IBM T41/42 versus Latitude D600

[Confused]

I have to upgrade my computer system (6 year old notebook and 4 year old desktop run on DSL home network) because my machines are too old/too slow/too small in terms of RAM/hard drive etc. (that happens when you buy a digital camera). They are both Dells - and I can say that I have no issues with Dell except that their systems do become obsolete .

I want to upgrade the notebook first - and I've narrowed down my choices to the T41/T42 or the Latitude D600 (basically with the same specs). Both with port replicators. Price really isn't an issue (the machines are roughly comparable in price although the IBM is somewhat more expensive).

Can anyone who's familiar with both Dell and IBM notebooks these days highlight the major differences between them? E.g., some people seem to like the keyboard on the IBM better while other people like the I/O back of machine placement on the Dell better. Is IBM service good (unlike some people - I've had ok tech support from Dell over the years - whether it comes from the US or India)? Seems like a lot of people here have received screens with defective pixels from IBM. Is that common (I have 4 LCD computer/TV screens at home and don't think I've ever seen a defective pixel)?

Note that I run a fair amount of legacy software (including DOS software) so I am not looking forward to upgrading from Windows 98SE to Windows XP at all (I get a headache just thinking about it - I am looking forward to this about as much as getting a root canal). I also use a legacy Northgate keyboard (even clickier than the IBM keyboard ). So - the fewer hardware/software issues I have to deal with on the manufacturer's end - the better.

Anyway - I'm trying to decide between the 2 manufacturers on the basis of something other than a coin toss - and would appreciate any input - even of the touchy/feely variety (e.g., "this machine feels more solid than that machine"). Thanks. Confused

[Skywing]

IBMs are built well and have equally good support to back them up, Dells are built like [censored] and youll be lucky to find someone who speaks english if you call their support

[Confused]

I haven't bought a computer since 2001 - so I can't comment on current Dells or IBM machines in terms of workmanship. I've had a fair number of computers though - ones they don't make anymore - and a Sharp - a couple of HPs - Dells. I even go back with IBM to the old mag card days - and my very first computer was an IBM 5120. Never had a hardware problem with any hardware except a Compaq desktop which was defective out of the box - couldn't be fixed - and was returned to Office Depot. Perhaps I am just lucky .

I've dealt with Dell support in India. They do speak English. And frankly I was surprised when both Dell and Bellsouth helped me recently to install my home network (since just about all of the problems were Microsoft software problems - try to get MSFT to help you out without paying $40 for a phone call!).

But my point here isn't to praise anyone - or trash anyone. I'd just like some impressions that are more specific than something is "[censored]". What are your experiences with Dell that lead you to conclude that they're "[censored]" (and if you have any experience with the Latitude D600 - so much the better). Confused

[cynic]

Old Dells were built better than new Dells.

The LCD screen issue is not as agregious as it sounds here (it is just those who've had problems speak up and those that don't stay quite) I've had no bad pixels on my thinkpad. An X40 is soon to arrive and it has no bad pixels (Bill checked) An old 600X has no dead pixels either.

The keyboard on ThinkPads is without a doubt the best keyboard on laptops anywhere. Heck, I sometimes feel they are better than 80% of desktop keyboards. I have an old IBM desktop keyboard (from '86) and my DEC Alpha keyboard (from '94) that are better, but they are also a lot heavier and have mechanical keys (but I'll never give them up.. I clean them every three years popping off all the keys)

Dell keyboards flex in the center and are very soft. They also don't have the superior IBM trackpoint (they have a poor implementation of it that doesn't work nearly as well)

I don't mind the side mounting connections because it makes it easier to be mobile since I don't have to reach to the back to plugin everything I use.

[awolfe63]

The Dell is cheaper and accessories are a lot cheaper.

Graphics are slow as compared to a T41p or t42.

Otherwise, performance is similar.

Build construction is the big advantage of the IBM.

[Nabeel]

I tried out the D600 before I got my T42 - the wrist rest got very very hot when you're using the drive alot. My T42 gets a little warm, but no where near as bad as the D600.

