Re: Laptop Question (off topic? I don't know)

["Will Husa" <Will -dot- Husa -at- 4techwriter -dot- com>]

I agree with Mike. My Dell Latitude D820 is a workhorse. I put it on the 
same level as a IBM ThinkPad T42.

However, I got it  with the 512 MB NVidia video card. Having separate memory 
just to run video takes a big load off the main processor. When I had my 
Dell Inspiron 5100, it had shared memory and it overheated frequently due to 
the load being placed upon the processor. With the Dell Latitude D820, I can 
run it all day and it doesn't even get warm.

Be seeing you,

Will
=========================================
Will Husa
Technical Writer
Procedure Writing and Online Help
Phone: 708-927-3569
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Starr" <mikestarr-techwr-l -at- writestarr -dot- com>
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 8:27 AM
Subject: Re: Laptop Question (off topic? I don't know)


>I have a Latitude D820 with 2GB of RAM, XP Professional and a port 
>replicator that I bought about 18 months ago and I'm very pleased with it. 
>I bought it through the Dell clearance site... it had been ordered and 
>manufactured then the order was canceled. Because of that, I got a 
>substantial discount from the list price.
>
> I don't know the difference between a Latitude and a Vostro but Latitude 
> has always been the commercial line so I think they tend to be more 
> serious machines.
>
> As far as the video card and the hard drive, it depends on what you're 
> doing. For most of the business applications you've listed, they should be 
> just fine. However, if you're getting into something that requires complex 
> rendering (3D CAD or intensive gaming applications) you'd probably want to 
> upgrade the video card.
>
> I'd also recommend XP Professional instead of XP Home. Port replicators 
> for many in the Dell line are available much cheaper on eBay... I just 
> bought two more in the last two weeks (one to take with me to the office 
> and one as a spare).
>
> Best regards,
>
> Mike
> --
> Mike Starr                            WriteStarr Information Services
> Technical Writer  -  Online Help Developer  -   Technical Illustrator
> Graphic Designer    -    Desktop Publisher   -       MS Office Expert
> (262)  694-1028  -  mike -at- writestarr -dot- com  -  http://www.writestarr.com
>
> Hemstreet, Deborah wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I have a question about laptops and was wanting some advice.
>>
>> I do work from home, requiring MS Office applications, Adobe Acrobat,
>> and graphics, sometimes HTML as well.
>>
>> My current laptop is slowing going the way of old laptops.
>>
>> I do not WANT Vista... And know I want a DELL.
>>
>> Questions:
>>
>> Does anyone know the difference between a Vostro and Latitude?
>>
>> Would you think that the default graphics card provided with Dell
>> laptops is good enough for my needs, or do I need an upgrade?
>>
>> Does a 720 rpm hard drive make that much of a difference.
>>
>> Maybe this is offtopic, but maybe not, since we all of us who work from
>> home need to buy our own supplies.
>>
>> I have until June 16 to be able to buy a Dell with Windows XP (Home
>> Edition) (a system admin said not much diff between XP home vs XP
>> Office)...
>>
>> Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice
>>
>> Deborah
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