Dell Latitude D430 Configuration - Good deal?

I'm looking to purchase this through our Dell rep. Up until now, I have had the XPS M1210, which is a bit heavy to drag around flights, etc.

I have not used a Latitude D series before, but I read many good reviews about it.

Anyways, here is what I am getting, and for this price. Any recommendations? Suggestions?

SYSTEM PRICE: $1,448.69

Latitude D430, Intel Core2 DuoU7600, w/Biometric Reader, 1.20GHz ULV, 533Mhz, 2M L2 Cache (222-9581)
12.1 inch Wide Screen WXGA LCDfor Latitude D430 (320-5550)
2GB DDR2, SDRAM, 2 Dimms (1GB Integrated) Latitude D430 (311-7267)
Internal English Keyboard for Latitude D420 Notebooks (310-7924)
Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 950 Latitude D420 (320-4809)
100GB Hard Drive 8MM, 4200RPM for Latitude D430 (341-5004)
No Floppy Drive for Latitude D-Family Notebooks (340-8854)
Windows XP Professional, SP2 with media, for Latitude English, Factory Installed (465-6253)
Dell Wireless 360 Bluetooth Module for XP, Latitude D430 (430-2421)
65W AC Adapter for Latitude D-Family (310-7283)
D/BAY w/ 8X DVD+/-RW w/ Roxio Creator and Cyberlink PowerDVDLatitude D430 (313-5318)
Intel 4965 WLAN (802.11a/g/n) mini Card Latitude, Factory Install (430-2420)
Resource CD w/ Diagnostics andDrivers for Latitude D430 Notebook (310-9195)
9-Cell/68 WHr Primary Battery for Dell Latitude D420 (312-0447)
Thank you for choosing 3 Year Economy Plan (982-5768)
Dell Hardware Warranty, Extended Year(s) (987-5618)
Contract - Next Business Day Parts and Labor On-Site Response, 2YR Extended (982-8472)
Dell Hardware Warranty, Initial Year (987-5627)
Contract - Next Business Day Parts and Labor On-Site Response, Initial Year (983-3270)
Intel Centrino Core Duo Processor (310-8314)
WINDOWS XP STICKER, OPTI/PWS/LAT/INSP/DIM (466-2909)
Special Pricing Applied (463-0742)

 

My wife brought home a D420, so my thoughts may not apply, but I understand they are pretty close (and similarly configured). Her company let her take it home as a "sample" for the regular three-year replacement, as a choice between the D420, D630, X61 and T61. So guess what - it's up to Hunny IT to run the evaluation. My thoughts :

The processor is not the fastest, but certainly enough for Office apps. Good job on the 2.0GB memory, and running XP, this will certainly be enough. Kudos on the Bluetooth (you will feel like adding it later on); Wireless card is reasonably future-proof; and that battery will give you hours of good service.

My gripe - that freaking hard drive. My wife's test machine has the 4,200 as well, and in my opinion upsets the balance of an otherwise outstanding machine. If it takes the standard 9.5 notebook drive, by all means upgrade. If it's not available, upgrades are readily available online, and will take no more than one or two screws to replace. 7,200 drives are now able to run as efficiently and quietly as a 5,400 drive, with the obvious performance gain.

Other than that, your configuration looks good. And if it's constructed anything like the D420, then it's definitely a winning machine.

Good luck on the purchase.

Regards,
P