Considering moving from E6400 to E4300, thoughts?

So I love my E6400, but sometimes I think having an ultraportable would better meet my needs. I'm considering switching to an E4300 for this reason and am looking for some input. The specs of my E6400: P8400, WXGA+ LED backlit, 4GB RAM, 160GB 7200rpm HDD, Intel 5300, 4500MHD, 9 cell. What I'm most concerned about is build quality, keyboard and screen quality, power, weight, and battery life between the two systems. I really like the screen on my E6400 and I'm worried that I'll be disappointed downgrading to a WXGA. Also, would I be saving an appreciable amount of weight by moving from an E6400 with a 9 cell to an E4300 with a 6 cell, enough so that it would justify switching laptops? Basically, is there anything I might be disappointed in by going from an E6400 to an E4300?

 

I am extremely happy with my E4300 (specs in sig). The screen is awesome (love the matte), and keyboard is solid, and the build quality overall is great. I love how light it is compared my the Inspiron 6400 I had before.

Also about the screen, WXGA is a great resolution for the size, IMO. I have no problems enjoying HD videos and movies as well as the occasional picture slide show.

The 6 cell battery sticks out just under an inch from the back, but I welcome this, especially when carrying it. I get great battery life as I easily make it through a day of classes. Sleep/standby work fantastic for this as well.

My ONLY dissapointment is the touchpad. Dell should have stuck with Synaptics, basically.

If you have any other questions, just ask!

 

FYI, I personally own a E4300 + 6 cell and have a E6400 also with a WXGA+ display and a 9 cell for work. The weight savings, though, with the E4300 are monumental. You'll definitely love the additional mobility.

I, however, disagree with Matt on the screen. The E4300 display is a horrendous POS. The colors wash the moment you move from looking at the display head on. Unless you're only using it for work, coming form a E6400 WXGA+ display, you'll be sorely disappointed.

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5320
That review, the display and audio section, sums up the major faults of the E4300 well enough. Display and speakers are the greatest disappointments. My only other gripe with it is that the backlit keyboard is very easy to dirty. It's like the keys strip oil right off your fingers (I swear my fingers are clean BTW!)
I tend to use the touch-point joystick thing or an external mouse instead of the touchpad, so I can't really comment on it too much. I've never liked any of them.

To be honest, if I knew how crappy the E4300 display was before I bought it, I would have gotten it anyway, over the E6400. Mobility was my primary concern at the time, and since I used it mainly for school, it sufficed. Eh, as a side-note, you might miss the higher resolution of the WXGA+ if you do any kind of programming in an IDE.

 

I have an E4300 and love it. My previous notebook was a D630 and the weight savings between the two was significant. My E4300 weighs 3.9lbs with the 6 cell battery (compared to ~5.5lbs that my D630 with 9 cell weighed). I can never go back to carrying anything heavier than the E4300. Speakers are pretty weak but I rarely use them so I don't care about that issue much. Would be nice if Dell offered a higher resolution screen option. I also am a trackpoint man and rarely use the toucpad so I can't comment on that too much.

 

Aside from what Aerick has said about the sound, I've got no problems with my 4300. I didnt like that the 6-cell battery seemed to wiggle a little bit when I first got it, but I've since had it replaced and no more wiggle from the battery. The display is a bit flimsy, doesnt feel as solid as the rest of the machine. I love the keyboard, and performance of it has been rock solid.

 

I too thought I might like the E4300 for the power it has combined with it's small size. Once I got one I was astonished at how bad the screen is compared to my E6500. It was extremely yellow tinted and even looking at it straight on, part of the screen was color-shifted. It was honestly the worst screen I've ever seen. I was shocked at how Dell would put one of the best screens I've seen on a laptop (E6500) in one size of their Latitude line, but then a POS on a different sized Latitude.

 

my only gripe about my E4300 is that it doesn't have a WXGA+ option. I feel the screen is fine, I just wish I had more resolution

 

For me, the screen is just fine. The matte display really helps reduce glare and even helps viewing angles.

As for the speakers, I completely agree. They are tinny and weak. BUT, I have a nice pair of headphones when I want to listen to music and what not.

 

Well it seems like I would definitely benefit from the decreased weight and increased mobility without sacrificing much if any of the performance and build quality of my current laptop. It looks like I might be giving up a little battery life. I think what I'm most worried about though is hating the screen when I put it side to side with my current one.

 

Screen quality is one of the most important things on a laptop. HDD you can upgrade, etc but the screen you are stuck with.

Besides once you have used a good screen there is no going back - its like learning what good beer is and then being forced to drink that old swill. Just a no-go.