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After configuring the 9100 ver 8600, I will pay over $400 more for the lower grade 8600. I got a fully loaded 9100 for $1600. I can't get close to that with any other model close to the specs the 9100 has. Bulky, yes, but a power house. I might just keep it. Makes for a good desktop replacement.
- You cannot directly compare the Clockspeeds of the Pentium 4 in the i9100 and Pentium-M in the i8600 as they are totally different CPU's. The 2.0GHz Intel 755 offered in the i8600 is actually much, much faster than it appears due to advanced technology. It is actually comparable in speed to a P4 between 3.0GHz and 3.8/4.0GHz, depending on the applcation. It is also a true mobile chip, offering less heat and longer battery life.. the i8600 lasts twice as long as the i9100! In all honesty, the i8600 is almost as powerful as the i9100, only losing a little bit to the MR9700, but has many more advantageous features in portabiity which make it, IMO, a better choice.
stu Hey Guys
I currently have a Inspiron 8600 which I bought recently,I sold my desktop and I am looking to replace it with a nice powerful notebook.I am in a dilemma wheather to buy another 8600 and upgrade it with certain feauters or go for 9100. I really like the power of 9100 but I have only three concerns/questions if any one could advice me on that that would be great.
1. Is there a big differnce in the computing power between Intel Pentium 4 chips and Intel Pentium M, I understand that Intel P M 1.5GHZ is an equivalent of Intel Pentium 2.8GHZ, although the FSB for a M is 400MHz but the L2 Cache is 2MB
2. Does the Inspiron 9100 Laptop heat up too much? I am amazed at the 8600 with the Pentium M processor because it produces very less heat. My friend had a Inspiron 8500 with Pentium chip 2.8GHz it used to get really hot.
3. For the HD is it better to buy 60GB(7200rpm) or 80GB (5400) I mean which one makes the computer fast? In the same context is the Memory chip they use in 9100(400Mhz) better than the one they use in 8600 (333Mhz)...does the RAM frequency make the system faster?
Thanks
Vijay
Actually, I sent my 9100 back. Heat, yes. The 9100 gets very hot. The maine reason for my return was weight, and battery. The battery capacity was less than 50 minutes. I was not impressed with the overall appearance as the laptop looks like it came from early 1995 (big and fat). If purchase for a desktop replacement, it's a good machine. But protability is an issue (atleast it was for me). I would recommend staying with the 8600. You can't compare the specs of the pent 4 against the M class procesors. They are totally different processors. Even though the M process is rated at a lower MHz, the performance is greater than the pent 4.
My opinion only.
I have a 9100 and I like it alright, it is fast and does most of the things that I want. The one thing that I am really upset about is the lack of a port replicator. There is the USB ones but to me those are nothing more than fancy port extensions. I am really upset because I was led to believen one would be available and it turns out the computer is not even designed to have one.
What use is a a desktop replacement if you can't connect an external monitor properly and you have to keep the notebook open so you can turn it on?
It is my fault that i waited a bit too long to realize this and now I can't even return it.
sakor1
2170 Posts
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Posted June 10th, 2004 13:00
stu