Is this a good quality beginning business laptop?

[TimPoet]

Dell Computers

Vostro 1000 Configuration
Catalog Number: 4 BQCWIX4
System Details

Vostro 1000 AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 Dual-Core processor TK-53 (1.7GHz/512KB)
Operating System Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition
LCD Panel 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA LCD Anti-Glare Display
Memory 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHZ, 2 Dimm
Video Card ATI Radeon® Xpress 1150 256MB HyperMemory™ (integrated)
Hard Drive 120GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
Optical Drive 8X DVD+/-RW w/Double-layer DVD+R Write Capability, for Vista® OS
Sound Card Integrated Audio
External Speaker Dell A225 USB, Two-piece Stereo Speaker System, 1.2Wc
Wireless Cards Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Wi-Fi Mini Card
Productivity Software Microsoft® Works 8.5 Does NOT Include MS Word
Primary Battery 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Carry Case Mobile Edge Premium Messenger Bag
Limited Warranty, Services and Support 1 Year Limited Hardware Warranty with Mail-in Service
Optional Support Services Gold Technical Support, Vostro, 1 Year
CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service 1 Year CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service
Dell DataSafe Online Data Backup 10GB for 1 Year Online Data Backup by Dell DataSafe
Automated PC Tuneup 1 Year Dell Automated PC Tuneup and Dell Network Assistant
Additional Battery 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Additional Battery
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition

$1,100


My best friend just learned how to use a computer. He is very low tech. He runs a window cleaning/repair business, has it going for 15 years now. He has 4 employees on the payroll.

He would mainly use the computer at this point in time to run his payroll and business accounting and email.

Is there a better lappy for $1100 out there?

Oh, and what would be the best biz accounting software app?

[thefultonhow]

First of all, a Vostro 1000 is not a business laptop. It's the Inspiron E1521 by another name -- basically a home system. With that said, for that kind of application, you don't need an enterprise-class laptop.

Most of the specs look good, except:

Originally Posted by TimPoet External Speaker Dell A225 USB, Two-piece Stereo Speaker System, 1.2Wc Carry Case Mobile Edge Premium Messenger Bag Limited Warranty, Services and Support 1 Year Limited Hardware Warranty with Mail-in Service Optional Support Services Gold Technical Support, Vostro, 1 Year CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service 1 Year CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service Dell DataSafe Online Data Backup 10GB for 1 Year Online Data Backup by Dell DataSafe Automated PC Tuneup 1 Year Dell Automated PC Tuneup and Dell Network Assistant Additional Battery 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Additional Battery

The speakers aren't much better than the built-in ones. If you want decent speakers, buy a $30-40 set off Newegg. Get a bag from Amazon or eBags -- Dell makes a ton of profit on those accessories. And getting a 6-cell spare battery is kind of pointless IMO.

In terms of the warranty, a 1-year one is NOT enough if this guy is planning on keeping his laptop for a while, which I'm pretty sure he would from your description of him. Furthermore, if you're buying CompleteCare, you're wasting your money if it expires after one year. I would get a 3-year warranty -- the 4-year is no longer as good a deal now that Dell doesn't charge a flat fee for CompleteCare. Gold Tech Support is pointless IMO, and I hope you're not paying extra for the backup (just get an external hard drive) or the PC Tuneup app.

Also, does that seriously cost $1100? I'm pretty sure there are ways to get it a lot cheaper...

Originally Posted by TimPoet Oh, and what would be the best biz accounting software app?

QuickBooks is the gold standard, but it's somewhat complicated. He may be able to get by with just Quicken if it's only going to run on one computer, not on a network -- but I'm not sure on that. I am not an accounting software expert.

EDIT: I'm seeing $977 with 3-year CompleteCare. I'm not sure how you got it up to $1100...

[TimPoet]

Wow, this is exactly the kind of feedback I wanted. Excellent, Kimosabe!

And getting a 6-cell spare battery is kind of pointless IMO.

Oh, I intended to order a 9-cell spare, thanks for pointing that out.

If you're buying CompleteCare, you're wasting your money if it expires after one year. I would get a 3-year warranty -- the 4-year is no longer as good a deal now that Dell doesn't charge a flat fee for CompleteCare.

Will do.

