[Oz-teachers] Anyone got / getting a Dell Vostro?

Mon Aug 27 10:39:05 EST 2007

Chris, Dell will be at the IWB conference on Thursday so you can check
them out first hand.

*********
Cheers
Margo

________________________________

From: oz-teachers-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au
[mailto:oz-teachers-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au] On Behalf Of Chris
Betcher
Sent: Sunday, 26 August 2007 4:21 PM
To: Oz Teachers
Subject: Re: [Oz-teachers] Anyone got / getting a Dell Vostro?

That's good news Tess...  As I say, I'm not all that familiar with the
Dell lineup these days, I was just going off a previous email.
Michael's specs sound pretty fancy though.  Should be a nice machine.

1680x1050 pixels sounds very high for a 15" screen...  You normally see
that spec on a 17" model.
The free upgrade to 3Gb RAM is very tasty.  

I was just comparing it to the current MacBook Pros and the Dell is a
good price, although the MacBooks have much faster processors (2.4Ghz as
opposed to 2.0Ghz).

Sounds like the Dell is a good deal...  If only it didn't run Windows!
;-)

CB

On 26/08/07 3:54 PM, "Tess" <tessmart at gmail.com> wrote:

	Quite a sweet build....certainly not what I would consider low
end. 

	I have an Inspiron and every week for nearly 14 months it has
been dragged to the classroom and back, connected up to a data projector
repeatedly, travelled Queensland by road and has probably earned a few
frequent flyer miles too. I've even let my students connect up the
peripherals as part of their assessment.

	If the Vostro casing, connections and hinges are modelled on
anything like my current machine, I'd consider that robust enough for
education use. There still isn't a scratch anywhere to be seen, however
I noticed methylated spirits will dull the powder coating (an accidental
overspray). 

	Someone on Whirlpool has just bought the same machine with RACQ
discount...came to $2330. 

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=805903&r=12766945#r12
766945
<http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=805903&amp;r=1276694
5#r12766945>
<http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=805903&r=12766945#r1
2766945>  

	My partner has a Latitude and it cops a few more knocks than
mine and has survived.

	### Snip
	I just wish I was able to salary sacrifice my new Dell laptop,
but all 
	the info I have read suggests that I have to go through a mob
called 
	RemServe to ss as an EQ employee
	###Snip

	I guess there is some comfort then in it being tax deductible
even if you can't salary sacrifice.

	Tess

________________________________

	From: oz-teachers-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au
[mailto:oz-teachers-bounces at rite.ed.qut.edu.au] On Behalf Of Michael
Cridland
	Sent: Sunday, 26 August 2007 3:03 PM
	To: Professional community for teachers
	Subject: Re: [Oz-teachers] Anyone got / getting a Dell Vostro?

	Hi Chris, 

	The Dell Vostro range is in fact able to be fully-spec'ed-up
(see the specs I am thinking of ordering below) and is in fact what Dell
is marketing as their robust 'small business' notebook with 'road ready'
durability (see quote at bottom of this email).

	Durability, performance, warranty, good value ... the main
reasons why I am going the Vostro option. 

	My specs: 

	Dell Vostro 1500 Notebook
	Intel Core2 Duo Processor T7300
	2.0 GHz, 4MB Cache, 800 MHz FSB 
	Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate 32 bit
	BusinessCare Premium Warranty- Free 3 Years Complete Cover Guard
(Theft Protection) 
	Free upgrade from 2GB to 3GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM 
	15.4" WSXGA+ (1680x1050) TFT Display with TrueLife
	Video Card NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB GDDR2 
	160GB SATA Hard Drive (5400rpm)
	Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Combination Drive with dual layer write
capabilities 
	90W Primary AC Adapter
	9-cell 85Whr Battery (for up to 5 hrs use)
	Intel Wireless-N Mini-Card 
	McAfee Security Center - 15 Months
	Premium matte black finish and dark chrome accents
	2.0mp with camera with built-in dual (stereo) mics
	Wireless Bluetooth Module 
	Bluetooth Travel Mouse 
	Free Bluetooth Wireless Headset 
	Travel Remote Control 
	Free shoulder bag/case
	Free delivery

	Quote *****************
	VostroTM notebooks can withstand the rigours of your business
day with RoadReadyTM  durability and around-the-clock reliability. 

	*	Extra-durable magnesium-alloy exterior adds strength
without extra weight 
	*	StrikeZoneTM  shock absorber technology helps protect
critical data in your hard drive 
	*	Mylar(r) -sealed keyboard helps guard against dust and
spills 

	The VostroTM  1500 is a terrific balance of performance and
portability, featuring extensive technology options, enhanced wireless
connectivity, exceptional durability, and many features great for
business users.

	End quote **************

	They are pretty much an Inspiron 1520 with added durability and
with the specs I'm ordering it with ... it should absolutely FLY!!!
Just not sure about the 5400 rpm hdd, but $110 to upgrade to the 7200rpm
seems a lot when I may not need this extra speed in my hdd - especially
with a 2.0Ghz processor and 3GB of RAM. What do you think?

	Cheers,
	Michael

	Chris Betcher wrote: 
	Mick, just from looking at the Dell specs on one those previous
emails, the
	Vostro appears to be a pretty basic machine aimed at just web
browsing and
	Office apps?  I am not familiar with the Dell lineup these days,
but if that
	previous email was accurate then perhaps you need to be looking
at something
	with a slightly higher spec?  Especially for what you want to do
with it...
	(podcasting? Video?)

	I had a Dell rep call me at work recently trying to get us to
think about
	buying Dell notebooks in our next purchase decision...  When I
mentioned
	that my own personal Dell Inspiron had basically just fallen
apart with use,
	(cracked plastic case, broken hinges, etc) his response was that
the bottom
	models (such as the Inspiron, and perhaps the Vostro?) were
basically just
	commodity cheapies and if you were serious about wanting to get
one that
	lasted you should look at something further up their food chain.
He
	suggested not buying the base models for schools.

	Just a thought.

	Chris

	On 26/08/07 2:08 PM, "Michael Cridland" <mjc44 at tpg.com.au>
<mailto:mjc44 at tpg.com.au> <mailto:mjc44 at tpg.com.au>   wrote:

		Tess wrote:

			Have you still been able to match the price
using an automobile club
			discount and still get the 3 yr onsite warranty
offered by NSW fed?

		No, you're right. With the 3 year warranty, the NSW fed
deal seems like
		a good option (although it is still only 'onsite' I'd
imagine and not
		'CompleteCover').

		The reason it's hard to match the NSW fed deal is
because - as you
		mention - the extra warranty is considerably more $, at
least in the
		short-term anyway. Over the life of the laptop it really
isn't that much
		more for (complete!) peace-of-mind, and the resale value
of a laptop
		still under warranty would be more also (say in 2 years
when you might
		want to upgrade).

		I believe it can be cheaper though to get your lappy
with a 1 year
		warranty and ask Dell to upgrade it after you purchase
it, but before
		your existing warranty runs out. Not sure about this -
just heard it on
		the grape-vine. Might be worth investigating though?

		Michael

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	---
	Chris Betcher
	Sydney, NSW, Australia
	chris at betcher.org
	www.betchablog.com <http://www.betchablog.com>
<http://www.betchablog.com>  

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---
Chris Betcher
Sydney, NSW, Australia
chris at betcher.org
www.betchablog.com

No trees were harmed in the sending of this message; however,
a significant number of electrons have been electromagnetically
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