Ordering E6500 from Outlet today (I think)

That's what I'm thinking. Right now I'm trying to decide what I really need, vs want since the number of E6500s has dropped and choices aren't as good as they were when I started my quest.

I don't really need, nor want the T series processor. I do feel like keeping the Nvidia GPU though as video requirements for everything have increased so much in the last few years, as I hope this laptop will give her a few years of use.

I think if I lose a couple add-ons like a web cam, it brings in a few more laptops.

One thing I think I want is the fingerprint reader. Any thoughts on how useful it is in day to day use? I imagined it making the whole password entering per website less of a hassle for my Mom.

I think the back lit keyboard should stay, as well as WXGA+ LED screen, DVD+RW, and 7200 RPM HD . I assume it's easy and not too expensive to swap out a B/G WiFi card for an N?

 

Perhaps outlet choices should remain poor if the notebook is worth owning.

I went with the nVidia for a bit more power, even offers more on the E6500.

Webcam and mic make the unit a more capable Internet communications device... a primary role for a personal computer.

I do not know what the fingerprint reader does besides authenticate one's finger and add to system overhead. If it cache's login credentials, you must secure that cache, back it up, and be able to restore it... AND maintain an offline paper record. Does it interoperate with the various website account logins, or just the machine and OS? If it is only for the machine/OS logins, then why bother. If it is suppose to be some universal login credentials database, it probably won't work universally and hence becomes troublesome. If it is specifically for machine and corporate enterprise system logins, Mom won't need that.

If it's a notebook, you'll want WiFi. 802.11g could be fast enough. Or, you can easily swap in an N unit.

GK

 

as far as i know you cant use the fingerprint reader for anything other than os login/pre boot authentication

i posted a thread about this before, its a pity because it would have been useful

 

So that makes it only of interest to the same corporate IT folks that are encrypting hard drives... useful for business users but mom won't need it.

GK

 

yea, i dont think your mum would find it useful, unless someone has any ideas or someone writes some kind of work around to extend its usability.

personally i ordered it because i often do presentations, or show people stuff on my laptop, also sometimes i have to wake up when i get a call and groggily refer to stuff on it which is always beside my bed lol....

its convenient, and when logging in with people around i dont have to worry about them seeing my keystrokes.

other than that its of limited use.

 

I talked to a tech from the Small Business Support last night (he was in Florida. I LOVE Business support!) He looked at the T series vs the P series and confirmed the 30%+ more power usage of the T and really suggested staying with the P unless I really needed the extra computing power, (which I don't).

Same Tech said what you guys are saying, that it's only good for Windows logon. But, I was still suspicious so finally dug a little and found a couple things here and here. Will the E6500's fp reader not be able to do this??

 

What's been said stands. It's possible the reader includes a software managed database of login credentials... I don't know. The Dell Tech you talked to doesn't seem to think so. I doubt it, too. Even if it does, it's overhead for you and mom... and you again, and again, and again,... especially if it's Dell's or odd third party software.

However, if such a system could signature login screens such that mom doesn't accidentally login into a fake online banking form, then it could be very useful identity protection... worth the overhead.

GK

 

Just ordered my Dell Latitude E6500 from the outlet using that 20% off coupon and I think I got a pretty good deal. It's a certified refurb model with the following specs:Quantity Item Number Description

Intel Core 2 Duo 2.26 P8400 CPU
Integrated Webcam + microphone
Backlit keyboard
No Fingerprint reader
Brushed Metal Black
2GB 800MHZ DDR2 RAM (1 DIMM)
8x DVD+/-RW
6-cell battery
160GB Hard Drive, 7200RPM w/ FreeFall Sensor
Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth
Vista Business with XP professional downgrade
Dell Wireless 1397 b/g
Display 15.4" WXGA+ WLED
Roxio,Creator Dell Edition,9.0,
Dell ProSupport Service Offering Declined
3yr Limited Warranty, Mail-In Service, 24x7 Technical Support
NO Intel vPro Secure Advanced Hardware Enabled Systems Management
NVIDIA Quadro NVS 160M GPU

Got this model $738 including tax and shipping (which was free). Ordered another 2GB Dimm of RAM from New Egg as well as MS Office Home and Student + Norton Internet Security '09 from Amazon.

All inclusive, the entire package was $893. Can't beat these 20% off deals from the Outlet! Now's to hoping I don't get a lemon. That's the only remaining bit of nervousness. I also hope I won't regret not signing up for the Pro Support as part of the warranty.

 

Nice deal The only difference in what I was pricing was the faster 2.4gHz CPU, N series WiFi, and FP reader and was coming in somewhere around $975 (before 20% off). The reason I was trying to nail down the necessity of the FP reader was there were a decent number of E6500s that had everything else I wanted, just no reader. I believe the 20% is now over, and I'll just keep checking back with the Outlet until they have what I want. I feel like a bit of a Dork for passing on 20%, but it wouldn't be the first time .

Let us know what condition it arrives in and how you like your E6500. Especially curious about the screen, since WXGA+ are practically nonexistent in store demos to check out. BTW, do you get the Recovery/Resource discs and documentation? Also, if you have second thoughts about the Pro Support, I bet Dell will still let you add it. I'm going to add it for the sake of having someone imminently more qualified than myself on call to help my Mom when she needs it.

 

Wanted to let you know that the 20% coupon IS still working. Just tried it, and it works as of today (Friday).

Will definitely report back on condition once it arrives. I also went "blind" with the WXGA+. I actually had no intention to get that (planned to get WXGA as that's all I've ever used), but after reading a bunch of comments scattered throughout these forums, I thought it would be fine, plus I've seen the Apple Macbook's higher resolution and liked being able to put more windows side by side on the screen with pinpoint clarity of text. We'll see.

Decided again this morning against the ProSupport after seeing it costs an additional $178. For a $700 computer, that 25% premium feels excessive, but if I run into a big problem, then I may change my opinion.

I assume that the computer will come with all manuals and recovery CDs, although I'm not sure. I guess I just kind've expected that. I'll let you know.