Buying a new computer..., ...what do you recommend? Options

[*thesweetescape*]

Okay, be resonable. Obviously, I'm not going to go out and buy and alienware, and no...I'm not building my own either (even though some day I'd like to attempt it.) What desktops or laptops would you recommend that would be a best deal for low price? I've shopped around a little online but I want to know first hand how these computers are running...I can't afford for a computer to crap out on me in a few months...and what I want is pretty basic: internet, word processor for school, cd burner, floppy drive....if possible, i'm looking for a laptop but if i can't find a cheap enough one ($1,000 or under) i'm going to get a desktop....soooo any suggestions?

[mechwarrior1989]

There's currently a pretty good deal on a Dell Inspiron 600m from Dell Home. This is a nice little laptop that is about 4-5lbs, it also comes with a free wireless internet card, and upgrade to 512mb ram, you can also save another like $50 by downgrading the processor to a Celeron-M but I wouldn't recommend it.

Inspiron 600m Pentium® M Processor 715(1.50GHz/400MHz FSB) 14.1-in XGA, 32MB Video B15G3HN [221-5975] 1
Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition WHXP [420-2427][313-1828][412-0408][313-2208][412-0689][463-2282] 11
Memory FREE UPGRADE! 512MB,266MHz,2DIMM (from 256MB,266MHz,2DIMM) 512M2PP [462-8900] 3
Hard Drive 30GB Hard Drive 30GB [340-8045] 8
Integrated Modem and NIC Internal 56K Modem and Integrated Network Card 56MPC [313-1659] 14
Document Management Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0 ADOBER [430-1048] 15
Optical 8X Max DVD Drive 8XDVD [313-1299][430-1050] 16
Wireless Networking Cards FREE Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps) IP2200P [463-2139] 19
Bundled Software Productivity Pack including WordPerfect® ICORELM [412-0556][412-0714] 22
Security Software No Security Subscription NS [412-0735] 25
Digital Music Dell Jukebox - easy-to-use music player and CD burning software MMBASE [412-0691] 26
Primary Battery 6-Cell Lithium Ion Battery (53Whr) 53WHR [310-5188] 27
Limited Warranty, Services and Support 1 Year Limited Warranty plus 1 Year Mail-In Service ST111RR [950-9057][950-3337][950-3830][412-0361] 29
Dial-Up Internet Access 6 Months America Online Internet Access Included AOLDHS [412-0585][412-0625][420-3224][412-0687] 37
Digital Imaging or Digital Photography Paint Shop™ Pro® Trial plus Photo Album™ Starter Edition DPS [412-0521] 38
Mail-In Rebate Offer SAVE $150 with mail-in rebate! System price shown before rebate. Q3DH150 [463-1899] 56
Personal Finance Software Microsoft® Money 2004 Standard MNY [412-0552] 83
Dell Media Experience Dell Media Experience™ DMX [412-0706] 115
TOTAL: $1,104.15

Then there's a $150 rebate which brings the price to almost $950. A pretty good price, also when you consider free shipping which saves $49 and also it's from Dell Home where many places can get it without tax.

Coupon code for 15% off is required: H4RC$H$5NKWBDW

This code can be applied to any laptop over $999 before rebates.



Not your cup of tea or too expensive? No problem there's also the following, less ram but more processing power, though more of a desktop replacement than mobile travler:

Module Description Product Code Sku Id
Inspiron 1150 Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.80GHz, 14.1-in XGA IP28GHN [221-4186] 1
Operating System Microsoft® Windows® Home Edition WHXP [420-3885][412-0408][412-0689][463-2282] 11
Memory FREE Upgrade! 384MB Shared DDR SDRAM, 2 Dimms 384MB2P [463-3313] 3
Hard Drive 30GB Hard Drive 30GB [341-0183] 8
Network Card Integrated Network Card INTNIC [430-0810] 13
Modem Internal 56K Modem 56MPC [312-0188] 14
Document Management Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0 ADOBER [430-1048] 15
CD ROM/DVD ROM 8X Max Variable DVD-ROM Drive 8XDVD [341-0176][430-1050] 16
Wireless Networking Cards FREE Dell® Wireless 1350 Internal Wireless (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) TM135IP [462-9585] 19
Productivity Software Productivity Pack including WordPerfect® ICORELM [412-0556][412-0714] 22
Security Software Norton Internet Security® 90-day introductory offer NIS2004 [412-0628] 25
Digital Music Dell Jukebox - easy-to-use music player and CD burning software MMBASE [412-0691] 26
Primary Battery 65 WHr 8-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery 8BATS [310-4702] 27
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options 1 Year Limited Warranty plus 1 Year Mail-In Service ST111RR [950-9057][950-3337][412-0361][950-9220] 29
Dial-Up Internet Access 6 Months of America Online Membership Included AOLDHS [412-0585][412-0625][420-3224][412-0687] 37
Digital Imaging or Digital Photography Paint Shop™ Pro® Trial plus Photo Album™ Starter Edition DPS [412-0521] 38
Personal Finance Software Microsoft® Money 2004 Standard MNY [412-0552] 83
Dell Media Experience Dell™ Media Experience DMX [412-0706] 115

ACCESSORIES

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Save $100 with mail-in rebate. Price shown before rebate. Qty 1
Unit Price $0.00
TOTAL: $907.80


Price after $100 rebate: $807.80 2 day shipping is free so you may just have to pay tax. Also free wireless b/g card as with the 600m. Coupon code is still required.