They keyboard on the D600 was also really springy, it felt raised in the middle.

And the build quality - the entire thing felt like it was made out of cheap plastic. Didn't feel soo solid at all.

[Chun-Yu]

Here is my "expert" opinion: don't get the D600.

Here is my story: I had a D600 before this T41, and it felt very cheap. Ok, it's cheap, but it works, right? NO. Shortly after I sold it, the USB port stopped working on there and Dell took forever to figure out the transfer of ownership (and there's even an online form for that!). So then they replaced the motherboard and that was ok. Now, just after that, my other friend who had an identical D600 (he bought it after seeing mine - I converted him from a PowerBook, hehe) had his USB ports die too. So Dell comes and replaces the motherboard for his D600. Within a day, the replacement motherboard started letting off a smell of "burnt electronics" and died. When he called Dell up, they said to send it in (even though he has the on-site service). He sent it in, and 2 weeks later he got it back. We thought it was fixed and all, but the fun had really just begun.

He left it with me when he went to class, and using my l33t observation skillz, I noticed that even at 100% CPU load, it would only get up to 120 F, and I clearly remembered that mine used to hit 140-145 F. So I check the CPU speed, and guess what? They sent him a 1.3 GHz, but he had a 1.6 originally. He then got a T41 identical to mine (2379DJU) and called Dell and tried to get a full refund, since they had messed up so many times, but they refused to give it to him. Then within 2 days, he locked himself out of the ThinkPad and had to send it back using the 30 day no questions asked thing. Dell then sent him a brand new D600 to replace the old one.

So then, he used this D600 for a while without really any problems (except the build quality, of course). Then one day, it fried and wouldn't turn on. He had been lazy and hadn't sent back the old (faulty 1.3 GHz one) D600 so he got that out. THEN, believe it or not, the NEXT DAY THAT ONE DIED TOO!!!11 He was then left with 2 D600s that wouldn't turn on, and Dell support couldn't believe it, hahaha. He now has a T41p and has no problems with it (not exactly sure what happened with the Dells...I think his brother got it or something, heh).

Oh yes, and the friend I sold my D600 to still has it, but has had so many parts on it replaced the only thing that is original on there is the bottom of the chassis. The motherboard, LCD (and LCD backing or whatever), keyboard, palm rest, and hard drive have ALL been replaced (some multiple times). And the wrist rest still gets buring hot (that was the reason they replaced the HD, after he convinced them that an HD idling at 49 C is not normal). The keyboard is also very springy, as Nabeel said. The back of the LCD is also hollow aluminum so it flexes really easily and doesn't seem to protect the LCD very well at all.

EDIT: btw, I'm writing this at nearly 1am (ok, not that late but whatever) so there may be typos, and also, I am extremely satisfied with my T41. I have had no problems with it at all, and have only had to call IBM up once to get recovery CDs. As a current/former T41 and D600 owner, I would strongly advise you not to get a D600 and to get a T4x. It's definitely worth the extra money.

[cooljw]

I also chose between the D600 and the T42. Last week I ordered the T42.

The deciding factor for me was the keyboard and the compact size of the T42. Thinkpad keyboards are famously solid. When you type, the slate the keys rest on does not flex under pressure. This is not the case with Dells. The T42 is also thinner than the D600.

Surprisingly, it seems that Dell keyboards have always been inferior. I own an old Thinkpad 600E (circa 1999) and an old Latitude CSx (circa 2000). The keyboard on the Latitude is very similar in flex and feel to the laptops Dell makes today (I amsurprised they have not made them more solid). If anything, the keyboards on the Thinkpads have gotten slightly worse over time. My 600E's keyboard does not flex at all and feels like the keys were mounted on concrete. I have noticed today's T-series keyboards flex the slightest bit.

[Roy_W]

Moderator, please remove this post. I just wrote a whole article and then realised that I was comparing the T4* to a Dell D400 which was not the orginal question.

Please excuse my error.

[snife]

I know you don't want to hear this but i agree 100% with skywing that Dell laptops are [censored]. Its hard to describe but everything about them just feels wrong - keyboard fells wobbly, pointing stick (its not good enough to be called a trackpoint) is stiff, displays are normally blurry and bad quality, hell even the mouse buttons are inconvenient to click.

How i have not got a D600 but i do have a D800 and from their website they look quite similar in design - cheap plasticky casing and looks and fells more like a childs toy than a serious piece of equipment.

Essentially there are only 2 reasions to buy a Dell - 1) you don't know any better and 2) its the most you can afford. If moneys not too much of an issue spend that bit extra for the ThinkPad - if you buy a Dell i think you will end up regreting it - ideally see if you can see them side-by-side in a computer store as I think that would make your decision in an instant

[K. Eng]

I have extensively used the Dell D600 as well as the T40 (my current machine).

The D600's construction is not terrible. The plastic base is reasonably solid, and much more sturdy than the old 4150 and 8100 (or Latitude C series equivalents), and the magnesium LCD cover doesn't flex or creak. What I hated about the D600 was the keyboard. There was barely any key travel, and the whole board would bounce and flex as I typed.

I think the T40 is a far superior design. The keyboard has excellent feedback and travel and doesn't bounce (though I did have to add a slight bit of foam under the right hand side to fix a bit of flex). The hinges on the T40 are metal and feel more durable than the plastic hinges on the D600. Finally, the T40 is more compact than the D600.

I sent back a D600 with 1.40 GHz Pentium M and Radeon 9000 and bought a T40 with a 1.30 GHz Pentium M and Radeon 7500. Though the ThinkPad is slower, I have never regretted choosing the ThinkPad.

[tselling]

I have a work provided Dell Latitude D600 and a Thinkpad T41p for home use. The trackstick mouse on the Dell is not as responsive as the trackpoint on the Thinkpad. I prefer the placement of the Ctrl and Fn keys on the Thinkpad. The Dell left palmrest gets uncomfortably warm (much more so than the Thinkpad right palmrest). I use an IBM USB ultranav keyboard at the office to avoid using the Dell keyboard and trackstick. Only complaint about the T41p is it gets very warm on the bottom with playing graphic intensive games and I have had games slow way down (I think this is a protection mechanism due to heat since it speeds up again after a chance to cool off).

The screens on both look the same to me in quality (both are 14" SXGA+). I have 2 T41p (both refurbished) and one has a perfect screen and one has a dead green pixel (never lights). It is not noticeable. The Dell screen has no dead or stuck pixels.

[Confused]

I think what I hear most of you saying is that no one makes things as well as they used to (are you all as old as I am ?) - but of the manufacturers who don't make things as well as they used to - IBM has declined the least in quality. It's basically a workmanship issue - yes? Workmanship is important to me - since I tend to keep things for a long time. I guess if I'm lucky - the IBM keyboard will be as solid as the keyboard on my Inspiron 2400 (think I could sit on that keyboard and it wouldn't budge).

In terms of IBM - I've narrowed it down to 2 models. One is a school specific model (I think - 2373JU8) - and the other is a 2378DUU. I've seen this model on the Internet - and it's supposed to be on the IBM website - but it isn't right now. It's a more or less a low end T42 with the Pentium M 1.5. Note that I need the lower screen resolution for various software reasons. So that isn't an issue. Nor is performance. I will be upgrading from a Pentium II 233 with a 2 gig hard drive. Anything good or bad to say about this particular model?

Also - should I expect a machine to ship with at least the SP1 edition of Windows XP (I wasn't guaranteed of this - which I found kind of odd since the SP has been out for almost 2 years)?

And - a final question (I am kind of technology illiterate in many ways - I don't know how refrigerators or computers work - I just like them to perform their intended functions - when it comes to computers my husband thinks I'm an idiot savant because I can get them to work without having any idea of exactly what I'm doing). On the Dell site - I am given an option between a FAT32 file system, an NTFS file system, or no file system at all. With IBM I am told that I will get an NTFS system with any Windows XP setup. I don't know what a file system is. Is there a choice when one gets Windows XP? Or is it NTFS period?

