Buying a Notebook questions

[Barbara]

I'm looking at buying a notebook computer from Dell through the Employee Purchase Program here at work. What are the features that I should be looking for that will make it the most usable it can be for me?

Also, I've been looking into ways that I could use my cell phone as a modem, but since I'm hardware impaired, can someone explain it to me in simple terms and maybe point me in the right direction for some providers.

TIA.

[ABHS]

I use Nextel and with a small plug, I connect it to my laptop as a modem via network card. The computer uses the phone to place the call and bingo, I'm online.

Dell is great but there are many super deals out there.
Look around before spending over $700 for a mega system.

[Robert]

Make sure it's Windows Professional and now Windows Home

[Barbara]

Does this configuration (http://cultforum.com/details.html) seem like it would do the job?

[allan]

Make sure it has a serial port on the back, otherwise you won't be able to configure routers and switches ;).

[net-trend]

Originally posted by Barbara:

Does this configuration (http://cultforum.com/details.html) seem like it would do the job?

That is quite a deal you have there.

The specs will do a good job for business applications.

If you have some cash to spare, you may want to look into upgrading total amount of RAM to 512mb.

[Adam]

Make sure battery life is very long. Even though at a desk or whatever you'll be plugged in to mains - its the times when your really out ie train or in ur rack sorting something out that is when you least need ur battery to cut out or even worse turn on ur laptop to find hard drive files now corrupted coz of the suddent shutdown :)

[Barbara]

Originally posted by allan:

Make sure it has a serial port on the back, otherwise you won't be able to configure routers and switches ;).

You're talking to the Queen of hardware impairment. Is it likely that I'll need to configure routers and switches??

[Barbara]

Originally posted by net-trend:

That is quite a deal you have there.

The specs will do a good job for business applications.

If you have some cash to spare, you may want to look into upgrading total amount of RAM to 512mb.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll re-configure the specs to see if I can do that.

[Barbara]

Originally posted by Adam:

Make sure battery life is very long. Even though at a desk or whatever you'll be plugged in to mains - its the times when your really out ie train or in ur rack sorting something out that is when you least need ur battery to cut out or even worse turn on ur laptop to find hard drive files now corrupted coz of the suddent shutdown :)

Thanks for the tip. Maybe I'll see if I can swing an extra battery.

[allan]

Originally posted by Barbara:

You're talking to the Queen of hardware impairment. Is it likely that I'll need to configure routers and switches??

Most likely not, but that is always the first thing I ask when I order a laptop :) -- that stupid serial port is the primary reeason I haven't ditched my Dell and started using my iBook exclusively :).

[net-trend]

Originally posted by allan:

Most likely not, but that is always the first thing I ask when I order a laptop :) -- that stupid serial port is the primary reeason I haven't ditched my Dell and started using my iBook exclusively :).

I'm sure there are some USB > RS232 (I think it's RS232..:P) solutions out there. :D

[Adam]

Yeah there are them solutions out there and they are pretty easy to find.

However i cant remember if it is RS232 lol.

[beley]

Originally posted by allan:

Make sure it has a serial port on the back, otherwise you won't be able to configure routers and switches ;). That's a good point but not a reason not to buy a laptop you really like. Just take a look at this belkin serial to usb converter:

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.asp?EDC=382979

[Barbara]

Updated configuration (http://cultforum.com/details2.html) - how does this look? And can someone explain how mobile internet works (maybe in words of two syllables or less)? I've been reading about this all weekend and I think that I'm more confused than when I started. I must be hardware/network-aphobic. Give me software any day, lol.

[beley]

That looks good but kinda expensive. What do you mean by mobile internet? WiFi? WiFi is 802.11X and you have to have special hardware in your home or office to use it. Other "HotSpots" are available throughout the US but you typically have to pay to use them. I have WiFi in my home and love it. I can go outside and just chill with my laptop completely wireless and have the Internet at the same speeds as with wires.

Don't know if I explained it well enough... but if you still have a question just ask :)

[net-trend]

Wow, nice specs! And yes mobile internet in your case is WIFI a.k.a Wireless Internet / wireless fidelity?.

I see it's included in your specs as
"Dell TrueMobile™ 1300 WLAN (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) Mini-PCI card"

This will allow you to surf the internet without wires! Although like beley mentioned, you need to subscribe to wireless internet providers if you want to use them in airports,cafes,etc...

