Advice on purchasing Inspiron 1525 laptop

Hello All,

I wish to purchase a new laptop and chose Inspiron 1525 as it seems to
be an affordable one with a Pentium processor.

1) What is your budget?

35K-45K in Indian rupees

2) What size notebook would you prefer?

c. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen
d. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen

3) Where will you buying this notebook? You can select the flag of
your country as an indicator.
India, Asia

4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
No

5) What are the primary tasks will you be performing with this
notebook?
Programming. Will be using the machine for 10-12hours/day on weekends
and holidays for development and learning purposes.

6) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places,
leaving it on your desk or both?
Both, but travel won't be a lot.

7) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games or types of
games?
Hardly playing games
8) How many hours of battery life do you need?
2 should be fine as wherever I will travel I can take the adapter with
me
9) Would you prefer to see the notebooks you're considering before
purchasing it or buying a notebook on-line without seeing it is OK?
I am located in India, Asia where there are no Dell physical outlets
so I have to purchase after seeing it online.

10) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista), Mac OS, Linux, etc.
XP
Screen Specifics

11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?

a. WXGA – 1280x800 or occasionally 1280x768; For people who like big
text and icons that are easy to read. Less stuff fits on the screen,
which translates into more scrolling.



12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy
screen?
Non glossy

Build Quality and Design

13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
Not much, more important is cost, life(how long can it work without
issues)
14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this
laptop to last?
Thinking of buying within few weeks and want it to last 7+ years(if
not more)

Notebook Components

15) How much hard drive space do you want; 80GB to 500GB? Do you want
a SSD drive?
160GB should be sufficient.
16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a CDRW/DVD-ROM, DVD Burner
or Blu-Ray drive?
CDRW/DVD ROM is fine.

How experienced you are with computers?

Fairly experienced with them, but disappointed that my Inspiron 1100
lasted only 5 years. Had a electrical surge which damaged the
motherboard.

I gather from Dell reviews at http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/prod...&s=dhs#reviews

that it gets up heated a lot, quickly.

Should I choose another model?

I would appreciate any advice and suggestions.

Thanks

"Christopher Muto" <> wrote in message
news: t...
>i would recommend that you check out the vostros 1510. it is essentially
>the same size to the inspiron 1525 but is a hair lighter, better build
>quality, and comes without any bloatware. the vostros 1510 is available
>with a dedicated video card as opposed to the inspiron 1525 that only has
>integrated video offered. the inspiron 1525 does have a better optional
>integrated camer if that is important (2.0 vs 1.3 mp) and the inspiron
>comes in colors where the vostros is only black. they have the same basic
>display but the vostros has multiple display upgrade options. they are
>also similar in price for similar configurations. you will only see it on
>the 'small business' site but anyone can buy from the 'small business'
>division. a final word of caution about the inspiron 1525 is that it is
>sometimes offered with a megar 4 cell battery that has a very short run
>time. often your will find a 'bargain' configration that includes this
>battery. you want at least the 6 cell battery. the vostros 1510 minimum
>battery is a 6 cell one and the 8 cell one sticks out the back edge of the
>machine (a trade off between size/weight and batter life). good luck.
>


<snip>


Per Chris' recommendation, a deal on the 1510 starting at $499 to give you
some idea:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...420&lid=197374

> nice. *and that fingerprint reader is a really nice add on for $25...

THANKS a lot for the advice.

Should I get a voltage stabilizer or spike guard should be enough? Can
anyone please explain which is better to buy for a laptop? I live in
India, Asia where power cuts are frequent(3-4 hours/day). My last
machine got damaged due to spikes.

On Dec 26 2008, 10:41*am, p_...@mailinator.com wrote:
> Should I get a voltage stabilizer or spike guard should be enough? Can
> anyone please explain which is better to buy for a laptop? I live in
> India, Asia where power cuts are frequent(3-4 hours/day). My last
> machine got damaged due to spikes.

Depends on what you want to protect from. Note the wide voltage
range that the power brick operates from constantly. Then it has even
higher intermittent voltages (spikes) that must not cause any damage.

It’s a laptop which means a UPS does nothing useful. It’s an
industry standard power supply which means it also contains
significant internal protection.

Destructive spikes that can overwhelm that protection must be
earthed before entering the building. Those recommended APC or
Tripplite protectors are the same circuits also found in "generic
'power strips' do little if anything to protect computers." Why is
one better than another when it is the same circuit? Meanwhile all
three also claim to provide the exact same protection in manufacturer
specification sheets. If in doubt, post those numbers here.