Gold Tech Support is pointless IMO, and I hope you're not paying extra for the backup (just get an external hard drive) or the PC Tuneup app.

The 10 GB Backup Service for one year is free.

Also, does that seriously cost $1100? I'm pretty sure there are ways to get it a lot cheaper...

Ok, I got it down to $1066. That's including $167 for printer and ink.

QuickBooks is the gold standard, but it's somewhat complicated. He may be able to get by with just Quicken if it's only going to run on one computer, not on a network -- but I'm not sure on that. I am not an accounting software expert.

He needs the most user-friendly app that will do his taxes and payroll and generate invoices. Even if more expensive, the highest need here is user-friendliness. He is soooo non computer savvy.

[mairving]

I would consider the Lattitude D830. This one is a little bit more but comes with a docking station, a 3yr warranty and an Intel Processor which runs a bit cooler with better battery life. Dell wants $169 to bump the RAM to 2GB but Crucial has 2GB for $55. Buy.com has a really good selection of bags. I configured it with the standard screen which is 1280x800. I would consider paying $70-170 to get a screen with better resolution. Other worthwhile upgrades might be a 7200rpm or a hybrid hard drive. If you get the hybird HD you will need to get Vista on it.

Latitude D830: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7100 (1.80GHz) 2M L2 Cache, 800Mhz Dual Core D83T71 [222-7942] 1 Operating Systems: Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition, SP2, with media XPHSPO [466-6654] 11 LCDs: 15.4 inch Wide Screen WXGA LCD Panel 15WX [320-5299] 2 Memory: 512MB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 1 DIMM 512M1D6 [311-5684] 3 Hard Drives: 120GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 5400RPM 120D54 [341-4569] 8 Media Bay Devices: 8X DVD+/-RW w/Roxio and Cyberlink Power DVD™ 8XDVRVB [313-5044] 16 Graphics: 128MB NVIDIA® Quadro NVS 135M™ NVS135M [320-5302] 6 Wireless LAN (802.11): Dell Wireless™ 1390 802.11g Mini Card DW1390 [430-2436] 19 Battery: 6 Cell Primary Battery 6C [312-0535] 27 Docking Solutions: D/Port Advanced Port Replicator DPORT [310-7278] 94 System Documentation: Resource CD - Contains Diagnostics and Drivers RCD [310-8798] 25 Hardware Support Services: 3 year Limited Hardware Warranty with Mail-in Service T3YER [982-3682][982-7120][986-4409][986-7688][986-7697] 29 CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service: No Warranty Complete Care NWCCADP [970-1017] 33 Purchase Intent: Purchase is not intended for resale. NOT4SEL [462-4506] 138 Internal Keyboard: Internal English Keyboard ENG [310-8713] 4

[thefultonhow]

Originally Posted by TimPoet Ok, I got it down to $1066. That's including $167 for printer and ink.

The printer isn't listed. I hope you're not getting the Dell printer... a basic HP laser would be a far better buy.

[glc]

Note he said LASER - inkjets are too costly to run businesses with and the print quality of a laser is more professional.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16828104433

There is no reason NOT to get a Dell consumer grade laptop with XP. The Inspirons are plenty cheap and quite reliable. Price one of those out too. Also check the Dell refurb store - www.dell.com/outlet .

[TimPoet]

Great feedback, guys, you're lifesavers, as usual.

He definitely needs fax capabilities and copying. So, is this HP's better unit? It's going for $154.76 w/ shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16828104482

[thefultonhow]

If he needs an all-in-one, this is really the cheapest I can recommend wholeheartedly:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16828104048

I've been talking with GLC though, and he says this one might do the job:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16828104393

Keep in mind, though, that it costs about 6 or 7 cents per page printed on a laser, versus about 20-25 cents per page on an inkjet. So by my calculations, he will only have to print 1500 to 2000 pages before the $300 extra for the laser multifunction is offset.

[glc]

Actually HP inkjets can do black only for 5 to 7 cents a page - lasers are about half that. The minute you start adding color, your ink costs skyrocket. Lasers can use cheap $3 a ream paper - try that in an inkjet and it looks like caca.

The 3052 doesn't fax, you need a 3055 to add fax, it's $439 plus shipping.