Inspiron E1505 vs. Latitude D820

I tried to search the forum before posting this thread, so I hope it's not a redundant question. If there is already a thread, please point me to it.

I'm debating between an Inspiron E1505 and Latitude D820. So I hope you all can give me some pointers here. Here is what I'm going to use it for: Internet, e-mail, word, excel, access, photo editing, create web page, and watch DVD while on road.

From what I read in this forum, the E1505 offers a glossy screen (which I really like) and the 820 doesn't. But the 820 is more sturdy, and I like the fingerprint reader option. I only travel occasionally (major holidays), but I'd like to take it with me. Weight is also a factor to me - as I prefer a light weight. Do you have any suggestions which one I should pick?

Also, I'm just a home user. Can I still buy the D820 since it's for business only?

Thanks in advance to all who reply.

 

Yes you can still buy the D820 from the business store. lf you don't plan on using the built-in speakers often then go for the D820 (l think the 820 only has one speaker).

 

Perhaps you should consider the FAQ and post there. Knowing your budget would help. If were to chose between those two, I would opt for the D820 for the build quality though it will cost more. If you really like glossy screens I would suggest a Fujitsu. Something like the e8210.

 

The D820 has 2 speakers, one on each side of the keyboard. I don't think the D820 has MediaDirect, which is a nice feature to have if you wanna watch DVDs on the road, as it extends battery life. Personally, I like the D820 over the e1505, but for what you are going to be doing, the e1505 might be the way to go

 

Nope, that's the D620.

 

Thank you to everyone who wrote in your advice. My budget is $1200 or less (less would be better) - but it probably ends up a little more. As I plugged in some sample configurations, it looks like I'd get more belt & whistle for an E1505 than the D820. Here is what I did:

Latitude D820: $1,215.00

Intel® Core™ Duo T2300 (1.67GHz) 667Mhz Dual Core
Genuine Windows® XP Professional, SP2, with media
15.4 inch Wide Screen WXGA LCD Panel
1.0GB, DDR2-533 SDRAM, 2 DIMMS
Intel® Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 950
40GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 5400RPM
Fingerprint Reader Touchpad
AC Adapter 90W A/C Adapter
24X CD-RW/DVD w/ Cyberlink PowerDVD™
Wireless LAN (802.11) Dell Wireless™ 1390 802.11g Mini Card
6 Cell Primary Battery
Hardware Support Services 3 Year Mail-In Economy Plan

Inspiron E1505: $1,281.00 ($2031 - $750 off coupon)

Intel® Core™ Duo processor T2400 (2MB Cache/1.83GHz/667MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows® XP Professional
15.4 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen SXGA+ Display with TrueLife™
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm
256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory™
60GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Combo/DVD+RW Drives 8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
Wireless Cards Intel® PRO 3945 and Dell 350 Bluetooth Internal Wireless Cards
53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Hardware Warranty 3Yr Ltd Warr,At-Home Service,and HW Warr Support plus Nights and Weekends

Additionally, there is a $100 off of $2000 for the E1505 that worked just last night, but it's no longer working now. Anyone has any ideas?

Thanks.

 

I personally would get the WSXGA screen for the D820. It seems more normal. I would upgrade the memory after. Dell overcharges for it.

 

Windows professional is pushing the cost up of both systems. Are you adamant about have that OS?

Based on weight alone, the D820 is lighter. I see however your configurations are not similar: The 820 has a smaller HD, lower resolution and integrated graphics.

The fingerprint recognition is a novelty in my opinion so I opted against it. I have a smart card but I don't care for that type of security. Is there sensitive or classified information necessitating this? If not, take the option off and upgrade the HD and GMA.

Next, do you really need home warranty service? You can reduce the price of the 1505. I see the 1505 has Bluetooth also.

In summary: These are two different configurations and the more powerful machine is the 1505 (better resolution, bigger HD, dedicated graphics, Bluetooth).

Based on the two configurations and given that price is an issue the 1505 will be a better choice.

 

Oh, yeah, you're right. What I've configured doesn't make sense - in term of comparision. But what I was trying to do was to load up the E1505 to be over $1999 to take advantage of the $750 off coupon (hence the extra 3-year warranty & the bluetooth). Same thing for the D820 - configured it over $1599 to get the $400 off. But the D820 is more expensive, so I have to skimp on my options.

I re-configured the E1505 with less options like you suggested, however, the final price still come pretty close to the previous config (with all the extras) because the coupon value decreased ($450 for $1499).

Thank you for taking the time to response to my inquiry.