High voltages that might overwhelm protection already inside the
computer must be dissipated in earth. A protector that will magically
dissipate what even 3 kilometers could not stop - classic myth. The
effective protector simply connects (diverts, shunts, conducts) a
spike into earth so that protection inside the laptop remains intact.

What does every telco use to suffer maybe 100 surges during
everything thunderstorm without damage? They don't waste money on
the APC, Tripplite, or generic power strip protectors - which are the
same circuits. Earth ground is protection; not a protector. The
effective protector makes short (ie 'less than 3 meter') connection to
earth. That is why your telephone company's computer does not suffer
damage. That is also your solution.

That Dell laptop already contains protection that is not overwhelmed
IF you install what every telco also does. That means not wasting
money on APC and Tripplite protectors that do not even claim to
provide protection in its specifications. Yes, the recommended APC
and Tripplite claim to provide the same protection as a generic power
strip protector. But others will recommend the Tripplite or APC only
because they cost more money.

An earthed spike before it can enter a building means protection
inside that Dell is not overwhelmed.

On Jan 3, 6:55 pm, "Christopher Muto" <m...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> did you read the specs for the apc device? it is far from a 'generic' power
> strip. would love to know any refererance for your claims.

A technically accurate response would post those specs. You did
not. Where is that APC and Tripplite numeric spec that lists each
kind of spike and protection from that spike? Or did you just know
APC and Tripplite are better because that is the popular myth. Not
some subjective claim from a sales brochure. Show me those numbers.

Meanwhile the circuit inside a generic power strip is the same
protection circuit. Deny it? Then you can state specifically what is
different. What parts are used? Why does the APC and Tripplite with
same parts somehow costs more? Again a technical challenge ... that
demands on technical knowledge and not repeating popular myths.

Where are those tech spec numbers that again are not provided?

wrote:
> On Dec 26 2008, 10:41 am, p_...@mailinator.com wrote:
>> Should I get a voltage stabilizer or spike guard should be enough? Can
>> anyone please explain which is better to buy for a laptop? I live in
>> India, Asia where power cuts are frequent(3-4 hours/day). My last
>> machine got damaged due to spikes.
>
> It’s a laptop which means a UPS does nothing useful.

I wouldn't see a voltage stabilizer as useful either.

> Destructive spikes that can overwhelm that protection must be
> earthed before entering the building.

The best information on surges and surge protection I have seen is at:
<http://www.mikeholt.com/files/PDF/LightningGuide_FINALpublishedversion_May051.pdf>
- "How to protect your house and its contents from lightning: IEEE guide
for surge protection of equipment connected to AC power and
communication circuits" published by the IEEE in 2005 (the IEEE is the
major organization of electrical and electronic engineers in the US).
And also:
<http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/practiceguides/surgesfnl.pdf>
- "NIST recommended practice guide: Surges Happen!: how to protect the
appliances in your home" published by the US National Institute of
Standards and Technology in 2001

The IEEE guide is aimed at those with some technical background. The
NIST guide is aimed at the unwashed masses.

> A protector that will magically
> dissipate what even 3 kilometers could not stop - classic myth. The
> effective protector simply connects (diverts, shunts, conducts) a
> spike into earth so that protection inside the laptop remains intact.

w_ has a religious belief (immune from challenge) that surge protection
must directly use earthing. Thus in his view plug-in suppressors (which
are not well earthed) can not possibly work. The IEEE guide explains
plug-in suppressors work by CLAMPING (limiting) the voltage on all wires
(signal and power) to the common ground at the suppressor. Plug-in
suppressors do not work primarily by earthing (or stopping or absorbing
or magic). The guide explains earthing occurs elsewhere. (Read the guide
starting pdf page 40).

Both the IEEE and NIST guides say plug-in suppressors are effective.

Note that all interconnected equipment needs to be connected to the same
plug-in suppressor, or interconnecting wires need to go through the
suppressor. External connections, like phone, also need to go through
the suppressor. Connecting all wiring through the suppressor prevents
damaging voltages between power and signal wires. These multiport
suppressors are described in both guides.

The NIST guide, using US insurance information, suggests the major cause
of equipment damage is high voltage between power and phone/cable wires
(illustrated in the IEEE example above).

Laptops probably are more immune from surges than desktop computers.