And to use WIFI at home, you need to get yourself a wireless access point or a wireless router, so you can share your internet with everyone at home without needing to run cables.

And the card you are getting supports 2 different specifications, which is 802.11b and 802.11g. 802.11g is the latest one right now, so I can say your machine is very much upto date! :)

[Barbara]

In another forum, someone told me that since I'm using dial-up at home that I really won't be able to use my laptop wireless with the dial-up. What I was really looking for was something like this (http://www.cingular.com/business/mobile_office_kit) which isn't available in my area yet. :(

[beley]

Do you have access to a cable modem or DSL?

[Chicken]

I'm not sure about anyone else, but I tend to look for and buy the cheapest laptop I can find (still name brand, but cheap). Like when they have the $700-$800 laptops. I recently bought one for me and one for the wife... total cost for both: $1,500

Of course it depends on what you're using it for. If you need something super fast with all the trimmings, then the least expensive laptop might not cut it. Years ago I bought the fastest one they had (paid $2,700+ for it), and it's now not useable for my needs. Now I plan to just replace it more often (with another $700 one).

[Barbara]

Originally posted by beley:

Do you have access to a cable modem or DSL?

No.

[Barbara]

Originally posted by Chicken:

I'm not sure about anyone else, but I tend to look for and buy the cheapest laptop I can find (still name brand, but cheap). Like when they have the $700-$800 laptops. I recently bought one for me and one for the wife... total cost for both: $1,500

Of course it depends on what you're using it for. If you need something super fast with all the trimmings, then the least expensive laptop might not cut it. Years ago I bought the fastest one they had (paid $2,700+ for it), and it's now not useable for my needs. Now I plan to just replace it more often (with another $700 one).

I've done that before, too. I'm planning on using this one for work when I'm traveling, and I'd like to not have to upgrade for awhile. Still trying to figure out the mobile Internet thingy. I stopped in the Verizon store yesterday and I thought I understood the options when I left, but I'm confuzzled again this morning.

[Chicken]

Originally posted by Barbara:

I'm planning on using this one for work when I'm traveling, and I'd like to not have to upgrade for awhile. Still trying to figure out the mobile Internet thingy.
So you do heavy computing and need the fastest laptop available? As far as the mobile Internet thingy... I don't know exactly what it is you need, but as far as I can tell, my laptop can do pretty much anything I need it to do (wireless, plus it could hook up with a cell phone -if I had a compatible cell phone and card). You might just be over-thinking things?

I have to re-read the thread again to see what your needs are.

[Barbara]

Originally posted by Chicken:

So you do heavy computing and need the fastest laptop available?

That's it pretty much.


Originally posted by Chicken:

As far as the mobile Internet thingy... I don't know exactly what it is you need, but as far as I can tell, my laptop can do pretty much anything I need it to do (wireless, plus it could hook up with a cell phone -if I had a compatible cell phone and card).

That's what I'm going to end up doing. Verizon has a plan that will do what I need. I've talked to one of the reps twice and now I (or at least I think do) understand it.

Originally posted by Chicken:

You might just be over-thinking things?


Wouldn't be the first time that I've tried to make things harder than what they had to be. :D

[Andrew]

Well, for truely mobile internet , you could use your cell phone and create a mobile connection (as was advised above) - But, best way to get truely "moblie internet" is to go with a Sierra Aircard and one of the many available providers (In Canada they are Rogers and Telus).

The Aircard is pretty simple to install (automated install process with CD). Connection speed isnt too bad these days either (56K most of the time, but can get upto 200K in ideal conditions).

Not sure if its in your budget or not, but the Aircard will cost you around $100 and the monthly charge for the service will be $10 and up. There is (at least in Canada) and unlimited use plan, which runs @ $50 US/month)

Hope this helps

[Barbara]

Thanks. It did help clarify some things. I ordered the laptop on Friday and it's supposed to ship the 22nd (starts marking days off on my calendar). I've talked to the folks at Verizon and I'm going to do the cell phone/modem to start and then look to going with the Air Card later on this year.

[beley]

Hey Barbara - didn't notice you lived in Huntsville! I have some friends down there. I'm in LaGrange, GA... :)

[Barbara]

I've lived here since 1985. I'm one of those "damn Yankees". I moved down here and didn't leave. :banana: