After twelve years of owning desktop computers, I finally opted for a laptop so I wouldn’t be chained to my desk. After months of research and weighing various makes and models, I settled on the Dell Inspiron 600m laptop. This particular model has exceeded all my expectations and is priced hundreds of dollars lower than many competitive brands.
For several months I agonized over the next purchase of my computer. I knew I needed to be more mobile and only a laptop would allow me to take my “show on the road”. Still, the decision-making process wasn’t easy, as the number of different makes and models out there is mind-boggling. Ultimately, I chose Dell in part due to previous good experience with the company, as well as the affordability of their product line.
The model I thought of was the Inspiron 600m. Like almost everything Dell builds, it’s a “new” model; at least the 600m designation is. That’s one of the confusing things about Dell and some other manufacturers: every month Dell introduces new models and you need a scorecard to compare one model against all the others. Fortunately, Dell’s website allows you to do just that.
Key features of the Inspiron 600m include:
Light weight: just over five pounds.
Mobile Centrino technology is standard.
14.1-inch screen
Pentium M725 processor
24X CD/DVD Writer Combo Drive
256MB DDR SDRAM 1 Dimm memory
Wireless card
extended battery
Microsoft Windows XP startup addition
WordPerfect Productivity Suite
I kept my computer fairly basic, but opted for the latest version of Norton Security, a surge-protected cable, a wireless router, and a wireless mouse. I chose the wireless mouse because I thought the keyboard mouse would be difficult to use. After two days I stopped using the wireless mouse because I quickly got used to the integrated one.
The screen is bright and the keyboard is solid. The mouse keys, however, are noisy, almost clunky; you wonder if Dell could have used a quieter spring for each key.
The battery lasts at least four hours without recharging, and when I need to top it up, I can go from nearly dead to fully charged in less than an hour.
For the price, I paid a little over $1100. for everything including shipping and local taxes Dell is second to none. I haven’t had to call customer support yet, so I can’t comment on that, although in years past your call would be routed to a tech in India. This model comes with a standard one-year limited warranty; I avoided a subsequent phone sales pitch to get a three-year warranty. Their top-of-the-line warranty sends a technician to your home to repair your computer, so it may be an option for those of you who don’t want to send, and thus lose use of, your computer back to Dell for repair.
You’ll find the Inspiron 600m to be adequate for standard business work. Check out their host of other models if you do a lot of graphic design or need a bigger screen. I’m happy with the 14.1 screen, but you might prefer their 17″ model.