--
bud-

On Jan 3, 11:17*pm, "Christopher Muto" <m...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> wtf? *i provided a link to the product page that also has a detailed
> specification page. *it is abundantly clear that you didn't bother to read
> it and that you have no references for the opnions that you offered. *

So where is that number for protection from each type of surge?
Still not provided. Why would you believe you have posted specs? So
many posts and you still don't provide any numbers.

But again. If you had spec numbers, you posted those numbers. Show
me. Where are your numbers for surge protection? Why do you instead
cite a sales brochure? How do you know something and yet cannot even
post a manufacturer spec? Because you don't have any numbers. You
made the claim. Therefore you have the numbers? Apparently not.

Meanwhile, APC and Tripplite protectors use the same protector
circuit found in generic "power strip' protectors. All three even
make the same numeric claims.

The OP is cautioned about those who _know_ but cannot even post one
manufacturer specification number. Instead learn from telcos who
don't use what Christopher has recommended. Telcos use effective
protectors that make a short connection to earth AND cost less money.
Effective protection means the spike does not even enter a building.

wrote:
> On Jan 3, 11:17 pm, "Christopher Muto" <m...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>> wtf? i provided a link to the product page that also has a detailed
>> specification page. it is abundantly clear that you didn't bother to read
>> it and that you have no references for the opnions that you offered.
>
> So where is that number for protection from each type of surge?

"Each type of surge" is nonsense. Plug-in suppressors have MOVs
(protection elements) from H-N, H-G, N-G. That is all possible
combinations and all possible surge modes.

> Still not provided. Why would you believe you have posted specs? So
> many posts and you still don't provide any numbers.

Christopher posted a "link to the product page that also has a detailed
specification page." w just ignores what doesn't fit his beliefs. He
doesn't believe specs exist.

> The OP is cautioned about those who _know_ but cannot even post one
> manufacturer specification number.

The OP is cautioned about those who claim plug-in suppressors are not
effective but cannot even post one source that supports that claim (as
Christopher pointed out).

> Instead learn from telcos who
> don't use what Christopher has recommended.

Gee, why wouldn't a telco use a plug-in suppressor for a switch which is
high amps, hard wired, with thousands of telephone circuits that would
have to go through the plug-in suppressor.


w can't even answer simple questions:
- Why do the only 2 examples of protection in the IEEE guide use plug-in
suppressors?
- Why does the NIST guide says plug-in suppressors are "the easiest
solution"?
- Why does the IEEE guide say for distant service points "the only
effective way of protecting the equipment is to use a multiport
[plug-in] protector"?

For real science read the IEEE and NIST guides. Both say plug-in
suppressors are effective.

--
bud--

On Jan 5, 9:39*am, bud-- <remove.budn...@isp.com> wrote:
>> Still not provided. * Why would you believe you have posted specs? *So
>> many posts and you still don't provide any numbers.
>
> Christopher posted a "link to the product page that also has a detailed
> specification page." *w *just ignores what doesn't fit his beliefs. He
> doesn't believe specs exist.

Which number claims protection from each type of surge? Christopher
cannot say. He does not know what numbers define surge protection.
So Christopher Muto posted a link to a subjective sales brochure – and
posted no numbers.

No protection numbers are provided because the APC and Tripplite
circuits are the same circuit in that generic power strip.
Christopher did not know that. Christopher recommended without
knowing all three are electrically same. Christopher recommended only
protectors with higher profit margins.

Bud - who promotes power strip protectors - has cut and pasted his
usual diatribe. Good. Page 42 Figure 8 demonstrates what the APC and
Tripplite protectors actually do. Without earth ground, the spike is
earthed 8000 volts destructively through an adjacent TV. Page 42
Figure 8 of Bud's IEEE guide shows why telcos don't waste money on APC
and Tripplite products. Telcos use protectors that actually provide
protection. Telcos use the 'whole house' protector earthed where a
spike cannot enter the building.

Bud's second citation is even more damning. Bud's NIST citation
says why APC and Tripplite protectors do not provide those spec
numbers:
> You cannot really suppress a surge altogether, nor
> "arrest" it. What these protective devices do is
> neither suppress nor arrest a surge, but simply
> divert it to ground, where it can do no harm.

Divert (shunt, connect) a spike to earth. How does APC or Tripplite
without earthing provide protection? Neither do. Bud's NIST citation
(page 19 of 24) is even blunter:
> A very important point to keep in mind is that your
> surge protector will work by diverting the surges to
> ground. The best surge protection in the world can
> be useless if grounding is not done properly.

