any wireless that does g will also do b.
b and g use the same wavelength, and as far as I know, all public access points use b/g.
n is new technology, and I'm not even sure if the standard is finalized yet. But n cards would be backwards-compatible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/802.11n#802.11n

I got the basic b/g card for mine. If I need to use something else in the future, I figure I can just get an external card. But I doubt I'll ever have to use an access point other than one that uses b/g in the foreseeable future.

 

I have a good desktop I use for college. I am getting a laptop because I live farther from campus now, so I'll be spending much more time outside of my apartment. My first two years, I lived only 5 mins from campus and parking was easy, so I did all my studying in my apartment.

It doesn't sound like you spend most of your time (IE all day except sleeping) far from your place. If you have to THINK about whether you need a laptop, I suggest you save your money or postpone your decision a semester. By mid semester, you'll know for sure if you want one or not.

Also, don't worry about wireless A. You'll know for sure if you need Wireless A or not by now. It was developed as a competing standard against Wireless B I think. That's why it's not compatible with anything else. Go with the dell card. You'll save big bucks.

 

That might be something I might do, though I wonder if it will be of any use since I doubt the base price of the vostros wont get any cheaper...I mean, the new chipset for intel is coming out q2 next year but I doubt that will mean I can get something I want now for like 200$ less.

I heard that the N-card has better range, is this true?