Bad Experiences with the Latitude D630?

Hi Guys,

I was strongly considering getting the Lenovo Thinkpad T61, but the more I read about it, the more complaints I found.

So... I started looking into its alternative, the Dell Latitude D630.

Just wondering--has anyone who owns a D630 actually had a bad experience with it? Any complaints?

I ask because I've been searching the web/forums, and surprisingly can't find a peep out of anyone on the negative side. Despite this, a lot of people and magazines still recommend the T61 over the D630. What gives?

Thanks,
Jake

 

I've been thinking about getting a dell Inspiron 1520. i've been doing a lot of reviewing myself..your best bet is to go online and look at the customer reviews..b/c it doesn't seem like many ppl on here have latitude's (correct me if i'm wrong) hope this helps..I would personally go with a Dell. Laters

 

I was looking at the T61 before I ordered my D630, but the T61 is ugly, has a dim screen, has an off-center screen, and the largest battery that doesn't stick out is only a 4-cell. I guess the T61 is okay if you want something that nobody would think about stealing since its design is compliments of the late 80's.

I haven't received my D630 yet, but I've used one before and couldn't find anything to complain about. The only small downside is no expresscard slot, but what are those good for anyway?

 

D630 owner - no complaints here.

I cannot vouch for the other Dell lines as i've never owned them, although I do have personal info on the 600-630 since I started using them in 2005 (or 2004, can't remember). They're solid machines, and have only seemed to get better over time.

Back to the 630 : The D6's have come a long way, and the 630 is the result of that journey. ****ty keyboard (which I still use daily btw) from the D600 - upgraded; dim and wobbly screen - upgraded; more sturdy construction - check.

No anecdotal evidence here. Just personal experience.

Good luck.

P

 

that was my main complaint about the latitude, it simply wasnt displayed anywhere locally. And probably the deciding factor in me sticking with my m1210.

I just have to see a laptop in person before shelling 1000$ out. Some people dont do that, i have no idea how

 

I love my D630. the T61 was actually my first choice until i stumbled upon the latitude line. The only reason why I considered the T61 was because of it's outstanding keyboard and build quality... I didn't take into account that it was a Lenovo and unfortunately, IMHO, their service is considerably going down the drain. I have friends about to enter into college and they STILL haven't gotten their laptops from them. Good luck trying to talk to a Lenovo rep for customer service and support.

Even though D630's keyboard isn't nearly as great as the T61's, it's still a good one and it's comfortable to use. I love the colors and the design on it too, not your usual business black. I was never impressed with the T61's design...too boxy. My laptop is so quiet and heat is NEVER present on the palm rest. Not to mention... it's blazing fast. Much faster than my desktop and the wifi catcher is absolutely wonderful. In the end, the decision is up to you, but if I had to choose again..the D630 is it. This thing is so sturdy and the build is top-notch. The speakers are loud, much louder than others. A lot of testing time was implemented on the Latitude line to ensure it's durability. I get around 5-6 hours with mine on a 9-cell battery and it's easy to carry around. I think a lot more people in the future will prefer 14in screens.

At first I was weary of Dell's customer service and support.. but they've been everything but helpful. I love their online chat support.

 

I'm a very satisfied D630 owner--although I've only had it a couple weeks now. I really like the keyboard--much better than my old HP zx5000--but I have to admit I've never used the Lenovo's keyboards. I really like the looks of the D630--I do have the 9 cell battery that sticks out the front, and I kind of even like that--it really does work well as a wrist rest!

Good luck with your decision!
dordale

 

glad to hear you guys are happy............i was thinking of buying this one for $939....gonna go with the d630 over the t61

I want something really light bc im using it for grad school, and want a good screen......im not a game or anything......

hows this? there really arent discounts or coupons....and school starts in 2 weeks...Preliminary Ship Date: 8/17/20072.....

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7100 (1.80GHz) 2M L2 Cache, 800MHz Dual Core edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition, SP2, with media edit
LCD PANEL 14.1 inch Wide Screen WXGA LCD Panel edit
MEMORY 1.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 2 DIMMS edit
HARD DRIVE 80GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 7200RPM edit
OPTICAL DRIVE 24X CD-RW/DVD w/ Cyberlink PowerDVD™ edit
VIDEO CARD Intel® Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 edit
WI-FI WIRELESS CARD Dell Wireless™ 1390 802.11g Mini Card edit
FINGERPRINT READER OPTION Touchpad with UPEK® Fingerprint Reader edit
My Accessories
BATTERY 6 Cell Primary Battery

 

Speaking of the keyboard - pure joy. Not sure if it's the best as I haven't owned all the brands, but it certainly is a pleasure.

 

rammerman, configuration looks good. Your preferences, application (and eyesight) may differ, but I would upgrade the screen resolution to the WXGA+ variety. I have a laptop in the 1280 x 800 format, and I can't seem to fit more than a couple applications at any given time.

Try using a computer with that resolution and see if your "normal" applications fit good on the screen.

Good luck on the purchase.

P

 

I agree with cvx5832.. I have the WXGA+ and i love it. i personally think the WXGA would be inconvenient for mulititasking. It's preference though.

and if you aren't near an outlet and need the long battery life, I'd definitely go with the 9cell battery. It's worth the extra half pound and it's still very portable.

 

Yup--I'd have to agree with upgrading to the 9 cell battery. I really like the long battery life I get from it! I did get the WXGA screen. It's not bad, but I kinda wonder if I should have went with the WXGA+ screen. I do multi-task quite a bit, but I usually keep only one program in the foreground at a time and just switch between them.

I think you'll be quite happy with your purchase!

dordale

 

To the OP:

I forgot to add - but you may already know - if you decide on the WXGA+ and find the icons too small, you can adjust the DPI settings and make your screen as readable as the WXGA, albeit the higher (available) resolution.

Keeping the DPI at the "right" setting can mean loving, or hating that higher-resolution screen.

Good Luck.

P