Another - Help Me Decide

[dssxxxx]

Presently have a Dell Inspiron 6000. 15" (?) WS. It is being retired to FL, to be used with GoToMyPC into my office, when down on vacation/long Weekends.

My computer desk has been taken over by my wife with her ThinkPad, so I have been banished to the kitchen table (which I enjoy because of being able to watch TV and also eat....

I am about ready to pull the trigger on a TP but have a few questions.

My work computer is connected to a 19 LCD at 800x600. Very large type and easy on the eyes. I need all the help I can get (just turned 60).

The TP will be placed on the small area of shelves next to the kitchen table. The Dell seems a little small and I would like to go to a 14.1 to save room. I will load out the machine with core 2, 1-2GB RAM, 7200 HD (size if not important at this juncture), will be using Verizon 720USB wireless (able to transfer between NJ and FL).

My main concern is compact size, but I also want to be able to read off the screen Concerns will be MS Word and web surfing. Using GoToMyPC to get into the work machine. Should I go WS or stay with 4:3?

I will stay with XP Home/Pro. Have no desire to use Vista at this point.

What does everyone recommend?

Thanks.

[pianowizard]

My main concern is compact size, but I also want to be able to read off the screen Concerns will be MS Word and web surfing. Using GoToMyPC to get into the work machine. Should I go WS or stay with 4:3?

So I guess you are asking about the current 14.1" 4:3 T60 versus the 14" widescreen T61 to be released in about two months? The 14" widescreen will be slightly wider, but less deep. So, one of them would be better than the other depending on whether you're more concerned about the laptop's width or its depth.

You also mentioned that you want big font size. In this respect, the 4:3 T60 would be much better because it has a much lower pixel density. A 14.1" XGA screen has 90.8 dots per inch, whereas a 14" WXGA screen has 107.8, and that's a very noticeable difference.

I will stay with XP Home/Pro. Have no desire to use Vista at this point.

Vista does have a big advantage in that it makes the screen look nice even at non-native resolutions. So, let's say you get a 14.1" XGA T60 and want to reduce the resolution to 800x600. With XP, things would look crappy, but this would not be a problem with Vista.

BTW, I own both the Dell Inspiron 6000 and a 14.1" T60. The latter is much smaller.

[dssxxxx]

So.....your recommendation is 14.1 XGA T60 running Vista (which one), rather than XP.

I could wait until the T61's are available and probably get a better discount on the 14.1 T60.

Right?

Thanks.

[pianowizard]

So.....your recommendation is 14.1 XGA T60 running Vista (which one), rather than XP.

That's only if you plan on reducing the display resolution. If not, then XP would be better.

For home use, Vista Home Premium is good.