Spike energy must be dissipated somewhere. Will that silly little
APC or Tripplite protector stop or absorb what three kilometers of sky
could not? Bud says yes. But even Bud's citations say spike energy
must be dissipated in earth. No wonder telcos waste no money on APC
or Tripplite protectors. Where is energy harmlessly dissipated? In
earth. Effective (and much less expensive) protectors have a short
(ie less than 3 meter) connection to earth.

No wonder Christopher Muto still will not post those protection
numbers. Those numbers do not exist. He does not know what the sales
brochure says. So Christopher must argue rather than post numbers.

Protecting a laptop and everything else inside a building means
earthing before a spike can enter that building. A protector is only
as effective as that 'less than 3 meter' connection to earth. No
earth ground means nothing will stop or dissipate spike energy. No
earth ground is why telcos don't waste money on what Christopher Muto
has recommended.

wrote:
> On Jan 5, 9:39 am, bud-- <remove.budn...@isp.com> wrote:
>>> Still not provided. Why would you believe you have posted specs? So
>>> many posts and you still don't provide any numbers.
>> Christopher posted a "link to the product page that also has a detailed
>> specification page." w just ignores what doesn't fit his beliefs. He
>> doesn't believe specs exist.
>
> Which number claims protection from each type of surge?

The village idiot repeats the nonsense about "each type of surge".

> Bud - who promotes power strip protectors

I promote only accurate information.
w promotes his religious beliefs.

> has cut and pasted his
> usual diatribe.

Being evangelical in his beliefs about earthing and plug-in suppressors,
w trolls google-groups for "surge" to cut and paste in his religious
dogma. That is how he arrived.

> Page 42 Figure 8 demonstrates what the APC and
> Tripplite protectors actually do. Without earth ground, the spike is
> earthed 8000 volts destructively through an adjacent TV.

If poor w could only read and think he could discover what the IEEE
guide says in this example:

- A plug-in suppressor protects the TV connected to it.
- "To protect TV2, a second multiport protector located at TV2 is required."
- The suppressor at TV1 causes absolutely no damage at TV2.
- In the example a surge comes in on a cable service with the ground
wire from cable entry ground block to the ground at the power service
that is far too long. In that case the IEEE guide says "the only
effective way of protecting the equipment is to use a multiport
[plug-in] protector."
- w's favored power service suppressors would provide absolutely NO
protection.

But w’s belief in earthing prevents him from understanding the clear
IEEE example.

> Bud's second citation is even more damning. Bud's NIST citation
> says why APC and Tripplite protectors do not provide those spec
> numbers

What does the NIST guide really say about plug-in suppressors?
They are "the easiest solution".
And "one effective solution is to have the consumer install" a multiport
plug-in suppressor.

But poor w can't read anything that conflicts with his religious belief
in earthing.

> Spike energy must be dissipated somewhere. Will that silly little
> APC or Tripplite protector stop or absorb what three kilometers of sky
> could not? Bud says yes.

The village idiot can't understand the clear explanation in the IEEE guide.
Repeating:
The IEEE guide explains plug-in suppressors work by CLAMPING (limiting)
the voltage on all wires (signal and power) to the common ground at the
suppressor. Plug-in suppressors do not work primarily by earthing (or
stopping or absorbing or magic). The guide explains earthing occurs
elsewhere. (Read the guide starting pdf page 40).

> No wonder Christopher Muto still will not post those protection
> numbers. Those numbers do not exist.

The village idiot can't find the specs Christopher posted. If w
ignores them they don't exist?

> No
> earth ground means nothing will stop or dissipate spike energy.

The required statement of religious belief in earthing.

Never seen - a link to anyone who agrees with w that plug-in
suppressors do NOT work.

Never seen - answers to simple questions:
- Why do the only 2 examples of protection in the IEEE guide use plug-in
suppressors?
- Why does the NIST guide says plug-in suppressors are "the easiest
solution"?
- Why does the NIST guide say "One effective solution is to have the
consumer install" a multiport plug-in suppressor?
- Why does the IEEE guide say for distant service points "the only
effective way of protecting the equipment is to use a multiport
[plug-in] protector"?
- How would w’s favored service panel suppressors provide any
protection in the IEEE example, pdf page 42?


For real science read the IEEE and NIST guides. Both say plug-in
suppressors are effective.

--
bud--