Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Need Help Choosing.....

Jan 14, 2005 3:16AM PST

Hello. I am a college student who is looking to get a notebook for class, dorm, and general on campus use. Mostly using Word, but I will also be taking it with me overseas for about 4 months and uploading all my digital pics onto it. So, I figure I need something small and light with 60-80 GB HD. I would also like to have a DVD burner for putting pics on them. I am not sure on processor speed, but someone told me that with all the pictures on it, I need at least 1.8 Ghz (500-1000 pictures while overseas). I am also not sure on memory.(512?, 1GB?, 2GB?) I looked at the Dell 700m and I like it, but I am not completely sold yet. I hear they have some problems with support. My budget is $1500-$2000. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Trouble...
Jan 14, 2005 3:22AM PST

When I travel I take my Vosonic portable drive. Many models at http://www.xs-drive.com/index.htm It's a small device and is not as "interesting" to thieves.

If I get a chance, I'd like to spend some time with the iPhoto to see how it supports SD memory cards for transfer, but my thoughts is that it's a likely target for theft.

Bob

- Collapse -
Need Help Choosing.....
Jan 15, 2005 2:53AM PST

The pictures are not an issue with the processor. Whoever told you that is focusing on the wrong component. Transferring pictures is just like copying some files over. Not a big deal. Also I don't know how high a resolution you are using on your camera but that will determine the file size. You should not go for any less than 512 on the memory but overall there is no reason to spend money on going above 512. But if you can afford it and it does not put you over budget that's fine too. However with memory you can reach a plateau where no matter how much more memory you put in there you will see no difference in performance.
Support: Dell is very generous when you need laptop repair. 95% of my work is laptops. By generous I mean parts. For example if your mouse pointer takes on a mind of its own, they send not just the palm rest but also a keyboard. They will then ask you if any of your plastics are cracked and send those too while they are at it. The problem you may be hearing about is calling into support. Dell moved their business support back to the U.S. because people hated talking to foreigners. BUT the phone support for private in home consumers is still foreign. Dell says they did this because most of their sales is to businesses. So I would suggest that you find a business name to register your laptop under. Either use the name of the school you are attending or your parents work or something like that. Then use your name as line 2 or contact person and your home address. Then you should be able to call the business 800 support number. This happens all of the time by accident. I will get a call to go to let's say UCLA. I think, hmmm I didn't know we had a campus of UCLA here in smallville,FL. Turns out it is someone who has retired from there and now lives here. They never updated their info.

- Collapse -
Thanks for the advice......
Jan 15, 2005 1:04PM PST

I appreciate it. I had one more question about the keyboard. Is it full size or will I have some problems typing papers on it? I write about an average of 5-10 pages a day and I don't want a small keyboard to make my life anymore difficult. I have heard the 700M does, but I am not sure. Another stupid question, Do any stores carry Dell (Bestbuy, Circuit City, Staples)? I want to check it out and get a feel for the layout. Thanks.

- Collapse -
International warranty a must if you are overseas for long
Jan 15, 2005 2:17PM PST

Dells are only sold via the internet but they do have mall kiosks (example Pleasanton Stoneridge mall at the I580/I680 junction in the SF bay area) to try them out. See if you can find out where the mall kiosks are (would have to be an indoor mall) at dell.com or by calling dell.

Even more important to getting through to business versus consumer service if you are traveling overseas is whether you get a US only warranty or an intenational warranty.

HP business notebooks at hp.com have a 1 year limited international warranty (or can upgraded for more money and can be doubled for free with AMEX or some Visa/MC credit cards) so you can get it repaired anywhere in the world that has an hpservice facility in that country.

If you buy hp/compaq consumer notebooks they have a 1 year country specific warranty -- so if you buy it in the US you can only get it repaired in the US. I don't think you want to find out how much it will cost to send back the notebook to the US from overseas and also they would not mail it back to you for free either unless you have the international warranty.

So, check out Dell business warranty specifics and see hp.com for their notebooks in the business area (hpshopping is better for most as consumers but not in your case).