Help designing my laptop for college

[wallace13]

So I'm designing my laptop from Dell for college this fall, and I'm not really sure what kind of upgrades I should get. I don't really know anything about computers. Is there anything completely necessary that I've left out? Or is there anything that I upgraded that I won't really need, that would just be a waste of money for me? I'm not into playing games or watching videos or anything, so anything for that isn't needed. I'm also not a graphic design major or anything. I'm majoring in biology with a minor in political science.
Here's what I've picked so far:

Module Description

Inspiron 1525 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8100 (2.1GHz/800Mhz FSB/3MB cache)

Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic Edition SP1

Memory: 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 (2 Dimms)

Video Card Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

Hard Drive Size: 120GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)

Network Integrated 10/100 Network Card

Modem Integrated Modem

Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0

Combo or DVD+RW Drive CD / DVD Writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)

Sound Card High Definition Audio 2.0

Wireless Networking: Cards Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Mini-Card

Camera: No Webcam Option

Office Productivity Software: (Pre-Installed) Microsoft® Office Home and
Student 2007 - Word, Excel + PowerPoint

Anti-Virus/Security Suite: (Pre-installed) McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-
virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 30-Days

Battery Options: 6 cell battery

Warranty & Service 2Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after
Remote Diagnosis

Datasafe Dell Online Backup 2GB for 1 year

Dial-Up Internet Access: No ISP requested

Entertainment and Editing Software: WildTangent Games

Processor Branding Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor

Labels Windows Vistaâ„¢ Basic

Dell Remote Access Dell Remote Access, free basic service

 

[philbar71]

looks ok but could you provide us with a link to it?

 

[wallace13]

https://ecomm.dell.com/dellstore/po...3f23-4e94-8581-677c5ef6fb10&cart=MySavedItems

I don't know if that will work because I can only access it by logging into my own account.







Inspiron 1525 Qty 1
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8100 (2.1GHz/800Mhz FSB/3MB cache), Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic Edition SP1 Unit Price $1,103.00
Limited Time Offer! Discounted Memory Upgrade ($50 Value)!
Expires Thursday, January 15, 2009
- $50.00

Save $50 off this Dell Inspiron 1525!
Limited Time Offer!
- $50.00

Catalog Number: 29 DNDOPM2
Module Description Product Code
(hide) Sku
(hide) Id
(hide)
Inspiron 1525 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T8100 (2.1GHz/800Mhz FSB/3MB cache) SPT81HN [223-7733] 1

Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic Edition SP1 VHB31E [420-5769][420-6436][420-7580][420-7622][420-7905][420-9100][420-9106][420-9107][420-9128][463-2282] 11

System Color Chill Pattern ASI [313-5781] 2

Memory 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 (2 Dimms) 2G2D8 [317-0168] 3

LCD Panel Glossy, widescreen 15.4 inch display (1280x800) 15XGAT [320-6047] 5

Video Card Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 INTAC [320-6059] 6

Hard Drive Size: 120GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM) 120GB [341-5616] 8

Network Integrated 10/100 Network Card INTNIC [430-2651] 13

Modem Integrated Modem I56NM [313-5793] 14

Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0 ADOBER [410-1883] 15

Combo or DVD+RW Drive CD / DVD Writer (DVD+/-RW Drive) 8XDVDRW [313-5791][420-8183] 16

Sound Card High Definition Audio 2.0 IS [313-4783] 17

Wireless Networking Cards Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Mini-Card DW1395 [430-2652] 19

Camera No Webcam Option DNCAMER [313-5786] 21

Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed) Microsoft® Office Home and

Student 2007 - Word, Excel + PowerPoint IVOFHS [420-6589] 22

Anti-Virus/Security Suite (Pre-installed) McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 30-Days MC930D [410-1160] 25

Battery Options 6 cell battery 6BAT [312-0617] 27

Warranty & Service 2Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after

Remote Diagnosis S2OS [412-0360][900-8221][950-3338][960-2780][970-2081][984-1930][989-3867][989-3868] 29

Datasafe Dell Online Backup 2GB for 1 year DOB2GB [420-9518][988-0099][988-7707] 34

Dial-Up Internet Access No ISP requested NISP [412-0148] 37

Entertainment and Editing Software WildTangent Games WLDTNG [420-9352] 195

Processor Branding Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor IC2DNB [310-8319] 749

Labels Windows Vistaâ„¢ Basic VBN [310-8627] 750

Dell Remote Access Dell Remote Access, free basic service DRAFB [420-9800][993-1919] 813

TOTAL: $1,003.00

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

 

[aaronkupen]

Well for what you want, you might as well get something cheaper than a grand. A $700 dell laptop should be more than enough for your needs.

 

[DoubleHelix]

This fall is 9 months away. The warranty is nearly half gone by then, and technology will have changed. The college may also recommend a specific brand or model and even offer discounts.

 

[Difolo]

"Dude....you shoulda bought a Dell"

 

[SuxoR]

You went overboard with that computer man. A net book might do what you wanna do from what it sounds like.

You shouldn't be spending that much for just casual use, and do not buy this far ahead because you might miss out on sales and price drops.

Hold out for a bit and look around till fall, it's faaaaar away

 

[SHaTTaFaKKaP]

wow that price looks like a ripoff!
Wait around, search Slickdeals.net for sales on laptops, I got a Studio 15 with 3 gb ram, 250gb harddrive decicated graphics card, with webcam and all that snazz for around $700, and that was 4 months ago.

 

[Ethan_Kaizer]

My first piece of advice to you, is that if you don't need the laptop yet, don't get it. If you need it for college in the fall, I'd suggest holding out until at least the summer. The hardware world moves fast.

If you need it now, I can say that I don't ever recommend Dell.

Here's a nice laptop for less than that one, and it'll outperform that Dell laptop:

Newegg.com - Acer Aspire AS6930-6073 NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo P8600(2.40GHz) 16" Wide XGA 4GB Memory 320GB HDD DVD Super Multi NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GS - Laptops / Notebooks

 

[hikaricloud]

For that kind of money, you can grab something so much better. I know for a fact there's an ASUS on newegg that is at least twice as good as that junker for under a grand.

Newegg.com - ASUS N50Vn-A1B NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo T5800(2.00GHz) 15.4" Wide XGA 4GB Memory 250GB HDD 5400rpm DVD Super Multi NVIDIA GeForce 9650M GT - Laptops / Notebooks

That may have a slightly better processor, but not by much. And this ASUS has twice as much RAM and a much better video chipset.

Plus, can you say 2 year warranty? I know I can.