Dell Inspiron 600m v. 700m?

[JEM7VSBL]

I'm going to be purchasing a laptop very soon, and I originally wanted to get an 8600 with the wuxga screen, but realized it would be better for me to get a smaller, more portable laptop and hook it up to an external monitor. it would give me a much wider range of machines to select from, and something that was easy to carry around. i only intend on playing in my room, so getting the uxga screen just doesn't seem practical. now i'm wondering what the primary differences are between the 600m and 700m. the dell website doesn't do a really good job of comparing the two....the only main differences i see are the 700m is slightly smaller and lighter, and has the widescreen, while the 600m's resolution can be upped to sxga...

[absou1ut]

i have never seen the 600m in person just online but i saw a girl as my school with the 700m, that thing was mad small, once i can get a good deal from dell, ima get the 700m

[SharkBait]

Dell has a new $500-$600 off coupon that just came out.

I'll try to attach the link but if it doesn't work check out Spartacus' thread on the 8600.

http://www.slickdeals.net/#p5763

[boedeker]

i got the 700m and i love it. for what thats worth.

[Cruisers]

[ QUOTE ]
i got the 700m and i love it. for what thats worth.

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you found that the XGA screen is sufficient? What do you use the laptop for? How many tables at once?

[dfscott]

I've got a 600m. I've been playing poker on it for some time now, and while doable, I'm not that happy with it for multitabling (overall, it's a great laptop). Here's a screen shot (http://uploadyourimages.com/img/776183600m-pokershot.jpg).

Fortunately, my 8600 is on the way.

[JEM7VSBL]

yea, the 600m comes with an xga display that's 1024x768, and the 700m comes with an xga display that's 1280x800, which is what my monitor is set at now on my desktop. the 600 can be upgraded to sxga, but the resolution on the 700 is marginally sufficient. now the problem seems to be, my laptop will basically serve as a desktop replacement, and i won't be taking it to classes and such...this is getting tougher to decide the more i think about it...

also, one other question. if i plan on using this only at my desk, is the battery upgrade necessary or desirable?

[BusterStacks]

I think the benefits of a WUXGA screen outway any portability issues if you are going to be playing a lot of poker.

[dfscott]

[ QUOTE ]
I think the benefits of a WUXGA screen outway any portability issues if you are going to be playing a lot of poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. For comparison purposes, check out this thread (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=books&Number=1532667&Forum =f19&Words=laptop&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=15326 67&Search=true&where=sub&Name=&daterange=1&newerva l=2&newertype=m&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Pos t1532667).

[JEM7VSBL]

[ QUOTE ]
I think the benefits of a WUXGA screen outway any portability issues if you are going to be playing a lot of poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

i will be connecting to an external monitor with that resolution...i'm just trying to think in the long run, in a year and a half, i'm planning on going to law school where i hear laptops are essential in the classroom or something like that...i felt getting something more portable would be more practical.

[Cruisers]

[ QUOTE ]
yea, the 600m comes with an xga display that's 1024x768, and the 700m comes with an xga display that's 1280x800,

[/ QUOTE ]

Where did you find that the 700 is an SGA display with 1280x800? I didn't find that on the dell website.

[mmbt0ne]

Can you see evreything ok with the 15.4" WUXGA screen?

If I can get this 8600 1.6M, 512, 60GB/7200 for $1172 and the screen is big enough to make everything out, I'm making my first major purchase off of poker money.

[BusterStacks]

Dude, I am going with the 9200. WUXGA on a 15.4" is SMALL and would be a pain (imo) for things besides poker.

[boedeker]

my other notebook had was a larger toshiba, and i swore to myself that my next would not be so [censored] big, so i went for the smallest decent thing i could afford and couldnt be happier. i use it mostly for note taking at school, but i often play poker on it too, usually 2 tables.

[busguy]

[ QUOTE ]
i will be connecting to an external monitor with that resolution...

[/ QUOTE ]

Make sure that the notebook that you choose will support 1600 x 1200 (or the likes). Don't assume that just because the Monitor will do a high resolution that the video card on the notebook will drive it.

/images/graemlins/blush.gif busguy

[BusterStacks]

[ QUOTE ]
Don't assume that just because the Monitor will do a high resolution that the video card on the notebook will drive it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Uh... Actually yes, do assume that. because it's true.

[busguy]

Seriously ??

I was under the assumption (I'm a Mac guy so new to the whole PC thing) that the video card was VERY important as to whether you could get the proper resolution with say a Dell 2001fp.