Note to moderator - if you want me to split these issues into separate threads - I will. Was trying to avoid taking up half the section with my questions. Thanks, Confused

[snife]

If i were you I would go for the DUU model - both models are pretty similar but for future proofing its better to have the slightly faster processor and the g wireless than the extra RAM on the JU8 model.

The preload will definitely come with service pack 1 installed (as well as some additional hotfixes) and it does automatically convert the file system to NTFS but that is something you want anyway as it is more stable with XP than FAT 32 is.

[cynic]

If your model comes with Windows, it'll be SP1. No doubt. (I said "If" in the beginning because some models are orderable with W2K for business customers' needs for corporate consistency)

NTFS is a file system that was introduced in Windows NT a long, long time ago. It has some significant advantages and only a few drawbacks. Advantages include having larger single files (FAT32, the older file system, can only have a file up to 2GB in size... NTFS can go bigger), long file names so you can have files names up to IIRC 256 characters and you can use spaces and uppercase/lowercase. The biggest disadvantage is if you work with Macs also, it can't be written to (though you can share it through a network to allow the Mac to write to it)

When you get your system, the first thing it does at booting up is convert your FAT32 system to NTFS. I'm guessing due to your familiarity with file systems , you'll be ok with the default NTFS system and will never know it is working in the background. To an older Windows user, you'll only really notice you can label files much easier.

(BTW, your step-up in performance is going to wow you! )

[atlacatl]

...I want to upgrade the notebook first - and I've narrowed down my choices to the T41/T42 or the Latitude D600 (basically with the same specs). Both with port replicators. Price really isn't an issue (the machines are roughly comparable in price although the IBM is somewhat more expensive).
...

I have had 4 D600 (3 replacements) and I currently own a t40p. I would recomend the ThinkPad, hands down...

I had a lot of issues with the D600: heat on the left palm rest, crashes, one hard disk died, dead pixel in the LCD. I mean, I still have issues with it, however I passed it down to the GF, and she doesn't use it as heavely as I use my t40p - So she doesn't complain as much

I had so many issues, that I started a D600 complaint-book: http://www.josesandoval.com/hotdells/.

Also, read the Dell forums - You'll find lots of good info there...

Having written all this, I'd defentely go for the ThinkPad instead of the D600 - The money is well worth it...And yes, the keyboard on the D600 is kind of crappy, too...

[admsteiner]

I was making the same decision. I narrowed it down to the D600 or the T41/42. A few of my friends have D600's and all complain that the wrist (I believe on the left side) gets very hot.

The thinkpad weighs less and is a little thinner (these two didn't make a difference really) and seems to be built better. My T42 won't be here for another week or week and a half. I ordered the 2378-FVU. Pentium M 735, 40GB 5400RPM HD, 512MB DDR, Intel 2200 b/g wireless, 14.1" SXGA+, ATI Mobility Radeon 9600, standard and hi capacity LI-ION batteries.

Good luck
--Adam

[atlacatl]

I was making the same decision. I narrowed it down to the D600 or the T41/42. A few of my friends have D600's and all complain that the wrist (I believe on the left side) gets very hot.

I had the same narrowing down process - And yes, it is the left side that get really hot (Where the hard drive is) - It's defenetely a design error, as there is no heat discipator other than your left hand

The thinkpad weighs less and is a little thinner (these two didn't make a difference really) and seems to be built better. My T42 won't be here for another week or week and a half. I ordered the 2378-FVU. Pentium M 735, 40GB 5400RPM HD, 512MB DDR, Intel 2200 b/g wireless, 14.1" SXGA+, ATI Mobility Radeon 9600, standard and hi capacity LI-ION batteries.

Good luck
--Adam

That looks like a good choice - I'm thinking to order the 6 cell battery (Extra) for my T40p. The 9 cell hi capacity battery throws off the balance of the computer and it makes it a bit heavy. No big deal, if I consider the plus side: getting close to 7 hours of constant use (Wirelless turn on)...

