In NEED of Help for Specs on a Laptop!!!

I'm a Graphic Designer (still in school for it and don't do it professionally yet) but want a laptop so I can do all my school work on it and not be chained to my desktop in my house when I could be elsewhere - that is my purpose for getting one)

There are sales on Dell, and unfortunatly they only have few computers left with "Windows XP" and I only want XP right now as programs I have aren't compatible with Vista yet and I'm not in the market to buy anything more at the moment. I've been going back & forth between specs for 2 weeks now & get different answers from people

I'm so confused about some of the specs so if anyone can help me with the following questions, I would GREATLY appreciate it.


I am on a budget and really can't spend a lot of money but I also don't want to settle for something that won't work as fast or well, so I have to upgrade some stuff - it's WHICH SPECS to upgrade to though.

Sorry this is a bit long

1) Processor (definently want a Core "2" Duo as it has 2 dual processors inside, but there are 3 different options for it
Core 2 Duo T5300 (2MB 1.73GHz 533MHz) $100 upgrade
Core 2 Duo T5600 (2MB 1.83GHz 667MHz) $175 upgrade
Core 2 Duo T7200 (4MB 2.0 GHz 667MHz) $200 upgrade

2) VIDEO CARD
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (comes with it for free)
256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 Hyper Memory ($59 upgrade)


3) MEMORY (problem is knowing what's more important, the GB or the MHz I know having more GB is important but does it defeat the purpose of upgrading if I'm upgrading to the SAME GB but faster MHz(ie: 1GB @ 533 to 1GB @ 677)

1 GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz 2 Dimm
1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz 2 Dimm ($25 upgrade)
2 GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz 2 Dimm ($150 upgrade)
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz 2 Dimm ($200 upgrade)


4) Wireless Networking Cards
1390 B/g 54 Mbps (comes with laptop)
Intel Pro/Wireless 3945 a/g ($29 upgrade)

I currently am using a B modem with a g card in my desktop but does a/g mean you can use either modem? and I've heard it's faster and better??

Last but not least

5a) BATTERY
53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (included)
80 WGr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery ($49 upgrade)
6-cell Primary Battery and 9-cell additional Lithium Ion Battery ($79 upgrade)
9-cell Primary Battery and 9-cell additoinal Lithium Ion Battery ($128 upgrade)

5b) if you get an additional battery does it also come with an external charger to charge the add'l battery up? if no, that would defeat the purpose of getting an addt'l (for me personally)


6) Do laptops come with (what's it called? an adapter or just wires?) something to plug it into the wall if it starts dying, so you can use it while it's plugged in? (not sure if that's an adapter) and does it come w/it.


Thanks

 

1) If you plan to do video editing, it will be better to get the T7200 processor, since video editing is CPU intensive. For most other tasks, a base core 2 duo should be fine.

2) If you plan on gaming, get the X1400. I would recommend to get it anyway, since its only a $59 upgrade, and you cannot upgrade the graphics card at a later stage.

3) GB is more important than MHz. There is no noticeable difference between 533 and 667 MHz. Opt for 1GB of RAM, and then buy and 2GB RAM (from newegg.com for example) and upgrade later. Upgrading RAM is very easy.

4) You can still use the B modem with an A/G card. No problem.

5a) Do you plan on using the notebook unplugged for long periods of time? If so, the 9 cell battery would be a good idea.

5b) There is no external charger. You just swap the additional battery with the one already in your notebook.

6) All laptops come with a power adapter. You can use the laptop while it is plugged in.

Hope this helps!

 

1) T7200 - This is the best processor for the dollar. If you can afford it, it will help you when you have heavy tasks to do.
2) GMA 950 - Unless you play video games or do 3D applications, you won't need more power than that.
3) Either 1GB or 2GB @ 533MHz. 667MHz has no benefits regardless of the better looking speed. Personally, I'd get the cheapest RAM there...and then go to NewEgg and purchase the RAM you'll really want (2GB RAM). Dell overcharges for RAM anyway...for $260 you can get 4GB, so why pay $200 for 2GB?
4) Intel cards perform better, but if you aren't going to be on a lot of WiFi networks...
5a) 80Whr.
5b) The battery will only charge when you put it into the laptop...no extra charger for it.
6) Yeah, they come with an AC Adapter...and yes you can use the laptop either while plugged in or on battery power only.

Edit: Ooops...jetstar beat me to it!

 

Thanks so much and yes

To answer your question, Yes, I do plan on using it unplugged for a longer period of time - then again I'm not sure - but when I do take it out to go somewhere else I'm sure it would be 4-5 hours I'd be using it and nowhere on Dell (or their cust reps) tell you how long the 6-cell or 9-cell lasts.


so if you upgrade to buy an additional battery, isn't that pointless? because if it's not charged up and the original one dies out (but you are out and nowhere to plug into) then doesn't that defeat the purpose of getting an addt'l one? Unless when you're not using it you can charge both at different times, and I wonder if it stays charged until you use it (then is it worth it to upgrade to the primary w/the addtl battery?)



Thank you for the confirming about the GB and MHz and I wasn't sure if you could upgrade the memory in a "laptop" like I did on my desktop. I will definently take your advice and go with the 1GB that's included and upgrade it on my own. Thanks so much, great idea.


Also, I don't plan on video or gaming really, I just do graphics with pictures and etc. What is the difference b/w video cards (the colors, speed - not sure)


thx


oh yeah, Night_2004, question on something you wrote:
4) Intel cards perform better, but if you aren't going to be on a lot of WiFi networks...

then what, get the Intel? (you're referring to the video card, correct?)

 

Well, just to make this more confusing...

Some laptops do allow you to use 2 batteries AT ONCE, and charge them at once as well. Dell Latitudes (D830, D630) and HP Compaq (nc8430, nx7400, 8510p, etc) notebooks have such dual-battery support.

I meant get the Intel if you do a lot of WiFi surfing...otherwise it does not matter. I'm talking about wireless cards.

Intel graphics cards are an entirely different thing...their GPUs are not for gaming, but their CPUs and WiFi cards are top notch.