Dell i7000: Spec suggestions wanted

[Taybridge Communications]

Hi,

I have just ventured into the world of self-employment. One of my big ...
okay, my biggest client, is in New Jersey, I'm in New Brunswick, Canada.
Client site visits have begun to be the norm (about once a month for a
week). I have a Dell desktop, but now I see that I don't have a choice but
to buy a laptop. The travel will mostly be from home to New Jersey, so not a
lot of road warrior stuff and not a lot of lugging. I have a summer place,
so I would be working from there in the summer.

After looking at everything out there, the i7000 still seems the best
choice. Haven't decided on whether or not to take the 15" screen plunge, but
am getting a bit confused on the best specs.

Here is the software I use:

Adobe: Photoshop 4, Framemaker 5.5, PageMaker 6.52, Acrobat 3.01
Corel Draw 7: Draw, Photopaint, etc.
MS: Office 97 SBE
Netobjects Fusion (Web development)
Visio
Plus assorted other apps.

Most of the work I do is web development, DTP, some tech writing, stuff like
that.

I haven't decided whether to lease or buy (comments)? Budget is an issue ...
sorta.

So ... if you were spec'ing the i7000, how would you spec it?

Here is my specs for the moment:

i7000LT/GT
PII 300
64 MB RAM
6.4 GB Hard Drive
14.1" or 15" (Not sure). The only neg I can see about the 15" is some extra
weight and size.
ATI Rage 8MB
24X CD-ROM (I don't see a use for DVD ... for me anyway)
56K Internal Modem
Nylon Case

So, given the software I use, and how I will be using the laptop, any
suggestions for a configuration change?

Thanks for your time,

David

[Joel R. Rittvo]

I would increase the RAM to support potentially large graphic files. It's
a good buy when you get it with the machine. Also, I'd skip the case and
buy one I really liked locally. For me, it's a Kensington Saddle Bag
backpack type. Costs about the same and leaves my hands and arms free for
other things.

[David Sommers]

I'd suggest doubling the RAM to 128 and getting the larger screen. The
applications you use are generally resource hogs and will bog down the
system if you have two or three of them opened at once with only 64 MB of
RAM. I say this as someone who did PC software development with 640 KB on a
4.77 MHz PC clone in 1982, and now get along with an XPS D333 with 160 MB of
RAM in 1998.

Since you are doing this for a living, you need good speedy tools to do a
good speedy job for your customer. You need the larger screen to avoid eye
fatigue as much as possible for those long sessions at delivery time. I
recently finagled a 21" monitor and am very glad.

Bye.

Taybridge Communications wrote in message
<70d8ok$g1m$1...@phobos.brunnet.net>...

>Hi,
>
>I have just ventured into the world of self-employment

[.....]

>After looking at everything out there, the i7000 still seems the best
>choice. Haven't decided on whether or not to take the 15" screen plunge,
but
>am getting a bit confused on the best specs.
>
>Here is the software I use:
>
>Adobe: Photoshop 4, Framemaker 5.5, PageMaker 6.52, Acrobat 3.01
>Corel Draw 7: Draw, Photopaint, etc.
>MS: Office 97 SBE
>Netobjects Fusion (Web development)
>Visio
>Plus assorted other apps.

[.....]

[Robert Siegel]

The 15 inch display is absolutely awesome ... I looked at all the major
notebooks up close here in NYC during the last month and the Dell I-7000 15
inch display is absolutely the finest I've ever seen.
That includes the IBM 14.1 screen.

From 14.1 to 15 inches ... the weight and size differential is minimal ...
but that's a personal chalice. They are both BIG notebooks, no doubt about
it. Otherwise, it is a superb notebook.
I;I've owned four and abandoned desktops systems totally 3 years ago for
notebooks.

[Taybridge Communications]

I see a pattern here. More RAM ... big display. That was my gut feeling ...
gotta have the bestest toys right!

Thanks,

David

Robert Siegel wrote in message <70dn3i$h...@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net>...

[Ross Donison]

Taybridge Communications wrote:

>
> I haven't decided whether to lease or buy (comments)? Budget is an issue ...
> sorta.
>

I'd lease all the way if it's for work and you're self-employed. It
should be a 100% write-off. I'm pretty sure about this because both my
accountant and stockbroker lease from Dell and have assured me that the
way their lease is worded it's possible to write it off here in Canada.
Some leases have wording or clauses that make it difficult to claim,
like a low buyout at the end of the term, for example. I've decided to
lease mine also. I'll see if I get it as a write-off in April!

Good luck.

Ross

[Taybridge Communications]

Hi Ross,

I guess the toughest part I see with a lease is NOT having anything to show
for it at the end.

If I am correct, when you buy you only can write off the depreciation? The
lease would be the full pop.

Damn, more decisions.

Thanks for the input.

David

Ross Donison wrote in message <362AE840...@home.com>...

[WMH]

Personally, I disagree. I've got an I7000 w/14" display. I didn't want the
15", because quite frankly I found it completely unnecessary, and didn't
want the overhang (screen larger than the chassis when notebook is closed).
As for the RAM, yes more is better. However, I've found that it's cheaper
to buy RAM from other vendors, even for the 7000, then the cost to upgrade
during the initial purchase. In addition, if you decide you don't like the
machine within the 1st 30 days, that's one thing you can return it. So if
you do buy from another vendor, hold off on the RAM until after you're
convinced you'll keep the machine.

However, so far I'm quite happy with the 7000.

Bill

Taybridge Communications wrote in message

<70dpeb$2j0$1...@phobos.brunnet.net>...

[John Welter]

The 15" screen is a waste since it doesn't do 1280 * 1024. Now, if it did
do 1280 * 1024 it would be worth the extra size/weight/battery consumption.

John

WMH wrote in message <3FKW1.575$Cg4....@news.sgi.net>...

[Ross Donison]

Taybridge Communications wrote:
>
> Hi Ross,
>
> I guess the toughest part I see with a lease is NOT having anything to show
> for it at the end.
>
> If I am correct, when you buy you only can write off the depreciation? The
> lease would be the full pop.
>
> Damn, more decisions.
>
> Thanks for the input.
>
> David
>

Yes, that's right. You can only write off depreciation. That's what I
did with my last laptop. And I paid almost $5000 for it less than three
years ago and now I'm trying to sell it for $1000. I guess it's better
than nothing. This time I went with a three year term. I figure in three
years there will be something out that I just have to have, and I'll be
looking for an excuse to upgrade anyhow and start another lease. I can
use all the write-offs I can get!

Ross

[Taybridge Communications]

Interesting about the overhang of the screen. Does that mean that, when
closed, it is wider than the keyboard part? Seem kinds strange.

David

[WMH]

Yes, the screen is wider than the "keyboard part", ie the chassis, when open
or closed. It is kind of strange, but I guess not a huge problem. I just
don't personally care for it.

Bill

Taybridge Communications wrote in message

<70hs4a$gtm$1...@phobos.brunnet.net>...

[Chuck Martin]

John Welter wrote:
>
> The 15" screen is a waste since it doesn't do 1280 * 1024. Now, if it did
> do 1280 * 1024 it would be worth the extra size/weight/battery consumption.
>

How can 8MB of video RAM *not* do 1280 x 1024?

[John Welter]

On the LCD.....

On external CRT it's fine at higher.

Chuck Martin wrote in message <362D02CD...@us.oracle.com>...