[Confused]

...The keyboard on ThinkPads is without a doubt the best keyboard on laptops anywhere. Heck, I sometimes feel they are better than 80% of desktop keyboards. I have an old IBM desktop keyboard (from '86) and my DEC Alpha keyboard (from '94) that are better, but they are also a lot heavier and have mechanical keys (but I'll never give them up.. I clean them every three years popping off all the keys)...

I don't mind the side mounting connections because it makes it easier to be mobile since I don't have to reach to the back to plugin everything I use.

The old Northgates I have are mechanical too - and heavy. I've never popped off the keys - but I clean them with that air in a can and some rubbing alcohol every few months. I'm a pretty fast typist - and I don't like a keyboard that slows me down.

I've heard people complain about the side mounting connections. Frankly - I'd never thought about it before - but when I looked at my old Dell - it has a lot of connections on the side (back too). I plan to get the mini dock for the IBM since 1) it's a PITA to connect and disconnect everything from the notebook whenever I hit the road; and 2) I need the legacy PS/2 ports. So none of the connections - no matter where they are - should be a problem. Confused

[Confused]

If i were you I would go for the DUU model - both models are pretty similar but for future proofing its better to have the slightly faster processor and the g wireless than the extra RAM on the JU8 model.

The preload will definitely come with service pack 1 installed (as well as some additional hotfixes) and it does automatically convert the file system to NTFS but that is something you want anyway as it is more stable with XP than FAT 32 is.

I plan to put an extra 256 megs of RAM in the DUU - so I won't be giving up anything. Considering how long I keep things - "future proofing" is a good idea. I have never used wireless before - but I suspect if I try it - I'll really like it. Guess if I want to set up a wireless home network - I'll have to call Bellsouth and find out what I need. Think I will wait until I get the new computer all up and working though (I can only deal with 10 major computer issues at a time . Confused

[Confused]

...NTFS is a file system that was introduced in Windows NT a long, long time ago. It has some significant advantages and only a few drawbacks. Advantages include having larger single files...

OK - the larger file size rings a bell. I run one old legacy DOS program - and I recall that some people in the past had problems running it on big hard drives. But I exchanged email with the author of the program - and he's running it on XP - so I should be ok. (Getting less) Confused

[Confused]

...I had so many issues, that I started a D600 complaint-book: http://www.josesandoval.com/hotdells/.

I enjoyed the note from Martha Stewart . Confused

[Matt_]

Confused:

This is a little bit off-topic. You were mentioning the Northgate keyboard. My father loves this keyboard because, among other things, of the row and column of function keys and also since the left control key is located next to the "a" key. Since he's been encountering some problems with it recently, I looked around on the internet and found a reference to a retailer selling a Northgate-ish keyboard. My father just ordered one, and I thought I'd mention this information in case down the road you need to find a replacement for yours.

Also, I'll mention this if you're not already aware of this. With regards to your external keyboard and its ps/2 connector, there is a ps/2 to usb adapter. If you go to a site such as circuitcity.com and do a search using the words "belkin usb ps/2", you'll find one for $19.99 (compusa also carries this). This adapter is y-shaped, with two ps/2 connectors and 1 usb connector.

Also, I noticed your comment about your resolution needs ("Note that I need the lower screen resolution for various software reasons.") Is it both the UXGA and the SXGA+ that won't work out for you ? The reason I ask is that if the SXGA+ res. would work, then, IMO, it'd be worth your going for the t42 with the 15"Flexview (SXGA+) screen. Based on an R50p that I've seen, my comments are about the same as here. The screen is incredible with an amazing viewing angle, rich saturated colors, and fantastic clarity.

[Confused]

... Since he's been encountering some problems with it recently, I looked around on the internet and found a reference to a retailer selling a Northgate-ish keyboard. My father just ordered one, and I thought I'd mention this information in case down the road you need to find a replacement for yours.

Also, I'll mention this if you're not already aware of this. With regards to your external keyboard and its ps/2 connector, there is a ps/2 to usb adapter. If you go to a site such as circuitcity.com and do a search using the words "belkin usb ps/2", you'll find one for $19.99 (compusa also carries this). This adapter is y-shaped, with two ps/2 connectors and 1 usb connector.

Also, I noticed your comment about your resolution needs ("Note that I need the lower screen resolution for various software reasons.") Is it both the UXGA and the SXGA+ that won't work out for you ? The reason I ask is that if the SXGA+ res. would work, then, IMO, it'd be worth your going for the t42 with the 15"Flexview (SXGA+) screen. Based on an R50p that I've seen, my comments are about the same as here. The screen is incredible with an amazing viewing angle, rich saturated colors, and fantastic clarity.

You can get some real Northgate keyboards on Ebay - both used and unused. They tend to be auctioned with some regularity (they're easy to find with email alerts).

The Northgate isn't a PS/2 keyboard (it's older than that). So it has to use an adapter to get to PS/2. I suppose it's possible to add a second adapter (have never tried).

I'll be using the machine with an external monitor at my desktop (a 15" LCD 1024x768 which is perfect for me) - and I like the 14" size for travel. So I think I found the machine that suits me - and I ordered it yesterday. It's supposed to take about 3 weeks. I'm not in a hurry (the summers in Florida are hot and looooong - plenty of free afternoons to set up computers).

Thanks for your help. Confused

[snappy]

Can anyone who's familiar with both Dell and IBM notebooks these days highlight the major differences between them? E.g., some people seem to like the keyboard on the IBM better while other people like the I/O back of machine placement on the Dell better. Is IBM service good (unlike some people - I've had ok tech support from Dell over the years - whether it comes from the US or India)? Seems like a lot of people here have received screens with defective pixels from IBM. Is that common (I have 4 LCD computer/TV screens at home and don't think I've ever seen a defective pixel)?

Actually, the tech support is quite ok, even from India, though there seem to be a lag in the response, prob due to the long-distance or VOIP tech.

While they do not speak with an American accent (neither do the rest of the world! ), they are fairly competent with answering to most questions and issuing a repair work order for it.

Note that I run a fair amount of legacy software (including DOS software) so I am not looking forward to upgrading from Windows 98SE to Windows XP at all (I get a headache just thinking about it - I am looking forward to this about as much as getting a root canal). I also use a legacy Northgate keyboard (even clickier than the IBM keyboard ). So - the fewer hardware/software issues I have to deal with on the manufacturer's end - the better.

I think your concern about running legacy apps on Windows XP can be abated more or less easily. Windows XP has a Compatibility mode where you can run legacy apps in Compatibility mode.

From what I know, any legacy app will automatically be run in a WOW environment and be "thunked" by the system to use the 32bit system libraries through a "thunking" mechanism. They should work if they did not hardcode any of the special paths, or version checking mechanism.

Most legacy apps fail to even install or run when they check the windows version and incorrectly compare the returned results. Many apps can actually run smoothly in WindowsXP / 2k but fail short because of this incorrect checking. This of course excludes those apps that access the hardware directly through low-level interrupts, most of which are blocked by the OS layer already.

This is where the Compatibility mode comes into play. Simply right-click on the legacy app (in XP) and select Properties>Compatibility. You should see "Compatibility mode", "Display Settings" and "Input Settings". Select the appropriate OS version that the legacy app was meant for.

I'll skip the technical details on how App Compatibility works in XP, but for most cases, this will allow the legacy apps to work already, if they failed initially.

Case in point, a DOS app I wrote that ran on an XT/EGA from my college days in 1995 actually still runs fine in WinXP. It automatically opens up a dos window and switch to full screen when I ran that app.

Granted, apps are written differently and your legacy apps may *not* work that smoothly. If you can get hold of a system with WinXP, you may want to test it out first before getting a new machine since most new machines come with WinXP! (Unless, you are thinking of downing to a Win98se on the new machine?)

Note: I was just looking at some sites that had info about an old BBC television program "Me & My Micro" and read about how compatibility issues ultimately led to the demise of the Sinclair! While Windows is really bloated, and we all like to complain about it, we cannot deny that they have done a fair job maintaining compatibility for older apps. But all that led to its archaic design ala slap-on patchwork ... ... but that's another story altogether ... ...

[Txiasaeia]

Sidenote about keyboards: I was looking at the Avant Prime too, but I found a *much* cheaper solution from the guys that took over the keyboarding business from IBM and Lexmark: http://store.yahoo.com/pckeyboards/customizer.html . This sucker is supposed to be identical to those old Northgates, and it retails for $59 instead of $149 or however much the CVT ones were going for. I'm planning on ordering one on Monday, so if anybody's interested in finding out what they're like, just ask!

[Leon]

please post a review after you get it!

[Confused]

Will do. Confused

[Confused]

I think your concern about running legacy apps on Windows XP can be abated more or less easily. Windows XP has a Compatibility mode where you can run legacy apps in Compatibility mode...Case in point, a DOS app I wrote that ran on an XT/EGA from my college days in 1995 actually still runs fine in WinXP. It automatically opens up a dos window and switch to full screen when I ran that app...

That's interesting. After I get the serious stuff up and running (I'm trying to be optimistic) - perhaps I'll haul out my old original DOS Tetris - which hasn't run on any computer I've owned for quite a few years now (parts of it run - but at about 1000 times normal speed ). Thanks for the information. Confused

[Confused]

I was asked for a review - so I'll give you a running account. I got the machine today. Everything seemed ok at first glance except for 1 defective pixel (in an unfortunately obvious place). I called up warranty support and they said they're sending someone out next week to repair the defect (or replace the screen - whatever - I don't know how these things are fixed). I was frankly relieved that I wasn't told I had to send back the whole computer. Does what I was told make sense to you (that this is a home repair?).

I ordered several extras with the machine - including a Targus USB floppy drive (to install ancient software), a memory key, extra RAM and a mini dock. For some reason - each item is shipped separately - and they don't all arrive at the same time. I had 3 UPS deliveries (including one that had to be done twice because my on file signature for delivery wasn't enough). For people who can't hang around waiting for stuff to be delivered - I'd recommend getting the delivery straightened out in advance. Note that my scheduled delivery date was the beginning of July - but the item was shipped shortly after I ordered it. I guess the philosophy here is better to estimate pessimistically - and make the customer happy with an early delivery. That works for me.

I have all the parts now - but have only installed the floppy drive and dock. The USB floppy drive was a snap. The dock is a little odd. I find it unsatisfying from a design point of view because of the 3 plastic tabs sticking out the back which - I assume - serve no purpose other than helping you to line up the machine (I called tech support because I couldn't figure the thing out - but the person I spoke with didn't have a clue either because the one demo the techs have for "show and tell" had been checked out to another tech rep). On the other hand - the dock works fine in terms of what I've done with it so far (USB mouse, floppy drive, printer). The ethernet connection to my Bellsouth DSL works fine too.

Windows XP wasn't a problem. I basically switched everything to classic view/Windows explorer type view - and I'm up and running with about half of my software. Legacy programs work fine (haven't tried Tetris yet ).

I haven't yet installed my digital photography stuff - so I really can't comment on performance (my digital photography stuff needs more horsepower than the other apps I run). I'll note that although this is a 40 gig machine - once all is said and done with the backup partition and Windows and the like - you're left with less than 30 gigs (about 29 to be exact) when you start to install your own software. This isn't a problem for me (I'm only using about 4 gigs of a 10 gig drive on my desktop - and my old notebook has a 2 gig hard drive - I clean my drives more often than I clean my closets ). But it might be a problem for you.

I have always been uncomfortable with notebook keyboards and pointing devices. I guess the ones on this machine are ok - but I was happy when I installed my mouse - and I'll be happier when I install my Northgate keyboard tomorrow (I'm using the machine as a replacement for an old laptop and an old desktop - it will sit on my desk most of the year - but hit the road when I hit the road perhaps a half dozen times a year). I'm sure the notebook standards will be ok on the road - but I think nothing can beat a good mouse and a clicky keyboard when you do intensive input.

Overall - this has been a good experience to date. I like it when I take things out of the box and they work! Will be glad to try to answer questions if you have any. Robyn (formerly Confused)