Lenovo or Dell

For the "same" price is better an R61 with T7100 and 1 gb of ram (2*512) or a dell vostro 1400 with T8100 and 2 gb of ram ?!?

Lenovo is my favourite but the price (In this case 700 euro) is a little too high...

 

Dell seems to fit what you "want" more

 

Lenovo has horrible prices outside the U.S. so in this case even though the thinkpad is better than the Dell, go with what's cheaper.

 

But for the mentioned products the price is the same.
If the keyboard and chassis quality of the 1400 is only a little less (Or better... about the same...) than that of R61 then I'll go for the 1400.
But in the opposite case...

But I think that the difference in terms of performance, for these two models, is evident. Or not ?

 

How is it possible for the R61 to be 700 euros with only that configuration?

My T61, which I purchased a few months ago, was cheaper, and has a better setup. I'd seriously look into where you're purchasing your laptop from amazing-boy.

 

Go with the dell for those prices. Much better deal, even though the thinkpad itself is a better computer.

 

Dell has much better support.

 

In terms of built quality, the ThinkPads in general will last you longer no doubt. I've configured and used a few Vostro's at work. They did feel more solid than Inspirons (not a placebo effect), but it's still somewhat a new line from Dell with not enough background to compare to ThinkPad's.

I read from a few who live in Europe who ordered ThinkPads from the US and the price with the shipping was less than buying them locally, that's insane

 

I live in Italy and that price is really the best I've found !
Incredible...

So... I think to do for a Dell (1400 or 1310 ?!?) or for an Hp 6510B.

The Dell costs less and has better features.
But in terms of build quality (Mainly the keyboard) which is better among 6510B and Vostro 1400 ?

Is it true that the new vostro serie (1310 and 1510) have not the same good quality of the old models (1400 and 1500) ?

 

dell support suxs imho.. i work on laptops/computers daily.. and when i hear customers talk about having to call they always complain about dell's tech support.. granted.. if you do online chat their support is fine

 

Yes I know that the dell support is good but... for now I'm mainly interested into build quality and I don't know if it that of dell is better or not than Hp business (That I've used and is average good).

 

Lenovo is the best build quality in my opinion.

 

Dell is cheaper but it still has the quality of a good notebook. if i were you, i'd go for Dell.

 

well just take this as a grain of salt

like i said earlier i work on laptops/computers for a living.. i had the same choice to buy a dell.. hp.. thinkpad.. whatever.. from my experience.. the thinkpads are always still kicking while the others have so many problems.. granted yes the warranty/customer service if you can understand them is ok.. but i had an old thinkpad come in and it still looked new.. the hard drive crashed.. all the dells that come in are all damaged/cracked/etc.. just my opinion.. if was me.. i'd get the thinkpad.. and thats what i did.. i got a R61

 

I think it all depends on the model you're getting. I would never recommend getting an inspiron to anyone, but I have yet to see or use a vostro. On the other hand, I probably would take the xps 1330 over my t61.

 

What about the surface of the T61-is it made of magnesium? Or is it made of plastic like the R61?As far as I know this has been one of the biggest differences between the previous T and the R series.I read very contraindicative info on the different reviews-some state that the T61 has magnesium outer body and other-that is rugged plastic.In the Lenovo's site they just mention that they have replaced the metal lid cover on the T61 with a plastic one for better WWAN.But they don't mention anything about the rest of the outer body.I don't mean the Roll Cage inside-I know that the T seres and some of the R series have that inside.The Dell Latitudes,for example,have all magnesium outer surface.

 

I don't think most people would dispute the exterior durability of the Thinkpad, but what about the screen? How do you like it?

 

But... which model ?
Dell Vostro 1400 or 1310 ?!

In the same configuration the latter there is a difference of 100 euro (600 euro for 1400 and 700 for 1310) but the sensation is that however the 1400 is better build and with a better keyboard.
Is really so ?

 

As someone who supports several hundred Dell computers, I can tell you that support is quite good, from the Business division, which is the division you'd buy a Vostro from.

Many of the problems that come from Dell support are from the Home division. Some of that is also because home users as a rule, are often a little less computer literate, making support a bit more difficult. I'm not saying there aren't bad experiences (and there was a time around 4 years ago where had some real complaints myself) but Dell has improved greatly from that time 4 years ago.

 

Amazing,

I was back and forth between the same computers (well, same model numbers, though w/ different CPUs) back in November. I bought the Dell first, kept it for 2 weeks, and then returned it and bought the lenovo. For the most part I've been quite happy with that decision. The only thing that I'm not happy about is that the mic on the Lenovo is next to the keyboard, whereas it is on the bezel of the vostro. Not a huge deal to most folks, but I'm a music teacher and I use the internal mic a lot, and the Lenovo mic picks up all the CPU fan noise because it's in the chassis. Also, my students were very vocal about the fact that the lenovo isn't nearly as sexy as the vostro (not that the vostro is particularly sexy, but . . . ).

just 2 cents from a stranger.

 

And which aspects You didn't like about Dell 1400 ?

The Lenovo was my first choice but in Italy it is too much expensive considering that an R61 with T7250 and 1 gb of ram costs at least 780 euro.

 

Three reasons I returned the dell:

- the bulky design (larger than my wife's 14" compaq from 2 or 3 years earlier)

- the grainy screen (my lenovo's isn't grainy, but its not got the brightness/contrast of the dell since its matte)

- A battery that didn't sit tightly in place. This is one of those nit-picky things that I discovered after reading the forums, and probably wouldn't have actually bothered me too much, except for the fact that it represented a lack of quality control that I thought might come to haunt me later.

For what its worth, I've had only great experiences w/ customer service from both dell and lenovo (after months of abysmal service w/ hp/compaq for my last computer). When I decided to return the dell, I simply called them and they picked it up the next day, totally refunded all my money immediately. When the battery on my lenovo died unexpectedly, they sent me a new one in 2 business days, even though I bought the computer used. So folks have horror stories, but I think both companies have the capacity to do very well, as I've experienced.

Also, for what its worth, i will likely buy another computer soon (as I'm trying to buy/sell every year to spread out the cost of a new machine), and am once again considering a dell (this time the 1310). I think they're a good company. But then again, I may end up w/ another lenovo.

cheers,

rje