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General discussion

Dell Inspiron 600M lid problems?

Jan 12, 2005 6:42AM PST

I just ordered a Dell Inspiron 600M notebook and was surprised about the flimsy lid. Worried that it will not be sufficient to protect the monitor. Any thoughts on the sturdyness of this notebook? Not sure I want to keep it! thanks for your advice

Discussion is locked

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Protect from what? Sitting on it? Do tell!
Jan 12, 2005 6:53AM PST

If you need protection, then look to TOUGHBOOK series of laptops. Almost all consumer grade notebooks do not protect the insides from you sitting on the laptop or drops.

Bob

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Any notebook under 5.5 pounds is more lacking in structure
Jan 12, 2005 8:16AM PST

Any notebook under 5.5 pounds is not going to have the strucural integrity of heavier units (although the 5.5 pound IBM T42 is very solid and all their notebooks have solid cases).

For example, the HPDV1000 is similar in not having sufficient bracing comparable to the Dell 600M but the HPDV1000 is 5.3 pounds also.

The HPZT3000/Compaq X1000, in comparison (6.5 pounds) has an aluminum lid to give stability to the LCD from the outside and a metal LCD bezel surround to give stability to the LCD on the inside.

People have posted that you can push the plastic lid behind the HPDV1000 and cause distortion on the LCD in front of it.

This does not occur on the HPZT3000/Compaq X1000 but again you have to go heavier in weight to get what you seek (or at least price).

The Dell 8600 does not have a great case or keyboard but it has great specs and I don't think you will have the same issue with it relative to the Dell 600M but again it weighs 6.9 pounds .........

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8600 Lid sturdier than 600m/D600
Jan 12, 2005 12:17PM PST

My mom has a D600 and my 8600 lid is a lot sturdier and the resin backing is rather thick and will protect it from gouges and so forth. It feels very solid.

The D600 is pretty good, though nothing special. Like many other laptops, it's possible to distort the image on the screen by pushing on the lid from behind. That's not possible on my 8600.

Like Bob said, if you're gonna sit on it, get a toughbook.

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fat cats
Jan 18, 2005 1:28AM PST

well, honestly i have an 18lb cat who tends to jump on my desk and likes to lie on things - my clothes, books, papers, whatever. i know he needs to lose weight, but in the meanwhile, i have a small apartment with limited space and i guess i just need to figure out a nook where i can place the laptop and just never leave it out unattended.

i think basically, i wanted to know if folks had had problems with dell lightwt lids with everyday use - since my last dell had a problem with the lid.
thanks-

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Never lost it that way.
Jan 18, 2005 1:42AM PST

The usual is drops, spills and the occasional abusive user.

Try this. Select another make/model, but the issue is not showing up as damaged LCDs but a curiousity factor that you can smush the LCD from the lid.

I still write... "Don't do that."

Bob