What will be better?

I was just wondering which components (if I could choose only one or the other combination) would be better worth it for me.

When configuring a 710m, there are two different configurations that will be the same price and if I had to choose one of them, which would you guys recommend in regards to battery life, heat, noise and performance/better option:

Inspiron 700m with Pentium M 755 (2.0 GHz), 512 MB DDR SDRAM (1x512 - however, I'm not sure if I want to risk installing more memory myself later on - plus that will be another cost), 80GB HDD, Wireless b/g (used to be a/b/g on the 700m standard).

OR

Same Inspiron but with a Pentium M 735 (1.7 GHz) and 1 GB SDRAM appose to the 2.0 GHz and 512MB RAM.

Could you tell me how much performance difference I will notice between the two and if the 2.0GHz will drain more battery faster or create more heat.

I'm thinking the additional 512MB RAM is more worth the .3 GHz in the processor but please confirm.

 

I would go with the first one with 512MB because dell over charges there memory. Installing memory is very easy and we can guide you through the proccess.

 

How much will it cost for a 512MB stick of RAM or a 1GB stick of RAM (compatible to that machine)?

Will the faster processor take up more battery power and/or create more heat?

 

yes, the faster processor will use more battery and take more heat; how much is probably not that bad. however, cost wise, the 2+ ghz processors are not worth it in my opinion. truth is, 99% of users never stress their cpus more then momentarily (unless you're doing massive renders for huge images or video). i'd say get the cheaper processor, get the least amount of ram you can and then upgrade via newegg or similar later.

also, the 700m's 4 cel battery has terrible life, you should get the 8 cel.

 

Ya, the 8-cell forsure. Ya I guess I could get the 1.7GHz and 512MB of RAM, but I don't want to have any disputes with Dell regarding warranty if they say I put in my own piece of memory. Plus the price difference isn't all that much. But out of those two, would you recommend the 1GB RAM w/ 1.7GHz or the 512MB RAM w/ 2.0GHz?

How much heat / noise are we talking about?

 

Well in this case, whatever is cheaper is worth it. If its a small increase, then the 2.0 Ghz would be best but 1.7 is fine. Its always good just to get the least memory and get it later.
The heat is all around nothing to worry about. You will be satisified and no one knows the excact heat difference.

Price wise for memory: The last time i checked for 1 GB stick at best buy was $150 which is not bad. It would be some where around there.

 

Hmmm, not bad. That 512MB one however, is available only through the small business section (as home section has free memory upgrade); so I did hear that the return/warranty policy is different in the small business section and a rumor that someone couldn't even return their machine within the first month.
Something like that.

Anyone with Small Business department experience?

 

And would the ultimate be the 2.0GHz with 1GB RAM? That heat though, however little increase it may be, the difference cannot be detected by the human touch correct? And noise levels or battery usage?

 

Their warranty policy is a bit different. You can find details of it here:
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/top...s_inspn_multi?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&~lt=popup

I haven't heard any problems with their return policy. As far as I know, it is the standard 21 day policy.

SG

 

Hmmm, I don't see much of a difference. Just the name of the warranty basically but same concept. I think it would be best for me to go with the Home and Home Office department purchase.

But I will continue to shop/wait around.

 

Oh and the internal wireless is 802.11b/g. What kind of areas will I be missing by not having the ' a '?

 

No you won't miss anything. Most hotspot are b/g. In fact, I don't know of any networks that are a, so as long as you make sure that your home network is b/g, you'll be fine.

 

Oh alright thanks. Could a be something used in transit? Perhaps on a train or airplane? I don't want to miss out on anything like that as I will be using the machine for years to come and you never know where life may lead you.

 

Nope, most every where A is used, G will be used also. The only difference A is from G is that A = 5.0Ghz and G = 2.4Ghz. So really, you wont miss nothing out.

 

Okay, good to know, thanks. I'll be comming to you for my wireless needs in the not-too-distant future .

 

BTW, will I be able to set up a home network myself? Doing all of the i.p. technicalities and what have you...