Are you saying that my wife's Dell 600 that will only do a max of something like 1024 x 800 on it's internal screen, WILL support and drive a 1600 x 1200 external Monitor ???

/images/graemlins/confused.gif busguy

[BusterStacks]

Indeed, that is precisely what I am saying.

[mmbt0ne]

Yeah, that's what I figured. I was looking at my 15" extra monitor and trying to imagine 4 tables on that, and it wasn't working.

The 9200 is definitely a better deal. It looks better, the screen is bigger, it doesn't cost much more, and it really isn't that much bigger when it's closed than the 8600. 1/2 inch wider, about an inch longer, so that's not bad at all. Only problem, I can't get the WUXGA screen on Dell's website. They only have the XGA+ option, and that just won't do.

[JEM7VSBL]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
yea, the 600m comes with an xga display that's 1024x768, and the 700m comes with an xga display that's 1280x800,

[/ QUOTE ]

Where did you find that the 700 is an SGA display with 1280x800? I didn't find that on the dell website.

[/ QUOTE ]

check the display specs for the 700m.

[SharkBait]

I would call them. For some reason the web site doesn't always list all of the options.

[Cruisers]

For all the Dell 8600 lovers out there (and anyone else who might know the answer), why do you prefer the 8600 over the Dell 6000? Both have the UXGA screen/resolution and Dell is offering 34% off the 6000 and only 20% off the 8600. I configued both of them similarly and it seems like the 6000 is $250 less. What am I missing?

[splashpot]

[ QUOTE ]
For all the Dell 8600 lovers out there (and anyone else who might know the answer), why do you prefer the 8600 over the Dell 6000? Both have the UXGA screen/resolution and Dell is offering 34% off the 6000 and only 20% off the 8600. I configued both of them similarly and it seems like the 6000 is $250 less. What am I missing?

[/ QUOTE ]

I would also like to find out if there is something you all know that is keeping you from getting the 6000. I just customized a pretty nice system for a little over $1000.

[Cruisers]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
For all the Dell 8600 lovers out there (and anyone else who might know the answer), why do you prefer the 8600 over the Dell 6000? Both have the UXGA screen/resolution and Dell is offering 34% off the 6000 and only 20% off the 8600. I configued both of them similarly and it seems like the 6000 is $250 less. What am I missing?

[/ QUOTE ]

I would also like to find out if there is something you all know that is keeping you from getting the 6000. I just customized a pretty nice system for a little over $1000.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think maybe the difference has to do with the processor, looks like the 8600 is "centrino" technology and the 6000 is not. I don't really know what advantages that has though. Anyone?

[splashpot]

[ QUOTE ]
I think maybe the difference has to do with the processor, looks like the 8600 is "centrino" technology and the 6000 is not. I don't really know what advantages that has though. Anyone?

[/ QUOTE ]

I haven't been keeping up with the recent tech stuff, so correct me if I'm wrong. I believe Centrino only refers to the Pentium M processor with wireless technology. Both of which the 6000 has. The one thing I did notice was the 8600 has a vastly superior graphics card. But if you don't plan on doing any serious gaming or video editing, the 6000 seems plenty sufficient for poker. Unless I'm completely missing something.

[mmbt0ne]

Centrino has built in wireless, runs cooler, and runs faster (about 1.5x a pentium with similar stats).

The 6000 also doesn't use a pentium 4, it uses a celeron, which everybody pretty much agrees blows for normal usage. I don't know how it would perform for a dedicated poker machine.

EDIT: Check that, you can get a centrino on the 6000. I'm an idiot.

[splashpot]

[ QUOTE ]
EDIT: Check that, you can get a centrino on the 6000. I'm an idiot.

[/ QUOTE ]

And I had a link all ready to prove you wrong too. Guess I wasn't fast enough. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Cruisers]

[ QUOTE ]
EDIT: Check that, you can get a centrino on the 6000. I'm an idiot.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you are, I'm worse. I'm the one that pointed out it didn't have Centrino (which was simply wrong).

Thanks for your input on this.

I don't see why the 6000 isn't a better choice at the moment.

[pyroponic]

I just bought a Toshiba M205 tablet PC, IT IS THE [censored]!! I'm talking about right up to the Dell 2001 FP monitor in terms of the nuts in its category.

If you're a student, I would say you NEED to get this tablet PC. It's convertible from a notebook (you can use it in laptop mode all the time if you want), 12.1" screen, 3.5+ hrs of battery life. The screen resolution is very sharp (1450x1050) i believe. You WON'T be disapointed! Also 4.4 lbs, external DVD/CD-RW drive to cut out a lb. or so.