About to pull the trigger - need some advice
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:47 pm
Well after reading this terrific forum over the last two weeks I think I am about ready to pull the trigger on a new laptop, but I have a few questions I hope you folks will be able to answer.
First a little background: I am coming out of a Dell C400 which has served me well over the last 6 (!!!) years. I considered the Dell 620, but have gotten scared off by the reviews of bad screens. I also have a Dell XPS tower at home and have been pretty unhappy about the quality. Anyway, this new laptop will be primarily for business use - lots of Excel, Word, database management and internet use. Occasional DVDs. I use the notebook docked every day and take it home every night. I also will be taking it on once a month business trips. I am looking at a Thinkpad T60p T7400 with 2.1 Ghz/2mb RAM. I realize this is probably more than I need, but I pass my used laptops down to the kids so I need the specs to be good for some years. Here are my questions:
1. Screen - I would really like the flexview, but the 15" T60 seems awfully large. I think I have decided on the 14.1 " SVGA+, but I am a little concerned about small type. My current 12.1" screen is XGA and I doc it to a 15" 1024x768 LCD. I have no problem with the resolution on either. Would I be better of with the 14.1 SVGA of the regular T60? I have read mixed reviews on the 14" screen's brightness. Is this an issue?
2. Extended warranty - Depot or on-site? I have always had Dell on site service and frankly never used it. Does the depot service work well?
3. Video card and processor - I am interested in long battery life but am willing to give up some for better performance. How much difference would there be between the T60p battery life and a T60 with the lessor video card and perhaps slightly lower clock speed processor?
4. Ultrabay - forgive my ignorance, but does the ultrabay drive just pop out if you want to install an ultrabay battery, or is it more involved than that.
Thanks in advance - sorry for the long post.
First a little background: I am coming out of a Dell C400 which has served me well over the last 6 (!!!) years. I considered the Dell 620, but have gotten scared off by the reviews of bad screens. I also have a Dell XPS tower at home and have been pretty unhappy about the quality. Anyway, this new laptop will be primarily for business use - lots of Excel, Word, database management and internet use. Occasional DVDs. I use the notebook docked every day and take it home every night. I also will be taking it on once a month business trips. I am looking at a Thinkpad T60p T7400 with 2.1 Ghz/2mb RAM. I realize this is probably more than I need, but I pass my used laptops down to the kids so I need the specs to be good for some years. Here are my questions:
1. Screen - I would really like the flexview, but the 15" T60 seems awfully large. I think I have decided on the 14.1 " SVGA+, but I am a little concerned about small type. My current 12.1" screen is XGA and I doc it to a 15" 1024x768 LCD. I have no problem with the resolution on either. Would I be better of with the 14.1 SVGA of the regular T60? I have read mixed reviews on the 14" screen's brightness. Is this an issue?
2. Extended warranty - Depot or on-site? I have always had Dell on site service and frankly never used it. Does the depot service work well?
3. Video card and processor - I am interested in long battery life but am willing to give up some for better performance. How much difference would there be between the T60p battery life and a T60 with the lessor video card and perhaps slightly lower clock speed processor?
4. Ultrabay - forgive my ignorance, but does the ultrabay drive just pop out if you want to install an ultrabay battery, or is it more involved than that.
Thanks in advance - sorry for the long post.