Almost ready to purchase E6500

Actually, I'll probably order black...the only thing is that I'm not familiar with the processor families they show. No P8XXX series.

 

I can't dismiss the reader out-of-hand, but I don't appreciate its purpose and as noted, leaving it out allows you to not install some overhead, should you ever re-install... which we all will when Windows 7 arrives. If you really need a fingerprint reader, by all means, order one! But I did not... I'd rather have a cheap, big, fast, cool, energy-efficient SSD with full drive encryption (FDE). Perhaps others can explain their use of a fingerprint reader. And maybe I've seen too many movies where the bad guy cuts off your finger to login!

Dell ControlPoint may be specifically at fault, but it also appears to be bloatware of questionable necessity (aggregating/repeating OS functions), and is of a class of traditionally suspect utility software.

GK

 

I'm still leaning toward ordering with FP reader, just to save on website and general password fatigue (it's only $30). I figure I can later uninstall software easier than add hardware. Hopefully no one will go after Mom's finger!

 

It took me awhile to figure out how their website works. The Latitudes are listed with processors such as "Intel Core 2 Duo - 2400". The number means the core speed of the CPU, and the notation I've shown represents a processor such as the P8600. There were almost 70 of these on the website. Narrow it down to the processor speed you want, then look at the details for each individual machine to determine if it is a P8600 or T____ or whatever. The cheapest one I found in the outlet w/ a P8600 was $679.

 

Jeeze, why don't they show the processor number, rather than just the speed (and not even in a familiar way). I guess that would be too easy, LOL! Thanks for the tip! There are quite a few. Trying to prioritize add-ons, since it's hard to find one that is as I custom configured. Fingerprint reader is least common, followed by backlit keyboard, then WXGA+.

 

I guess I should expect to have certain problems with any new laptop? Would a laptop from the Home side (Studio 15) be just as likely to have it's own set of "issues" as this guy is having with his new E6400, http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=340570
He did say it's the best laptop he's ever owned, but is it "normal" to have to work the bugs out of any new computer, or is buying a business-oriented laptop going to have more complex management software that can cause problems? I assume it can be uninstalled? I was hoping the Business computers would be more trouble-free out of the box.

My last purchase was quite a while ago (2000), and it was a desktop, but I don't remember having any problems that weren't my doing. Like I said, it's been a while since I've bought a new computer and wondered what "normal" is.

 

Dell have created one family of drivers and software for (almost?) all the new Latitudes and Precisions and, I suspect, this makes debugging more difficult because of all the hardware, software and OS combinations.

Don't forget that forums tend to attract people with problems. Few people sign up to say that it all worked OK out of the box.

John

 

My Latitude came with very little add-on stuff loaded. I bought a Toshiba for my wife and it was packed full of extra junk.

As for working out the bugs, I would expect or hope to find very few bugs. My 5 year old Inspiron 8600 has had not problems during its lifetime, except for the security holes in IE. I haven't noticed any big bugs with my E6500 but haven't worked with it extensively yet.

 

Thanks, and great to hear. It's easy to concentrate on folks having trouble since most people don't post a computer that isn't a problem!

 

Seems like a good option. I don't think I want to go with the Scratch and Dent, but I'm guessing Certified Pre-Owned tends to be cheaper overall than Previously Ordered New? Is it actually better to get Pre-Owned since they are re-tested, and would they be more likely to have most up-to-date drivers/patches? What type of condition are Pre-Owned in?