Notebook ? HP dv5t vs Dell 1525

[bozo]

I'm helping a friend find the right notebook. It will not be used for gamming, but basic web surfing.

I have looked at two that are in his budget:

HP Pavilion dv5t...upgraded the processor to Core 2 Duo for $629 link:
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/cto.do#a

Dell Inspiron 1525...also upgraded to Core 2 Duo for $599 link:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...=DNCWPA1&s=dhs

Both quotes are from Dell & HP direct.
Any advice from the pros here compairing these two notebooks?

Are there others in this price range that I should look at?



Post edit: I am now also looking at a Lenovo ThinkPad R61 14.1" Widescreen Notebook PC -7732A on Ebay for $549
link:
http://itemlistings.ebay.com/sdcsrp?...ax.Value%3D886

[EzyStvy]

Posting the specs and or links to the specs would be a nice idea

[not important]

For me, I have absolutely NO use for anything HP. I would go with a new Dell and I would not purchase one off EBay.

[bozo]

I added links for HP & Dell, but they were for configuring a custom laptop. The only thing I altered on both from the standard specs was I upgraded to Core 2 Duo 2Ghz processors. Both had 1-2 Gb ram, & 160 Gb HD

The specs for the Lenovo are at the ebay link.

[glc]

With the deals going now, get the Dell. The 1525 is a good machine.

[Panama Red]

Price up the Dell the way you want it then take those specs and check Dell's Outlet store to see if you can find a close match in a Refurbished 1525. I just did that for a customer with a Dell Inspiron 530 tower. I found a refurb for $659 and the regular price was more than $800 for the same unit. The outlet store is dell.com/outlet.

[bozo]

Thanks for all of you replys...this is the kind of info I was looking for.

A general responce to all of your replys...I, initially was leading him toward the Dell, but he has shopped at Best Buy, where a rep told him Dell's were junk...which is why I checked out a like model from HP, and was wondering the difference between those two.

After looking at some more reviews of the Dell 1525, I like what I see.

I agree with you "not important" about buying on Ebay, & I won't do that, but I could find a simmilar laptop elseware.

I am still wondering about the Lenovo ThinkPad R61 14.1" Widescreen Notebook PC -7732A on Ebay for $549
link:
http://itemlistings.ebay.com/sdcsrp?...ax.Value%3D886

How would that stackup with the Dell 1525?

[glc]

The Best Buy rep is simply trying to sell anything but Dell due to stock and profit reasons.

However, the 1525 needs more than 1gb ram to run well with Vista.

[bozo]

Any thought about the "Lenovo ThinkPad R61" I mentioned compaired to the Dell 1525?


I also saw this deal at Buy.com. It's a referb HP Compaq Presario KN916UA Notebook with a Dual-Core 1.7 processor 3MB ram for $537
http://www.buy.com/prod/hp-compaq-pr...209337554.html

[glc]

I would not touch a Compaq Presario laptop with a 10 foot pole. I also do not trust ANY laptop on Ebay, even a Lenovo.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834146525

The R61 is not getting very good reviews there.

If I were going to buy a cheap laptop right now, I'd get a Dell Vostro 1510 off the Dell small business site with the XP downgrade. $598 plus tax. This comes with a T5670 processor, 250gb hard drive, DVD burner, wireless-G, and 3 gigs of ram. With a Bluetooth adapter and a 9 cell battery, it comes in at just under $700 on your doorstep.

[bozo]

Originally Posted by glc I would not touch a Compaq Presario laptop with a 10 foot pole. I also do not trust ANY laptop on Ebay, even a Lenovo. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834146525 The R61 is not getting very good reviews there. If I were going to buy a cheap laptop right now, I'd get a Dell Vostro 1510 off the Dell small business site with the XP downgrade. $598 plus tax. This comes with a T5670 processor, 250gb hard drive, DVD burner, wireless-G, and 3 gigs of ram. With a Bluetooth adapter and a 9 cell battery, it comes in at just under $700 on your doorstep.

Trust me...I am not going to Ebay to buy...been there...I just saw that Lenovo model there & though I could find it elsewhere for a comparable price...thanks to your link...it doesn't seem to measure up anyway.

You mentioned the Vostro 1510, and, ironically I just found a build of the Vostro 1710 that looked real nice for $599 from Dell.

Same price for the Inspirion 1525 & Vostro 1710...which would you choose with similar specs?

[glc]

I would choose the Vostro - and get the available XP downgrade. The 1710 has a 17" screen - it's a pretty big laptop.

[bozo]

Thank all!
With a little nudging, I got him to buy the Vostro 1710 (he was really sold on HP). $599 plus tax (why do they charge tax?), & free shipping.

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5870 (2.0GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB), 3MB ram, 320Gb HD,
8X DVD+/-RW with double-layer DVD+/-R write capability, 17" screen, Huge Bonus IMO...XP Pro, WiFi, & 8 cell Li-on battery.

I was also able to get a $75 processor upgrade by following this link from DaddyODeals
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...26oc%3Dbqdw7af

That link appears to be the same page from Dell' configuration page, but in that link the 2Ghz processor was included free, where on the Dell configuration page, it was a $75 upgrade.

This should be a very adequate laptop for his needs.